Bobby's Burger Palace: University City Review

Bobby's Burger Palace in Cherry Hill hit the spot for me. Perfect for the Cherry Hill Mall food scene and the location featured simple Americana burgers done right. So after waiting almost an hour for a table at The Fat Ham (they did away with reservations!), the GF and I decided to grab a bite at the Bobby's Burger Palace in University City so we could make a movie time.

It seems perfect for the Drexel-Penn crowd, burgers, fries, and onion rings for the college crowd. Makes sense! 

Classic Burger [$7.95]
American cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion
 

The GF went with the classic. The sesame seeded bun housed a burger that wasn't well-seasoned however. And even worse? The accompanying pickle. It had the texture of tofu, which is to say there was no texture. Sad.

New Mexico Burger [$7.95]
Queso, roasted green chiles, pickled red onions

I went with the New Mexico, which was also surprisingly flavorless. I expected more acidity from the pickled red onions and some depth from the chilies. The medium rare burger was cooked to temperature, but again no seasoning. And in case you were wondering - my pickle was long past as well.

Half and Half [$4.50]
Onion rings, sweet potato fries
 

We went with the sweet potato fries and onion rings for our half and half order. The onion rings were great, though at only two, it was a lonely pair. The sweet potato fries were crisp and well-seasoned fortunately. I didn't understand why honey mustard came with the order though.

Vanilla Caramel Bourbon Milkshake [$9]

Not to completely poo poo on the experience, but the milkshake was fairly standard. The undertones of whiskey were there, however slight. The milkshake was smooth, with the sweetness of the caramel coming through with each sip. 

Overall this location could do better in terms of seasoning and certainly with taking care to ensure that their ingredients are up to snuff. I don't want anyone to think I'm some pickle police, but they should not disintegrate upon mastication.

Morning at Maggies Omelette Shoppe Review

This is for a 2015 Michigan Trip including:

The Filling Station Microbrewery, Morning at Maggies Omelette Shoppe, Mackinaw Brewing Company, and Tony's I-75.

We were in Bay City for a friend's wedding and the morning after, we were naturally hungry for some brunch. Located a stone's throw from the Doubletree was Morning at Maggies, the neighborhood omelette shoppe.

Down-home and casual, it's the perfect spot to get a hearty breakfast. 

Baked Potato [$7.99]
Shredded potato, bacon, green onion, cheddar cheese, sour cream  

They had a number of omelette and frittata options available. The GF went with the baked potato omelette, which had all the tastes of a proper loaded baked potato collapsed into an omelette. It had a nice creaminess, though the shredded potato was a bit starchy. In addition to some toast, you also got a choice of shredded potato cakes or watermelon as a side.

Create Your Own Frittata [$8.99]
Bacon, sausage, Monterey Jack, green pepper, mushrooms, spinach
  

I decided to build my own frittata. I went with a hefty mix of crisp bacon and hearty sausage, with plenty of Monterey Jack cheese, green peppers, mushrooms, and spinach mixed in. While it wasn't well-seasoned, it wasn't anything Frank's Red Hot couldn't fix. I opted for a potato cake side, which was a bit starchy and didn't have much flavor outside of a paprika sprinkling on top.

Overall though, Morning at Maggie's offers huge portions and hearty breakfast options. While the seasoning could have been better, the ingredients were fresh and definitely satiated our hunger pangs.

Grand Traverse Pie Company Review

This is part of a series of posts for Michigan 2014.

Other posts in this series include: Tony's Original Restaurant, Whitehouse, Cops & Doughnuts, Levi's Food & Spirits, Genji's, Clam Lake Beer Company, and Grand Traverse Pie Company.

In addition to being known for cherries, Traverse City as a whole is scenically set on a gorgeous blue lake. So what better setting to have grab some lunch and pie from nearby Grand Traver Pie Company?

