You Have to Try This Doughnut Place - Long's Bakery,Indianapolis, Indiana

Long's Bakery

    "You guys have to try this doughnut place", our Grandson Christopher told me in a birthday phone call. It was a bakey close to his house in Indianapolis.  I have a little weak spot for doughnuts and everything else that involves sugar, fillings, frostings and deep frying.  I put it in my mental "gotta try list" for the next time I visited them in Indy.
    We arrived, after Siri gave us her usual tour of the city, to find a line going out the door of the bakery. Once in the door we found a very clean, very busy, bakery.  The smell of deep fried doughnuts wafting through the air. (You know, they ought to make an air scent that smells like that.)  In front of us was a few showcases filled with delectable goodies.  On the walls were boards with their offerings along with their prices.
    Now comes the hard part.  What to order. I kind of stood back a little and listened, to try to find out what other people were ordering.  This was no help at all because everybody was getting boxes and boxes of all types. I looked on the board.  They had everything you could think of including something called an alligator, that caught my attention. Another thing that caught my attention was the very low prices on that board.
  We decided on a baby alligator which was long and rectangular cinnamon roll with nuts and frosting on top.
I also had chosen a cinnamon fried doughnut, cinnamon being good for diabetics, lol. Rebbel chose a powdered doughnut, and we got Christopher a chocolate glaze and a couple of yeast glze for the rest of our hosts.
   The doughnuts were delicious.  Nothing fancy here just a real good tasting doughnut, at a very decent price. In fact they are known for their regular yeast glazed doughnut. They don't even put those in the case.
They are cash only so make sure you bring enough to buy what you need, but not too much extra so you won't get carried away.  Longs Bakery is located at 1453 Tremont, Indianapolis, Indiana

Baby Alligator - Caramel

Donut Burger in Paradise - Datz - Tampa Florida

"Let's go back for dinner, I want another donut burger."  Those words came from Rebbel shortly after we had lunch at Datz.  We had gone there a year earlier and I had tried their Vandross burger. It is a good tasting hamburger topped with tomato - bacon jam and white cheddar. Then they do the strangest, tastiest thing.    They serve it on a glazed donut for the bun. I know it sounds weird and to tell the truth many of our friends just think  it is just plain gross, but it is possibly one of the best burgers we have ever tried. Serve alongside this tasty dish were house made potato chips drizzled with sour cream. We did not go back for dinner but Rebbel did get her second burger a couple of days later. If you are ever in Tampa I highly recommend this place!!  They are located at 2616 S MacDill Ave, Tampa,Florida.

Southern Cooking Done Right!- Kathi's Southern Cotillion Wildwood, Fla.

. .Located in downtown Wildwood, not far from the Villages, sits a gem of a restaurant called Miz Kathi's Cotillion Restaurant.                                                      

It features southern cooking. Rebbel chose the Big Daddy's Meatloaf and a side of mac and cheese. She got a generous slice of meat loaf on a slice of toast with smashed potatoes and topping that was gravy. It was as if your Momma had just made it. Very moist and full of flavor.  The mac and cheese was also  creamy and full of cheesy goodness.  I had the Florida Cracker Angus Burger. The half pound burger was juicy and topped with bacon, fried green tomatoes,  lettuce and onion rings. We had to take the cake to go!! Everything was delicious and cooked right with special attention to. Detail. As the masses were eating at all the bland  chain restaurants we were transported to the deep tasty south. I highly recommend this place but please leve a seat for us. This place is located in an old bank and there is not a lot of room. we also came at a busy time, so there was a little wait.  They are located at 101 N Main St in Wildwood Florida and also have a sweet store 2 doors down that has a limited food menu and lots of baked goods and wall adornments. Give 'me a try. They do food right.

The Best Cuban Sandwich - Chicken Time Belleview, Fl.

What makes a great Cuban Sandwich??? After sampling three different sandwiches in Florida, Rebbel and I came to an agreement.  Great Cuban bread, a good balance of ham to pork, and the best meats.  One of the best Cuban Sandwiches we ate, if found in the little Florida town of Belleview in a shopping plaza. The restaurant is known as Chicken Time and they specialize in Cuban and Puerto Rican food.  The Cuban Sandwich is awesome. It has all the elements of a great Cuban Sandwich.    

