Island Dog Bar – Key West, FL

Walking around Duval Street in Key West really worked up my appetite and made me thirsty. I passed a bar called Island Dog that looked popular, so I stopped in.

What better way to celebrate being in Key West than with a cocktail called a Key Lime Colada. They blended a Pina Colada mix with Don Q coconut rum and Keke’s key lime liqueur. They “salted” the rim of the glass with crushed cookies to be reminiscent of the graham cracker crust of a key lime pie. It was extremely clever. I could taste the coconut flavor from the Pina Colada with a hint of the key lime. It was almost like a dessert.

One of the things that the Key’s are known for in conch. Conch is a mollusk that live in those beautiful seashells you find at souvenir shops. I wanted to make sure that I tried a few conch items that were on the menu.

I started with their white conch “chowdah”. They had tons of conch in the creamy white broth that was loaded with potatoes, bacon, and fresh herbs. It reminded me of a clam chowder.

The conch was tender and cut into small pieces which made it easy to eat. They used a ton of fresh potatoes that were tender as well. The bacon added a little crunch and smoky flavor. It was a great creamy soup.

I also wanted to try the conch fritters. These are most certainly a Key West tradition. Tender pieces of conch were mixed with a batter that reminded me of hush puppies. They deep fried the fritters until they were extra crispy on the outside.

When I opened the fritter, steam just poured out. The seasoning they added to the batter was savory and sweet. It paired well with the conch that was slightly salty. The fritters were also really good when dipped in the fresh cocktail sauce. It added a little zip to each bite.

I did make a second visit to Island Dogs Bar during my trip to Key West. When I went back I ordered the chargrilled oysters. I was excited to see these on the menu which is why I went back.

These delicious oysters came out sizzling on the tray. I could not wait to dig in, but I needed to wait a few minutes to allow them to cool down. They were too hot to pick up.

The oyster meat was extremely tender. The garlic butter that they were cooked in was full of flavor. The parmesan cheese that was sprinkled on top added a great salty taste that accented the briny taste of the oyster.

I was so glad that I went to Island Dogs Bar twice. It allowed me to really experience what they had to offer. I highly recommend checking them out in Key West. Check out their website at www.islanddogsbar.com

Enjoy!

T

Islamorada Fish Company – Islamorada, FL

Driving down to Key West you pass through a few different island towns. About an hour outside of Key West is Islamorada, Florida. It was the perfect area to stop and get something for lunch. What better place to stop then the World Famous Islamorada Fish Company.

There is inside seating but with the restaurant being on the water, the best seats are outside on the deck. The deck was huge, and the views were absolutely breathtaking. It really makes you feel like you are in paradise.

I started off with conch fritters for the table. These are a staple for the Keys so I could not wait to try them. The breading was nice and crispy on the outside and it helped keep the inside hot. The filling had a great taste, almost like a hush puppy.

There were big pieces of conch throughout each bite. I liked the flavor of the fritter by itself but dipping it in some tarter sauce helped add a zesty taste.

All their sandwiches came with a side salad. It was a simple salad that had a nice Italian dressing. It was a fresh starter and was great to enjoy it with the breeze coming off the water.

I got the crab cake sandwich for my lunch. It was a big crab cake. The sweet crab meat was mixed with seasoned breadcrumbs and deep fried. It was good on the soft bun but after a few bites the bread was filling me up too fast, so I took the crab cake off. It was nice and crispy on the outside and soft and moist inside.

I was also able to taste the grilled grouper sandwich. The fresh grouper was flakey and had a great grilled taste. They melted a generous amount of cheese on top of the fish. I had never had cheese on grilled fish before. It was actually really good; the creaminess of the cheese paired well with the flakey grouper.

Visiting Islamorada Fish Company was the best way to kick off my vacation to the Keys. The view was perfect, and the food was great. They have a couple of locations across the country. If you can’t make it to the southern most point of the United States, you can always visit somewhere else.

