Author: gatorgirl.outoftheswamp@gmail.com

Spice Market – New York, NY

New York City is known for being a melting pot of different cultures. A perfect example of this is the restaurant Spice Market, located in the Meatpacking District. Here you will find flavors from Japan, China, Thailand, Vietnam, and India.

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When you walk through the door you feel like you have been transported to an exotic land. Their décor captures the imagination with hanging lights, wooden pagodas, drums for seats, and candle light everywhere.

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I started the evening off with one of Spice Markets creative cocktails – the Yule Mule (their take on a Moscow Mule). Adding the hibiscus liquor to it made the drink much sweeter than a typical mule. It really was delicious and added to the feeling like I was on vacation.

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The menu may seem overwhelming since there are so many choices, it is best to have an idea what type of food you are in the mood for. The dishes at Spice Market are served family style, so whatever is ordered is shared with the table. I prefer this style of eating because it allows me to sample a variety of things.

The first two dishes that came out were the spring rolls and dumplings. The spring rolls were Vietnamese style with lobster, shrimp, and pork inside. The flavor was great and the wrapper had great crunch. The dumplings were mushroom and the sauce they came in was a paired nicely with mushrooms.

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Before I could finish my dumplings the next two dishes arrived at the table. The grilled chicken satay was served with a Mandarin orange sauce. The chicken had a wonderful smoky grilled flavor that worked well with the sauce. That sauce was so good that I actually started dipping my spring roll in it. The other dish was the Hamachi crispy sushi with a chipotle mayo. I was expecting a sushi roll that was tempura fried but that is not what came out, which was a pleasant surprise. The fish sat on top of a thin layer of the chipotle mayo and a fried cube of rice. The fish was so fresh that it melted in my mouth. The rice was the star of the dish; it was super crispy on the outside but still moist on the inside. This dish was a nice change from typical sushi.

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The final dish, which I would consider the main course, was a red curry duck in a pineapple sambal. The duck was extremely tender and tasted wonderful with the pineapple sambal sauce. The flavor was not dominated by the curry because of the sweetness of the pineapple. As a side I got a bowl of the ginger fried rice. It was simple with just a hint of ginger and was great to use up the extra pineapple sauce.

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If you are interested in a unique experience I recommend checking out Spice Market. Just make sure you call ahead for reservations because they get busy. www.spicemarketrestaurants.com

Enjoy!

T

 

Fritz – Vancouver, Canada

On a visit to Vancouver, Canada I discovered a little hole in the wall place called Fritz. All this place serves is fresh cut french fries. DSC04200

You can get them plain or with different toppings. This is where I was introduced to Poutine for the first time. Classic Poutine is fries topped with cheese curd and brown gravy.

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It’s a wonderful treat. The fresh cut fries are made with sweet tasting potatoes. The cheese curd is creamy but has a mild taste that complements the brown gravy that is nice and salty. The best thing is the cheese curds do not melt fast so there are nice chunks in every bite.

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I never expected to find this on my trip but was excited that I did. I may not be able to find Poutine in the states, however, the ingredients are simple so that it can be made at home.

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If you are in Vancouver and want to try a great snack, make sure you stop by Fritz. www.fritzeuropeanfryhouse.com

Enjoy!

T

55 South – Franklin, TN

If you are visiting Franklin, Tennessee make sure you venture down to the historic section of town. The area has been rejuvenated over the years and is thriving with shops and restaurants.IMG_4090

One of the places that I checked out was 55 South. This restaurant has a rustic feel with brick walls and reclaimed wood accented throughout. They have a beautiful wooden bar that caught my attention as soon as I walked in.

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Their menu is loaded with dishes found in New Orleans, gumbo, po’boys, red beans & rice and my ultimate favorite chargrilled oysters. I was not expecting to see these on the menu. Needless to say I was excited and I knew exactly what I was going to order.

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They came out nice and hot, still sizzling from the grill. I couldn’t wait to dive into them. The chef put his own twist on these – he used a garlic-lemon butter which added some zing to each bite and they were still topped with parmesan cheese, which is my favorite part. These oysters were made so well that I decided to order a second dozen.

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I was so full from two dozen oysters that I did not get a chance to try anything else on the menu. So naturally I will be planning another trip back so that I can see what else they have to offer. Or type to get on their Oyster Wall of Fame!

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Check out their website at: eat55.com

Enjoy!

T

Pink’s – Los Angeles, CA

So you are going to Los Angeles, home to Hollywood celebrities, Rodeo Drive, and movie studios, where to go first? My suggestion is Pink’s!

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This is the world famous hot dog joint that has been around since 1939. These are not small hot dogs either; they are extra-long, all beef hot dogs.

