Author: gatorgirl.outoftheswamp@gmail.com

Junior’s – New York, NY

New York has so many wonderful restaurants that have been around for decades. There was one place everyone told me I had to try – Junior’s. When I asked why they are so popular it was always the same response – the cheesecake. So upon hearing that consistent answer I knew it was a must visit for me.

I was lucky that one of their locations was near my hotel in Time Square. They were crowded when I got there but I did not have to wait too long for a table.

  

They have a pretty big menu. I knew I wanted to start with the matzo ball soup. It was that classic yellow broth that I knew would be salty. It came with egg noodles and one giant matzo ball. I had to cut into the matzo ball carefully so I would not cause the broth to spill. It was a bowl of classic comfort food.

For my main dish I wanted to try one of their famous steak burgers. I got mine with American cheese melted on top. The burger was huge. The meat was extremely juicy and had a great chargrilled taste. As an added bonus they toast their buns which adds a little extra crunch.

The burger also came with a side of onion rings and steak fries. The fries were nice and thick, classic diner style. The onion rings had a cornmeal like breading that made the onion rings sweet. It was almost like corn dog breading.

With the portions being pretty big, I was too full to have cheesecake while at the restaurant. I could not leave without a slice so I made sure I got one to go. They had an abundance of choices when it came to their cheesecake. To help make my decision, I went into their special room behind the red velvet curtains.

When I walked through I was greeted by two glass cases filled with different cheesecakes as well as other desserts. I called it a special room, but it was really a small take-out section of the restaurant.

   

I got the classic NY style cheesecake to go. No toppings, just pure cheesecake. When I got back to my hotel room I dove right in. It was so sweet and creamy. It had an extremely smooth texture and it was moist. Sometimes cheesecake can be dry but not this slice. It was perfect.

If you are in New York and have a sweet tooth or hungry for a great burger then head over to Junior’s. You will not be disappointed. If you want to get hungry now, check out their menu at www.juniorscheesecake.com

Enjoy!

T

 

Bluff Park Ice Cream Shoppe – Birmingham, AL

Ice cream is one of those treats that makes both kids and adults happy. It’s the best dessert for celebrations. That perfect flavor can bring back fond memories from a family vacation. You can be having a bad day and a scoop of ice cream can help you forget your troubles.

I was needing an afternoon pick-me-up, so I headed over to Bluff Park Ice Cream Shoppe. It is right next door to Mr. P’s Deli that I have previously written about.

It is a really cute shop that is family owned. It has the classic look of a 1950s shop but it is also updated.

  

It’s the perfect place to enjoy ice cream or a milk shake with friends and family.

   

They have so many creative flavors ranging from red velvet, cotton candy, and cake batter. It is a hard decision but they let you have samples of the flavors to help you narrow the choices down.

  

I went for the pistachio nut. I love this flavor of ice cream and I do not always find it. I got a big scoop in a waffle cone.

The ice cream was so creamy and it was loaded with pistachios. It was perfect and made me so happy. It really did pick me up.

If you need a special treat or need to celebrate something special, head over to Bluff Park Ice Cream Shoppe. You can see all their flavors on the website at http://www.bluffparkicecreamshop.com/

Enjoy!

T

 

 

Carnegie Deli – Las Vegas, NV

There are several famous delis around New York City. Carnegie Deli was on of those. Sadly they closed their doors after 79 years at the end of 2016. I was lucky many years ago to get to visit. For anyone that was not so lucky, fear not, there is a licensed location out in Las Vegas. It is located at The Mirage Hotel and Casino.

Every time I am out in Las Vegas for work or vacation, I always make a stop as soon as I arrive. After a long flight I usually work up an appetite and Carnegie Deli always satisfies.

There are several staples that I have order before. Their homemade matzo ball soup is a classic. It’s chicken soup served with one huge matzo ball. It tends to be on the salty side. You can also get this soup with noodles. I would recommend this soup if you are in Vegas during the winter months, it is just too hot for soup during a Vegas summer.

Another dish I have gotten is their potato knish. It is the perfect blend of mashed potato with garlic wrapped in a pastry. This is a favorite of mine because it is so filling. It is also great to share.

On this visit I got their famous Reuben sandwich. It is an open faced sandwich with pastrami piled high and covered with sauerkraut and melted Swiss cheese.

This is not a sandwich I can eat with my hands, a knife and fork are necessary. There are so many layers of meat. It’s salty and spicy but also tangy because of the sauerkraut. Then when the melted cheese is mixed in, the flavor all comes together.

Clearly I was hungry when I arrived. This was the perfect way to start the trip. Now it’s necessary to walk the strip in order to work off all those calories.

If you are looking for a classic New York meal when you are out West, head over to Carnegie Deli at The Mirage. Get a sandwich, soup, or even breakfast. Plus don’t forget to pick up a classic black and white cookie to go.

Enjoy!

T

Okinawa – Homewood, AL

There is local Japanese restaurant called Okinawa that I have been to tons of times. I have eaten in and taken sushi to go. I finally decided to write about them because they are one of my favorite go to restaurants. Everything I have ever ordered is delicious.