The crusty light bread, with balanced tender, flavorful, ham and pork, topped with zesty mustard and pickle. They are located in the Bellview Plaza at 10189 SE US Hwy 441 in Belleview.

Scotty Simpson's Fish and Chips, Detroit,Mi - Michigan's Best Fish and Chips

My quest began over a year ago.  I wanted to find the best fish and chips.  There are many restaurants that can really mess up a piece of fish.  I have had the fish that was mostly batter with little fish, fish that looked like it was just opened from a freezer bag from a grocery store and dumped in a deep fryer, and fish that was well, fishy tasting.  Perhaps, I have finally found the best fish and chips in Michigan.
Scotty Simpson's is a small restaurant at 22200 Fenkell in the western part of Detroit close to Redford. The restaurant has been open since the 1950's.  The decor is lighthouse statues, boats and fish. The carpet is worn.  The neighborhood  is not the best, but, the food and service is a different story!  The waitress we had was very friendly. The food was served promptly. You could just tell, that customers were treated as friends. We were serenaded by the old jukebox that was playing songs like "Crazy" and "I Go To Pieces".
While we were there Harry the owner, who has been there for 44 years, was showing a table of customers pictures of his Grand kids.
The food came with a roll, coleslaw, and hand cut fries.  The fish was cooked to perfection.  It was just the right amount of light crunchy batter and meaty cod. Rebbel thought that there was a slightly sweet taste to it.  I have never tasted any better.  A full order was close to ten dollars and well worth it.  A half order and order without fries are available for less cost.  They also serve Stewart's Ginger Beer, and Orange in a bottle.  It is cash only, and they do have take-out. There is parking in back and across the street. On our way out, the waitress introduced us to Harry as new customers and invited us back.  I know they get plenty of returning customers. You can go to their site by clicking on the title.

The Pastrami Queen - Boca Raton, Fl - Pastrami ThatMelts In Your Mouth! (NAME CHANGE!!) ZINGER'S DELI

Pastrami. All of us have probably tried the meat in the local deli counter or in those Oscar Mayer packages at the grocery store.  It was o.k.  It was like all the other meat though.  It wasn't until recently that we found out what real pastrami is all about.
Pastrami was originally made because of the lack of refrigeration in the 1800's.  It was brought to this country by Jewish people immigrating from eastern Europe.  It is cured in brine much like corned beef, smoked and steamed.  Of course, spices are added along the process. 
We have always wanted a sandwich from a New York deli.  They seemed to do it right.  New York isn't on our immediate schedule.  On our recent trip to Florida,  I was trying to find an interesting place close to Miami.  We had a few disappointments and we really wanted something good.  I found a gem.
The Pastrami Queen. The Pastrami Queen recently opened in Boca Raton , Fla. It is owned by the Zinger's.  Denise Zinger is the daughter of Joy Harrison. Joy Harrison owns the Pastrami Queen in Manhattan, and the Pastrami King in Queens.  We found real pastrami in Florida, and we coiuldn't wait to try it.
The restaurant is located in a shopping plaza.  You walk in and realize it isn't your usual New York deli.  The waiters were in black tie and there were chandeliers.  We grabbed a seat and service was very good.  When our waiter brought the sandwich, which was plied in the center with pastrami, I immediately tried a piece that had fallen to the side. It seemed to have melted in my mouth. It was that delicious.  The spices mixed in a blend that complimented the meat and the bread was very fresh with a a great taste that added to the sandwich.  Just thinking about this sandwich makes me want to jump on a plane and go get one.  Its that good!  Rebbel had a corned beef sandwich that was good, but the pastrami was the star of the day!!
They have plenty of food on the menu,  but I don't know if I could ever tear away from the pastrami.
If you want to try their yummy pastrami,  they are  located in Boca Raton at 7132 Beracasa Way. I would definitely visit again!  Go to the web page by clicking the title.

Panini Pete's, Fair Hope, Alabama - A Great Lunch!!

