Best Birthday Ever

My birthday is my favorite day of the year for only one reason. I get to pick WHEREVER I want to go to eat, and not be judged for it. I start brainstorming ideas around mid-June in preparation, and go back and forth for weeks. Do I go for...a "best of Boston" restaurant? a place I've always wanted to try? a place I could never afford normally? my typical go to burger spot? or a place with great dessert?

Can you see why this tortures me?

Well for the first time ever- I fulfilled my lifelong dream of actually going to two different restaurants to complete my birthday meal. I mean it is the day of my birth, so why shouldn't I get the best of both worlds?

So all day at work when people asked me how I was celebrating my birthday, I proudly announced that I would be heading to Shake Shack for a burger and cheese fries and then stopping by Cheesecake Factory for some cookie dough cheesecake. As you can imagine, I got several reactions. Some were horrified (no longer talking to those people), some amused, some surprised and my favorite type of people- the jealous ones.

 

I want everyone to know that you too can make your birthday (or any day) amazing by attending more than one restaurant for your special meal. HECK- next year I might even do 3. Its called CUSTOMIZING people! Life's too short! The hungry train is leaving the station, and I encourage you to join me on this amazing journey.

6 Month Reflection

SO. Its been 6 months (to the day)  and 70 posts since I started this blog. In true "wannabe writer" fashion- I feel like I need to stop and reflect on my findings so far:

1.) McDonald's brings some serious emotion out of me. Pulling up to the drive thru at McDonald's musters up one of two emotions- guilt and uncontrollable anger. The guilt usually happens on the way home from the bar when we are about a mile away from our apartment and I blurt out the all predictable "I'm Hungry...can we go to McDonald's?". Jake agrees, but pulls the 'ol "I'm not going to get anything" after I order my big mac value meal with 2 sweet and sour sauces. Seriously, if a 6'5'' 250lb guy isn't ordering anything...why am I? Yup, that's a good dose of guilt seeping through my body along with these unnecessary calories.

NOW- the uncontrollable anger...After I get my food, Jake does the unimaginable and sneaks his hand into my McDonald's bag and GRABS A FRY!!askjdfiuanseif!!!.UM.. How dare he take one of my fries after denying them at the drive thru?? This is my biggest pet peeve, and I have lashed out at others as well. If you don't want to order your own meal, don't expect to have "just one little bite" of mine (MOM). This situation continues to be the driving force of some of my most furious moments- leading to my next point...

2.) Growing up with 3 siblings doesn't always make you good at sharing. I don't know about others, but I think it makes you think of strategic ways NOT to share. I.E. Labeling your food, hiding your food, and waking up 20 minutes earlier than your siblings to get the last packet of Cream of Wheat, or pick the best french toast sticks (obviously not the end pieces). Especially if you're the oldest/smartest. Its survival of the fittest people!!

3.) 80% of the time, I would rather binge eat apps than a have an actual meal. After reviewing a ton of restaurants, I decided that a lot of times I would have been a lot happier if I just ate apps. I don't understand why they are always so much more delicious than the actual meal? Maybe cuz I'm hungrier when I'm eating them? Maybe because they are almost always covered in cheese? Beats me.

4.) Guacamole is a food of the gods. Why did I discover it so late in life? Its so good on everything. Always.


5.) Planning out your meals really helps you eat better. Knowing exactly what delicious meal I have planned for each night makes me a lot less likely to order a pizza on the way home from work. I feel like I'm growing up.

6.) Crock pots are money well spent times 10. Mine cost $30 and brings me more joy then you will ever know (well you probably do know because you read my posts). But still..just do it..

7.) I would rather spend money on food than anything else. Even when I'm trying to be good about saving money, I can always justify a burrito bowl at Chipotle. Always.


So I don't know if those 7 things made me feel better or worse about myself- but it just happened and I'm glad you got to be apart of it.

What I learned about Texas food in 48 hours

I wouldn't consider myself a "jet-setter" but I made a short trip to Texas this past weekend to visit some future family! The most exciting part about going to a new state is seeing the sites and eating the food. While this isn't my first trip to Texas, it is my first trip with the pleasure of having this blog to debrief. So after 48 hours, here is what I think you need to know about Texas food.

