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Hash House a Go Go – Las Vegas, NV
When you are in Las Vegas there are a variety of things to do. In one day you can go to the spa, hang at the pool, check out a show, and hit the tables. Before you know it the sun is rising and you are hungry. There are so many places to eat at on the Las Vegas strip but if you are in the mood for a BIG breakfast then you need to check out Hash House A Go Go.
They have gotten so popular they have 2 locations on the strip: The Linq Hotel & Casino and The Rio Hotel & Casino. Plus you can always visit their original location if you are in San Diego.
To call their breakfasts big is an understatement. They are HUGE. When the food arrives to the table it’s almost impossible to get all the plates to fit.
I was hungry but not starving so I went for the “Tractor Driver Combo” which is a little smaller of a dish: two eggs, potatoes (but if you are watching your carbs you can get bacon or sausage) and one giant pancake (or flapjacks as they call it).
Their potatoes were more like mashed potatoes than a hash brown. I would not have thought that would go well with eggs but it did. My compliments to the chef!
If you have been partying all night in Vegas and need a hearty breakfast I recommend Hash House A Go Go. Get there early because everyone else in Vegas has the same idea too.
Enjoy!
T
Smokin Thighs – Nashville, TN
I was intrigued by this place when I heard that they grill their wings, no frying. I do not find that very often. I was also surprised that in addition to wings they did serve up grilled chicken thighs – hence the name of the restaurant.
My waitress was wonderful and I asked her what appetizer she would recommend. Hands down she said I must try their Buffalo Chicken Dip. She was 100% right, this dip was amazing. It had a smoky flavor from the chucks of chicken thigh meat plus it was loaded with shredded chicken breast meat that was mixed with melted cheese. They topped it off with jalapeno peppers and tomatoes. There was so much cheesy chicken in this dip it was like I was eating a cheesy chicken salad. If it came in a little larger on a bowl it could have been a whole meal.
On their listing of side dishes I noticed that they had Chicken and Dumplings. I was really interested to see what their take would be on this southern classic. They use a peppery gravy and thick dumplings and it was then topped off with more of their chicken thighs.
Now it was time for their wings, the main reason I wanted to stop in. They have many different flavors to choose from so I decided to try one dry rub and one sauce. For the dry rub I went with their Nashville Hot Chicken. It was not too spicy but had a slight kick. The sauce I chose was the Asian Persuasion, a sweet and spicy combination. I loved this sauce. Not only was it perfect on the wings, but I used the rest of the tortilla chips from the appetizer to eat the rest of it.
While I was eating I got to enjoy their wall of televisions that were showing a bunch of football games. Since I was going to be there for a little while, I ended up ordering one more thing on the menu. It was big so I had to share it, their Thighs on Texas Toast. I saw a note on the menu that is was a “Fan Favorite” so I had to see what the fuss was about and it ended up being my favorite item of the day. It’s a simple dish: Texas toast that has been grilled a little (to add some crispiness) and it was topped with their homemade mac & cheese and crumbled bacon. It was a sweet mac and cheese which I have never had before and it was a perfect way to end the entire meal since the earlier dishes were more salty. If you can only try one thing on their menu it needs to be this.
See all their mouth watering choices at: www.smokinthighs.com
Enjoy!
T
Field House – Philadelphia, PA
Across the street from the Reading Terminal you can find Field House.
This is where the Philadelphia Gator Club meets to watch football games. What a wonderful group of people. They were completely welcoming to an out-of-towner.
To kick off the party right, they had a special drink on the menu for the group – the “Gator Chomp”. It was the perfect way to celebrate the football game.
They had many traditional pub foods on their menu, all of which sounded good. However, their Kettle Chip Nachos sounded amazing. These were not typical nachos, they layered the chips with house made beer braised short ribs, chilies, smoked melted Gouda cheese and salsa.
While the flavor combinations worked so well together, it was the short ribs that sent the dish over the top. The meat just fell apart when you touched it and it was so moist. I couldn’t get enough of the short ribs. I wanted just a bowl of that.
