Left at the Fork

the road | the food | a new direction

Month: November 2014 (Page 2 of 3)

"The Donut" is a meal in itself! They take one of their giant plain donuts, split and grill it, then top it off with whipped cream and local maple syrup.

4 Aces Diner, West Lebanon NH

November 19, 2014 / / 2 Comments

REVIEW

The 4 Aces is an original Worcester Lunch Car, #837 to be precise, but you won’t really know that until you step inside, because the red clapboard house built over and around the lunch car almost completely obscures it. Once inside, you’ll be comforted by the classic sight of a 1950s diner, with original tile floor, if such sights comfort you, as they do us. You can step beyond the confines of the original diner to other dining rooms but why would you ever want to do that? Continue reading

Mile High Cream Pie at Norma's Cafe in Dallas

LAF in the A.M. November 19th, 2014

November 19, 2014 / / 0 Comments

A Morning Menu of Stories We Think You’ll Find Interesting

Norma’s Cafe Serving Free Thanksgiving Dinner

Grand Central Holiday Fair

Moody’s Diner of Maine Loses Religious Discrimination Ruling

Oklahoma Joe’s Now Officially Joe’s Kansas City

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The Original, and still the best: a plain cinnamon and sugar Duffeyroll

Duffeyroll Cafe, Denver CO

November 18, 2014 / / 0 Comments

REVIEW

We’re always on the lookout for cinnamon rolls, and The Duffeyroll Cafe in Denver makes a particularly good one. Duffeyrolls have only a passing resemblance to goop-filled and icing-laden modern mega-rolls. A Duffeyroll cinnamon roll is light-textured, almost like a croissant. It’s a little crisp on the outside, and veined with just enough, but not too much, cinnamon and sugar. Continue reading

This late summer burger features Cloudland's own Angus beef garnished with house made sauerkraut, Russian dressing, and Spring Brook Reading cheese, served on a marble rye bun.

Cloudland Farm, North Pomfret VT

November 17, 2014 / / 0 Comments

REVIEW

Here’s our idea of a perfect Vermont evening: we first drive to Lebanon, New Hampshire, pick up a growler or two of Dooryard Cider from Farnum Hill Ciders, then drive north of Woodstock, towards Pomfret, on winding dirt roads through the forest until we reach Cloudland Farm. We arrive earlier than our reservation so, on a pleasant summer evening, we sit in rockers on the porch as the kind folks at Cloudland bring us glasses. Continue reading

Arizona pistachios adorn the pizza known as Rosa.

Pizzeria Bianco, Phoenix AZ

November 16, 2014 / / 0 Comments

REVIEW

Many have claimed that Pizzeria Bianco serves the best pizza in the land. As it’s also been one of the most difficult restaurants in which to secure a table, for years we’d been unable to see for ourselves what all the commotion is about. Things have changed. Hours have been expanded to cover midday, and Chris Bianco opened a second restaurant in Phoenix, and a third in Tucson, so that it is now possible to join in the fun without enduring an hours-long wait in the Arizona desert sun. Continue reading

Chess pie from Arnold's Country Kitchen of Nashville, TN. Arnold's has a policy on table squatting: no grabbing a table until you've ordered and paid.

LAF in the A.M. November 16th, 2014

November 16, 2014 / / 0 Comments

A Morning Menu of Stories We Think You’ll Find Interesting

David’s Country Kitchen in NYC?

How to Get By at a BBQ Chain

Top 101 American Breakfasts, Says Playboy

Tony Luke’s Watch

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Stop in at Farnum Hill Ciders, bring a growler or purchase one there, and get it filled with dry cider from the keg after tasting what's available that day.

Farnum Hill Ciders, Lebanon NH

November 15, 2014 / / 0 Comments

REVIEW

Cider is experiencing a renaissance in the U.S. By cider, we’re referring to hard cider, fermented apple juice, not the fresh-pressed sweet brown juice sold in plastic jugs in the fall (which we also love, particularly if it’s that ever-more-rare unpasteurized stuff). Hard cider’s golden age in America was colonial times, when it was easily made at home, on the farm. Interest died out long ago, and only very recently has America’s interest in hard cider been piqued. Now it seems as if every major brewery has a bottled cider offering. They tend to be sweet and simple, with flavors that lean more towards Jolly Ranchers than real apples. Continue reading

Cioppino is an old-time California Italian-American dish. Duarte's version is made with Dungeness crab, clams, and prawns.

LAF in the A.M. November 15th, 2014

November 15, 2014 / / 0 Comments

A Morning Menu of Stories We Think You’ll Find Interesting

A Visit to Duarte’s Tavern, An American Classic

Michael Bauer of Inside Scoop SF (and food editor for the San Francisco Chronicle) drives down to Pescadero for a visit to Duarte’s Tavern, founded in 1894. He loves it all, from the slanted floors in the old dining room to the cioppino to the olallieberry pie (olallieberries are a locally popular hybrid of blackberries and raspberries). The menu features artichokes from Duarte’s garden, local oysters, Dungeness crab… in fact, depending on the season, Duarte’s offers locally caught halibut, snapper, petrale sole, and sand dabs. There’s even an abalone sandwich! Continue reading

This is The Same: potatoes, beans, bacon, and cheese in a homemade flour tortilla. The same as what, you might ask?