1.) TEX MEX- Finding a Tex Mex Restaurant in Houston is like finding an Italian Restaurant in the North End...they...are...everywhere. I had the pleasure of going to the best of the best on Friday afternoon- Lupe's! Along with some margs, chips and guac, we ordered the Fajitas Grandioso which is a combination of lime pepper marinated beef, chicken fajitas and 6 bacon wrapped pepper shrimp. Oh and they ain't lyin when they say everything's bigger in Texas- those tortillas were as big as my head! Muy Delicioso!

 

2.) BBQ IS A RELIGION- Having a family barbecue doesn't mean grilling some burgers and dogs (nothing wrong with that)... it means cooking a giant Brisket in the oven overnight, and smoking a pork butt for 8 hours. This is serious stuff people!!

 



3.) KOLACHES- Most of you probably have no idea what they are... I sure didn't. Kolaches are a warm pastry filled with meat, cheese or fruit and surrounded by slightly sweet fresh baked dough. The Kolache originated in Central Europe as a semisweet wedding dessert, and is found in some cities across the U.S, but most commonly in the Lone Star State!! These are SO GOOD. We got sausage, jalapeno and ham&cheese. They are neat, clean to eat, and a perfect breakfast on the go...and that sweet sweet bread mmmm



4.) And Lastly, BLUE BELL- Blue Bell Creameries are the largest selling ice cream brand in the U.S selling to directly to 23 states (obviously not Massachusetts, because I had never heard of it!) The ice cream does not disappoint definitely beating any Richardson's ice cream I have ever had! I'm not a big fan of vanilla ice cream in general, but I could eat Blue Bell's creamy homemade vanilla every day!

Well there it is people! Now you know what to look for if you ever make a trip to the Lone Star State! YEEEHAWW!

The long awaited, North Shore, ROAST BEEF CHALLENGE

From a young age, I always had a sophisticated palette for the finer foods in life. Always gravitating towards the "adult" menu in restaurants instead of your typical chicken nugget, pizza and burger filled kids menu. And now I have proof- my 5th grade yearbook. While everyone else listed their favorite foods as ice cream, pizza or french fries, I chose the always satisfying Roast Beef (FREAK).  You're thinking- "that's not that weird, some kids like cold cuts" Oh no no my sweet little grasshopper... I wasn't referring to roast beef in cold cut form....I was talking about good old fashioned, medium rare, juicy, tender, back of the rump Roast BeaSt. Okay, now you agree, I was a weird child, a BEAST actually... which really makes my current obsession with food a lot clearer now doesn't it?

P.S. every time I see this movie I think about how DELICIOUS this looks

My love of roast beef has grown and stayed with me over time. While I don't enjoy the back of the rump too often anymore, I frequently indulge in a roast beef sandwich with extra mayo from a local hot spot. After sampling several restaurants across the North Shore over the past 10 years, I have narrowed it down to my two favs-Kelly's Roast Beef in Saugus (original one on Revere Beach), and Billy's Roast Beef in Wakefield. While society is all about "participation" awards nowadays, I still believe in something or someone being the absolute best. So here it comes people (slow clap) my very first....

 

ROAST BEEF CHALLENGE!!!

Curve ball- I happened to receive a gift card for Royal's Roast Beef in Stoneham for Xmas, so why not throw that one in the mix too? You never know...

Rules:
- No eating allowed up to 3 hours before the challenge begins
- Order a large roast beef with extra mayo from each restaurant
- Sample each sandwich a 1/4 at a time, so each gets the exact same level of attention and care before I start getting full
- Do not leave my seat until 1st, 2nd and 3rd place have been determined
- Water and only Water is allowed to accompany me on this challenge, so none of the flavors are distorted

I chose my brother to accompany me on this journey, because his love of roast beef sandwiches is actually stronger than mine. We got in the car at noon and began our journey to pick up a large beef from each place. Mike likes his roast beef's with sauce, so it was decided early on that we could not share. So we ordered 2 large beefs, one with sauce, and one with extra mayo from our three finalists. We decided to pick them all up and eat them in the comfort of our home. That way we could begin our food comas in a safe environment.

