Gator Girl – Out of the Swamp – Page 3 – Enjoying the Sights and Flavors from around the USA and the world

Cornish Pasty Co – Phoenix, AZ

If you’ve ever been to the upper Peninsula of Michigan, you may have heard of a dish called pasties. These are meat pie type items that were cooked for workers in the mines. The pastry dough was filled with steak, potatoes, rutabaga, and onions. It was an easy meal for the minors to take to work but the history of the pasty date back all the way to the 1200s in Cornwall, England.

I was not expecting to find a restaurant in Phoenix, Arizona to have these pasties. But that is what I found with Cornish Pasty Co.

I could not wait to try the Cottage Pie. This was seasoned ground beef with peas, carrots, grilled onions, mashed potatoes, and cheddar cheese all stuffed into a flaky pastry. It was all the classic ingredients of a shepherd’s pie in a handheld meal. There was a great savory flavor to the meat. The potatoes added a nice creaminess that held everything together. The cheese added a hint of saltines. They served a red wine gravy on the side. It was perfect for dipping and added an extra savory element.

I was interested in trying something else unique, so I ordered the Cornish Meatballs. These were homemade meatballs that were wrapped in bacon. They were sautéed with onions and served in a white wine mustard gravy. The bacon was crispy and added extra flavor to the meatballs. The gravy was savory with the tangy taste from the mustard. It was a perfect compliment.

They had Scotch Eggs on the menu, which I had to order. I love scotch eggs, and do not see them very often. These are hard boiled eggs that are wrapped in savory sausage, lightly breaded, and fried. They sound like they should be served at breakfast, but they are a great savory appetizer that is perfect for sharing. They do usually serve mustard on the side, but I like mine plain so I can enjoy the flavor of the sausage.

To wash all these down, we enjoyed an Aperol Spritz and an Old-Fashion.

Cornish Pasty Co is in a great location. It is an old industrial building. They have a main restaurant and bar area plus a bar upstairs and downstairs. It’s a perfect place to go with a group of people.

Check them out at www.cornishpastyco.com

Enjoy!

BellaBrava – Tampa, FL

If you’re looking for an Italian restaurant in Midtown Tampa, check out BellaBrava.

Sitting at the bar is the perfect place to order cocktails and have fast service. We had an Old-Fashion and a Strawberry Balsamic Martini. The martini was sweet with a little sourness. It included vodka, strawberries, sweet balsamic, simple syrup, and lemon.

They brought out homemade Focaccia bread. It was slightly dense but melted in my mouth once it was mixed with the creamy olive oil and roasted garlic.

If you like gnocchi, then you must order the Stuffed Gnocchi al la Vodka. The gnocchi were like little potato pillows that were stuffed with a creamy cheese blend. They served it in a vodka sauce. The sauce was savory and creamy. They mixed roasted wild mushrooms, and oven dried tomatoes on top for some added texture.

The Pasta Brava is a must order. Radiatori pasta was blended with tender grilled chicken and cotto ham. This was tossed with peas and wild mushrooms in an asiago cream sauce. The texture was immensely creamy with a rich flavor from the cheese. I could not stop eating the tender pasta. The peas added a nice sweet touch to the dish.

If you like vegetables, then the Pasta Caponata is for you. Mafaldine pasta is in a Pomodoro sauce. There are tender pieces of eggplant, garlic, red, bell pepper, olives, and capers mixed throughout. These vegetables added saltines, as well as a sweetness. Fresh oregano, basil and pangrattato were accented on top. The pasta in this dish was also extremely tender. I love fresh pasta. It helps make the dish exceptional.

If you are looking for a great Italian restaurant then check out BellaBrava at www.bellabravatampa.com

Enjoy!

La Piazza Al Forno – Glendale, AZ

If you are in the Glendale Arizona area, you need to check out La Piazza Al Forno as soon as possible. After 18 years they will be closing their doors in July 2025.

This restaurant was featured on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, which is why I went to check them out.

They make all their pizzas in a woodfire oven, which is what makes their pizza so crispy.

They have many pizza options to choose from, but we ordered the Italian Stallion. This handmade pizza was loaded with San Marzano tomatoes, homemade mozzarella cheese, sausage, pepperoni, prosciutto de parma (cotto), and sopressata, which is a spicy salami. The dough was sweet. The smoky taste from the oven was a nice accent. All the meats added saltines, but that was complimented by the creamy mozzarella cheese. It was the perfect ratio of cheese, meat and sauce.

They have other items on their menu, and I wanted to try the Ravioli Fritti, which are fried ravioli served with marinara sauce on the side. The breading was crispy, and the cheese on the inside was extremely creamy.

The Polpette are their house made fried meatballs. They had a nice crispy texture on the outside. Inside they were moist and had great seasoning with nice pieces of sweet onion. They go perfectly with their homemade marinara sauce.

So if you’re in the Glendale area, make sure to check them out before they shut their doors.

www.lapiazzafamiglia.com

Enjoy!