Spinach with Goat Cheese Salad [$7.49]
Baby spinach, blueberries, red onion, apple, cinnamon roasted pecans, goat cheese, honey mustard vinaigrette
  

The GF went with the spinach and goat cheese salad, which seemed pretty standard, but had a nice mix of apple and cinnamon roasted pecans added in for texture. The honey mustard vinaigrette was sweet and creamy, with the moist grilled chicken and tangy goat cheese providing some heft to each bite.

GT Grilled Cheese [$6.99]
Cheddar, Havarti, cherrywood smoked bacon, sourdough

I went with the grilled cheese. Sandwiched between two thick, buttered slices of sourdough were crisp bacon and a nice melange of cheddar and havarti. The tart acidity from the tomato really made each bite. This came with a dill pickle and a pat of creamy mayo-based slaw.

We had to get some pie as well so stopped by to peruse the multitude of offerings. 

Cherry-Peach Crumble Pie [$3.29] a la Mode [$1.50]
 

The cherry peach crumble offered a nice mix of sweet and tart, with the sugar crumble providing texture against the creamy vanilla ice cream. Nice.

Grand Traverse Pie Company seems known for their pies, which are homey and tasty. But their other offerings are on point as well. 

Whole Foods Holiday Bazaar

The GF loves the holidays. So when she heard we were invited to the Whole Foods Holiday Bazaar, it was a "book it" type of moment - no questions needed. Whole Foods set up shop at Saxby's Headquarters and offered a sneak peak at some of their fall and holiday offerings. 

Whole Foods associates were offering a variety of tastes that ranged from raw bar delights all the way down to decadent desserts! But they started us off with cocktails. The GF and I enjoyed an easily quaffable Art in the Age Root mixed with Reed's ginger beer. 

From there we moved on to a delectable range of various cheeses and salumi, along with brie en croute! The latter's a great buy for the holidays or simply for hosting. Just pop it in the oven for 20 minutes and you're golden! Along, with that flaky pastry crust, of course! 

From there, we moved on to the raw bar, which featured shrimp, lox, crab dip and oysters. 

There was also a salmon pin wheel and crab claws to enjoy. 

One of our favorites of the night was an amazing kale and collard salad with roasted sweet potatoes. This was also served with sweet potato "crostini" with white bean dip. The kale and collard salad was so good we've already recreated it twice! And this is coming from someone who typically eschews "roughage." 

Don't forget that Whole Foods will prep your holiday meals for you. Just pre-order, pop their turkeys and sides in the oven, and you're set! We got a taste of some of their Thanksgiving Day treats and couldn't help but get excited for the holidays. 

The turkey was moist and not dry at all, while the collards were hearty with depth of flavor. The brussels had substantial bite and the yams were rich and satisfyingly sweet.

The GF's favorite station was obviously desserts. I caught her staring a few times during our journey through the holiday bazaar. And it's clear why. Nothing wrong with chocolate-caramel tarts and peppermint bark cheesecake. 

Or Belgian waffles with baked apples and chai whipped cream. Truffles and cinnamon popcorn were on offer as well! 

To end our holiday jaunt, we sampled some wellness products from Whole Foods that seem perfect for stocking stuffing. In addition to sea salt-sugar scrubs and candles, they had a make-your-own demonstration. Cinnamon or peppermint was tempered with vanilla to make our own aroma sprays. On our way out, we received a gift bag with the wellness items and the aroma spray we made. We also received to-go containers with desserts to enjoy later that night. 

So be sure to stop by and consider Whole Foods for your holiday needs. All of their wellness items are surprisingly affordable as they're usually less than $10 a pop! Whole Foods has also got you covered if you're looking to relax during the holidays or just need a foundation for your meal. 

Gran Caffe L'Aquila Review

After a devastating 2009 earthquake destroyed their restaurant and an unfortunate portion of the city of L'Aquila, Italy, brothers Riccardo and Gigio Longo opened up Gran Caffe L'Aquila in the Rittenhouse area. And once you exit the bustle of 17th and Chestnut and enter their establishment, it's as if you're transported to a proper Italian cafe, replete with stellar gelati, panini to go, and cappucino. That's not to say that a proper dine-in menu isn't available, but much of the fanfare surrounding Gran Caffe L'Aquila has centered around their gelati.

