Author: gatorgirl.outoftheswamp@gmail.com

Hole in One Donuts – Lakeland, FL

I love freshly made donuts. There is something special about biting into a warm don’t and having it just melt in your mouth. These are the types of donuts that Hole in One Donuts makes daily. They open super early each day, before the sun even rises. They do close early in the afternoon, so it is important to get there early so they do not run out.

I got there a few hours after they opened. They will had a decent amount of donuts to choose from. Plus, they had a few other items too.

I tired one of their sausage rolls. These are very similar to kolaches that I get in Texas. Their yeast roll was so sweet. The sausage on the inside was not spicy but had a great flavor from the seasoning. The saltiness from the sausage complemented the sweetness from the roll.

Now the reason I came to Hole in One Donuts was for donuts. I did get a classic glaze. It was larger in size than what you would get from one of those national chains. There was a nice amount of sweet glaze on the donut. When I took a bite, I noticed right away how soft and gooey the dough was. The glaze did not crack and fall off as I continued eating the donut. It stayed attached to the dough. It showed just how well this donut was made.

The second donut I got was the éclair. I shred this one because it was so big. The soft donut was topped with a sweet, creamy chocolate icing. It was a nice, thick layer of icing. On the inside was a creamy vanilla pudding. There was a generous amount that was piped through the entire éclair. Every bite had the perfect ratio of dough, filling, and icing.

The donuts were amazing. The sausage roll was a great, warm breakfast item. I cannot wait to go back and get a dozen of each.

Check them out of Facebook at www.facebook.com/holeinonelakeland

Enjoy!

T

House of Pies – Houston, TX

I was in Houston for the holidays, and I was told I had to visit House of Pies to kick off the holidays properly. This restaurant is exactly what it sounds like, a place dedicated to so many different homemade pies. They also have a great menu of breakfast and lunch dishes. They have been making Houston residents and visitors happy since 1967.

The line was out the door when we got there. Now part of the line was customers just picking up pies to go. The other line was for a table. Luckily, we did not have to wait too long. I was starving.

Inside the restaurant, it still had the vibe from the 60s when it opened. I loved it, very retro. Their pie flavors were on the wall so that you could order easily.

Everyone at the table ordered something different to eat. That was good for me because I would get to try different dishes. I ordered the Griddle Platter. I got French toast with scrambled eggs and bacon. I did get something traditional, but I figured the French toast would be great since this was a bakery. The bread was sweet, even without the powdered sugar on top. It was slightly crispy from being on the griddle. I loved how the center of the bread was gooey and soft. The bacon was nice and crispy. I broke it up and mixed it into my scrambled eggs.

A Griddle Platter Deluxe was also ordered. This was a stack of freshly made buttermilk pancakes, topped with chopped up pecans and banana slices. The pancakes just by themselves were delicious. They were light and fluffy. The pecans and bananas mixed with maple syrup made the pancakes more like a dessert.

The other breakfast dish ordered was the Eggsadilla. This was an egg quesadilla. They scrambled eggs with sausage and O’Brien potatoes. They put it all in tortilla shells with Cheddar and Pepper jack cheese. They put it on the griddle to help melt the cheese and make the tortilla a little crispy. They also served it with a side of frijoles (beans). I liked the potatoes that had peppers and onions chopped up. Those mixed in with the sausage and eggs made this a hearty breakfast. I was easy to eat with your hands. This was a different take on a breakfast sandwich.

There was a sandwich ordered as well, the Patty Melt Deluxe. The lean beef patty was cooked up on the flattop to a nice medium. They melted American cheese and topped the patty with grilled onions and tomatoes. They added a special sauce to each side of the herb bread. The bread was amazing because it too was freshly made. They grilled it up and was crispy on each side. The patty was juicy, and the onions were caramelized nicely. The cheese just made each bite creamier.

Now we made sure to order pies but there was no way we could eat them there. We were just too full from breakfast. We thought they would be good for later in the evening. They had pies staged everywhere, so many choices.

Their menu was large; they have something for everyone’s tastebuds.

The first pie we got was the Strawberry Rhubarb. This was a tart pie filled with fresh rhubarbs and sliced strawberries. The tartness hit you when you took the first bite, but then got sweeter as you took the remaining bites. The crust was buttery and flakey. It helped tie the whole pie together.

The second pie was the Bayou Goo. This is a house specialty. This really was a gooey pie. There were chopped pecans in a sweet cream cheese. All of that was under a mix of vanilla and chocolate pudding. They covered the top with a fluffy whipped cream, powdered sugar, and chocolate shavings. This pie was crazy. It was super sweet and really creamy. The pecans added a nice crunch with a hint of saltiness. This was a rich pie. I could not eat too much of it. But it was a hit with everyone.

I cannot wait to go back to House of Pies so I can try something else. I will have to go after the holidays, so they do not run out. They also have some awesome looking cakes and pastries to try.

Their food menu was great, and they portions are big. Everything truly is “Bigger in Texas”. It is a great place to go with family.

Check out their menu at www.houseofpies.com

They are a must visit in Houston. They do have two locations!

Enjoy!

T

The Broadmoor Seven Falls – Colorado Springs, CO

Not far from The Broadmoor hotel is a privately owned attraction called Seven Falls. These seven cascading waterfalls from the South Cheyenne Creek have been entertaining guests since the 1800s.

