Month: April 2019

West Caribbean Cuban Restaurant – Lakeland, FL

This restaurant is a little off the beaten path in Lakeland, but their Cuban food is worth the drive. I love Cuban food and it is not something you can find regularly outside of Florida. So when I visit it is a must have on my list.

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To start lunch off, I got two appetizers for the table. The first being fried ripe sweet plantains. These are my absolute favorite dish. I can tell that the plantain was perfect because it will be soft and sweet. When it is hard and bland then the plantain is not ripe enough. The best way to cook these is simply sautéing them in some butter and they are ready to go.

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The ham croquettes were also great to share. The ham was chopped up very fine. It was fried to crispy perfection. When I bit in I could taste the smoky flavor of the ham.

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I ordered their Lechon Asado – which is the traditional shredded pork. Cuban shredded pork is my second favorite dish (remember the fried plantains are my first). There is something special about how the pork is prepared and seasoned that I cannot replicate at home. The dish also came with a side of black beans and rice and more fried sweet plantains.

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The pork was amazing. It was juicy and the salty seasonings could be tasted throughout the meat, not just on the surface. There were also a few crispy edges which added a little crunch.

The black beans and rice they served were delicious and different from others I have had. Instead of serving white rice with a bowl of black beans in a sauce on the side, they actually combined them both and cooked it that way. I liked this style because it allowed the sauce and beans to coat all of the rice.

For authentic Cuban food, please visit West Caribbean Cuban Restaurant. They give you huge portions so plan on having a to go box.

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Check out their Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/westcaribbeancubanrestaurant/

Enjoy!

T

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Frescos – Lakeland, FL

I have written about Frescos in Lakeland, Florida before. I went back recently for brunch again. I had such a great experience I thought I would write about them again.

I started off with the deviled eggs. They are perfect for sharing. These had a beautiful sweetness to them. They also had crunchy bacon accents that added a very slight touch of saltiness.

For my meal I ordered the spicy chicken and waffles with chorizo gravy. After I ordered it my waiter said this was his favorite dish. When I here this from someone who works at the restaurant I knew I made the right selection.

This was a unique take on chicken and waffles. They used roasted chicken thigh meat. It was off the bone so it was easier to eat. The gravy had all the spice because of the chorizo they used. The chicken was covered in it. The waffle was extremely sweet. It created a perfect enhancement to the heat from the gravy. The dish was pretty big in size so it could easily be shared.

Now my favorite thing about Frescos brunch is their bottomless mimosas. However, there is more to it then just being bottomless. They offer several different flavors. So each time you order you can try something new. They had several flavors on the menu that were not available the last visit. They had Prickly Pear listed but when I went to order it my waiter said they had run out. I was lucky the last time I visited I got to try it. Clearly this is a popular flavor, so add that to your must try list.

I started off with the Pineapple. That’s my favorite juice so it is always a must for me.

The Raspberry version had great tartness to it.

The White Peach was light. There was a subtle peach taste, nothing overpowering.

My last mimosa I went for something fun. They were offering a Sex on the Beach mimosa. It was made perfectly with the right amount of grenadine. This was the sweetest of all the mimosas I tried.

Just like my first visit, this visit was fantastic. My waiter was fun and engaging. The food was great and the mimosas were wonderful. Make sure you add them to your brunch list.

www.frescoslakeland.com

Enjoy!

T

 

Vinnie Van GoGo – Savannah, GA

Located right across the street in City Market from Belford’s is an extremely busy pizza shop called Vinnie Van GoGo. As soon as I walked by the door I could smell the pizza ovens. It smelt so good it was drawing me inside.

They were a very busy place. They were small inside so there were two options for me and my friend. We could get a seat inside or get a slice to go. Since we were not in a hurry we took a seat at their bar.

We could order a slice or a whole pie. Their pizza’s were huge and there was no way we could eat a whole pizza. We went for slices. I made sure to get pepperoni on mine.

Even the slice was big. The dough was cooked perfectly with a little crunch. They put on a ton of cheese and pepperoni. I had to fold the slice in half in order to take a bite. It reminded me of the slices I had gotten at the Jersey Shore.

Vinnie’s was a happening place. As I sat there I watched as dozens of people kept coming and going. It seemed that everyone was coming in for a slice and then eating it as they walked around the market.

This was a great spot for a bite to eat. It’s popular with everyone, from locals to visitors. Just make sure you bring cash because that is all they accept.

http://www.vinnievangogo.com/

Enjoy!

T

Belford’s – Savannah, GA

For years I have wanted to visit Savannah, Georgia. From the beaches to the history, I knew it would be a perfect weekend getaway. The history of Savannah starts in 1733 when settlers landed along the Savannah River. To this day visitors can walk along the river to enjoy shopping and food. Or you can stay at one of the many hotels over looking the water.

While walking around several of Savannah’s squares, I came to City Market. This is where I saw a sign for Belford’s. I glanced over the menu they had posted and saw several items that would make a perfect lunch.