On this most recent visit I went for lunch. They have a great lunch menu that includes sushi rolls, bento boxes, and hibachi plates. I went for the hibachi chicken. The lunch portion is the perfect size. It comes with teriyaki chicken, vegetables, and fried rice. The chicken is juicy white meat; the vegetables are sautéed perfectly with lots of broccoli that I love. Dipping the veggies in the ginger sauce is the best. Their fried rice is simple but flavorful and loaded with scrambled eggs.

The lunch portion of hibachi also comes with your choice of miso soup or a ginger salad. If you go for dinner you would get both, plus the grilled shrimp. I went for the salad. I love the dressing that they use and they give a very generous portion.

If you have a short lunch hour, Okinawa is the perfect place to get in and out quickly. However, if you have some time and want to enjoy some great food with wonderful company then they offer that too. Check out their menu at http://www.okinawasushiusa.com/

   

I am sure I will see you there!

Enjoy!

T

 

Anthony’s Italian Kitchen – Tuscaloosa, AL

I was visiting Tuscaloosa recently and I asked some local residents where they recommended I get a quick bite to eat. Anthony’s Italian Kitchen came to the top of the list because of their pizza. They are located not far from the University campus on McFarland Blvd.

It is a cute family owned restaurant that you can either eat in or get food to go. I could smell the pizza as soon as I walked in. I got there in between the lunch and dinner rush, so I had no problem getting a table.

The first thing I noticed when I sat down was that they have a huge chalkboard for kids to play on. What a perfect way for instant entertainment so that moms and dads can enjoy a nice meal out. It was cute to see all the drawings.

I started off with their cheese bread. It is their homemade pizza dough covered with pizza cheese. When it came out I was shocked that it was the size of a small pizza. After laughing at myself for ordering so much food, I dove into the ooey-gooey cheese.

The saltiness of the cheese complemented the sweetness of the dough. It came with a side of their homemade sauce. I dipped a few bites; it added a meaty flavor. Since I had ordered a pizza too, I ended up getting a to-go box for the rest of the cheese bread.

They have several pizzas to choose from and four different sizes. I went for an 8” supreme pizza that came loaded with pepperoni, sausage, olives, onions, peppers, mushrooms, and a ton of cheese. Their crust is a think pan crust. It had a sweet taste just like the cheese bread. I love a doughy pizza because it soaks up the sauce, it is easier to pick up when it’s loaded with toppings, and it taste amazing cold the next day.

   

Anthony’s has a lot more on their menu than just pizza. The next time I am in town I would definitely want to go back to try their pastas or their Italian seafood stew. I also would go back because a portion of every purchase goes to a wonderful cause. The owners named the restaurant after their son who does missionary work in Uganda. So every meal that is enjoyed can actually help others around the world.

Head on over to Anthony’s Italian Kitchen for great food and wonderful service. Learn more about Anthony’s mission work and see the complete menu at http://www.anthonysitaliankitchentuscaloosa.com/

Enjoy!

T

Red Pearl Restaurant – Homewood, AL

I love all kinds of food, but Chinese food is one of my favorites. I was excited to learn that there was an authentic Chinese restaurant called Red Pearl in Homewood, Alabama. What surprised me even more is that there is a full size Asian market attached to the restaurant. They had everything from candy and sauces to frozen dumplings that can be made at home.

The restaurant was beautiful inside. It had recently been remodeled. There are wonderful ornate wooden walls that separate different sections and an ornately painted focal wall.

   

I started off with the pork noodle soup. It was a huge bowl that was perfect for sharing with the table. It was a good thing that I brought my sister with me. The broth was flavorful and had a very faint spice in it. The noodles were like what are found in lo mein and it was a generous portion in this soup. They used a minced pork that was very tender and added additional flavor to the soup. The pieces of chopped up cabbage added texture. I could have easily made this my meal if I was alone.

I was told that I had to try their egg rolls, so I made sure to order a few. They were crispy on the outside. The filling on the inside was full of meat and vegetables. The nice part about these egg rolls was they had a lot of meat on the inside rather than just filling of excess cabbage. I was very pleased with how they tasted and would recommend them too.

My favorite aspect about a Chinese meal is the sharing. Several dishes can be ordered for the table and then shared family style. So my sister and I went for two dishes: chicken lo mein and pork fried rice.

The chicken in the lo mein were nice big pieces of breast meat. They were sautéed so the edges were slightly crispy. The sauce was salty but it was not overwhelming. The noodles had a smoky taste – which came from the hot flame that was used to cook it in the wok.

The plate of fried rice was huge. The pork in the fried rice added a ton of flavor. The Jasmine rice they used stuck together really well with the sauce that was used to season everything. This made it easy for me to eat the rice with chopsticks.

Now naturally we could not finish everything because it was a lot of food. However, Chinese leftovers make for a perfect lunch the next day. I enjoyed everything that we ordered but I only scratched the surface of what they have to offer. I can’t wait to go back and try some of the beef or tofu or perhaps one of my favorite dishes – Chow Fun.

If you are hungry for Chinese and don’t want typical take out, then you need to swing by Red Pearl. You will truly enjoy sitting down and sharing a meal. Visit their website at http://www.superorientalmkt.com/

Enjoy!

T