Travel – Page 19 – The Celiathlete

January 6, 2012

Irish-themed New Years topped off with fantastic food at Fadó Irish Pub

Restaurant: Fadó Irish Pub, Columbus, Ohio

Brace yourselves.

I know. An Irish pub. Shock, right?

Well, it was the perfect way to wind down after a fun-filled New Years spent with my roommate and my friend Jenn, the two who accompanied me to Ireland last year to ring in the New Year at The Clarence Hotel in Dublin, Ireland. Another trip like that was definitely not in the cards or the budget this year, so instead, we gathered in Columbus at Jenn’s house and created our own “Remember The Octagon” (in honor of The Octagon Bar in The Clarence Hotel…where we spent many an evening…AND New Years Eve at midnight last year!) Irish-themed New Year celebration.

We watched movies that dealt with Ireland (Waking Ned Devine and P.S. I Love You) and with Irish people in them (Bend It Like Beckham), tuned in for the ball drop, ate grown up milk shakes (where the “milk” is Prosecco), played games, laughed, and just had the time of our lives. Second best New Year’s ever!

And the next day, keeping with the theme, we opted to lunch out at Fadó Irish Pub.

We were told just to take a seat anywhere, as you would in Ireland, so we settled in toward the back room near a fireplace. Warm! Cozy. And despite the campy Irish decorations that littered the walls, the pub was quite relaxing and the perfect place to settle. Our waitress gave us some menus and took our drink orders and we began to decide what to eat.

Now, I’ve eaten at Fadó in Chicago and LOVED it. This was prior to becoming a vegetarian and definitely before I had to cut gluten out of my diet. So now, I was definitely looking at the menu with new eyes. While my two cohorts settled in for the lunch portion of fish and chips ($9.95), I decided to give the Farmhouse Salad ($6.95) (no croutons!) a whirl, and added some carbs to my diet with an order of their sweet potato fries ($6.00).

We chatted a little bit, reminiscing about Ireland for awhile, and when our food arrived, we settled in to eat. My two friends totally dug the fish and chips. I stole one of the fries from my roommate’s plate and immediately regretted getting the sweet potato fries. While I am a sucker for sweet potato fries, the regular thick-cut wedge fries were so amazing. Weird for me to say, as I usually can’t stand wedge fries. My sweet potato fries were decent though. Not soggy. Fresh cut, seasoned great. They were just…what they were – sweet potato fries. Their only handicap was that they were just…not as great as the regular fries. So, next time I go to Fadó, I know to stick with regular fries because…they were amazing. I had to steal a few more as I was eating because they just blew the sweet potato ones out of the fryer. *giggle*

The Farmhouse Salad is your typical, run-of-the-mill salad. Nothing fancy. But it was done right. The salad is composed of mixed greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions and cheddar cheese. Simple. Basic. I could make it at home. But it was good. I chose the balsamic vinaigrette dressing to top it off with. And they gave it to me on the side instead of dousing my salad in it. I appreciated that too. When something as simple as a salad in a light vinaigrette dressing is the highlight of my meal, then the ingredients are definitely at the peak of freshness, and the combination works. I love salad as it is, so when it is something I can replicate at home…all the better. I think my only complaint would be the size of the salad for the price tag it came with. I actually expected more. But, it ended up being the perfect amount with the sweet potato fries on the side. We polished off our drinks and paid the bill, lingering in the corner by the fireplace a little longer. Soaking in our last bit of Ireland for the weekend.

Fadó is a great Irish Pub. It’s not authentic by any means…and can seem a bit campy, but it’s a great substitute for the real thing. I’ve never had a bad experience there. The food is amazing (even the salads!), the staff is friendly, the bar is beautiful, they serve Magners (in a bottle). When you can’t go to Ireland, taking yourself to a place where you can at least feel Irish is an amazing thing. I know Fadó has 14 locations throughout the United States…so if you are near one or going to be visiting an area with one…stop in for a pint or some grub. You won’t be disappointed!

January 6, 2012January 6, 2012

La Reunion Coffee Café abuzz with customers and fantastic drink menu

Restaurant: La Reunion Coffee Café, Helena, Alabama

I love coffee.

No, really…I do. I don’t drink it as often as I would like, mostly due to cost, but I do allow myself a treat every now and again. Whether it’s Starbucks, Caribou, a local chain, or an independent shop, I love to indulge every now and again in a hot (or cold) coffee or espresso drink.

While I was visiting with my family for the holidays, my sister and I made a coffee date. She’s been drinking coffee longer than anyone I know. I think she was the only elementary school kid to sit down with a Styrofoam cup of joe at church. She was a hipster long before she knew she was a hipster. Gotta love my sister.

And I do. Which is why we planned a girl’s coffee morning. Our location for our coffee beverage…a little coffee café in Old Town Helena, the heart of Helena, Alabama. It’s called La Reunion Coffee Café and both of us were quite excited about trying it out.