Visit their website at www.islamoradafishco.com

Enjoy!

T

Woven + Bound – Chicago, IL

I was visiting Chicago on one of the coldest weekends of the year. I really did not want to venture out in that weather. Luckily for me there was a great restaurant inside the Marriott Marquis that I was able to get in to called Woven + Bound.

They had a lot of fresh farm to table dishes on the menu. I started with the bacon wrapped dates. These were a lot smaller on the plate than I expected. However, they still packed a flavor punch.

The dates were filled with creamy goat cheese. The bacon was crispy on the outside. It was the perfect bland of sweetness from the cheese and salty from the bacon. They drizzled a pear balsamic reduction on top that added a little kick in taste.

I ordered a cheese and meat board for the table. There was an assortment of cheeses but I enjoyed the blue cheese the most. It was not tangy like other blue cheeses I have had. There was also an assortment of meats that went great with the cheeses. They included capicola, rillettes, and prosciutto.

For my dinner I was looking forward to trying their version of chicken and dumplings. They served a quarter chicken still on the bone. The chicken was juicy and had a smoky taste that was wonderful with the savory gravy that was poured on top. They also had carrots, kale, and baby turnips on the plate. Those vegetables were also drenched in the gravy which helped them taste amazing.  There were only two small dumplings on my plate. They were good, however I really wished I had a few more to enjoy.

For dessert we ordered two options to share. The pretzel doughnut came out warm on the plate. The doughnut was covered in cinnamon and sugar. Inside was a creamy bourbon mascarpone cheese filling. It was so creamy and was great with the pretzel dough that was slightly sour.

The other dessert was the chocolate mousse cake. This warm chocolate cake had a layer of chocolate ganache on top. It came with a glass of milk on the side. I was not sure what to do with the milk at first. After I took my first bite of the cake I realized how heavy and thick it was. I ended up pouring the milk over the cake. After a few minutes the cake absorbed all the milk and made it much easier to cut in to. The milk also make the cake moist. It was an interesting dessert.

For a hotel restaurant, Woven + Bound was good. They offered some unique takes on classic dishes. Check them out at the hotel website www.marriott.com

Enjoy!

T

Catch 35 – Chicago, IL

I ventured out on an extremely cold evening in Chicago to visit Catch 35. I was told that this restaurant was really good, so I was not going to let a little weather hold me back.

I arrived a little early for my reservation so I enjoyed a glass of Processco at the bar.

Looking over the menu there were so many seafood options to choose from. I originally wanted to get the Yellowfin tuna but that was a popular fish that night because they were sold out. I went for my second choice of the Atlantic salmon.

I ordered the salmon grilled. It came out with a cucumber, shallot and lemon dill sauce poured on top. The salmon was cooked perfectly. It was flaky and moist. It tasted amazing with the dill sauce that offered a slight sour flavor. The cucumber pieces added a fresh element as well as a crunch. This sauce and cucumbers would be perfect over a salad.

The table got a side of Brussels sprouts to share. They were roasted so that they had nice crispy leaves. I dipped some bites into the dill sauce. I really liked that sauce!

I also ordered a cup of their shrimp and crab bisque. It was a nice creamy base with pieces fo fresh and chopped up shrimp and pieces of lump crab meat. I wish there was a little more of that in the bisque.

For dessert we shared the carrot cake bread pudding. This was an interesting blend of two desserts that I really like. The carrot cake was used as the bread in the dessert. It was sweet but very dense. There were fresh pieces of pineapple mixed throughout. The cream cheese icing was used as a glaze that was drizzled over the bread pudding. I enjoyed the spice flavor that was in the cake and the sweet icing complemented the cake.

My dinner was great at Catch 35. It was definitely worth going out in the Chicago cold. Check them out at www.catch35.com

Enjoy!

T

Billy Goat Tavern – Chicago, IL

There is a famous place in Chicago, near the United Center, that is known for their cheeseburgers called Billy Goat Tavern.

