Wagamama: Heathrow Airport Review

This is for a series of posts related to a London 2014 trip including: 

The Ledbury, Founder's Arms, Fishcoteque, Borough Market, Fortnum & Mason Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon, Tayyabs, Giraffe: Heathrow, Park Plaza Westminster, & Wagamama: Heathrow.

While at Heathrow Airport in London, we decided to satiate our appetite by stopping at Wagamama, a London-based restaurant chain featuring a variety of pan-Asian dishes.

The interior was spacious, sleek, and clean. Plenty of seating for those looking to relax and dine during a layover. 

Super Green Juice [3.40 Pounds = $5.57]
Apple, mint, celery, lime
  

It was an early morning, so I felt the need for a freshly juiced concoction. The super green juice was refreshing - the tartness of the apple and the freshness of the celery were punched up with the addition of some herbaceous mint and bright lime. 

Full English Breakfast [8.45 Pounds = $13.85]
Sausage, back bacon, roasted tomatoes, fried eggs, sourdough toast  

Being a British-based chain, Wagamama also offers the full English breakfast, sans the beans or some good old blood sausage. Still, the thick-cut sourdough was topped with fried eggs. The back bacon was nicely fatty and the sausage was hearty. I appreciated the roasted tomatoes, which imparted some acidity to each bite.

Breakfast Yakisoba [6.50 Pounds = $10.82]
Teppan-fried soba, bacon, egg, cabbage, mushrooms, tomato 

The GF opted for the yakisoba, which featured nicely al dente noodles with great chew, fried on the teppanyaki grill. Creamy scrambled eggs were interspersed with a melange of fatty bacon, savory mushrooms, tomatoes, and cabbage. Very comforting.

If you're looking to grab a quick bite at Heathrow, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Wagamama. It's not finicky and offers a variety of options to cater to all palates.

Wagamama: Heathrow

London Heathrow Airport
Terminal 5
Heathrow TW6 2GA 

http://www.wagamama.com/restaurants/heathrow-terminal-5 

Giraffe: Heathrow Airport Review

This is for a series of posts related to a London 2014 trip including: 

The Ledbury, Founder's Arms, Fishcoteque, Borough Market, Fortnum & Mason Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon, Tayyabs, Giraffe: Heathrow, Park Plaza Westminster, & Wagamama: Heathrow.

While waiting for our flight back to Paris for our final leg back to the U.S., we decided to grab  brunch at Heathrow. Giraffe appeared to be our best bet considering the limited time we had. It's a London-based chain featuring a selection of salads and burgers.

Despite a rather long line, the wait wasn't that bad. There's plenty of seating inside and the kitchen turned out food rather quickly. 

Chicken Caesar Salad [8.95 pounds = $13.93]
Torn lettuce, foccacia croutons, cherry tomatoes, avocado, Italian hard cheese, boiled egg, smoky garlic dressing 

The chicken caesar was simply OK, featuring torn lettuce tossed in the ubiquitous dressing. There wasn't much chicken, but the few bits we found were relatively moist. The salad was topped with some Italian hard cheese and small bits of avocado and cherry tomatoes. It also came with some over-boiled eggs.

The "Giraffe" [11.35 pounds = $17.66]
Smoky bacon, mature cheddar
 

The "Giraffe" burger wasn't that much better. The beef wasn't seasoned much and was a tad dry. The smoky bacon was crisp though and the sharp cheddar brought out a nice funk to each bite. Sadly, the "chips" weren't as crisp as I normally like them and were a bit starchy.

Overall, Giraffe didn't really hit the spot - at least at the Heathrow Airport location.

British Airways Review

This is for a series of posts related to a London 2014 trip including: 

The Ledbury, Founder's Arms, Fishcoteque, Borough Market, Fortnum & Mason Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon, Tayyabs, Giraffe: Heathrow, Park Plaza Westminster, & Wagamama: Heathrow.

Amidst all the cold we're currently experiencing in Philly, I can't help but think back to warmer times - like this past fall when the GF and I took a trip to Europe. So let's take a bit of a break and check out some travel and dining in Paris and London! On the first leg of our trip to Paris, the GF and I decided to fly British Airways. It was affordably priced for a non-stop flight and we knew we'd be comfortable on our 8-hour flight.

With the Rolls Royce Trent engines on full display, we boarded without any issues and got a great two-seater on our own. Everyone has a personal LCD display with plenty of current movies, TV shows, news, and your flight itinerary all on display. But on to the food and drink. After all, this is a food blog for the most part!

Pro tip? Drinks are complimentary - and I'm not talking about soft drinks. Plenty of wine, Glenlivet 12, and Johnnie Walker to be imbibed and enjoyed.