Inside La Reunion Coffee Café, Helena, Alabama

Walking into La Reunion was like walking into a friend’s home. The dimly lit, eccentrically decorated, homey feel of the café is very welcoming. Groups were meeting at the scattered tables throughout the shop, and the quite buzz of their conversations was comforting. We were greeted warmly by the baristas who allowed us time to decide on what we wanted to try. While many of the drinks on the cold menu sounded fantastic (hello, Reese’s Reunion and Orange Dreamsicle), it was a chilly morning so we decided to go with warm coffee that day. My sister ordered the Milky Way, a delicious mix of espresso, milk, chocolate and caramel. I finally, after much contemplation because…it wasn’t like I would be able to come back for awhile, decided to get the Alpine Caramel with soy milk, which was a fantastic combination of espresso, soy milk, white chocolate and caramel.

As my brother was stopping by my parent’s house with his kids before driving to Atlanta for Christmas, we got our drinks to go and stepped aside to walk around the shop while the baristas went to work on our order. They had epically delicious looking muffins in their case (which my gluten sensitivity forbid me to try) as well as other delicious cakes, brownies, and treats. They looked fantastic. Crafts were displayed on shelves, that were up for sale. We browsed for a few moments, commenting on some of the items, and then the barista walked our drinks over to us and bid us a good day.

We thanked her and left, warm coffee cups in hand, and headed to the car.

And it was there that we got our first taste of the delicious, fantastic drinks offered at La Reunion. Honestly…the espresso was timed perfectly. Not bitter. Not too strong. And the flavor combination was fantastic. I’m normally not one to praise a drink with white chocolate in it…but this was amazing. I allowed my sister a sip and she liked it too. But she really loved hers. And when we got home, she gave her non-coffee-drinking husband a sip and he really liked it too.

WIN!

La Reunion seems like the perfect spot to just settle in with friends for good conversation. I look forward to returning and trying another of their coffee drinks (the Heart Murmur or Nuttin Honey, perhaps!). And maybe this time I’ll stay awhile, soak in the atmosphere, and join in the buzz that fills the shop.

If you are anywhere near Helena, Alabama, I highly recommend trying out La Reunion for your coffee cravings. The people are wonderful, the atmosphere is welcoming, and the drinks…are out of this world!

January 5, 2012

Meat + 3 establishment = fantastic salad for me at Bernie’s on Main Street

Restaurant: Bernie’s on Main Street, Columbiana, Alabama

I know.

Hold the phone, right? Bernie’s on Main Street in Columbiana, Alabama is classic Southern cooking. Meat and three. Veggies are a side item. So…why is a vegetarian going there?

Because, like most fine establishments, there is more to meet the eye in this beautiful restaurant. It was the place my sister chose to meet up for lunch when I got into town for the holidays. Her husband and I had just attempted some shopping, and failed miserably, so we stopped by her office to pick her up and go eat a delicious lunch together. There is an extremely limited selection of restaurants in Columbiana, and this one wad certainly intriguing.

At lunch, Bernie’s on Main Street offers a standard lunch menu as well as a selection of hot items on the bar. My sister and her husband, being carnivores, went for the lunch bar. As I’m kind of limited with being a vegetarian as well as having a couple of food allergies, I stuck to the lunch menu and discovered that this meat-heavy destination has a fantastic selection and variety of salads.

So, I ordered the Mandarin Salad ($6.95) with a small side of the fries ($1.50) (as always…my go-to order!). And while my food longer to get than flying the lunch bar, it was well worth the wait.

Bernie's on Main Street's small order of fries

My food arrived and I loved the look of the salad. It was simple green lettuce, topped with slivered almonds, Feta cheese, cucumbers and, lastly, mandarin oranges. Normally served with croutons, they left those off at my request. And it came with a fantastic mandarin vinaigrette dressing, on the side, so I could put what I wanted on my salad and not have it just swimming in more dressing than I want. I didn’t even request that. They just made it happen! Fruit on salads are a huge love of mine. The combinations are endless and quite amazing. And this was no exception. The sweetness of the oranges paired perfectly with the almonds and the saltiness of the Feta cheese. It was fantastic all the way down to the last bite. And as for those fries…cooked to a crispy on the outside, but soft on the inside perfection. What more could a girl want out of lunch? Best part…I walked away quite full on just the large salad and small fries. Quite filling. Beyond good!

Bernie’s on Main Street is a very nice establishment. It’s got a great dining atmosphere…casual enough to take a family, but dressed up enough to make you feel like you’re in a fine restaurant. Even during the lunch hour. The staff is very nice and make sure you have everything you need. And everyone walked away satisfied. My sister told me that at night, it transforms into a high-class, dress-up to dine establishment. How awesome is that?

Meat + 3 establishments are not difficult to navigate, despite not eating meat and having food sensitivities. I had a fantastic and safe dining experience at Bernie’s on Main Street. But I think a lot of my joy came with regard to the people I was dining with. I had definitely missed spending time with my sister! She and her husband were, as always, fantastic.