We headed to Royal's in Stoneham first, then Billy's in Wakefield and lastly, Kelly's in Saugus. The champions of three towns are now battling each other head on...but who will be the winner?

 

On our way home I started to get excited. I mean, isn't this the most glorious backseat you have ever seen?

 

 

But I needed to control myself and make sure this was done correctly. I removed all my beefs from my bags and stared in awe at what I was about to do. I have waited for this moment for a very long time, and it was happening.

 

To follow my rules above, I setup the plate with 1/4 of each sandwich and would alternate between them, after a few bites of each.

 

THE RESULTS: I was very surprised to find that Kelly's Roast beef was eliminated out of the running in the first round. The meat itself just didn't compare to Royals and Billy's. It wasn't as tender and juicy as the others, and took more effort to chew. I can't believe how good the Royal's beef was. This is a place I used to go to in High School when working across the street at the Dairy Dome, but literally haven't touched since then. Billy's, on the other hand, is my typical place to go to when looking for a beef on the North Share. Both beefs were tender, melt in your mouth delicious and came really close...but in the end...the winner is..

 

BILLY'S ROAST BEEF- WAKEFIELD, MA

 

You just can't beat the taste of their roast beef. It has so much flavor and has the perfect bun to meat ratio.

 

Guys, its over. I'm emotional.I'm crying. But not sad crying, happy crying, because justice has been served and the best beef has claimed its prize....my loyalty...forever..and ever..

 

Here are some other pics from our experience...



I'm so glad we did this in a safe place

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why do you fill me up...peanutbuttercup baby then just bring me down, when that scale comes around?

The main reason I have a hard time dieting-is the portion control. I start off with good intentions, but still remain so hungry that I end up eating double what I should have. SO when I am leaning toward the healthy route, I like to find snacks that are good for me, but also filling- so I don't end up supplementing them with a box of Lindt Truffles (red ones are the best).

One of my favorite things to incorporate into my diet when I am starting to feel ginormous, is a litte fruit/yogurt medley. This can substitute as your breakfast, a snack or even dessert. Its easy to buy all the necessary ingredients in bulk at the beginning of the week, and whip it up before work each morning.

What you need:
Light&Fit Vanilla Yogurt
Strawberries
Blueberries
Granola

Put everything in a bowl, go to mow town, and don't feel bad about it!

Don't Shred On Me

I think pork might be my favorite type of shredded meat. It has taken me awhile to think this through, but I think it has been decided. It is always my go-to in quesadillas, burritos and sandwiches. And every time I see it on the menu at our cafe...I have a moment...

 

Today it was a Braised Pork Leg, Cumin Braised Carrots, Creamy Shiitake Mushroom Polenta and a Citrus Slaw. I needed to have it- and it did not disappoint. The pork was tender and went well with the crisp citrus coleslaw. The polenta was creamy and super flavorful, I am also a huge fan of mushrooms so that was a big bonus.

 

 

Old Faithful

Hey hungry peeps- sorry for my absence the past few days, I was battling some sort of flu and haven't been as hungry as usual. But have no fear- I AM BACK. And you know how I know I'm back, I had a craving today for one of my top 5 most reliable food chains- The Cheesecake Factory. Now some of you don't even need an explanation for this ranking, because you fully understand me as a human, being. BUT for those who don't agree- I will tell you why I enjoy this food establishment so much:

1.) The menu is unbelievably extensive- it might even be the biggest menu in restaurant history.
2.) Every thing I have ever ordered has been delicious. While I have my favorites/go-to's I have to say even if I try something new, it is always the bomb.com
3.) Portions- this place is known for its gynormous servings and is all I'll ever want and more
4.) The server's uniforms are all white- which is a.) awesome because they look like angels from heaven when they bring my meal to the table and b.) awesome because it is B.A. They don't hide behind black uniforms, they face those food stains head on- which makes me feel really good about the cleanliness of the establishment. 
5.) There is an 80% chance you will see a male server with his hair in a ponytail- which always makes me awkwardly stare with pure and utter amazement. I can't get enough of it.

