Today is a good reason to eat dessert first! Happy National Dessert Day! I am enjoying a warm apple crumble with ice cream.
Enjoy!
T
National Dessert Day
Piece – Chicago, IL
When visiting Chicago, I asked some locals where they like to go for pizza. It was suggested I check out Piece. They offer woodfire pizza and a large selection of beers. So, if locals like this place, I thought I should check them out.
Piece is a great place to go to watch sports. There are tv’s all over the restaurant. There is also a great amount of natural lighting that make the restaurant nice and bright.
I could smell the pizza as soon as I walked in. I was getting so hungry. Knowing it would take a little longer to get the pizza, I made sure to place my order right away.
While I waited for the pizza, I also got the goat cheese starter. The fresh goat cheese was baked in the homemade marinara sauce and a drizzle of olive oil and oregano. They served butter toasted French bread on the side. I spread the creamy goat cheese on the bread and then put on a layer of the marinara sauce. The cheese had a tangy taste to it, which is very different from the taste of mozzarella. The marinara sauce had a great flavor from the oregano that was added in. The bread added a nice crunch and was the perfect vehicle to eat this dish.
My pepperoni pizza came out just as I was finishing the goat cheese. It was perfect timing. This pizza was a lot larger than I was expecting. I ordered a medium that was supposed to serve 2-3 people. This pizza could easily serve 4-5 people.
The crust was not too thick and not to thin. It was just right and had an awesome crispness to it from the oven. There were a few scorch marks on it that added a slight smoky taste. The pepperoni was also crispy form the oven. The saltiness from the cheese and pepperoni complemented the sweetness from the crust.
Piece was indeed a great place for pizza. It is not far from a train stop so it is easy to get to and from the location. If you are in the Chicago area, check them out. Visit their website at www.piecechicago.com
Enjoy!
T
Denino’s Pizzeria – Brick, NJ
If you are looking for some good Italian food that is quick, Denino’s Pizzeria is the perfect place. All the locals are visiting this restaurant.
Thy have a couple of items that are always my go too. The arancini is one of the best (outside of Brooklyn). They are jumbo in size. The middle is loaded with meat and peas and filled with extra cheese. When you slice it open the cheese starts to pour out. I covered it wit the homemade pasta sauce that came on the side. The sauce blended with the cheese which made each bite more filling. You can eat this as a meal, but it is also great to share this dish as well.
The meatball sub is also a great lunch item. I did not eat the whole thing, but I did try some of the meatball itself. The meatball was dense with the meat blend they used. They did not use too much of the filler like breadcrumbs. The seasoning in the meat was savory, which paired well with the tanginess from the pasta sauce. Each bite was moist from the meat and sauce combo.
For my main dish I ordered the chicken piccata. This is not on their regular menu. This was a special day because chicken piccata is one of my favorite dishes. They cooked two large chicken breasts in an awesome lemon butter sauce. They put in a ton of capers and onions for extra flavor. They also included artichokes. These were a nice addition that I have never had before. The chicken was tender and moist. The artichokes added texture and an extra tangy taste along with the capers. All of this was on a pile of spaghetti. The portion was huge and could easily be shared. Or take it home for lunch the next day.
Denino’s is a great go to place for Italian. They have a great menu of staple dishes plus they always have a few specials. Check them out at www.deninosbricknj.com
Enjoy!
T
National Taco Day
Tacos are not just reserved for Tuesdays…. enjoy some tacos today on National Taco Day
Enjoy!
T
Crab’s Claw Inn – Lavallette, NJ
A couple of years ago I got to visit Crab’s Claw Inn near the beach in Lavallette, New Jersey. I was lucky to get to go back recently. The place was packed. I really lucked out and got a seat at the bar right as someone was getting up to leave.
I started off by ordering a red sangria. It was Friday and I deserved to start the weekend off right. It was a big glass and cold which was perfect for this hot summer day. They used a nice, smooth red wine to make the sangria. They also used an assortment of fruits to blend with the wine.
The first dish that was ordered was the Tuna Nachos. This reminded me of a deconstructed tuna roll that was missing the rice and just put on top of a crunchy wonton. The tuna was tender and slightly seared on the outside. The ponzu sauce they covered the tuna with added a fantastic, sweet taste and it complemented the tuna perfectly.
The clam chowder was the perfect size cup. Not too big, but enough to satisfy my taste. The chowder was extremely creamy. They used big pieces of tender clams throughout. There were not too many vegetables in this chowder, so I was able to enjoy the clams.