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A classic Pink’s hot dog comes with chili, mustard, and onions however, they have a plethora of options to choose from. They have classic combinations like Chicago and New York style dogs, and super special combinations named after celebrities.

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Be prepared to know what you want by the time you get to the window this way you do not slow the line down.

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I went a little simple – a hot dog smothered with nacho cheese. It was messy goodness. Every time I took a bite the cheese went everywhere, but it was worth the mess and the use of a ton of napkins. The hot dog was one of the best I have had. It had great flavor not that processed oily flavor that you can sometimes get with cheap hot dogs. Having the hot dog with cheese made me feel like a kid again.

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There were no celebrity sightings on my visit but the real star of the show was the hot dog itself. Check out this LA tradition at www.pinkshollywood.com

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Enjoy!

T

Little Italy – Boston, MA

There is no shortage of awesome places to try in Boston’s Little Italy located at the North End.

Do you have a sweet tooth? Check out these hot spots.

Mike’s Pastry (www.mikespastry.com)

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There are so many options to choose from but since the line is always out the door you will have time to decide.

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I have two recommendations:

The Florentine Cannoli (traditional cannoli with chocolate chips)

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The Neapolitan

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Modern Pastry (www.modernpastry.com)

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Remember to bring your cash when you visit Modern Pastry. Enjoy some fresh coffee along with their carrot cake.

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Salumeria Italiana (www.salumeriaitaliana.com)

Get a freshly made Italian sub while you are shopping for some essential cooking ingredients in their shop.

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Galleria Umberto Rosticceria

Several years ago I stopped by here for a bite to eat. This was the first place I ever had a rice ball (Arancini). I knew when I went back to Boston I had to make time to go back. They are a cash only place and our only open from 10:45am – 2:00pm. When they sell out of something then it is done for the day. So my recommendation is get there early!

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These are just a few of the places I got to visit during my weekend is Boston. Check out all the North End has to offer at www.northendboston.com

Enjoy!

T

 

Regina Pizza – Boston, MA

Boston is a city that is rich in history and has an abundant selection of cuisine choices. After spending the day walking on the Freedom Trail, you undeniably will work up an appetite. I found myself in the North End of Boston, which is where you will find Little Italy.

At the corner of the street sits Regina Pizza – it’s neon sign beckoning you to enter. Regina’s has been serving brick oven pizza since 1926 and has been voted one of the best places for pizza in Boston.

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When you look at their menu and see three pages of pizzas it is hard not to be overwhelmed. I skimmed the listings a few times and landed on the Puttanesca pizza.

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What I liked about this pizza was that it had artichoke hearts, black olives, cheese, and fresh chopped basil. There is something amazing about having fresh basil on pizza; it adds an entirely new level of flavor. The artichoke hearts were nice big chunks so that when you pick up a slice it required two hands to hold it so that nothing falls off. Their homemade sauce was awesome – you could tell it has a long history built into the flavor.

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While there are lots of pizza places to visit in Boston, you must make Regina’s the first stop. There’s a reason they have been around for 90 years and their lines out the door proves that.

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Check them out at www.reginapizzeria.com

Enjoy!

T

New York Pizza – Homewood, AL

Deep in the heart of the Edgewood neighborhood is a NY style pizza place that’s been around since 1982.

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They have all the classics – calzones, pastas, pizza, and subs. On the appetizer list the first thing they call out is the Eggplant Rollitini. I asked my waitress if she recommended this dish and she said absolutely, it’s one of their top sellers. The eggplant was cooked perfectly – not too hard and not too mushy. The breading on the outside was just a dusting so that there is texture to the dish when you bite in. The filling was a combination of ricotta and Romano cheese – it was very creamy and was the star of the dish. It was so good I could have eaten the filling out of a bowl.

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The Bacon Pomodoro pasta caught my attention. The bacon was tossed with olive oil, a ton of parmesan cheese, and sun-dried tomatoes. It was served on top of spaghetti. The pasta had a salty flavor because of the bacon and tomatoes and then it balanced out with the creamy taste of the cheese. They also served it with their homemade garlic bread.

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I watched what other customers were ordering and the pizzas and calzones were clearly popular choices. They have tons of toppings to choose from. Their specialty pizzas are all named after places found in New York – very fun.

Check out their full menu at www.thenewyorkpizza.com

Enjoy!

T

Anthonino’s Taverna – St. Louis, MO

St. Louis has an area in town called The Hill – which is their Little Italy. There are many places you can visit for authentic Italian food. I chose to check out Anthonino’s Taverna.

The restaurant is located on the corner in the heart of The Hill. It looks small from the outside, but when you walk in you see that they expanded the restaurant in the back. It’s always wonderful to see a business succeed and expand; it’s great not only for them but for the community as well.