Good food and time with family. Now that’s a recipe for success. Bernie’s on Main Street provided the perfect setting with amazing food.

Bernie's on Main Street's Mandarin Salad (no croutons)

November 26, 2011

Surviving Black Friday with amazing pub grub at The Pub

Restaurant: The Pub, Lexington, Kentucky

Black Friday.

It’s tradition. Wake up early, hit up some stores in the area, grab the first Starbucks Peppermint Mocha of the season, grab something fast for breakfast while out, and head to Lexington, Kentucky. Hit up the big mall there. Work up an appetite. Eat at The Pub.

The Pub has a few locations in Ohio, Kentucky and Florida. In fact, there is one in Louisville, Kentucky…just across the river from me. But traditionally speaking, the go-to restaurant on Black Friday for my roommate and I for the past three years has been The Pub in Lexington. Why mess with a good thing?

A little background on The Pub…this isn’t an Irish pub in any way. This small chain is British pub all the way. The waitresses and waiters wear kilts and a variety of t-shirts for the restaurant itself. The menu is British based, but with an American flair. They recently added a Gastropub Plates section to their menu. And traditional pub grub definitely permeates the pages throughout, with the last half of the menu dedicated strictly to their beers, lagers, ales, wines, mixed drinks, etc.

This was my second year navigating their menu as a vegetarian. That’s really not difficult. It’s navigating the menu as a gluten-intolerant vegetarian that makes it tricky. So, normally my decision would be easy, I had to really pour over the menu before deciding on what I was going to eat. Thankfully, my roommate knew what she was getting and could help me out a little. While she got her pub go-to of fish and chips ($13.50), I ordered the Spinach Chopped Salad (no bacon) ($7.95)with a side of the fries ($1.95).

Our fantastic waitress, Ashely, asked if I wanted to substitute any other meat on the salad, and I explained I was a vegetarian, so she laughed and said that she would make sure no meat touched my plate. I thanked her and she went to put the order in.

Our food arrived after a little wait. That meant it was cooked and made to order and not just slapped down on a plate and put together. My roomie flipped open the ketchup bottle, loaded up her plate and went to town on her fish and chips.

My salad looked fantastic. The Spinach Salad is a bed of chopped fresh spinach with hard boiled egg, onion, and dried cranberries, tossed in a maple-balsamic dressing. It normally comes with the addition of peppered bacon, but my vegetarianism nixed that addition and they were more than happy to comply. The hard boiled egg was a great addition to the salad, adding a bit of texture and flavor to it. The cranberries were on the proper level of sweet, pairing SO well with the mild spinach and the tender bite of the onion. And the salad was only lightly dressed, so it wasn’t swimming in a pool of dressing, which is always preferred in my book.

One bite, and I knew this salad was the right way to go. It was fantastic. Each bite had a different level of flavor, different textures, and kept the palate interested. It wasn’t just another salad. It had unique flavor combinations, and I found myself wanting to make sure I got a little of everything in each forkful.

As for the side of steak fries…well…that was a nice surprise indeed. First of all, I should mention that steak fries are my least favorite type of fries out there. They are too potato-y in texture and way too soft for my liking. Granted, they are the healthiest (yes…healthy fries) type of french fry to enjoy, but I like a bit of a crisp crunch to mine. That being said, I gave it a go and found that when not overly seasoned and when fried just right, steak fries can be good. They were the highlight of my roommate’s fish and chips meal, and they definitely were a nice addition to mine. Just the right amount of salt, a gentle sprinkling of black pepper…and even a bit of a crisp outside to them. Still potato-y in the center, but it was not soft and soggy as some tend to get. I savored them down to the last one.

Navigating menus as a gluten-intolerant vegetarian isn’t always easy. A lot of times, one of the salads gets my attention. I’m okay with that if it’s a fantastic, new, exciting flavor for me. The Pub offered up the right level of flavor, a unique mix, and a delicious dressing, with a side of fantastic fries. I totally can’t wait to go back next year and do it all over again.

The Pub's Spinach Chopped Salad (sans bacon) w/ a side of fries

October 17, 2011

Brazenhead Irish Pub’s overpriced, over-seasoned, over-dressed food not worth the authentic pub atmosphere

Restaurant: Brazenhead Irish Pub, Dublin, Ohio

It’s not every day that I have something bad to say about an Irish pub. I mean, it happens…but not often. One reason I love to eat out at pubs is that there is, almost always, something on the menu for a vegetarian that doesn’t involve a salad. I love the ambiance, the atmosphere, and the friendliness of the staff. Pubs are good for that. They make you feel like you’re visiting old friends, or right at home.

But…it was a bit different with the Brazenhead Irish Pub.

It was a beautiful weekend in Columbus, Ohio. I was in town for a soccer match with my roommate and we were visiting our good friend Jenn. As we tend to eat out once while there, and normally at a pub of some sort (as both Jenn and Cathy are huge fish and chips fans!), we opted to try somewhere we hadn’t been yet. Hence, a journey into Dublin, Ohio and our selection of Brazenhead.