Dinner for me was chicken tikka masala and curry rice. For airline food, not bad at all. The chicken was actually moist and plentiful. The curry wasn't exactly Whitehall, London curry but it was passable. 

It came with a side salad with fresh lettuce, shredded carrots, and plum tomatoes. 

The lemon cake was really moist, sweet, and flavorful. Definitely satiated our sweet tooth!

And for breakfast the next day? A croissant of course - we were on our way en Paris! 

So if you're looking to relax, have plenty of personal entertainment, decent food, and most important, drinks to calm any flying jitters, check out British Airways.

Jack Duggan's: Philadelphia International Airport Pub Review

The GF and I needed to grab some dinner from Philadelphia International before our flight to Paris. So we stopped by Jack Duggan's to grab some standard pub fare. Expectations are always a bit diminished at an airport, but that doesn't mean that consistency and execution need to be sacrificed. Luckily, this doesn't appear to be the case at Jack Duggan's - at least based on this trip.

Beef Nacho Grande [$11.99]

We shared the beef nachos which was substantial, studded with spicy jalapenos, sweet cinnamon-based chili with beans, olives, and freshly chopped tomatoes. This was all drenched in a nicely sharp cheese sauce.

Chicken Fingers [$10.99]
 

The chicken fingers were hot, juicy, and crisply fried. The fries were just as good - crispy, creamy, and well-seasoned. 

Overall, Jack Duggan's has got you covered if you need some familiar tastes served with a smile. Service was a bit slow, but it's friendly. Fair warning, tables are hard to come by during prime time so you may be relegated to staring at a wall while sitting on a bar stool.

Bad Daddy's Burger Bar: Charlotte Douglas International Airport Review

On our way back to Philly from Michigan, the GF and I had a layover at Charlotte Douglas International in North Carolina. We were also in the mood for burgers so decided to check out Bad Daddy's Burger Bar.

Cookies n Cream Spiked Milkshake [$13.49]
Vodka, Kahlua, Baileys, Oreo cookies

We decided to share one of the spiked milkshakes, which was a creamy mix of Oreo cookies and Kahlua and Baileys which always goes well together. You could get a faint whiff of the vodka, but the cookies and cream was definitely at the forefront. Not bad at all.

Fried Pickles [$8.29]
Sliced dill pickles, lightly breaded, ranch dressing
  

And if fried pickles are on the menu, it's probably going to be ordered. These were delicious. Briny - almost to a fault - these were deftly fried and rendered crisp. The ranch dressing offered some respite from the salt at first, but to be honest, brought it over the top. But perhaps I was complaining because I knew what was to come for me. 

Chicken Club Burger [$10.99]
 

The GF went with a ground chicken club burger, which came with the addition of ham, bacon, and cheese. The burger itself was moist and well-seasoned. The ham was a bit much, but who can say no to bacon.

 
Onion Straws
Chipotle ranch dipping sauce
  

She opted for the onion straws, which were delicious, but added to the heavy nature of this particular meal. It came with a chipotle ranch dipping sauce, which again initially tempered the salt and grease, but really brought it over the top.

Bacon Cheeseburger on Steroids [$13.49]
Burger, 3 pieces of jalapeno bacon, 3 pieces of applewood smoked bacon, Monterey Jack, Baconnaise, shredded lettuce, tomatoes, onion, pickle

 

And what exactly was I 'concerned' about? I had to get the bacon cheeseburger on steroids - replete with 6 slices of jalapeno and applewood smoked bacon. Baconnaise added to this calorie bomb, with the grease of the burger and bacon resulting in a soggy bottom bun. And first few bites were delicious, the burger itself was overpowered and even I couldn't finish this. Needless to say, I was drinking lots of water for the rest of the day.

Tater Tots
Bad Daddy's sauce

I went with tater tots and couldn't help but enjoy these childhood favorites - crisp on the outside and creamy within, these were on point. 

So if you're looking for a light meal during a layover, do not head to Bad Daddy's. But if you're looking to satiate an urge for mounds of bacon and grease, look no further - they've got you covered, and then some. 

Bad Daddy's Burger Bar
5501 R C Josh Birmingham
Charlotte, NC 28208
(704) 714-4888
www.baddaddysburgerbar.com

Garrett Popcorn Shops: O'Hare International Airport Review

This is for a series of posts for a 2014 Chicago trip including Alinea, Giordano's, Bottlefork, Bub City, Portillo's Hot Dogs, Doubletree Hilton: Magnificent Mile, and Garrett Popcorn Shops.

Since 1949, Garrett Popcorn Shops have been providing quality popcorn in Chicago and beyond. I first tried it by Penn Station in NYC and became a frequent visitor while attending school in Chi-town. So during the GF and my recent trip to Chicago, we had to grab some before our flight back to Philly.