I was able to save room for their cheese steak. I couldn’t come to Philly and not have a cheese steak. The chipped sirloin they used was tender when I bit into it and they smothered it with their homemade cheese sauce. It was definitely satisfying.
If you want to watch your favorite team head over to Field House. Check them out at: www.fieldhousephilly.com
Enjoy!
T
Dinic’s – Philadelphia, PA
The Reading Terminal has been an institution in Philadelphia since 1892. It’s story is one of ups and downs but speaks to the American entrepreneur spirit. This market is bustling with over 80 businesses where visitors and local can get everything from homemade meals & desserts to flowers & books.
To be overwhelmed in the Reading Market would be an understatement. Luckily for me I was given advice before I arrived on how to handle this place – know what you are hungry for. It may sound simple but it really was the best advice.
While in Philly I wanted to have Italian Roasted Pork and Dinic’s is the place you have to go to when you are in Reading Market. All I had to do was follow the line, it lead me right to Dinic’s.
As I squeezed my way up to the counter, I ordered my roasted pork and added broccoli rabe and had it topped with a slice of sharp provolone cheese. The rolls they used for the sandwich were fresh and it made the sandwich all the better.
I saw the size of the sandwich, so I decided to order just a half for myself, which was a good choice. The pork was perfect just on it’s own, but paired with the broccoli rabe and provolone cheese added a kick to the flavor. It is what made the flavor of the sandwich stand out.
This place was so busy while I was there. Their menu is simple but they definitely have a following. The amount of pork that they go through each day is amazing.
If you are heading to Reading Terminal Market I recommend trying Dinic’s. Check out their menu and their hours at : tommydinics.com
To help plan your trip to Reading Terminal check out their complete listing of businesses at: www.readingterminalmarket.org
Enjoy!
T
Athens Family Restaurant – Nashville, TN
I found another great place to get a hearty breakfast in Nashville – Athens Family Restaurant. And like most breakfast places I’ve tried there was a line out the door for a table.
Since I had to wait, I made the best use of my time by combing through the menu to decide what I wanted to try. They serve both Greek and American dishes. It was a lot to choose from but my eyes fell upon the “Morning Paradise” – French toast covered in powdered sugar, cinnamon, blueberries, bananas, and then covered in whipped cream. Was this breakfast or dessert? I didn’t care, I just knew it was a must try.
It was sweet from the whipped cream and powdered sugar and it was off set by the sour taste of the blueberries. It was a great complement. The french toast was cooked to perfection with the crust nice and crispy from the grill but soft in the center as it soaked up the melting whipped cream.
If you want breakfast – this is the spot to go since it is served all day. They do have a large lunch and dinner menu so it’s worth going back to try what else they offer.
You can see their whole menu at: www.athensfamilyrestaurant.com
Enjoy!
T
The Loveless Cafe – Nashville, TN
One of the oldest highways in the United States is the Natchez Trace Parkway. It starts in Tennessee and extends south into Mississippi. If you have ever driven on this road, you have probably come across The Loveless Cafe that looks like something out of the 1950’s and that’s because it is. What started out as motel that offered travelers are great place to stop along their journey it is now a popular place for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
I was there for breakfast because I heard that their biscuits were award winning and a must try. There was a wait for a table, but in my experience that is always a good sign. But don’t fear, if you don’t have the time to sit and eat, you can get your food to go. They even have a cute gift shop where you can get homemade jams and jellies to take home.
I loved the biscuits. They were light and flaky. They were perfect with the homemade jam and very filling when you add the homemade sausage gravy on top.
So get in your car or hop on a motorcycle and head to The Loveless Cafe. It will be worth the drive.
Enjoy!
T
Big Lou’s Pizza – San Antonio, TX
They say everything is bigger in Texas. Well Big Lou’s Pizza lives up to that! I was not expecting to see a 42 inch pizza when I stopped in. I was just there to order a 12 inch pie to go.