So anyway, I ventured to the Cheesecake Factory in Natick today while finishing up some Christmas shopping. I strategically planned out my meal so I could get an app, entree and dessert without them having to wheel me out of there. One factor you cannot forget in this equations is THE BREAD (which is pretty close to making my list of reasons above). Bread is a good indication of what your dining experience will entail. Cheesecake gives you two fresh and warm loaf options with butter. These are HEAVEN ON EARTH. I literally just smiled while thinking about them again.

For my app, there really was no question in what I would choose because I always get the same thing- fried mac and cheese. The Cheesecake's fried mac and cheese is by far the best I have ever consumed. 4 balls of gooey mac and cheese fried in breadcrumbs and swimming in a pool of a creamy marinara and cheese sauce- need I say more?

When deciding on an entree, me and my dining counterpart decided to split the pasta carbonara. This creamy pasta dish with smoked bacon was perfect for the bitter cold day today. Even after splitting this entree, we were absolutely stuffed.

 

But there was no way I could go to the Cheesecake Factory and not eat its signature dish. We decided to order dessert to-go and eat it when we got home...and let me tell you...waiting to eat that dessert was the best decision I ever made. Nothing like coming home from a long day of shopping, sitting on the couch and enjoying a lovely slice of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake topped with light and fluffy whipped cream.

 

If I could go back- HA! I will order this same entire meal for the rest of my life. It was perfect in every way and I could not have asked for a better sequence of deliciousness. Cheesecake Factory  you've done it again!

 

P.S. I think the only complaint I've ever heard about the CF is the long wait to get seated. For God's sake- REALLY? Rome wasn't build in a day...patience is a virtue people! Put in your name, and go shopping to kill time OR choose an early or late dining time. In the word's of Tim Gunn- "Make it work!" 

If you can't beat em- eat burgers

 

Ahh the Victoria Secret Fashion Show- a mix of high profile performances, celeb sightings and of course tall, gorgeous and teeny tiny supermodels. While I am looking forward to seeing all the facebook posts about how the show will "make you feel bad about yourself" or "motivate you at the gym tomorrow", I have a different outlook. These girls are on strict diets, crazy workouts and have all the money in the world to pay for it. I choose to celebrate these fabulous women ...with a value meal from McDonald's. Oh and not just any value meal- the #1 Value Meal (literally its #1 on the menu list) THE BIG MAC.

I limit my fast food during the week, trying my best to cook at home and typically only frequent the McDonald's drive through in a cab home from the bar on a Saturday night. But sometimes, it... is.. just... necessary. If you had a bad day at work and already decided that you're not going to the gym- why not just top it all off with the joyous combination of two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun? And don't even get me started on those fries...

Sometimes you need to hit rock bottom before charging towards the top again...

What is your ALL TIME favorite breakfast cereal?

What is your all time favorite breakfast cereal? Always an awesome question to ask as an ice breaker, because it gets everyone pumped up. Seriously, try it sometime! I have seen wars break out amongst friends when I ask this question. It is funny to see how people respond. You have typically have a few who go with the classics like Cinnamon Toast Crunch or Life. Then you have the "young at heart" peeps who choose Lucky Charms or Fruity Pebbles. All of these are respectable choices that I would jump at the chance of eating on a Saturday morning. But then..there is always one...who says "Umm ..I would have to go with...Cheerios"...UGH..SHUT...UP..NOW...I get so disgusted with this person and am instantly filled with rage. Seriously, get off your healthy culinary high horse and accept that the sugary cereals above will ALWAYS trump Cheerios. I would even pick Cookie Crisp over Cheerios and that was seriously one of the most disappointing cereals that ever came on the market.

 

Anyway, the reason I bring this up, is when people list the "Best Cereals Ever" they ALWAYS forget my favorite- Rice Krispie TREATS. Now, I have to say, I always give people the benefit of the doubt because as far as I knew, Kellogg no longer made this heavenly masterpiece. So the other day that got me thinking...how did I KNOW that Kellogg stopped making this cereal..? I didn't. I assumed it..because I hadn't seen it in stores in over 10 years.

So the other day while perusing the Internet, I went on the Kellogg's website and COULD NOT BELIEVE my delight when I found that they still had this cereal listed. With all the hope my body could handle, I typed my zip code into the locator tool. Come to find out- there are 4 stores within 15 miles that are still selling RKTC!!! BOOM!