From the outside, Brazenhead Irish Pub looks like an old house. Nothing special. Nothing that screams Irish pub. However, step inside Brazenhead, and you’re almost transported into Ireland. Take it from this girl who has been there four times and eaten in pubs there. The atmosphere at Brazenhead is inspiring. Dark wood, rustic tables, it’s the little touches that help give a pub its authentic feel. The enormous bar to your left as you walk in was absolutely awe-inspiring. And, thank the Irish gods, no crappy tourist music playing “Molly Malone” or “Danny Boy.” I hate it when a pub caters to what American’s think of as “Irish” and put on the hokey tourist music.

The bar and interior of Brazenhead Irish Pub, Dublin, Ohio

We were in for a late lunch this day, but we weren’t the only ones. Quite a few small parties filtered in for a late lunch/early dinner. We sat ourselves around the corner from the bar, near the doors leading out to the back patio. Our server handed us menus, took our drink orders, and let us look things over. My friends knew what they were getting, but I had to do a bit of searching.

While this pub didn’t have something beyond salads for a vegetarian (aka: no veggie burgers or portabella mushroom options) they did have delicious sounding salads, unlike any other pub I’ve gone to. So, my friends ordered their fish and chips (at $12.95) and I put in for the Balsamic Salad ($5.00) with a side of their chips (~$3.00).

Here is the bizarre thing about Brazenhead’s menu. Yes…you get chips with your fish or as a side with a sandwich or burger…but these are chips. Not actual fries. So…in the UK or Ireland, you’re really being served “crisps” and not “chips.” In fact, I do believe this is the first pub that I have been to where fries weren’t even an option on the menu. Very strange for a pub.

Food wasn’t rushed out, which I appreciate. We all had time to wander down to the very dark reaches of the bottom floor to use the bathroom (also dark). I do like knowing that my food, at least, was prepared fresh. I don’t mind a small wait when it comes to food preparation and serving. So, this was perfect. But when it did arrive…I was hungry and ready to eat.

My Balsamic Salad was a simple mix of greens, gorgonzola cheese, sunflower seeds and dried cranberries…which was unfortunately swimming in a healthy dose of balsamic vinaigrette. I normally get salads with dressing on the side to avoid this…but had been fortunate enough in recent history not to have my salad drenched in dressing that I didn’t ask. Aside from the overdose of balsamic vinaigrette, the various components of the salad actually worked really well together. The cranberries added a bit of flavor, which was balanced out by the gorgonzola cheese. The dressing, while a bit much, had the right hint of flavor to tie everything together in the end. So, aside from the generous helping of vinaigrette, the salad was edible.

The chips on the other hand…were salty as hell. No, really. I know it’s engrained in the head of every chef to season, season, season…but there is a difference between seasoning and sending your patrons to the salt lick. And, that’s how I felt at first taste of my side of chips. And I wasn’t alone. Both of my friends had equally salty chips as their sides with their fish. We were doing our best to brush over five days worth of sodium content off our chips with our fingers…but we grew tired of that and just eventually stopped eating them. I was glad I had ordered water as my drink because I think the salt content had sapped all of the hydration in my body. Heavy-handed on the salt is an understatement. It sort of…ruined it for us. Both of my friends said the fish was okay, but for the price they paid, they did expect more than the two small planks served to them.

So, while Brazenhead Irish Pub has the ambiance and the atmosphere, what it lacks is good food. Over seasoned, over dressed…I didn’t go out to eat to drink my salad and then un-season every chip I attempted to eat. This just shows a lack of care in the kitchen. Nothing was tasted. Obviously. Either that, or the chef has a strong liking of salt, because it was way too much. For a country being told to watch their sodium intake, those chips were bucking the new nutritional guidelines. Wow. Unbelievable.

Overall…it was okay. Not enough to make me want to go back. The food was mediocre, which is quite sad for a pub. Pub grub is supposed to be delicious. But Brazenhead fell short. It failed to impress this Irish girl. But…if nothing else, it supplied me with a full year’s worth of sodium. So I’m set now until January.

One day…I’ll just learn to send food back. Get it done right or get it taken off the check. Unfortunately…it didn’t happen that day. Too bad…as it was a high price to pay for over-salted, over dressed, overpriced food. It wasn’t bad…it just wasn’t good.

Damn.

Brazehead Irish Pub's Balsamic Salad with a side of chips

August 5, 2011

The best of the British Isles served up well-done at Pittsburgh’s Piper’s Pub

I know…it’s another pub. But pubs are interesting, shady places and the atmosphere that you find inside them is as addicting as the drinks they pour. What is it about a crowded little dive that smells of booze, is loud, and at times full of soccer fans and rugby fans that continues to bring me back?

Pub grub. The food.