Tucked away on the shore of Mobile Bay close to Mobile Alabama is the town of Fair Hope Alabama. It is a nice community. A home to artists and writers and is the home of a little sandwich shop called Panini Pete's. This particular restaurant was featured on Food Network's Diners, Drive Ins and Dives and the owner was even on Guy's Big Bite.
He is known for paninis and beignets. The moment I saw him, I told Rebbel because he was doing two things Rebbel does expertly, so of course, we had to take a detour from Florida and check it out! I am glad we did.
The bake shop/ panini shop is located in downtown Fair Hope. It is located in the French Quarter. The sign above the alley tells you. In the back in a small building is the home of Panini Pete's.
We got there a little early for lunch. We wanted lunch, not breakfast. To kill time we checked out the peaceful beautiful town that seemed to have a lot of restaurants. We would have checked out more, but it was a rainy December day. We killed time for about 2 hours, the restaurant closes at 10:30 and re opens at 11:00. We waited patiently for them to open the door at 11:00 sharp.
It was then we found that they only serve beignets at breakfast, unless there are leftovers. We missed out!! We could have been munching on them waiting for lunch! We did however, order the paninis, and they were delicious. Panini Pete makes most of the ingredients in his sandwiches the old fashioned way. He cooks it himself. Even the mozzarella is house made!! He offers hand cut chips and fries to go with the sandwiches. We decided to get the Roast Beef, the Turkey and the Muffaletta. We decided the best was the Roast Beef. House roasted to medium rare, with gorganzola spread, onion confit, tomato, Dijon on a Cibatta. The House Roasted Turkey came a close second.
Panini Pete was there and proved to be a very friendly proprietor, and his visiting family were very nice also.
Rebbel told him she liked the area, but he was already doing her stuff. He replied back that they might have to have a showdown on Main St. if she chose to pursue it.

Panini Pete's and Fair Hope is definitely worth checking out if you are that way. They are located at 42 1/2 S Section St #2, Fair Hope, Al. Get there early and let us know how the beignets are!
You can watch the videos and check out the menu by clicking the title.

The Marietta Diner, Marietta, Georgia - Decisions, Decisions

As we turned into the drive of the Marietta Diner, we were greeted by an almost full parking lot. This was a good sign. The restaurant has been featured on Food Network's Diner's, Drive - Ins and Dives, but , that was a while back. It was good to see that the food was bringing them back. We walked through the door and we were immediately greeted by a showcase loaded with pies, many layered cakes, and other baked yummies. `
The menu was chock full of delicious choices. It looked like a small town phone book. Greek food along with other choices. We asked the waitress what was good and of course, the answer was everything! We decided to get the Seafood Platter and a Gyro Platter. The gyro was real tasty, but the seafood platter was out of this world!! It had salmon, shrimp and scallops over noodles in a creamy white sauce. The seafood tasted like someone cared about every single morsel as they prepared it. Then there was that showcase in the front.
We decided to take a couple of slices of cake to go! How could we resist? We had a slice of red velvet cake and coconut cake. My wife who makes her own tasty red velvet cake, thought it was the best red velvet cake she ever bought! Would I go there again??? Yes I would. In fact, we tried on our way home, but there was a wait, and we didn't have the time. I am looking forward to eating there the next time we are in the Atlanta area. The Marietta Diner is located on 306 Cobb Pkwy. Southeast, Marietta, Ga. They are open 24 hours. Click on the title to go to their site.

A Place I've Never Visited - The Front Porch - Ellsworth, Micigan

My sister threw a picture and a pamphlet next to my computer. "You have to write about this place." I looked at the information. "What is it?", I asked. " A place that could use a little help", she replied. The Front Porch is located at 9235 Main St in Ellsworth, Michigan. Close to the left top, or ring finger ,of the mitten in Antrim County. It is not a restaurant, but a 501(c)3 organization. It was set up to help the community of Ellsworth after the previous cafe and a grocery store went out of business. A void was left in the community. There was a need for a place to fellowship. A place where local people could get together, share in fun activities, and reach out to other people in the community needing help. After a slew of volunteers got together, the former Ellsworth Diner was transformed into the Front Porch.
The Front Porch's menu doesn't have fixed prices on the menu. A suggested donation is tallied for the meal based on their ongoing costs. Any excess is used to provide food to the most needy. They also minister in other ways.
A prayer post in the entance is provided for requests and praises, as well as clergy and lay people who can pray with you. They serve senior lunches every Thursday, and facilitate special events for other non - profit organizations. Several small group bible studies meet there.
Volunteers are used as wait staff. They even serve fair - trade coffee. The workers growing and harvesting the coffee are paid a fair living wage.
They are open from 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM Monday through Saturday. They serve breakfast and lunch.You can click the title to go to their website. That's where I got most of the information on this non restaurant that I never ate at, but hope to next time I am in Ellsworth.