Billy Goat Tavern has a rich history that dates back to 1934, starting with the Greek immigrant who started the bar to the Billy Goat that fell off a truck and wandered inside. There is still a goat on display in the restaurant.

What I also learned is Billy Goat Tavern was also made famous on Saturday Night Live. It was the “Cheezborgor, Cheezborgor” skit.

The place was packed. It seemed like everyone had the same idea. They have burgers and hot dogs on the menu. I went for a cheeseburger. They grilled them up to order so there was a slight wait, but I figured it was going to be worth it.

The fresh beef patty came out of a huge fresh bun. After seeing how big the bun was I wish I had ordered a double patty.

They have a topping bar that you can use to customize your burger or hot dog to your liking. I kept mine simple with just adding some relish. I did not want to take away from the flavor of the meat. The burger was extremely juicy. It did not take me long to scarf it down.

I also got some French fries. They were hot and crispy. The perfect companion to a cheeseburger.

Now before I left Chicago I did visit another location of the Billy Goat Tavern. This time it was their location inside O’Hare airport. I figured it would be perfect to enjoy on the plane.

This visit I ordered a cheese dog paired with cheese fries. The hot dog was covered in liquid cheese. It made such a mess when I took a bite. There was so much cheese it oozed everywhere. It’s the perfect way to enjoy a cheese dog.

For the French fries, the cheese came on the side, so I had to dip the fries into the cheese. I would have preferred the cheese be poured over the fries.

I really enjoyed both of my visits to Billy Goat Tavern. It will definitely be my new go-to restaurant for when I am at the airport.

Check out their history at www.billygoattavern.com

Enjoy!

T

Eataly – Las Vegas, NV

I have read about the Italian eatery called Eataly for a few years now. I was excited when I went to Las Vegas and got to visit their 37th location. It is located in front of the new Park MGM hotel and casino (formerly the Monte Carlo).

It smelled so good as soon as I walked through the door. It was so overwhelming I did not know where to start. I decided the best way to start was to just walk around and get the lay of the land.

Gran Caffe Milano

I started off here so I could get a glass of wine. I tried the Lambrusco. It is a sparkling spumante that looked a little like grape juice. It was sweet but not overpowering.

Il Fritto

I strolled over to Il Fritto because they were serving up a variety of arancini. I have never seen so many different kinds of rice balls. I ordered two different varieties.

They also gave me some fresh made Italian bread. Cutting open the crispy crust revealed the soft center. They had an olive oil station where I was able to mix fresh extra virgin olive oil with cracked pepper and Parmesan cheese. This was the perfect blend to dip my bread in.

Arancini Di Funghi – This was a mushroom rice ball. It was full of earthy flavor that was also creamy from the cheese they included.

Arancini Ragu alla Bolognese – The rice was mixed with a Ragu sauce that had pieces of tender meat throughout.

Pizza Alla Pala

I could not leave Eataly without getting a pizza. I got eggplant, basil, and mozzarella cheese on my pizza. They hand tossed the dough in the air. It was fun watching them do that. Then they placed the pizza in one of their wood burning brick ovens.

The pizza came out looking perfect. The crust was puffy with a slight char from the oven. The taste of the dough was amazing; it was light and sweet. It was great with the fresh mozzarella. The fresh basil added intense flavor that was fresh and inviting.

Il Gelato

Even with all the wonderful things I had eaten, I needed to finish off my Eataly experience with some homemade gelato. They make fresh gelato and sorbetto every day. There were so many wonderful flavors to choose from.

I did a double scoop so that I could at least try two different flavors:

  • Pistachio – this had full size pieces of pistachios that were directly from Italy.
  • Mint Chocolate Chip – this had big chunks of creamy dark chocolate pieces.

Both gelatos were super creamy. The natural flavor was really intense.