Healthy…more than likely not. But no one goes to a pub expecting low-calorie, low-fat goodness. You go to a pub to eat. Seriously eat. And sample a draft (or two or three or four) while you are there. And if you’re fortunate with your timing, you catch a match on the television and bond over who will win and lose with the other patrons and regulars.

Yes…pubs are their own little world and these imports from the Isles continue to lure me inside their doors, seat me at their dark tables, and serve me their food.

Piper’s Pub was a gem of a find. Ranked in the top 20 out of over 1000 restaurants on Trip Adviser, while in Pittsburgh for the U2 show, my roommate and I stopped in to get our last decent meal in before we endured the endless day of standing in the general admission line starting before most people would crawl out of their slumber. A good meal the night before makes that task a little easier.

Located among a row of various shops and restaurants, Piper’s Pub stands out simply with its black awnings and dark wood façade. It looks like a genuine pub, so right there, you already know what you’re getting into. You enter through the bar. The entire building is a narrow corridor, with a bar to your left, packed with people, as you enter. However, if you are looking to dine, continue past the bar to the hostess stand in middle, just as you reach a mass of tables and booths. The ambiance is pub-like…dimly lit and buzzing with chatter and the sound of drink glasses against the wood of the bar and tables. We were seated quickly and given time to peruse the menu.

Piper's Pub's House Salad with a Raspberry Vinaigrette

As with every pub, my roommate ordered up her usual fish and chips, but wet her appetite with a cup of the Gaelic Four Onion Soup. While there are quite a few different vegetarian options on the menu, I found one that was entirely gluten-free so nothing would have to be done to change it up. I started off with a House Salad, no croutons, with a raspberry vinaigrette and for my meal…I got the Vegetable Curry and went with it seasoned hot instead of medium. With the orders in, we took a moment to take in the actual surroundings and chat.

Our starters arrived soon after. The salad was beautiful. Everything had such bright and vibrant colors in it. And this salad had a bit of a twist: capers. You read that right. And I am not even a fan of capers, but the flavor blended so perfectly with the tomato, sweet cherry pepper, cucumber, red onion the bed of greens all of that topped. The raspberry vinaigrette was the right level of tart and tangy. Perfect for a vinaigrette. The produce was fresh. The greens had that crisp snap when you bit into them. The red onion offered up the perfect bite. And all the rest just made up a delicious salad that I really enjoyed working my way through.

After our starters were done, the entrees were brought out. I was quite interested in how a pub specializing in British, Scottish and Irish food would do with a curry. It looked absolutely fantastic. It was a balance of eggplant, portabella mushroom and zucchini, cooked in their spicy Vindaloo curry sauce and served over half-mashed redskin potatoes. When it was set down in front of me, I could smell the heat from the curry. I knew this was going to be amazing.

First bite…I wanted all the flavors…the vegetables and the potato with the curry. Scooping it up on my fork, I took a bite and was treated to a spicy burst of flavor. It was the perfect level of curry hotness. Enough to spark the fire without burning the lining of my stomach. And the vegetables were cooked to perfection. They weren’t underdone and spilling wet juice everywhere. And they weren’t overcooked and rock hard. They were soft, easy to cut through with a fork, and paired so well with the redskin potato mash that each bite tasted even more fantastic. And it was just as satisfying if I only gathered up one of the vegetables or a bit of potato, as it was when everything mingled on the fork. One of my favorite things I’ve ever eaten at a pub…hands down.

I was quite pleased with the experience at Piper’s Pub while I was in Pittsburgh. I wouldn’t hesitate to stop in again. Nor would I hesitate to order that Vegetable Curry from their menu again. When flavors and textures mix and mingle in perfect harmony not only on the plate but in my mouth, I’m forever in love. This meal was fantastic and I think I might be hard-pressed to find another pub that does up a vegetarian and gluten-free plate to this standard.

Trust the reviews…and trust me. Piper’s Pub may seem like a small little dive in the center of town, but in Pittsburgh, it’s top of my list and reviewer’s lists on places to go to eat. Give it a try. And go off the beaten path…try something you normally wouldn’t. I did. And now I just want more!

August 3, 2011August 3, 2011

Not going nuts over products from Nuts On Clark

There’s popcorn in Chicago and then there is popcorn. There is something special about the popcorn in the Windy City. After a disappointing meal at Chicago Midway Airport, I was looking for something else to carry me through until supper time. Since I love popcorn like it’s going out of style…I thought it might be a good snack before boarding the plane.

Chicago O’Hare has a couple of Garrett Gourmet Popcorn in their terminals. Not so much at Midway. What they do have is a little popcorn and nuts place called Nuts On Clark.

Well…it was better than nothing.

Since no one should have to choose between caramel and cheese popcorn, I got the standard mix of both…something Chicago is known for according to Garrett shops. Just a small bag would do. And along with it, since it was on sale, I snagged a bag of dark chocolate covered cashews. Because a little salty and sweet never hurt anyone. In fact…it only makes life better!