While I was waiting for my pizza, I was shocked when I saw 2 people bringing out this enormous pizza to a family’s table. In reality it could have fed at least 2 families. I knew I had to take a picture because no one would believe it.
My reasonably sized pizza was just the perfect size for me.
If you are hungry for pizza for yourself or the whole neighborhood stop by Big Lou’s Pizza.
Enjoy!
T
Twisted Root Burger Co. – Dallas, TX
If you have hung out in Dallas in recent years, you have probably seen the area of Deep Ellum undergo a transformation. It is the place you have to visit for great food. This is where you will find Twisted Root Burger Co.
This place has won multiple awards for their burgers and you know they are proud of it because it’s written right on the wall.
They have a great selection of burger combinations on the menu. They have options like: “Southern Comfort” – bourbon bbq sauce, fried green tomatoes, bacon, & cheddar -or- “The Kevin Bacon” – bacon & blue cheese. If these combinations don’t fit your taste-buds you can build your own burger. They also have selections for the vegetarians and gluten-free customers.
One of the other nice surprises that they have is homemade Root Beer. This is a MUST TRY! It is awesome on its own and as a special treat you can get the Root Beer Float.
Twisted Root Burger Co has become so popular they have multiple locations around the Dallas area. Check out their website for a list of locations: www.twistedrootburgerco.com
Enjoy!
T
Taste of Texas – Houston, TX
About 10 years ago I had the pleasure of trying a local steakhouse in Houston called Taste of Texas. The steak I had was the BEST I have ever eaten. I was recently back in Houston and I had the opportunity to go back. I took 3 friends with me so that they could experience the mouth watering steaks for themselves. Let’s just say there was not a lot of conversation at the table when dinner arrived.
This place is a Houston institution. It’s been around since 1977 and is the largest Independently owned restaurant in the state. They serve Certified Angus Beef and to add to the experience, you can actually visit their butcher shop and select the steak you want to eat.
To start your visit off right, you must try their salad bar. It is loaded with fresh ingredients so that you can build the salad exactly how you want – including an assortment of salad dressings to choose from. Do you like cheese? Then you will be pleased to see the Texas size blocks of white and yellow cheddar that you get to slice yourself.
Now for those folks that are not watching their carbs, the restaurant offers 3 types of freshly made breads: Jalapeno corn bread, Asiago cheese roll, classic yeast roll. It is hard to decide on just one, so grab a bread basket and try all 3. If you like butter on your dinner rolls, they offer 2 homemade choices: apple butter & cinnamon apple butter.
For the star of the show, I chose the 6 ounce center cut filet. You can get it bacon wrapped if you want but it is not necessary. I like my steaks medium so that it is still a little juicy when it comes out. The trick that Taste of Texas does is they serve the steaks on a sizzling plate, it helps not only keep the steaks hot, but it finishes them off just right. From a seasoning stand point, you have the option of adding a lemon pepper or you can try the melted garlic herb butter or melted blue cheese butter. My favorite is the garlic herb, it adds a dynamic flavor to the steak that sets it apart from all others I have ever had.
I know that the steaks are the star of the show, but you can’t overlook the supporting cast – the side dishes. They have so many to choose from including: macaroni & cheese, Texas Au Gratin Potatoes, Brussels Sprouts with bacon jam, fresh asparagus with Hollandaise sauce. I went for the Brussels Sprouts, mainly because of the bacon jam. The jam really complemented the bitterness of the Brussels sprouts.
If red meat is not your thing its ok – they have a nice selection of chicken, tuna, salmon, and shrimp to choose from, all of which sound delicious and are cooked with the same love as they do their steaks.
I was lucky to be at the restaurant during the Christmas season, so I was able to see their beautiful decorations.
I was so happy to get back to Taste of Texas and I was thrilled that every bite was exactly how I remembered. I recommend this to anyone heading to Houston. See their full menu at www.tasteoftexas.com
Enjoy!
T