In fact, one of the principals of the cafe is award-winning gelato maker Stefano Biasini. And with an ever-changing option of 24 gelati on offer, Biasini's technique and passion is on display for our gustatory pleasure.

A small serving provides a single scoop of one of the gelati, while the medium and large provide two and three tastes, respectively. After enjoying a weekend lunch at DanDan as well as some Walnut Street shopping, the GF and I stopped in to finally try 2015's Best of Philly Gelato.

Medium Chocolate & Desire Gelato [$6]

The GF went with the chocolate and desire gelati. The rich chocolate notes were present, providing an enjoyable undertone of bitterness from the high-quality chocolate. And the desire? Wow - that's where we were really blown away by the ingredients. The deep cherry flavors really came through, with bits of whole cherry skins providing some texture. Amazing.

Medium Straciatella & Cannolo [$6]

I went with straciatella and cannolo. The straciatella was studded with chocolate chips and had surprisingly savory undertones. And the complexity of the cannolo had a great depth of flavor and an innate sweetness that was light. 

I love me some Capogiro Gelato, to be sure. But Gran Cafe L'Aquila? They brought it to the next level. It truly is all about how Biasini allows the ingredients to shine through his creations. I'll need to come back here to try the regular dining menu and some of those delicious-looking panini's, but it's the gelati that has me sold on returning.

McCrossen's Tavern Review

McCrossen's epitomizes the "neighborhood restaurant." Located in the Fairmount area, it's got a homey, yet sleek pub feel. Chefs such as Four Season & Lacroix alum, Townsend Wentz, have been at the helm over the years, elevating the dishes beyond just standard pub fare. 

So for brunch, the GF's family and I stopped by for some grub. 

 There's plenty of seating, whether it's at the bar or at a table.

Mimosa [$5]

I believe bottomless brunch used to be offered, but it's $5 brunch cocktails now. We enjoyed some mimosas on this particular morning. 

Whipped Ricotta [$8]
Thyme, olive oil, pigment d'espelette, grilled rustic bread

The healthy portion of whipped ricotta was topped with espelette chili pepper and seasoned well, along with a splash of EVOO to add some richness. The ricotta was slightly more grainier than I would have liked, but the rustic crostini was excellent - freshly grilled with olive oil, salt, and pepper. 

Brandied Mushroom and Brie Omelettes [$10]
Red bliss potatoes, fresh fruit
  

The GF opted for a lighter brunch, with a well-cooked omelette encasing a good mix of creamy brie and earthy, yet sweet brandied mushrooms. A pattering of crisp red bliss potatoes and diced fruit rounded out the plate. 

Creekstone Farms Burger [$12]
8 oz burger, fries

I went with the house burger, which featured a great meat blend and was cooked to a perfect medium-rare. Still, it could have been seasoned a bit more. The brioche bun was the perfect bun-to-meat ratio though and the accompanying fries were well-seasoned, crisp, and creamy within. 

Overall, McCrossen's hit the spot for brunch and though the burger could have been seasoned better, McCrossen's delivers in terms of pub fare. Definitely a place I could see myself stopping by for a drink as well. 

Little Goat Diner Review

This is for a 2015 trip to Chicago, including the following posts:

Big & Little's, David Burke's Primehouse, Little Goat Diner, Philly's Best, and The Publican. 

Stephanie Izard's a force in the Chicago culinary scene. Sure, she's the first female chef to win Top Chef. But more importantly, she's staked her culinary claim in the West Loop area of Chicago, which is certainly a dining hot spot. Chef Izard's got Girl and the Goat & Little Goat Diner amidst bastions such as Aviary & Next as well as Publican & Blackbird. And something's clearly going right in her kitchen, because both of her locations are regularly packed. 

Case in point - I popped in for an early lunch during a week of conferencing in the city. And Little Goat was stuffed to the brim, whether diners were enjoying themselves al fresco or within. Little Goat is Chef Izard's upscale, yet unpretentious, diner. It features a wide gamut of classics with some culinary twists, many of which were Asian-inspired. I pulled up a seat at the counter, which offered a decent view of the kitchen at work.