With popcorn and dark chocolate cashews in hand, I hurried down to my gate and settled in for a little snack. I started with the chocolate because I’m female and chocolate helps to calm the inner beast. Since I was still fuming over my lackluster lunch, I figured a little chocolate might do me some good.

I popped a cashew into my mouth…and all I got was chocolate. I thought I had the weird anomaly of the bag. Just a hunk of dark chocolate. So, I grabbed a bigger one, which was shaped like a cashew and tried again. Same reaction. There was no salty with sweet. There was just sweet. Now, I love dark chocolate more than anything else in the world…but I wanted to taste the cashew too. And with ever one I tried…I just wasn’t getting the hit of salty nut flavor that I was craving. Disappointed, I folded up the remaining in the bag, tucked it away into my carry-on and turned my attention to the bag of popcorn.

This was my first time sampling the Chicago blend of caramel and cheese popcorn mixed together. So, I was intrigued to give it a try. The popcorn was…okay. The caramel really stood out as opposed to the rather blah cheese flavor. But…I’ve had Garrett Gourmet Popcorn prior to this and this didn’t equal up to the delicious bite and flavor they offer. Garrett popcorn is bursting with caramel flavor. It mixes in nuts of your choice if you want, or you can have it plain. It keeps fresh in the bags long after you open it. Nuts On Clark tries. And I guess if you really need some popcorn, they are the place to hit up. But, a word of warning to those who do venture that way. Unlike Garrett popcorn…if you start eating this stuff, finish it. It doesn’t keep well. I brought it to the U2 General Admission line the following morning and ate it as a mid-day snack…to find it stale and the cheese quite rancid. I wasn’t a fan.

If you really want to get gourmet popcorn, go to Garrett if possible while in Chicago. Skip Nuts On Clark. Just…trust me on this. Neither of their products I purchased blew me away. Disappointing for the high airport snack price I paid for them. If you need a crunchy popcorn hit…find a shop at Midway and buy the pre-packaged stuff. I’d skip this and hold out for Garrett’s next time I find myself in Chicago.

Cheesy Caramel — Nuts On Clark's Cheese and Caramel Popcorn Blend

August 3, 2011

Airport not easy to navigate with food allergies…and Luigi Stefani’s falls short on food options

Ah…the airport! It can be a nightmare to navigate on its own as it is. Try finding a lunch while being a vegetarian and having food allergies. Lunch becomes nigh on impossible. Sure, some airports are easier than others. I admit that…

But Chicago Midway can be a nightmare! It’s a nice airport, sure. And the food court does offer up a plethora of dining options…as long as you can have foods containing gluten and/or eat meat. Since I can do neither, my lunch experience here had my blood pressure on the rise, my stomach rumbling and had me on the verge of tears since I was starving and had little actual food I could enjoy.

You’d think I’d be used to that by now. And I am…but when I’m hungry, I’m hungry and those little shops with the unhealthy and overpriced snacks aren’t going to cut it. Overpriced actual airport food was what I needed.

My roommate decided she was going to get a slice of pizza at Luigi Stefani’s Pizzaria in Midway. So, while she was in line, she spotted their salad bar. Okay…a salad is better than nothing, so I hiked over there to take a look at it. It looked okay…so I got into the long line, waiting through the people ordering pizza and bread sticks…and finally placed my order for a Caprese Salad.

I admit…I really wasn’t feeling a salad at that moment. But I had no other options. So, after paying an ungodly amount of money for a small salad, I was handed a tiny bowl with cherry tomatoes and mozzarella balls, drenched in a vinaigrette. No greens. Just tomatoes and cheese. I know that’s what caprese is…but usually if I order a caprese salad, I at least get it on a bed of greens.

So, I took my little bowl of tomatoes and cheese and unhappily sulked back to the table my roommate was sitting at, enjoying her slice of pizza. I wasn’t impressed with the salad at all. The tomatoes were okay, but not really ripe enough. The cheese was good. But, to be honest, what I was eating was just not what I wanted. It was one of the most miserable meals I sat down to. The food was okay, but it didn’t blow me away. And a small serving of tomatoes and balls of mozzarella wasn’t going to hold me until dinner much later that evening.

I can’t speak about their pizzas and pastas, but I wasn’t blown away with their salad options, portions, or presentation. Perhaps I’m just nitpicking now, but, even if food isn’t what I want (I’ve had to make substitutions at restaurants before…and not get my fries), I usually don’t let it get to me. But this bothered me for some reason. Perhaps it was the lack of greens. Or the fact that tomatoes and cheese does not a meal make. Or that it took so long to find something for an food-allergic vegetarian to eat while at the airport. Any way you slice it, I was not a happy foodie that day.

So…a word to any airport managers or higher ups…at Midway or other airports around the country…please, with the rise in food allergies, open up a few more options in the food courts. Sitting down at a restaurant is good if you have the time, but we didn’t so after already being limited, I was even further limited on food choices.