Best Food In The World - Glenn's Diner - Chicago, Illinois

"Best food in the world." That is what the sign read as we visited Glenn's Diner in Chicago. Located in the Ravenswood neighborhood,at 1820 W. Montrose, we decided to go there after seeing them on DDD (Diners, Drive Inns and Dives)on the Food Network. First thing that we saw as we walked in the door was multiple cereal boxes artfully lining the front wall. They offer 25 different types of cereal. You get the idea that this isn't an ordinary place.
On each side are walls of chalk boards. These boards are filled with specials that will make your mouth water. After receiving the menu, we made our choices. I had the french toast that like all the other breakfasts, is available anytime and Rebbel got the meatloaf sandwich. It was then that we really started reading the chalk board. There was plenty of Seafood choices there along with a lot of other foods with unusual twists.
The french toast was excellent. Probably some of the best french toast I have tasted. Didn't even need syrup. Rebbel also enjoyed her meatloaf sandwich, but if I ever go back there again, I will start with the chalk boards! Click the title and you will magically be transported to their home page.

Worth Walking Ten Blocks - Hackney's Printer's Row, Chicago, Il

Cruising through the streets of downtown Chicago on a sunny Saturday, Rebbel and I looked for a good place to park the truck. We wanted to try a burger from Hackney's located on Dearborn Street. We had heard about them on the Food Network's Diner's, Drive Inns, and Dives. We found Dearborn street, and quickly found a parking garage that advertised a weekend "special" on their sign. After driving around the building for what seemed like hours but turned out to be minutes and trying to find a spot without a beam, we finally managed to pull into a great spot. Let me mention we are from a small city and the thought of driving in a building with low ceilings and going up and up is a little bit unsettling. We exited the parking garage and managed
to find Dearborn Street without any trouble. We turned North and started looking for the address. We walked about three or four blocks. There wasn't any Hackney's!!!! I asked Rebbel if she had noticed if the address was North or South. She pulled the paper with the address out and lo and behold, it had an address of South Dearborn, of course we were in the 700 block of North Dearborn.
We turned around and walked back to South Dearborn. Along the way, we passed many closer parking places, taxis, buses, and even a parade that was taking shape. We walked at least ten blocks after walking the original three or four blocks. At last we found Hackney's!!
Hackney's is located in an older building. There is a lot of tables and probably can seem cramped if busy. There is some outdoor seating by the street.
We ordered the Hackney burger and the inside out burger. The Hackney burger came on a rye bun made in their own bakery and fresh ground beef. It was good, but I ordered the inside - out burger and that was delicious. The inside - out burger started with the same Hackney burger, but was stuffed with sharp cheddar cheese and bacon. It was juicy, and very tasty. It took the Hackney burger to a new juicier, tastier, burger bodaciousness. Their housmade chips and slaw rounded out the meal.
They also are known for an onion ring loaf that we will have to try next time.
Our waiter was very friendly and helpful giving us good instructions for taking the trolley and buses. Of course we ignored all the advice and ended walking even farther. Arriving back to our car, we found out the special parking price was for the first two hours. We ended up paying more, but in the end it was all worth it! Hackney's Printer's Row is located at 733
South Dearborn in Chicago. The South part is very important. They also have other locations that you can find by clicking the title and going to their page.