While looking over the menu, I learned a little about the history of the building. It was built in 1902 and was owned by a Hebrew congregation until 1923. That is when it was sold to the Belford family. The building was used to run their wholesale food business. There are wonderful pictures of this history decorating the walls of the restaurant.

  

It appears that the restaurant did not appear until 1996. What was great about the look of the inside, it a lot of the history was kept.

  

As with most of my meals, I like to order a creative and unique cocktail off the menu. I went for the Dixie Lemonade. This was no ordinary lemonade, this was special. They used General Beauregard’s Black Pepper vodka, crop cucumber vodka, muddled fresh cucumbers, and fresh squeezed lemonade.

This drink was not sweet at all. It was slightly tangy from the lemonade. The pepper accents from the vodka shined through. The cucumber however mellowed everything out and turned the drink into a refreshing taste.

An appetizer for the table that is always a hit is fried calamari. It was pretty standard in taste and texture. It came with a Thai chili dipping sauce. I liked the calamari best with the sauce.

I was excited to see She Crab soup on the menu. It combines two of my favorite things, soup and crab. It was a pretty large bowl of soup. They placed a nice swirl of Sherry along the top of the soup.

The broth of the soup was extremely creamy with a nice herb accent. There was loads of crab meat in the soup itself. You could actually use a fork to get the crab out.

Since the soup was somewhat filling, I was glad I ordered the watermelon salad for lunch. This salad was arugula, feta cheese, grilled Vidalia onions, olive oil, and chopped up pieces of watermelon.

The arugula added spice to this salad. The feta cheese tamed that spicy note. As a side note the feta cheese came from Capra Gia Cheese Company located in Carrollton, Georgia (capragia.net). It was nice to see the restaurant keeping their ingredients local.

The grilled Vidalia onions (another Georgia crop) added a savory sweetness to the salad. It also paired well with the feta cheese. The watermelon added the juiciness and sweet sugar flavor. it balanced out the salty and spicy notes from the other ingredients. I only wish they added a little more watermelon. that was my favorite part.

I had a lovely lunch at Belford’s. I just had a sampling of what they had to offer. Their menu is filled with many other dishes that sounded wonderful. Check them out when you are in Savannah.

http://www.belfordssavannah.com/

Enjoy!

T

 

 

Delicious Orchards – Colts Neck, NJ

Normally I would never write about a grocery store or market. However, I changed my mind once I visited Delicious Orchards. I was blown away when I walked in and saw everything they had to offer.

The first thing I saw was all their fresh made desserts. They had apple cinnamon donuts, pastries, and so many different types of pies. I grabbed a cherry pie to take back with me.  The crust was flakey and had a sweet taste. It complemented the tartness of the fresh cherry filling. It was one of the best pies I have ever eaten.

There were rows of fresh apples. I was so surprised how many different varieties there are.

Near the apples was some fresh apple butter. It tasted sweet and was awesome on a cracker.

They also had some of their fresh apple cider to sample. It was warm and full of cinnamon flavor. It really felt like the holidays in a cup. After tasting it I made sure  to buy a hot cup outside at the cider stand.

Also outside they were making fresh made apple fritters. The batter was loaded with chunks of fresh apples. Then they spooned it into the sizzling oil until it was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. They covered the fritter in powdered sugar. This little treat was amazing, especially with it still being so hot. They gave me three big fritters so you definitely need to share them.

For a little market I had a fun time visiting. The fresh apple items were delicious. And their pies are to die for! Check them out at www.deliciousorchardsnj.com

Enjoy!

T

Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten Bierhalle – Asbury Park, NJ

Reading the name of this bar/restaurant is a mouthful. And there may be some folks out that have no clue what Festhalle and Biergarten Bierhalle actually means. Basically it’s a German Beer Hall. I was excited that I found one right there in Asbury Park.

As soon as I walked in I was greeted with the sound of a German folk band playing, complete with an accordion. I felt like I was transported to Germany.

While I was enjoying the band play the polka song Roll out the Barrel, I ordered a beer. I got something lighter by the name of Schofferhofer.

I glanced over their food menu and while many of the items I had never heard of, I did recognize the kielbasa. They offered up a smoked Polish kielbasa that I knew I would like.

This homemade kielbasa was made with pork and garlic. They grilled it up so there was a great char on the outside. There was the customary snap when I cut into the casing. The kielbasa was juicy on the inside and had a wonderful smoky taste.

They served it with a side of German potato salad and sauerkraut. The sauerkraut had a fantastic tang to it. The potato salad also had a tangy taste. The potatoes they used were tender and cut into huge pieces.

I got another drink while I was there. This time I got a bottle and I went for cider. I ordered the Zombie Killer. The cider had a distinct flavor of cherries and honey. It was sweet and a little tart. It was enjoyable after the saltiness of the kielbasa.

The Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten Bierhalle was a really fun place. It’s a great place to go with friends and family for food, beers, and unique music.

Check them out at www.asburybiergarten.com

Enjoy!