Nothing against Luigi Stefani’s…but I could have had that same food anywhere and probably had it done better. Maybe it was the airport. Or maybe it was the service and food. Whatever it was…it didn’t blow me away. In fact, it left me hungry for something else. So, after eating something I could have made at home…I went in search of something that would satisfy me.

Meals are big deals. This was worse than bland. This was forgettable.

August 1, 2011August 2, 2011

The 5-8 Club serves up “juicy” Minneapolis original and vegetarian burger options

I blame Adam Richman of Travel Channel’s Man v. Food. No. Seriously.

If not for his stop in Minneapolis one season, I never would have even known or thought to look up a restaurant known as the 5-8 Club. Now, being a vegetarian, this meat-heavy menu normally wouldn’t appeal to me at all. But unlike some restaurants, this one-time speakeasy can prepare all but their two signature burgers (the Juicy Lucy and the Saucy Sally) as a veggie burger. WIN!

Make sure if you plan to eat at the 5-8 Club, you plan ahead. Because it gets busy…and stays busy! This is not a bad thing, unless you are absolutely starving. Granted, while the wait we had wasn’t too bad, the place was packed. So, my aunt held the spot for snagging a table and my roommate, my cousin and I all ventured outside to the nearby park to relax before being called to sit down for dinner.

The 5-8 Club, Home of the Juicy Lucy, Minneapolis, Minnesota

This place is known for their burgers. The Juicy Lucy being the prime one that is featured on Travel Channel’s Man v. Food and Food Wars. One other establishment that claims to have invented the burger is Matt’s Bar, which has an alternative spelling as well (Jucy Lucy). So…the battle began over whether this burger was born at the hands of the owners of the 5-8 Club or Matt’s Bar. But after simply watching an episode of Man v. Food, the burger at the 5-8 Club looked much better than Matt’s…plus it used proper spelling (always a plus with this journalism major!)…so…decision made.

We did have a couple try to persuade us to go to Matt’s instead. They claimed Matt’s had the better version of the Juicy Lucy…but we were set on the 5-8 Club. And I’m glad we stuck to our guns on this one.

After finally snagging a table in the bustling restaurant, we looked over the menus and made our decisions. I was getting the Mushroom Swiss Veggie Burger (no bun) with fries. My aunt got the California Burger with fries. My cousin, Natalie, got the Juicy Lucy with American cheese and fries. And my roommate…she got the Juicy Lucy with American cheese and onion rings.

So…what is a Juicy Lucy? After all that set-up, I suppose I should at least explain the signature dish. Well, it’s simple, really. The Juicy Lucy is a half-pound burger that is stuffed with cheese. That’s right, the burger is folded around the cheese. And at the 5-8 Club, you get your choice of either American, Swiss or Blue cheese for the center of your burger. The magic is when you cut the burger in half…which you’ll want to do to avoid scalding. You see, the burger is then grilled up, so that the meat is still juicy, but that the cheese that is inside melts down. When you cut it in half to cool it off, the cheese oozes out of the burger. It’s meaty, cheesy magic and people eat it up (literally!).

Most burgers at the 5-8 club are quarter pounders. However, the Juicy Lucy and the Saucy Sally are both half a pound. So…come with an appetite. They also don’t skimp on the sides. I had more fries than I knew what to do with, as did both my aunt and cousin. And my roommate…well…after eating her entire Juicy Lucy, she still tackled her fries and only left one behind. What a foodie trooper!!

But the whole purpose of my blog isn’t to showcase meat. I mean, I don’t even eat it. So, what about my meal?

The Mushroom Swiss Veggie Burger was a veggie burger patty, topped with sauteed mushrooms and melted swiss cheese. Basic. Simple. But still…bursting with flavor. The veggie burger is actually packed with real vegetables. It was nice to slice into the vegetarian patty and see the fresh ingredients that were part of it. And the cheese was melted to gooey perfection over a bed of perfectly seasoned and sauteed mushrooms.

The fries were AMAZING! Most people recommend this establishment’s Jojo Fries…but I’m not a fan of wedge fries, so I went with the standard ones and was very impressed. They weren’t over-salted. Seasoned, yes…but not overdone. And crisp on the outside with the perfect mash of potato on the inside. Yes…these people have been cooking up delicious food for decades and it shows with the quality of the food they put out. When people say the 5-8 Club has the best burgers in town, it’s probably true. I can at least say I enjoyed one of the best veggie burgers I have ever had the pleasure of eating. And my carnivorous dining partners all praised the burgers that they had.

If you are headed up to Minneapolis and want to try out an interesting, eclectic place with a fascinating history and fierce competition within its city…hit up the 5-8 Club. Even if you are a vegetarian like me, you still get an amazing burger at a great price. And the atmosphere and history just make the experience all the better. Best burgers in town? They have the awards on the wall to prove it, but I suggest going in and trying it for yourself. I got the vegetarian option and was blown away!