Chicago Lines Up For This Burger - Paradise Pup, Des Plaines, Ill

This wasn't our first choice. We were going to try a place in Alsip Ill. called the Frosted Mug, but, they were closed. Looking over our list that we got from the Food Network site, We decided to drive to a place called Paradise Pup in Des Plaines. As we came up to the little burger joint, we noticed a fairly good sized line snaking from the door to the back of the building. We got in line where Rebbel asked the people in front of us what was the best thing on the menu.
I thought that the place was called Paradise Pup, so the dogs would be the main attraction. I was wrong. They do serve hot dogs, sausages, and Italian beef, but we were told that they were known for their cheddar char burger and now I can see why that is!
Paradise Pup is owned by two brothers, and they have been doing those burgers for over 25 years. . The 1/3 pound char burger was juicy, and tasted like it just came off a backyard charcoal grill. The Merkt's cheddar cheese was oozing out of the sides of the burger from under the grilled sesame seed bun. To go along with the burger, we tried the three way fries. The fries were crinkle cut topped with the Merkt's with sour cream and bacon. It was a real challenge to pick which to eat first.
We were glad that we ended up going to our second choice!! If you want to try this delicious burger that many have said is the tastiest burger in Chicago, drive to 1724 S River Rd. in Des Plaines, Ill. Make sure you have cash, the don't take cedit, and be prepared to stand in line. It will be well worth it!!

A Chain I Have To Mention - Five Guys Burgers and Fries

I usually don't write about chain restaurants, but I have to tell you about this one or I will be doing a great disservice to my readers. I don't know what happened over the years, but most of the chain hamburgers have become tasteless and pretty dried out. They hardly resemble a burger at all. You can get them fast and cheap but that's about it.
Five Guys is a whole differen type of chain. . I first heard of Five Guys on a news site. Someone in the comments asked for people's favorite burger chain. Five Guys kept coming up in the replies. I had never heard of them, so I tried to find the closest. It was over 50 miles away from me, so I waited for an opportunity. It finally came and I was sorry...... Sorry that I didn't go earlier!
There is nothing fancy about Five Guys. The colors are usually red and white. You get your order in a brown paper sack, you can munch on free peanuts in the shell while you wait. (I love peanuts in the shell.)
Five Guys has only a few food items on their menu. Burgers, fries, and hot dogs. They do all of the items stupendously. The burgers are cooked right in front of you using only fresh ground beef. They don't even have freezers! They use only peanut oil. No trans fats here. Their tasty fries are cut from only Idaho potatoes. They have numerous toppings you can choose to have on your burgers and according to their website, there is over 250,000 ways to enjoy your burger. I usually get mine all the way, which means you get everything except the asterisked items. They are free too, but you have to ask for them. The burgers and fries are hot, juicy and delicious!
If you don't believe me, check out their walls. You will find many testimonies from other eaters both pros and amateurs. Hurry and check out a Five Guys near you. It is simply the best chain burger I have ever ate! Hopefully they never go the way of the other guys and sacrifice quality for speed and cost. You can go to their site by clicking on the title.

A Better Butter Burger - Solly's Grille, Glendale,Wi.

On our recent trip to Chicago, we decided to jog up to the beautiful land of cheese and butter for dinner.Wisconsin was just a little bit up the road and there was a burger that we had been meaning to try for quite some time. We would go on holidays and they were always closed. We discovered Culver's because we wanted a butter burger and Solly's was closed. Culver's was good, but now I know what a real butter burger is. Sorry Culvers, you'll always be my first. Solly's Grille, located near Milwaukee in Glendale Wisconsin at 4629 N. Port Washington Rd, is known for their butter burger. In fact, they claim to be the originators of the butter burger in the 1930's.
The place is as neat as a pin. It looks like a house as you drive up to it. You walk in and you see two counters snaking through the restaurant. They have sandwiches,fries, malts and onion rings on their menu, along with other food, but unless you are close by and have time to try everything, I would order the butter burger. It has made numerous lists for one of the best burgers in America. Warning....this burger is not for butter wimps!
The burger comes topped with stewed onions and cheese. Rebbel was wondering what the yellow stuff in it was. I told her it probably was cheese, but on closer inspection, she found out that it was a glob of real, fresh, tasty, soft butter! The longer you let the burger sit, the more of the butter melted in a puddle on the plate and back in to the bun. I was glad we made the trip, and I must say, it was one of the tastiest burgers I have ever had!

True Grits (and Shrimp) - Wishbone Restaurant, Chicago,Il.