T

Asbury Park Ale House – Asbury Park, NJ

Asbury Park, New Jersey, has become a hot spot over the last few years. Developers have really come in and fixed up the area with shops, bars, and restaurants. I checked out one of those restaurants – Asbury Park Ale House.

The place was packed. I was able to find a seat at the bar. If you like beer this is definitely the place for you.

I went for the “Make your own Bloody Mary”. They gave me a menu with a ton of options to select from to make my bloody unique. I like more spice so I made sure to add hot sauce and horseradish. Where I had the most fun was with the garnishes. I selected blue cheese stuffed olives, slices of crispy bacon, and a pork roll sandwich. I was in New Jersey so why not get a New Jersey specialty.

This drink was also a mini meal. It was seasoned perfectly. It had the right amount of heat and saltiness. The pork roll sandwich was perfect to munch on.

Since I knew I would not be able to drink a whole other bloody Mary, I ordered a Mimosa. Hey, it’s the weekend!

I looked over the appetizer menu to get something else to eat. I went for the Drunken Bites. These were Dintalini pasta mixed with cheese then breaded and deep fried. They served it with a side of their homemade vodka sauce.

This was an Italian version of mac and cheese bites. They were nice and crispy on the outside. The pasta was tender and loaded with creamy cheese. It had good flavor on its own because of the cheese. However, when I dunked it into the vodka sauce the flavor intensified. The vodka sauce was spectacular. They make it fresh with actual vodka. I could have eaten an entire bowl of pasta if it was drenched in that sauce.

Since I was planning on hoping around to more places in Asbury Park I did not order anything else at the Ale House. I would go back again. They have tons of TV’s for watching sports and an eclectic menu offering everything from chicken wings to sushi.

Check them out at www.asburyalehouse.com

Enjoy!

T

Lobster Shanty – Point Pleasant Beach, NJ

I was hanging out in Point Pleasant, New Jersey when I decided to check out Lobster Shanty. It is right there on the water but since I was there at night I could not see anything.

They had a nice selection of unique cocktails that I was excited to try. I went for the Cucumber Smoother, which was Effen cucumber vodka, St. Germain, and lemonade. This drink tasted very fresh. The flavor of the cucumber really shined through.

I also tried the Manhattan. It used Segram’s Seven and cherries. I took a few sips but it was a little too strong for my taste buds.

I ordered one of their appetizers to enjoy with my cocktail. The Filet Mignon meatballs sounded decadent and delicious. The meatballs were covered in homemade brown gravy that was extremely savory. The meatballs were soft and very moist. They did not even need gravy to be enjoyed, nevertheless the gravy helped step up the dish.

They also included mascarpone cheese to the bowl. The cheese did not add any additional flavor but it did add creamy texture to the gravy. These meatballs were absolutely wonderful, five stars for sure.

I could not leave without trying one more cocktail. I went for the Coconut Mojito. They blended coconut rum, mint, lime, a splash of Sierra Mist, and fresh coconut shavings were sprinkled on top. It was a sweet drink. It acted like a dessert for me since I had a salty/savory snack.

The Lobster Shanty had some great cocktails and the food I tried was great. I want to make sure I go back to try some actual lobster. Check them out at www.pointpleasantlobstershanty.com

Enjoy!

T

Wharfside Restaurant – Point Pleasant Beach, NJ

I was visiting Point Pleasant, New Jersey and got to go enjoy happy hour at Wharfside Restaurant.

Since I was visiting in the winter I did not get to enjoy their outside deck. However, I was still able to enjoy the views of Manasquan Inlet from my table in the bar. They were amazing views.

Since it was happy hour I glanced over their menu of creative cocktails. I decided to start off with the Peach Fuzz Martini. This drink combined vodka, peach Schapps, orange juice and mango puree. It was not overly sweet. It had a nice subtle flavor of peach and mango.

I ordered the shrimp cocktail to enjoy with my cocktail. It is the classic appetizer. The shrimp were fresh and tender. They tasted wonderful in the homemade cocktail sauce.

Since the shrimp cocktail was just a small dish I ordered a cup of their Manhattan clam chowder. The vegetable soup broth was seasoned perfectly with a hint of spice that tasted like Old Bay. They loaded the soup with vegetables including big chunks of potato. They used a ton of clams in the soup as well. They were tender and cooked perfectly, not tough at all.

It was time for me to try another cocktail before happy hour ended. I wanted to try the Poison Apple Martini. They used apple vodka, cranberry juice, and a splash of Razzmatazz (which is actually raspberry schnapps). This was much sweeter than the first drink but still had a tart taste. I could taste the apple in each sip.

I decided to try one more of their soups, especially since it was cold outside. This time I went for a cup of the New England clam chowder. The broth was super creamy. They also used a ton of tender clams in this soup. It really warmed me up from the inside.

Wharfside Restaurant was a great place to go to for happy hour. They had great cocktail choices at reasonable prices. They also had a pretty good happy hour food menu. Check them out at www.wharfsidenj.com and see what they have to offer.

Enjoy!

T