The 5-8 Club Mushroom Swiss Veggie Burger (no bun) with a side of fries

July 29, 2011

Food allergies not on point at Eagles Point Diner

There are restaurants that get it…and restaurants that don’t. Food allergies are everywhere these days. More and more people are being affected with an intolerance to food items, and at various ages and stages in their lives. Any restaurant worth its salt should have a working knowledge of the most common food allergies and have items that can compensate or be easily substituted for those patrons that may have an issue with the food on the menu.

While in St. Louis, Missouri, on a recent trip, my roommate’s family decided to do dinner at a local restaurant known as Eagles Point Diner, located in Grafton, Illinois. I love to eat out (obviously), but let’s face it…being a vegetarian with a gluten intolerance isn’t always the easiest thing to work around. Double that level of difficulty when the restaurant you go to is one of those “good ol’ home cooking” kind of joints.

I had attempted a little research into the diner prior to going to eat there. There wasn’t much to be found. No Website for the actual restaurant. All I could find were a mix of reviews on Trip Adviser and Yelp. A couple were favorable, but I also stumbled across a few that were written by people who have or were there with someone with some sort of food allergy. There was a strong leaning on how the staff was unable to really help them and the owner/chef was less than responsive to the issue. This didn’t make me feel very confident about the evening’s meal. But trying to find another place to eat with an iPhone on a limited battery is no easy task. So, in the end, after a few alternative suggestions…we ended up going to Eagles Point regardless.

Upon entering and seeing the specials on the board, I could tell this was going to be an interesting…and difficult…dining experience. We were seated at a table and given the menu to look over. Most items were pasta, or fried…which a gluten sensitivity negates immediately. Other dishes were all meat…which doesn’t work for a vegetarian. I was more than a little flustered. When the waitress arrived at the table, we informed her that I was a vegetarian and told her of my food allergy to which we were asked…”What is gluten?” Alright, it’s a pretty common allergy these days, but I explained it and she said that she would go check with the chef to see what they can do for me. What she came back with shocked me. She inquired if I liked tomatoes. I do. She said the chef said he could stuff tomatoes with a bit of cheese and breadcrumbs…

And the gluten alarms go off. Breadcrumbs…not a good option. I explain this again and just wave the waitress off, saying that I’ll just find something. So, my roommate and I begin to look over the menu for safe options for me to have. I was so aggravated at this point and really not feeling confident about eating here but…what can you do? Everyone else was set to order and waiting on me. So, after a little consulting, we came up with an option.

Salad. And double potatoes. Yeah…I wasn’t happy about it either.

Our starters arrived. The entire table did salads, and I emphasized, as did my roommate…no croutons or cheese on mine. They got that right. They didn’t have a vinaigrette dressing, so I got the oil and vinegar to put over my salad. It was…a typical house salad. The vegetables were fresh, but I was disappointed in their choices of salad dressings. I don’t mind oil and vinegar, but a balsamic vinaigrette does wonders for flavor! So, the house salad was…good, but nothing amazing. And I’ve had some pretty amazing salads in my lifetime.

Our entrees arrived. And the first thing that struck me was the size (or lack thereof) of them. My roommate got the fried shrimp plate with a baked potato. She received five pieces of shrimp. The bowl of cocktail sauce was larger than her food portion. I was shocked. And this was a $14 meal she got. Not the best value there.

My double potatoes were a baked potato and the sweet potato fries. The baked potato was rather small and a bit overdone, I think. It didn’t just crumble apart when I sliced into it. I had to fight a bit with the skin and ended up leaving most of that (despite it being one of my favorite parts of a baked potato!). So, I moved on to one of my favorite things in the world…the sweet potato fries.

First of all, country-style cooking must mean they make sweet potato fries up to mimic a sweet potato casserole. Mine were coated in cinnamon. Which is okay…but I like to dip mine in ketchup. So…I had to brush off the sweet topping and make them a bit more to my liking. They were a bit soft, not having that crisp bite on the outside that I like in good sweet potato fries. At least they were edible. I wasn’t a fan of the cinnamon seasoning, so did my best to brush that off and mask it with ketchup. So the food…was okay. Nothing really made any of us go, “WOW!” It was your basic sub-par, overpriced food…

No dessert for any of us that night. We paid and left.

Needless to say, while the staff did make an attempt to accommodate my diet, they were clueless when it came to preparing a “safe” meal for someone with a food sensitivity/allergy. I was disappointed with the chef not having a good back-up for someone who can’t have meat, or anything fried, or pasta…as well as his own lack of knowledge of what someone who can’t have gluten can and cannot have. I wasn’t blown away by the food selection on the menu…so if you are a vegetarian…this may not be a good choice for you either. And the value of the portion size you receive is definitely not there.

In the end, the time with my roommate’s mom and aunts was worth it…but a different venue would have been preferred. If home-cooking meat and potatoes are your thing, then this is your place. But if you are a vegetarian and would like something other than a small house salad…or if you have food allergies…I recommend shopping around for a different dining option. Eagles Point Diner is definitely a quaint, home-cooking kind of place, but the value and the risk for some isn’t worth the trip.