There are climbing paths and zip line activities that can be done during the day. It is a fun place for the whole family.

I was lucky enough to have a private dinner there. We were set up outside at the based of one of the waterfalls. It was a spectacular view, especially once it was lite up with colorful lights.

The meal started with an appetizer of Wild Mushroom Risotto. The risotto was amazing. I wanted more of this dish, I could not get enough of it. The earthy wild mushrooms were chopped up and mixed in a Parmigiano Reggiano broth and aged Carnaroli rice. The rice was tender and soaked up the flavor of the broth, which was creamy.

Out next was a salad. This was baby greens with Prosciutto di Parma, melon, and herb mascarpone cheese. There was a delicious lemon vinaigrette tossed on the salad. The prosciutto and melon combination went so well together. It is the yin and yang of sweet and salty. The mascarpone cheese added a creaminess that balanced out the tanginess from the vinaigrette.

For the entrée, we got a grilled beef tenderloin and garlic poached jumbo prawns. The tenderloin was cooked perfectly and was tender. On top there was wilted greens, broccolini, an apple chutney, and a cider scented beef jus.

The slight bitterness from the greens went well with the garlic in the prawns. There was a sweet potato cake also on the plate. It was hidden a little underneath the tenderloin. It soaked up some of the beef jus. The sweetness of the potato made this a welcomed flavor in the mist of the salty accents from the steak. The apple chutney also added a slight sweetness with a hint of cinnamon.

I made sure to leave room for dessert. It was Death by Chocolate Cake. The cake was a flourless chocolate biscuit with a creamy milk chocolate cremeux. Cremeux is a French dense, soft pudding. They layered the chocolate biscuit with the cremeux, making three layers. It was very rich. I enjoyed it with a nice cappuccino. The cremeux was very creamy and rich with milk chocolate tastes.

I really enjoyed my dinner under the starts and waterfalls. It did get chilly as the sun went down. I would recommend taking a jacket. If you have a chance to visit Seven Falls, you will love the views. Being able to get in does depend on the time of year, so plan accordingly.

Visit the hotel website to learn more at www.broadmoor.com

Enjoy!

T

Garden of the Gods Resort & Club – Colorado Springs, CO

Colorado is a beautiful state. There are so many activities that can be done outside from hiking, skiing, fishing, and exploring all the national parks across the state. Garden of the Gods is one of those parks located in Colorado Springs. This park has acres and acres of Red Rock formations. You can hike, drive or even take a jeep tour to the structures and learn about what the native Americans felt about these natural wonders.

When the sunlight hits these rocks the color just glows. It is breathtaking and pictures do not do the color justice.

When I visited, I got to have lunch on the patio of the Garden of the Gods Resort and Club. Their views are spectacular.

While I was enjoying the view from the patio, a deer wondered up and started feeding on some bushes. This was the one thing I noticed a lot in Colorado, the wild animals and the humans live in harmony.

 

The lunch I got to enjoy was a pre-fixed menu. I was looking forward to what the chef selected for us. We started off with a fresh salad. The lettuce was topped with cheese, bacon, and cucumber slices. They served a balsamic vinaigrette dressing that added a nice tangy taste to the salad. I enjoyed the crunch of the cucumbers and the saltiness of the bacon pieces.

For the main dish we got a chicken thigh with pineapples and peppers. The fresh pineapple was grilled which had great flavor. The smokiness from the grill enhanced the sweetness of the pineapple. The peppers also added a sweetness and paired perfectly with the pineapple. The chicken thigh was tender and juicy. The entire dish had a tropical feel to it.

For dessert we got a key lime tart that was topped with fresh blueberries and raspberries. The filling was creamy and had a nice tart flavor. The berries were sweet and complemented the tartness. It was a great dessert to enjoy outside with a glass of wine.

The views from the patio made this lunch even more enjoyable. The Garden of the Gods is a wonderful place to visit and will make a lasting impression.

Check out the resort at www.gardenofthegodsresort.com

To learn about the park, visit www.gardenofgods.com

Enjoy!

T

The Hotel Bar – Colorado Springs, CO

The Broadmoor is an iconic hotel resort in Colorado Springs. It opened its doors over 100 years ago in 1918. The grounds are absolutely breathtaking. There are wonderful views of the mountains.  There are beautiful lakes and wild animals everywhere.

This hotel has over 17 different restaurants and cafes, plus 2 legendary golf courses. One of the restaurants I checked out was The Hotel Bar. The original bar opened in 1936 at the end of prohibition. I was later restored in 2002. There is a rich history of how this bar got started, in the 1920s by an exclusive group of prominent hoteliers You can read all about their history on the menu or visit their website.

I sat outside so I could enjoy the beautiful surrounding mountains.

I was visiting for lunch, so I ordered a Cobb Salad. The salad was large. It was served beautifully with a rainbow of all the toppings. All the ingredients were fresh. It was nice with the vinaigrette that I chose as my dressing. It is a filling salad by itself.

I also got to try their classic cheeseburger. The melted cheddar cheese has a sharp taste that paired well with the grilled flavor of the burger meat. It was cooked perfectly medium, so it was still juicy. It came with all the classic sides of French fries and coleslaw.

I enjoyed my meal and the environment at The Hotel Bar. It is also a great place to grab a cocktail in the evening and warm by one of the fire pits.

Check out their history at www.broadmoor.com

Enjoy!

T