La Segunda Bakery – Tampa, FL

Did you know that Tampa has a bakery that is over 100 years old? La Segunda Bakery has been baking fresh breads, pastries, and sandwiches for generations.

Expect a line when you walk in. But don’t worry, you can make use of that wait by looking over their menu and gazing at all the beautiful desserts.

There’s nowhere to sit so you’re getting your food to go. If you are like me, you will dig into your food as soon as you get in the car.

Check them out if you’re in the area. www.lasegundabakery.com

Enjoy!

Meg O’ Malley’s – Melbourne, FL

If you are in downtown Melbourne, Florida, and looking for a great Irish pub, head to Meg O’Malley’s. They offer all the traditional Irish dishes, plus a few extra if you’re there for St. Patrick’s Day.

Start with their famous Irish Parliament Bean Soup. This homemade soup is the same recipe that is served in the Irish parliament, and they keep the price at $0.18. The soup is very savory and has a creamy texture.

If you like cabbage, then definitely order the Cabbage Wraps. They take ground corned beef and wrap it in tender cabbage. It’s served with fresh ground mustard on the side. The corned beef is juicy and full of flavor. The cabbage has a sweet taste that complements the salty corned beef.

The Irish Stew was amazing. Their beef is extremely tender and rich. The flavor of the broth is savory and full of potatoes and root vegetables. This is a very filling stew that has such a comforting feeling.

The Shepherd’s Pie is prepared perfectly and looked so beautiful when it came out. The tender ground beef was tossed in a savory brown gravy, along with root vegetables and sweet peas. Then it was smothered with mashed potatoes and baked until the potatoes get crispy. The beef and vegetable mixture was bursting with flavor. The potatoes were creamy and helped soak up the extra gravy.

If you’re having a hard time selecting something off the menu then I suggest you order the Pub Trinity. This is smaller portions of the Irish classics: Shepherd’s Pie, Irish Stew, and Bangers and Mash. You can’t go wrong with trying a little bit of everything.

Along with all the dishes came a side of Buttered Cabbage and a roll. The cabbage was tender and had a sweet taste. It’s a very classic Irish dish.

If you love Irish comfort food or just want to get a pint of Guinness, then Meg O’Malley’s is the place to be.

www.megomalleys.com

Enjoy!

American Social – Tampa, FL

If you were in the Tampa area and want a great place to go for brunch, then American Social is the place for you. It is right there on the water, the perfect place for fresh air and a cool breeze.

Brunch calls for cocktails. This brunch we went for mimosas, cosmos, and martinis.

We decided to get a few small dishes to share. The Soft Baked Pretzels were perfect. They were hot when they came out. They had a light salty taste on the outside. I love dipping them in beer cheese. They also served a honey mustard on the side.

Deviled Eggs are perfect for sharing. These eggs came out with candied bacon on top. The sweetness of the bacon was delicious. It paired well with the creamy flavor of the eggs.

The Hot Chicken Sliders were the last thing out. They made fluffy buttermilk biscuits and placed Nashville hot chicken pieces in the middle. They used Mike’s hot honey and drizzled all over. It was a double dose of heat, but the honey also added sweetness.

If you want a relaxing place to enjoy the afternoon, then check out American Social.

www.americansocialbar.com

Enjoy!

Bohemian Biergarten – Boulder, CO

I never expected to find a central European restaurant in the middle of Boulder, Colorado. When I saw Bohemian Biergarten and took a look at their menu I knew I had to check them out.

Their menu had foods from Germany, Poland, Austria, Czech Republic, and Hungary. The restaurant was a beautiful historic building with vaulted ceilings and brick walls. It really helped capture an old world feel.

I had to order the Pierogies. I could not wait to try these homemade cheese and potato dumplings. I got them fried, but boiled is also an option. They were garnished with onions, garlic, and mushrooms. The filling was so creamy and the dough was tender. They served a spicy dipping sauce on the side that was unique, and it truly was spicy.

The Bavarian Poutine was spectacular. The fresh cut fries were sweet tasting and topped with melted Gruyere cheese, and a house creamy mushroom sauce. The mushrooms were a nice addition to the gravy, it added additional texture. It was a rich and savory poutine. It was great for sharing.

They had many beers and cocktails to choose from. I ordered one of the house specialties called The Honey Bite. This was a blend of wild cider, paulaner hefeweizen. There was a thin layer of foam that had honey drizzled on top. It was an amazing combination, the honey in each sip really made this drink delicious.

The food and drinks were amazing and I’m glad I came across this place. To my surprise when I went to the restroom, I saw that Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives had visited this place. I found Guy’s signature on the mirror. What a fun surprise.

If you are in Boulder make sure to check them out.

www.bohemianbiergarten.com

Enjoy!

Redstone Meadery – Boulder, CO

While traveling around the US, it is easy to come across a variety of wineries, breweries and distilleries. I always enjoy visiting those places. But in Boulder, Colorado, I got very excited when we came across a Meadery. These are not common to find and as someone who loves mead getting to visit Redstone Meadery was a nice surprise

It’s a small place, but they offer so many choices of meads that you can try and purchase.