Luckily, my trusty fiance works in North Reading, so I graciously asked him to stop by the Walmart after work one night to pick some up for me. After going on and on about how ridiculous it was that he had to go out of his way JUST to get some "special" cereal...(i was immediately offended) - I'm sorry what? "special cereal"? Oh I am sorry- you are just insulting the best cereal of all time...

Well after reminding him that this is who I am, and he needed to accept my flaws- even if they torture him, he agreed to do it.

Ladies, this is why it is important to pick someone who not only accepts by embraces your hunger issues... I ended up with three lovely boxes on my counter top :)

And let me tell you- these marshmellowy clusters truly snap, crackled and popped at my heart strings and reconfirmed that this is by far the best cereal of all time. Rice Krispie Treats Cereal- we will never be apart again..

And if I don't get the things I am after...

Over the years I have developed several food related conditions that effect my every day life. One of the most severe is something I call Varuca Salt Syndrome. Basically, I get a craving for a food-any food- from one of many ways... a commercial, hearing a friend talk about it, seeing a stranger eat it- or in this case- seeing it on a menu and not ordering it. Guys-I'm talking about the Bar Louie incident on Thursday-THE PULLED PORK INCIDENT. God, I'm so happy you are here to support me through this hard time. Now when I get these cravings, there is a 50% chance of them being an issue. Sometimes I can mask my symptoms, by continuing on with my preplanned meals or distracting myself with any other treats I can find in my cabinets. HOWEVER- OCCASIONALLY- the symptoms of VSS become more severe. They can include complaining, nagging, whining and worst of all, violent outburst of me screaming "I WANT IT NOW!!!" Once we hit this point there is no turning back. I need that golden goose and I need it pronto. This is when my stomach starts talking to my brain. How difficult is it going to be for me to fulfil this need? That is why I came up with my very own Richter scale because, let's be honest- If I don't satisfy my VSS, there WILL be a natural disaster.

CATEGORY 1- I have made/can make a version of this golden goose myself- and it is comparable to the real version

CATEGORY 2- The golden goose can be obtained within less than a 10 mile radius of my residence, and with minor monetary implications

CATEGORY 3- The golden goose can be obtained within greater than a 10 mile radius of my residence, and with moderate monetary implications

Luckily for me, I LOVE my homemade pulled pork... So this was a CATEGORY 1 situation.

This pulled pork is SO EASY and only requires a few things: A Crock Pot, 1 bone-in pork butt, 1 bottle of Sweet Baby Rays BBQ sauce, 1 yellow onion and 1 bag of potato sandwich rolls.

First- place the pork butt in the crock pot with half of the yellow onion. Fill the crock pot with water until it completely covers the meat. Cook on LOW for 8-10 hours.

Pour out all the water, and throw away the onion. Next we need to shred the pork so it is melt in your mouth amazing. First, you want to find the bone, and cut it out of the pork butt. This should leave you with a whole bunch of tender meat to shred. You can shred this a few different ways. You can get two forks and separate the meat by hand, or if you have a Kitchen Aid mixer and have a shredding attachment, you can plop all the meat in there and it should pull apart nicely. Next put all the shredded meat back in the crock pot, and pour in the BBQ sauce. Make sure the sauce is completely mixed through, and let the meat cook for one more hour on low. This allows the meat to absorb the sauce and heat everything at once.

 
Hey guess what? We're done! Grab your potato rolls and scoop out a couple spoon fulls of pork on each. I like Coleslaw on my Pulled Pork, so I always pickup half a lb from the grocery store when I know that I'm making it. The sweet and tangy pork and the cool crunch of the coleslaw is an awesome contrast that really completes the dish. Other topping suggestions include: onion rings, provolone cheese or pickles.

These sandwiches are a huge hit at a tailgate or Sunday night football party. When bringing them to an event, I always suggest making them into small sliders. They are a lot easier for guests to grab and eat with one hand!