Shrimp and Grits. The first time I heard of this combination was on the Food Network. I believe it was Paula Deen. I must admit, I never was a big fan of grits. I have tried this southern staple before when I was at a breakfast buffet somewhere south of Michigan. I found them kind of tasteless and well,... gritty. So when our friend Joyce said she had tried shrimp and grits at Bubba Deen's restaurant in Savannah, and it was delicious, I was kind of curious and skeptical.
On our recent trip to Chicago, we decided to eat at Wishbone. They are known for southern comfort cooking. They had a Sunday brunch and their shrimp and grits came highly recommended by another food blogger. We had to try it!
Wishbone has several locations in Chicago, and we decided to eat at the Wishbone at 1001 Washington that is locted a block from Oprah Winfrey's studios.
Rebbel ordered an omlette that looked pretty good and I decided to go for the shrimp and grits. The grits came with a choice of a corn bread muffin which I went for to keep with the southern theme.
The waiter brought it out in a big bowl. The dish contains cheese grits,shrimp,bacon,scallions,mushrooms surrounded by a pool of wine and cream sauce. It was one big bowl of warm, comforting, hearty, delicousness that I find hard to get out of my hungry mind. I can't wait for another chance to order this meal. Next time, I think we will both order it so we won't have to share! Click on the title to go to Wishbone's page.

Bacon! Bacon! Bacon! - Tony's I-75 Restaurant, Birch Run,Mi

Coming back from the upper peninsula of Michigan, we wanted to find some place special for our last meal before returning home. We were coming back via I-75 and would be going close to Frankenmuth, the town known as Michigan's little Bavaria. They are known for Christmas every day of the year, and chicken dinners. The dinners are fine, but we were looking for more. We decided to travel down the road an exit to Tony's I-75 at Birch Run. Tony's is known for HUGE PORTIONS.
I decided to try their famous B.L.T. It contained a pound of bacon. With the Grand kids with us, I had to go for it. The sandwich was as big as I had heard. Loaded with mostly bacon and some lettuce and tomato on delicous Italian breas. I decided to pick up the whole thing rather than cut it. Of course, it took two hands, but I could have used a thirs just to shove the fallen bacon back in. It was very good, and yes, I finished it. I wasn't able to look at another piece of bacon for weeks, but it was all worth it. Another pleasant memory for the Grand kids to cherish.
As for the rest of the menu??? Most of the items come in the same huge portions. The have sundaes that have a half gallon of ice cream! Rebbel ordered a corn beef rueben and it was also on the huge side. On the way out, they told the kids to fill their pockets with candy. Our oldest Grand son was worried about which pocket he was going to fill. The man at the counter told him to turn around and he proceded to fill the hood of his shirt. You will definately not leave Tony's hungry.

Hot Day, Hot Dog! - The Hot Dog House - Monroe, Michigan (CLOSED!!)

Today has been the hottest day of the year in Michigan. 92 and humid. Of course the air conditioner in our 1 year old truck decides to quit working. My wife drives to Monroe, Michigan to take our truck to the dealer. Along the way, she passes a new place called The Hot Dog House. She wants us to to try it out on the return trip.
Hot Dogs....It seems you can get them everywhere these days. Gas stations, cafe's, festivals, fairs and even rummage sales sell them. Everybody thinks they can do a hot dog. It is rare though, to find a place that can do a hot dog the right way. The Hot Dog House located at 2020 S Custer (M50) in Monroe Michigan is not only a place that does everything right, they make it fun and interesting. From the toasted bun, to the Koegel dog itself, everything is right and tasty.
When you walk in, the big selection of dogs are located on the wall to the side of the counter.There is plenty of time to read the selections away from the counter. You can choose from dogs such as the Big Mack dog; which has 3 cheese grown up macaroni and cheese; the Duke that is covered with baked beans sauteed onions and bacon bits; a Guard Dog with sauerkraut, shredded Swiss cheese and thousand island dressing, a Bulldog which is modeled after a Chicago style hot dog with mustard, sweet relish, chopped onion , pickle spear and they even added the celery salt! There are many more dogs to choose from and they even have a kids dog selection. We ordered 4 different dogs, and loved them all. We especially liked the Duke and Guard Dog. They also offer fresh hand-cut fries, onion rings and deep fried mushrooms. Dunking dips are also available. These also come in many varieties such as Ranch, Parmesan Peppercorn, Honey Mustard, Spicy Mayo, and Honey Mustard.
We ordered the dogs to go, and were happily surprised that each container was labeled very clearly with a printed label. Try getting that kind of service and hot dog from the gas station!
The Hot Dog House is open from 10:30 A.M. - 7:30P.M. Monday - Saturday. They take phone orders for Business Lunch Delivery from 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM Monday - Friday. Phone them at 734-457-BARK (2275).