There was one last thing I had to do before I left Eataly. There is a mosaic tile bull on the floor near the exit to the casino. This lucky bull is a replica of one that is in Milano. Legend has it if you spin three times on top of it you will have good fortune. So, since I was in Vegas I figured I would give it a shot.

If you are visiting Vegas there is plenty to do. I recommend you put Eataly on your list. Check them out at www.eataly.com

Enjoy!

T

Searsucker – Las Vegas, NV

I was invited to a special dinner when I was out in Las Vegas. A big group was getting together at Searsucker inside Caesars Palace.

The restaurant was beautifully decorated. Their were reclaimed wood signs on the walls that had a variety of inspirational quotes on them.

Since we were a large group, we had a fixed menu that was created by Chef Stephen La Sala. It was a selection from the menu. Each course was set up family style so we just shared it around the table.

First out was the salad. This was fresh field greens that was tossed with candied walnuts and goat cheese. The salad was covered in a champagne vinegar dressing. The dressing was great; it was sweet and tangy at the same time. The walnuts added crunch and sweetness. The goat cheese crumbled throughout added a creamy texture.

The meats and sides came out at the same time. I made sure I tried a little of everything. The flatiron steak was the first item I tried. The steak was very tender and juicy from the beer marinade they used. The flavor from the grill enhanced the savoriness of the meat. They also had some crispy potatoes on the side of this platter.

The next thing I tried was the chicken. This roasted chicken was seasoned with lemon and garlic. The chicken was extremely moist. There was a savory flavor to the overall chicken. They served blistered tomatoes on the side along with arugula that added a peppery element.

The also brought out a fresh salmon. They grilled the salmon perfectly creating a great sear on the outside. They served cannelloni beans with smoked bacon on the side. The bacon added a salty taste to the sweet, creamy beans.

There were two separate sides that they brought out to the table. The mashed potatoes were amazing, some of the best I have every had. The potatoes were tremendously creamy. They drizzled a little sour cream on top so it added even more creaminess and a little tang too.

The Brussels sprouts were delicious as well. They roasted the sprouts till they got crispy around the edges. They also included walnuts, which was a nice crunch factor. They tossed the sprouts with a Serrano vinaigrette before cooking them. This vinaigrette added extra savory flavor to the dish.

I really enjoyed everything that was on this menu. I would want to go back to try their regular menu. You should check them out at www.searsucker.com

Enjoy!

T

Hash House A Go Go – Las Vegas, NV

Many years ago I visited Hash House A Go Go in Las Vegas after seeing them on The Food Network. Now they have expanded to several locations throughout the country. I was back in Vegas and visited one of their newer locations at the Rio Hotel and Casino.

I had worked up a big appetite for breakfast. It was hard to decide what exactly to order. After reading the menu a few times I decided to order the corned beef hash. The portion size was huge. It came out in a giant cast iron skillet.

The corned beef is made fresh so it does not come out as crispy as other hashes. The meat was tender and moist. They covered it with Swiss cheese. The flavor pairing of the meat and cheese was perfect.

They served a huge portion so I made sure I shared some. They also included seasoned potatoes underneath all of the corned beef and cheese. They make homemade biscuits that came on the side. The biscuit was flaky but also very dense. It was the perfect vehicle to spread their homemade strawberry jam. And I cannot forget about the two eggs. You can get them cooked any way that you would like.

Hash House A Go Go is known for their fried chicken. Lucky for me I also got to try Andy’s Sage Fried Chicken. This was another huge portion of food. It is hard to believe that one person could eat all this food.

The breading is extra crispy. They use cornflakes for the breading. That crispy layer helped lock in the juices from the chicken as it cooked. The chicken was very tender and moist. The seasonings they added to the breading carried through to the chicken.

Check them out at www.hashhouseagogo.com and see if there is a location near you.

Enjoy!

T

Villa Berulia – New York, NY

So if you have been reading my blog lately you will see that I have been on an Italian food kick during my travels. There is something about Italian food that is comforting and is a great go to meal.