Why Paninis are ALWAYS better

I typically bring my lunch to work, but today I had literally nothing left in my cabinets, and was too lazy to try and throw something together. I walked upstairs to our café- and waited in the deli line for a sandwich. Now I am spoiled, because our café has all organic fresh food, and is subsidized by the company so everything is pretty affordable and delicious. As I came to the front of the line, I took a look at the Panini special and had an epiphany. If all those ingredients in that Panini were in a regular sandwich, I wouldn’t order it. There was something about the Panini aspect that made me want to mow it so much more.  While consuming this delicious piece of heaven, I pondered, and pondered some more, and came to the realization that Paninis are ALWAYS better than a regular sandwich.

And here’s why...

There are many factors to a really good sandwich 1.) The BREAD- without soft fresh bread, a sandwich can almost seem like work to eat. I’m sorry French baguette, but I prefer not to spend my lunch hour ripping through you like a TREX. 2.)  The moisture of the ingredients. NO ONE likes a dry sandwich; it’s like eating a mouth full of sand. Moisture can be fixed by a condiment or veggie- but is almost necessary to complete a good sandwich 3.) COMPACT-ability- All of the ingredients need to be arranged so this sandwich is easy to eat from start to finish. As much as I love watching tomato juices sliding down my arm as I go for another bite, it’s not a good look for me. Compact-ability also says a lot for overall taste, as you typically get a piece of each ingredient in every bite.

Now…how many factors go in to making a really good Panini? ONLY ONE- Cheese. If there is cheese on your Panini there is no way you can ever go wrong. Because melted cheese is proof that there is a god, and he loves us very much.  Even if there is ONLY cheese on your Panini, you already have it made…its called Grilled Cheese- ever heard of it? Plus panini’s don’t have to be bothered with any of the factors listed above. 1.) Any type of bread is delicious and easy to eat toasted or warm 2.) Cheese on your Panini will demolish any moisture problem 3.) Paninis could not be more compact and perfect; it is probably their most enduring quality.

I am so glad I got this off my chest, and I hope are you too.

Dining Specials - are they really worth it?

I typically don't dine out on Thursday nights, but it was a special occassion- the Hunger Games Premiere at Patriot Place. The show was at 8, so we decided to grab some food and drinks before heading in for the show. We met at Bar Louie, and while I do frequent Patriot Place for other reasons (coughRedRobbincough), I had never been to Bar Louie- so I was excited for a new dining experience.

Right off the bat, we noticed they had a 1/2 off "special" on flat breads and small plates from 4-7PM. Now these types of specials have their pros and cons. PROS: It allows us cheap folks to enjoy the suprising thrill of a good deal. In Mass- we aren't used to happy hours, or bottomless ANYTHING- so when a restaurant offers anything like it- pure excitement runs through our salivary glands. CONS: Often these "specials" only allow you to choose from a small selection of menu items. These specials start a war between your stomach and your wallet...do you choose what you really want from the menu? Or get the "special" just because its a "special"?


Well- I decided to go the cheap route this time around, and did ultimately regret it. I selected the boneless BBQ wings and Firecracker Flatbread. First off- these choices didn't have much chance, as I am not a huge fan of spicy food- but sometimes I pretend like I am ( a weird flaw in my character.) Now, its not like these dishes were bad- there wasn't anything left on the plate once I was done...but that's a self control issue...

The Firecracker Flatbread was topped with five spice beef, spring onion pork, mozzarella, provolone, szechwan sauce (?), red bell pepper, carrot, cilantro, basil, green onion and sesame seeds. It had the asian flavors comparable to a general tsaos chicken with a mexican kick. If I loved spicy food, I would probably be raving about this right now. Unfortuantley, after watering down my first bite, I accompanied the rest of the dish with some sour cream to shut that spice down.

Looking at the menu after the fact, I realized several selections would have sent my taste bluds flying to the moon. The BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich with onion strings, the Crispy Chicken Melt with sweet chilli mayo..oh- I'm sorry, all of those sound like heaven on a plate. The side options really twisted the knife: mac & cheese, fries, TOTS (now I'm crying) and LOADED TOTS (now I'm bawling).

The moral of the story: just because its part of a discounted special, does not mean you HAVE to get it. Think about what you actually want to eat, and then figure out if you really want sacrifice a happier pallette for a couple extra bucks.

http://www.barlouieamerica.com/