The Mussels at Crab’s Claw are amazing. They are cooked in a garlic butter sauce. The mussels were tender and full of garlic flavor. There was so much garlic butter left in the bowl that I needed to ask for a little more bead. I could not let this garlic butter do to waste so I soaked it all up with the bread.
The food was fantastic. I am glad I got to make another visit. Check them out at www.thecrabsclaw.com
Enjoy!
T
Ferdinando’s Focacceria – Brooklyn, NY
Whenever I travel to New York I make sure to have time to head to Brooklyn to visit Ferdinando’s Focacceria. They are a neighborhood Sicilian restaurant that has been serving up homemade dishes for over 100 years. They are an institution that almost everyone knows about them.
I got there right as they opened, so I was able to get a seat right away. The first thing I did was order a cold Manhattan Special. This is a cold coffee soda that is on tap. It is refreshing and a great way to wake up.
The stuffed artichoke was the first thing that came to the table. Of all the times I have visited this place, I never tried the artichoke. That was about to change this visit. The artichoke was covered in seasoned breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese. The breadcrumbs were loaded with Italian seasonings, which made the artichoke meat taste savory. As I ate closer and closer to the enter, the flavor got more and more intense. The petals from the artichoke were so addicting.
Whenever I visit Ferdinando’s, I always make sure to order an Arancini. Their rice balls are some of the best I have ever eaten. The are big in size and loaded with meat and peas in the center. The rice itself is creamy in taste. The outside crust had a great crispiness to it. They put a nice amount of sauce on the meat and peas that you do not need any more.
The last must have item is the Panelle Special. Panelle is a fritter that is made from chickpea flour. The dough is formed and fried up. It was placed on a fresh made Italian roll with Ricotta cheese and shredded parmesan cheese.
The bread had a great crunch on the outside and was soft inside. The panelle had a great crunch to it as well. The flavor is very mild, and it reminds me of a potato pancake. The fresh Ricotta cheese added a smooth texture and creaminess to the bite. It is a filling sandwich and can be messy to eat with all the Ricotta.
The food is amazing at Ferdinando’s. It is no wonder why they are still around. Check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/category/Italian-Restaurant/FERDINANDOS-FOCACCERIA-287577861134/
Enjoy!
T
National Coffee Day
Whether it is hot or iced, enjoy a cup of coffee today!
Enjoy!
T
Crafty Crab – Lakeland, FL
Throughout my travels I have noticed crab restaurants starting to pop up. There was one that opened in Lakeland, Florida called Crafty Crab. I thought I would check them out.
As soon as I walked in, I was transported to the beach. There was fishing décor everywhere. It reminded me of the seafood restaurants I visited as a kid on vacation.
I ordered a few appetizers to try. The fried calamari were the first to come out. These were thick rings that were extremely tender. The breading was very crispy. They served a marinara sauce on the side. The sauce was slightly salty. The calamari go perfectly with this sauce. It gives the dish a savory feel.
I also tired the crab bites. These were basically mini crab cakes. The breading had a slight hint of sweetness, like a hush puppy. It came with a tarter like sauce, but I did not try it. I really was enjoying the flavor from the crab bite itself.
I saw crawfish on the menu and decided to order that for my lunch. They serve all their seafood in boil bags. So, I got this giant bag filled with crawfish, red potatoes, and corn on the cob. There is a choice of seasoning for all the seafood ordered. I got the Crafty Cajun original seasoning.
When the bag came to the table I started laughing because it was so big.
I opened it carefully and put everything onto the metal tray. Naturally I was wearing a white skirt, so I had to be very careful not to get sauce on everything.
I made sure to wear the bib and gloves. It is messy to eat crawfish. The gloves helped prevent my fingers from smelling like the sauce all day.
The crawfish were jumbo in size. They were full of meat. I really got the hang of opening them up. I just kept repeating the phrase “Pinch, Twist, Suck”. The seasoning was perfect, it had a hint of Old Bay. It is amazing how well that seasoning goes with seafood. The crawfish was tender and sweet. That was a great complement to the saltiness of the sauce.
The red potatoes were tender and sweet as well. I made sure to soak them up in the sauce as well. The corn was the last thing I ate. It had all the spices mixed in between all the kernels. By this time the sauce started to get a little spicier to me. It paired well with the sweetness of the corn.
I really enjoyed the food I tried at Crafty Crab. I am looking forward to going back and trying another one of their seafood boils.
Check out their menu at www.craftycrabrestaurant.com
Enjoy!
T
National Chocolate Milk Day
Enjoy a nice cold glass of chocolate milk today!
Enjoy!
T
National Pancake Day
Whether it is for breakfast or dinner, grab a stack of pancakes to celebrate National Pancake Day.
Enjoy!
T