While visiting New York again I went to a wonderful Italian restaurant called Villa Berulia. It was a quaint place that was actually much larger inside than it appeared outside.

I started off with a glass of Merlot as I looked over the menu. I also enjoyed the fresh made garlic bread. The bread was loaded with garlic and had a nice crunch.

There were many Italian favorites to choose from. It really came down to what sounded the most intriguing. There were two appetizers that I ordered for the table. I thought these would be great start to the meal. The Clams Oreganata sounded really delicious and not something that I had before.

These are clams that are sprinkled with seasoned breadcrumbs and then baked till crispy on top. These little morsels were so tasty. The clams were tender and full of oregano flavor.

The other appetizer was fresh avocado slices that were topped with fresh crab and shrimp. The avocado was soft and creamy. It went really well with the sweet lump crab meat. The shrimp were tender and sweet too. The combination of ingredients worked perfectly together.

For my main dish I ordered the chicken picatta. The chicken was thinly sliced and lightly breaded. Even with as thin as the chicken was it remained juicy and tender. The overall flavor of the dish was rich and savory thanks to the wonderful sauce that was poured over the chicken. There were a few capers in the sauce that added a slight salty taste when they were part of the bite.

There was a pasta that came of the side. It was chopped up into bite size pieces which made it a little easier to eat. It was only in garlic butter but there was enough of the sauce from the chicken that I was able to mix in the pasta. It was really good and could have been a dish on its own.

I was able to save a little room for dessert, especially when they rolled out an entire cart.

I had to go after the red velvet cake. It was a huge slice that luckily I was able to share with the table.

The cake was moist but slightly dense. It had a rich velvet texture. The cream cheese frosting was sweet and extremely creamy. It was slightly on the thick side. It went perfect with the coffee and Baileys that I ordered.

This was a great restaurant and I would definitely want to go back for another meal. Check them out at www.villaberulia.com

Enjoy!

T

Mojo’s – Lakeland, FL

Watching football on Sunday’s is a tradition across America. Having a fun place where you can watch the game and have great food is a must. I found that place in Lakeland, Florida called Mojo’s.

They were founded in 2008 and are known for their ice cold beer. I was very excited to see that their wings have won tons of awards.

Their menu is cute and creative. It’s a newspaper!

I was thrilled to try their red raspberry sangria. It can be ordered by the glass or the pitcher. Naturally, since it was game day I ordered the pitcher. They use raspberry liquor, cherry juice, and cranberry juice and mix that with Merlot and fresh squeezed oranges. It was the perfect amount of sweetness and great for a warm Florida afternoon.

For an appetizer, I ordered their potato chips and queso. It’s a unique combination. They make homemade potato chips that are really addicting. The queso has a chili mixed in that has a little bit of spice. I enjoyed how the spicy queso and the sweetness of the sangria complemented each other.

Since their wings have won awards I knew I needed to try these. There are several sauces to choose from so it’s good they can be ordered in increments of 5. I was able to try different flavors:

  • Hot
  • Garlic Parmesan
  • Sweet & Spicy Plum

The Hot is a traditional Buffalo wing sauce. It was not too spicy; it was the right amount of heat. The kick came from the vinegar in the sauce after I was done eating the wing.

The Garlic Parmesan was a creamy sauce with minced garlic mixed in. It was a little salty but the creamy sauce added a buttery flavor that balanced out the salt. I imagine this sauce would be amazing on pasta.

The Sweet & Spicy Plum is their take on an Asian sauce. The spice was not to hot and the sweet came from the plum sauce that was mixed it. I could really taste the plum. This sauce was my favorite. I liked how unique the flavor was. It was great on the crispy skin of the wings.

I had a great time at Mojo’s and I definitely want to visit again because their burgers looked really good. Plus the staff was fantastic. My waitress, Tiffany, was great!

For a fun time watching football or playing pool on the patio – Mojo’s is a must visit. Check out their website at: http://www.getmojod.com/

Enjoy!

T