Charmed By the Charm City - Broadway Diner,Baltimore, Md.

It shouldn't be a surprise to anybody that follows this blog, that we are big Food Network fans.
After hanging around Pittsburgh for an afternoon, we went to our motel room and decided what to do next. Being a little crazy, we decided to
travel to Baltimore Md. to visit some other restaurants. Once again we decided to check out places we viewed on Diners, Drive Inns, and Dives. I don't know what it is, but Guy seems to pick out the places that we seem to like. While we were there , we thought we would check out the place Ace of Cakes is filmed at Charm City Cakes. We first made a stop at the Broadway Diner. Located at 6501 Eastern Ave,in Baltimore, the place looks like a huge diner car. As we entered, staring us in the face, was a huge desert case featuring cakes, pies, and many other sweet, delicious things too numerous to mention. I was glaring into the case when our hostess came to seat us. In my opinion, this happened way too fast. I could have looked at the case another 10 minutes or so, but I guess they get tired of wiping the drool off the thing.
Rebbel asked the waiter what was the best thing on the menu. His answer was everything is good. Then he told us that Guy had the goulash when he was there. I had to try it, and Rebbel decided to have the classic diner fare and went with meatloaf. The goulash was fantastic. I have never had goulash with roast beef. I am used to hamburger. The roast beef was extremely tender. The sauce had just a hint of tomato flavor. Rebbel's meatloaf was good too. I really think the waiter was right about the menu. We took desert to go, and enjoyed it back at the motel room. I had chocolate cake and Rebbel had a key lime cheesecake. Not the whole thing, just a slice. Both were good, although Rebbel liked the cheesecake better. More chocolate cke for me! We found Charm City Cakes. For some reason, they had
the windows shaded, the doors locked, and the security cameras focused. Must have heard we were coming! I was really impressed by Baltimore. It looked like an interesting city. You might say, we were charmed by the Charm City. You can read check out the Broadway Diner online by clicking on the title. Charm City Cakes is located at 2936 Remington Ave, Baltimore, Md. They are open by appointment only. You can find them at http://www.charmcitycakes.com/

The Best Eggs Benedict Evar! - The Dor-Stop Restaurant, Dormont, Pa.

The Dor - Stop Restaurant is located in Dormont right outside of Pittsburgh, Pa. To get to the restaurant, we had to go up what looked like Mount Everest to my wife. We don't know if there was another way up, that was the way our trusty Tom Tom took us. Once there, my wife had the best breakfast evar! She ordered the Eggs Benedict which I am convinced are the best anywhere! Two eggs served on top of Italian bread and covered with Hollandaise sauce. Even the home fries were delicious. I had the Pumpkin Hot Cakes. The hot cakes were, in my opinion, made just right. They had a little bit of crisp on the outside, but the inside was very soft and delicious.
We also had the ham that was cut from the bone in the restaurant. It had a mild not too salty taste that accented the breakfasts we ordered. The breakfast we had made the trip up the big hill worthwhile. Of course we had to get back down, and Rebbel hates downhill more than she does uphill. It was still worth the trip. If you would like to visit them, they are located at 1430 Potomac Ave, Dormont, Pa. Click the title to go to their web site.

A Toledo Area Secret - Mr Freeze - Toledo and Perrysburg, Ohio

I have been traveling to the Toledo area since I was a young boy. I have never heard of Mr Freeze until about a month ago. Somebody from work let me in on this secret. Mr Freeze is an ice cream place located at 2031 N McCord Rd in Toledo and 627 W South Boundary in Perrysburg, Ohio. They are known for their Turtle Sundae and Buckeye Sundae. They come in a styrofoam cup. The Turtle was loaded with ice cream caramel sauce, pecans, chocolate and whipped cream. The Buckye Sundae had ice cream, peanut butter filled buckye candy, peanut butter sauce, chocolate sauce and whipped cream. I ordered a small and it was all I could do to finish it. They have a lot of choices not mentioned here. The prices are very reasonable. There is one thing, be prepared to stand in line for a while. Evidently some people are already in on the secret!