Smoked Pork & Toffee Crunch Shake [$7]

I had to start off with this shake, considering my entire dining experience this trip was essentially a gustatory gamut of carnivorous delights. The foundation of smokiness was quite intense, but the sweet and salty elements of the toffee crunch helped to create some balance. There were small chunks of pork interspersed throughout the shake, which was tasty overall, but more gimmick for me than a must-order. 

 

Pork Belly Pancake [$13]

Scallion pancake, house hoisin, bok choy salad, ginger maple dressing

On the other hand, you'd be hard pressed not to find me ordering this must-have dish. I appreciated that the Asian flavors weren't overtly in your face, but I found myself wondering how I wasn't indulging in an elevated Peking duck meal, supplanted with a crisp and hefty portion of pork belly. The gluttonous chew from the scallion pancake was on point and provided a nice textural contrast with the crisp bok choy slaw. The slaw which had just enough acidity to balance out the pork belly which was hidden beneath. 

Well-crisped on the outside, it yielded to a trembling and unctuous cut of belly that was absolutely delicious. The ginger maple dressing helped to provide some sweet spice to counter the savory elements, while the fried wonton strips provided additional texture for each bite.  

Mac n Cheese [$7]

Camembert, cheddar

It's a safe bet that I'll always try the mac n cheese. This iteration featured sharp cheddar melded with creamy Camembert. The well-seasoned marriage lent itself to a creaminess that clung to the al dente shells, topped with crisp and buttery bread crumbs. Nothing wrong here. 

Overall, I was impressed with Chef Izard's upscale diner. The menu is large, but considering the long hours it's open and the impressive crowds it pulls in, there's plenty to satiate a wide variety of appetites. The pork belly pancake is certainly a winner and has me salivating for my next trip back to Chicago. Girl & the Goat is now a must for me. 

Plated Review

You've likely seen all the commercials for meal delivery services. These are the Plated and Blue Apron's of the world and they offer a tailor-made experience for those that are either too busy to source their own ingredients for a home-cooked meal or lack the confidence to cook on their own. Being across the street from a Whole Foods and having a passion for cooking, I never gave these services much thought. But with a coupon for 2 free meals in hand, I decided to give Plated a try. 

Each week, they have a variety of meals available. On one particular week, they had Korean beef tacos, sirloin with potatoes, orchiette with spinach pesto, and vegetable tostadas amongst their offerings. Once you put in your order, they'll provide you with the delivery date and there's nothing else to do but sit and wait!

You get everything all at once - separated out by veggies and proteins, all labeled per the meal you're looking to cook for the night. Each meal comes with a recipe card, which helps to provide some instruction for what could be a great date night cooking experience.

The meals do seem designed with time in mind, with no recipes really taking longer than an hour and the majority taking 30 minutes or less. Everything's provided, less a few essentials you likely have on hand such as salt and olive oil.

Dukkah Skate 
Zucchini hash, pickled radish
  

On one night we enjoyed the dukkah-spiced skate, which was moist and flaky, offering nice cumin flavors. The pickled radish provided some bite and nice acidity, with the zucchini "hash" providing some additional color to the plate. Certainly a healthy offering, clocking in at only 470 calories.

Chinese Chicken Salad
 

The Chinese chicken salad was bright and flavorful, offering nice Asian flavors, with the pop of the edamame providing some fresh heft to each bite along with the chicken. 

Fontina Basil Chicken
 

The fontina basil chicken was quite good, with the bright basil, artichoke and tomato salad providing some freshness to each bite. This was surprisingly only 450 calories, so I added a hunk of cornbread from Whole Foods to add to my plate. 

So if you're looking for a healthy alternative to a busy lifestyle, Plated might be a good option for you. And certainly if you're lacking in cooking prowess, I'd highly recommend it as they provide step-by-step instruction for each of the meals.