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After looking over their menu I can certainly see why they are so popular. They have everything from pasta dishes to pizza and a large selection of burgers – which I was not expecting at an Italian restaurant.

I started off with the crispy artichoke heart bottoms that was served with a garlic butter sauce. The breading was light and crunchy. I have never had artichokes cooked this way before and I really enjoyed it. The salty flavor of the garlic butter sauce paired well with the tangy flavor of the artichokes. It was a great dish to share. The garlic butter sauce would have also been perfect over a bed of pasta.

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I also ordered the toasted ravioli. I see these every now and then when I travel but they are normally not homemade. After the first bite, I could tell right away these were homemade. The dough was not too thick and they were filled to the max with a blend of beef, ricotta, and pecorino-romano cheese. The outside of the ravioli was covered in a thin layer of breadcrumbs that were loaded with Italian seasonings. They were delicious. The meat and cheese just melted in my mouth. They were served with homemade pasta sauce but I barely used it because the flavor of the ravioli was perfect on its own.

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If you headed to St. Louis, plan a trip to The Hill. You can check out all the restaurants and what activities will be going on at www.thehillstlouis.com. And you must make a stop by Anthonino’s Taverna www.anthoninos.com

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Enjoy!

T

Saw’s Juke Joint – Birmingham, AL

I was told by several Birmingham residents that I had to try Saw’s Juke Joint for some of the best Alabama BBQ and a huge selection of craft beers. Nestled in a quaint neighborhood, sits the renovated shopping center with Saw’s located right on the corner. Although everything is fairly new it still has old rustic charm. There are license plates on the walls from all over the United States. They have blue paper towel rolls on the tables that make you feel like you are in an old garage that’s been converted to a restaurant. It’s just a fun vibe. They have regular paper menus but there was no reason to look at those since everything is written on these huge chalk boards on the walls.

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One of the menu items that I was told I needed to try was the stuffed potato. Unfortunately, when I went to order one I was told they sold out of all their potatoes. While I was extremely disappointed that I couldn’t try one, I realized that those clearly are a popular item.

I knew I would be able to find something else just as good on the menu. I saw the pulled pork sandwich and knew that would hit the spot. The pork was very moist, but not a lot of bark on the edges like I usually see. It melted in my mouth as soon as I took a bite.

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I used their Saws sauce on the pork – which was more of a vinegar style sauce (like what you would see in Carolina BBQ). It make the pork have an extra kick.

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While I didn’t get what I was expecting too, I received a pleasant surprise with the yummy sandwich. I will have to make another visit in order to try this stuffed potato that’s so popular.

Check out Saw’s history and their locations at www.sawsbbq.com

Not far from the restaurant (only 5 miles) is Vulcan Park so I decided to make a stop and check it out. It’s one of Birmingham’s top attractions. Vulcan Park, located on Red Mountain, is home to the famous Vulcan statue, a 56ft iron statue of the Roman god Vulcan, god of the fire and forge. The status sits on a 124ft pedestal that overlooks downtown Birmingham.

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You can walk through the museum and learn about Birmingham’s history in the steel business. Also, learn about the sculptor of the statue and its debut at the St Louis World’s Fair.

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Plan your visit at www.visitvulcan.com

Enjoy!

T

Martin’s BBQ Joint – Nolensville, TN

BBQ restaurants that I visit almost always smoke their own meats, however, the smokers are usually outside or in the kitchen away from the view of the customers. It’s disappointing because the customers do not get to see all the work that goes into making the BBQ they enjoy so much. Martin’s BBQ changes all of that for their customers. Their pit is right there inside the restaurant.

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You can watch the meat go in and come out. You can see and smell the smoky flavor in the air as soon as you walk in. And be warned, you will smell like BBQ when you leave – so be prepared to get hungry later on. If the smoke is too overwhelming, you can sit on their covered patio for some fresh air.

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They have many meat options to select from. I had to go with my staple, pulled pork. I also really wanted to try their smoked turkey. Luckily they offer a combo plate that allows the choice of two meats plus two of their homemade sides and Texas toast. I love Texas toast with BBQ – Martin’s toasts the bread on both sides so that it is buttery and crispy.

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The smoked turkey was not over-powered with smoke flavor. It did not have any crispy edges the way the pork did, nevertheless, it was still delicious. It was very juicy which I was not expecting. The pulled pork had great bark and was also very juicy. The meats could hold their own in flavor but the taste was elevated when the homemade BBQ sauce was added.

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There are lots of sides to choose from. I went for the mac and cheese (a perfect pairing with BBQ) and the baked beans. Even the beans had a wonderful smoky flavor. I also made sure to order an extra side of their homemade French fries to share with the table.

If you are in the mood for BBQ then Martin’s BBQ Joint is the place to be. See their complete menu at www.martinsbbqjoint.com

Enjoy!

T