The popcorn is hot-air popped daily and the most popular mix is the Chicago Mix - a mixture of decadent salty cheese and sweet, crunchy caramel.

It's an irresistible mix that can is truly best experienced when eaten by the handful.

Large Chicago Mix [$7.85]
CaramelCrisp, CheeseCorn
  

Sweet and salty is a great mix of flavors that is clearly highlighted here. The caramel was like eating crisp candy that became pillowy upon masticatoin. But the real star for the GF and myself? The CheeseCorn. The popcorn was coated in sharp cheddar and provided bursts of intensity. I'm not surprised they put a 2:1 ratio of CheeseCorn to CaramelCrisp - in fact, there was still too much of the sweet caramel popcorn for my liking. Cheddar over sweets any day of the week for me! 

So if you're in Chicago and certainly before you leave, make sure to get your fix in. And if you're looking for a great gift, there are a variety of decorative tins that can be filled with the decadent flavors of Garrett popcorn.

http://www.garrettpopcorn.com/

Chickie's and Pete's: Airport Review

Chickie's & Pete's has a storied history in Philly. Whether you're at a Phillies or Sixers game, you'll see crowds of fans lining up to get their CrabFries. On the backbone of these fries, Chickie's & Pete's has expanded to numerous locations through Philly, including one at the Philadelphia Airport.

So on your way out from Philly, walk over Terminal C & D and get one last taste of Philly before you head on your way.

Combo Fries [$8.50]
Crab Fries, Crabby Sweets
 

You can't go to Chickie's & Pete's without getting the CrabFries. They're named for the Old Bay seasoning that's typically used for crabs. As the story goes, Pete apparently was thinking of ways to use the left-over seasoning from crab season. He experimented and eventually came up with the proper recipe. The crinkle-cut fries are perfect to hold the salty, spicy seasoning and better yet, the cheese sauce. Chickie's & Pete's has a combo deal which allows you to try the Crabby Sweets, which are essentially sweet potato fries with an accompanying maple syrup sauce. Sweet indeed. Both types of fries were perfectly crispy on the outside and creamy within. A must get.

Chickie's Cutlets [$8]
 

The chicken cutlets were prototypically crisp on the outside and juicy within. It came with a pat of honey mustard. Pretty standard, but well executed.

South Philly Cheesesteak [$11]
Roasted red peppers, creamy cheese sauce 

Now the real surprise was the South Philly cheese steak. It came on a fresh seeded roll that was soft and pliant, perfect to sop up any grease from the chopped sirloin. South Philly style involved roasted red peppers and a creamy cheese sauce. I asked for grilled onions as well, which wasn't a problem at all. Pickles and jalapenos came on the side, which offered a nice counterbalance to the heft of the cheese steak. Overall, not a bad entry into one of the better cheese steaks in Philly.

If you check the Yelp reviews, the service apparently leaves a lot to be desired. But on my particular trip, our server was exceptional. In fact, it was the travelers that were the annoyance. I saw one gentleman complain vehemently about the $7.50 charge for a domestic beer to both the manager and the server (I'm sure she has everything to do with the pricing). Seriously? You're in an airport and at a chain. If you can't comprehend the markup for alcohol in an airport terminal, move along. In any case, Chickie's & Pete's is a good bet if you're looking for a quick bite before flying to your next destination. You can also do so without have a guilty conscience because they've also settled the claims associated with tip-skimming. So get some CrabFries and even a cheese steak if you're extra hungry. You won't be disappointed.

 
www.chickiesandpetes.com 

Gateway Grill Review

After a fun-filled weekend in Michigan, it was time to head out and go back to Philly. First stop - Bishop International Airport in Flint Michigan. While waiting for the first leg of a connecting flight through Detroit, I started to get a bit hungry - surprised?

There aren't that many options in this local terminal - but there was a Gateway Grill.

Cheeseburger ($3.69)

Their iteration of the burger was pretty standard. A decent bun that housed about 3 to 4 oz's of beef patty. I asked for cheddar, lettuce, and tomato. The toppings were fresh, though I wish the cheese and beef was more plentiful. The patty could have been seasoned a bit better as well. 

Hotdog ($2.59)

The hotdog was cooked on a flattop, just as the burger was. I was offered sauerkraut and onions as toppings - I decided to spare my fellow passengers on the plane and got only the sauerkraut, which was grilled on the flattop as well - a nice touch. The hotdog had a decent snap and was juicy - definitely hit the spot.

Overall, the Gateway Grill satiated the belly of this pig, though my taste buds were not necessarily excited. And while my final total was ominously devilish, ultimately, the meal was not.

Gateway Grill
Bishop International Airport
3425 West Bristol Road
Flint Township, MI 48507

(810) 235-6560