The Passionfruit Nectar was one of my favorites. It had a tropical sweet flavor that became tart as I continue to drink, then at the end, it had a slight spicy taste.

Another favorite, which I bought a bottle of, was the traditional Mountain Honey Wine. I could taste the sweet honey flavors of Orange Blossom and Wildflower. It gave off a consistent taste of citrus with each sip.

The 2011 Peach Reserve was released in 2018. There was not much left. It was sweet for sure with a blend of three different honeys that included meadow foam. It has a great subtle flavor of peaches.

Red Raspberry Mountain Honey Wine had a medium sweet taste. The raspberry flavor blended well with the clover and orange blossom honey. It was very smooth and would taste delicious with dark chocolate.

An interesting mead was the Nectar of the Hops. This was a dry mead with very little sweetness. It was created with hops, so it had a subtle taste like you would find in beer. It even had a light bubbly feel to it. It was extremely interesting.

If you like mead or just want a unique experience, then check out Redstone Meadery. The staff is really friendly. Check them out at www.redstonemeadery.com

Enjoy!

Tony P’s – Denver, CO

Tony P’s is a great neighborhood bar in Denver, Colorado.

You can sit at tables or at the bar. I love sitting at the bar and I got great service from the owner.

There are some must tries if you visit.

The garlic bread is freshly made breadsticks that are baked to perfection. They are topped with olive oil, garlic and Parmesan cheese. You can add mozzarella for extra, but it’s not necessary. They were delicious just on their own.

Pan roasted meatballs we perfect. These homemade meatballs are tender and juicy. The flavor was amazing. You get four big meatballs so it’s perfect for sharing. They serve their homemade marinara sauce on top. The taste of oregano and basil in their sauce is amazing. They serve grilled ciabatta on the side, which is perfect to soak up all the extra sauce

If you love brussels sprouts then order the Brussel sprouts with pancetta. This is a dish is char-roast in their wood-burning oven. Then they drizzle balsamic glaze and olive oil on top. They sprinkle parmigiano Reggiano cheese to give a little extra salty taste. The crispy texture of the sprouts was perfect.

With a wood-burning oven ordering a pizza is a must. We ordered a small pepperoni pizza to share. The crust came out nice and crispy. I love the burnt spots on the crust. It had a great smoky taste. I enjoyed the homemade dough. It was sweet and complemented the salty taste of the cheese.

If you are still hungry, check out their assortment of homemade desserts. They are perfect to take to go. If you’re in the Highland area of Denver, make sure to check out Tony P’s. It was so delicious we visited twice.

Check out their website at www.tonypspizza.com

Enjoy!

Whetstone Chocolates – St Augustine, FL

Whetstone Chocolates in Saint Augustine, Florida has been making chocolates for decades.

When you walk in, there’s a display set up to look like the I Love Lucy candy wrapper episode.

There is Whetstone history all along the walls from it’s start in 1967 as a home kitchen. Henry and Esther Whetstone started with 13 fudges and hand dipped chocolates.

In 1991 Hershey asked them to make melt resistant chocolate for the military. The result was the Desert Bar used in Desert Storm. They also started producing Hershey kisses with almonds.

In 1995 Nestlé asked them to make Nestlé’s Magic Ball. This is hollowed chocolate with Disney characters inside.

This is still a working chocolate factory, so what is being made in the factory on each tour can be bought in the a shop next door.

To start the tour we got to sample the Fudge. I got to try peanut butter chocolate and cookies and cream. This is how they started their business, and I can see why it was so popular. The fudge was really creamy.

We learned a lot about the chocolate making process. Everything from the bean to the bar. You learn a lot of fun facts about chocolate. For example, all chocolate melts at 80°F; Fudge melts at 150°F; As long as only cocoa butter is in the ingredients, then it’s considered chocolate. Any other oils that are added changes it to chocolate flavoring.

On the tour, we got to try several of their chocolates. We started with milk chocolate and ended with dark chocolate.

Aviles is a blended milk chocolate with 31% Cocco. This is a Swiss formula with light sweetness. It melts fast and is super creamy.

San Marco is white chocolate with 0% cocoa. It’s creamy and light. It has a caramel taste. It’s sweeter than milk chocolate. It’s 55% sugar and 30% cocoa butter.

De Leon is dark chocolate with 47% cocoa. It’s got a reddish tint with fruity wine flavors. This is made from the Dutch process. Dark chocolate doesn’t have any milk in it. There is a little milk fat in this piece, which is what makes it creamy.

Menendez is a dark chocolate with 72% Cocco. It’s made from the Swiss process. It’s low roasted and aged to provide a mellow balanced flavor. It’s very bitter and has a slight aftertaste. Everyone’s taste buds are different so this will taste different for everybody.

Artisan chocolates are made during each tour and you get a special artisan chocolate to try. It’s made special each day for sampling. We even got to watch it being made in the factory.

We got to actually walk the working factory on the tour. We got to watch molds being filled and wrapped. They were making shells and alligators the day we were there. We got to see the cooling racks. We got to see how trays of chocolate got worked.