Helen’s Casa Alde, Buda TX

November 14, 2014 / / 0 Comments

REVIEW

Migas, a savory amalgam of eggs scrambled with torn bits of corn tortillas and perhaps some combination of chiles, onions, tomatoes, cheese, and/or meat, is the breakfast dish of Austin. Its fame is justified, and no visitor to Austin should neglect it, but even more popular, if less glamorous, is the breakfast taco. Continue reading

Tucson's Prep & Pastry will be at Sunday's Viva La Local. This is a sandwich of tri-tip on a homemade cheddar biscuit with scrambled egg, arugula, and jalapeño jam.

LAF in the A.M. November 14th, 2014

November 14, 2014 / / 0 Comments

A Morning Menu of Stories We Think You’ll Find Interesting

Viva La Local in Tucson This Sunday

Viva La Local is returning this Sunday to Rillito Raceway Park in Tucson, Arizona. The food festival debuted in spring 2014 and was such a big hit that organizers hope to make it a twice-yearly event. There will be over 80 farmers market vendors in attendance, 25 local restaurants, and several area wineries and breweries, along with music by Tucson bands. They are offering bike valet service and will store your farmers market purchases in a refrigerated truck (be sure to tell them not to refrigerate your tomatoes)  while you enjoy the festival! Proceeds go to help support the Heirloom Farmers Market. Continue reading

We really enjoy Capuano's garlicked and herbed pizza dough rolls.

Checking In at: Capuano Ristorante, West Windsor NJ

November 13, 2014 / / 0 Comments

Capuano Ristorante falls into one of two major categories of central New Jersey pizzeria Italian restaurants: the food is OK (the other category: the food is terrible). That’s about the best you can hope for at these restaurants, which are sprinkled by the dozens all over the region. You’ll never hit one where the food is better than OK, but sometimes OK is good enough. (Keep in mind we’re not talking here about those rare, and spectacular, pizza masters like De Lorenzo Tomato Pies in Robbinsville.) Continue reading

Shepherd's Pie at the restaurant at Simon Pearce in Quechee, Vermont

LAF in the A.M. November 13th, 2014

November 13, 2014 / / 0 Comments

A Morning Menu of Stories We Think You’ll Find Interesting

Behind the Scenes at VT’s Simon Pearce Restaurant

Brian Gazda became the Executive Chef at the restaurant at Simon Pearce Glass in Quechee, Vermont in June 2013. The local newspaper Valley News spends time with Chef Gazda as he works with the restaurant’s staff to prepare for a day’s service. Continue reading

Can't say we've seen a more irresistable-looking dish than these homemade chicken pies

Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market, Allentown PA

November 12, 2014 / / 1 Comment

REVIEW

We tend to think of farmers markets as a source for locally grown tomatoes and corn, sweet and pristine berries picked that morning, and root vegetables still caked with moist soil. So a farmers market in Pennsylvania steel and coal country, in December, would turn up little of interest, right? Not so! Continue reading

If we lived in barbecue country we'd never again cook a Thanksgiving turkey! This smoked bird, from Central BBQ of Memphis, will run you $39.99.

LAF in the A.M. November 12th, 2014

November 12, 2014 / / 0 Comments

A Morning Menu of Stories We Think You’ll Find Interesting

Smoked Turkey for Thanksgiving

If you plan to be in Memphis for Thanksgiving you might want to leave the turkey to one of the local barbecue shops. Many of them are offering smoked turkeys for Thanksgiving pickup. Check this story in the Memphis Commercial Appeal that runs down the Thanksgiving offerings at area restaurants. It’s not all barbecue but those are the ones that interest us the most. The Bar-B-Q Shop is offering 12- to 14-pounders for $45.95. 12- to 14-pounders at Central BBQ are running for $39.99. Germantown Commissary‘s smoked turkeys will cost you $41.95 up to $69.95, depending on the size. Continue reading

A clam roll overflows with beautifully fried belly clams.

White Cottage Snack Bar, Woodstock VT

November 11, 2014 / / 0 Comments

REVIEW

The remnants of Hurricane Irene passed through Vermont, along the Connecticut River valley, on August 28th, 2011. The storm dumped massive amounts of rain on the region, swelling creeks and streams to powerful torrents which washed away bridges and businesses that were unlucky enough to lie in their paths. One such business was the White Cottage Snack Bar, a Woodstock summer tradition since 1957. We’d seen pictures of the damage to the White Cottage and, five weeks after Irene, we had a first-hand look at the devastation. It was clear to us that the White Cottage’s days were over forever. What do we know? It was back in business for summer 2012! Continue reading

There are St. Elmo regulars who love the shrimp cocktail, and the super-pungent cocktail sauce, even more than the steak.

LAF in the A.M. November 11th, 2014

November 11, 2014 / / 0 Comments

A Morning Menu of Stories We Think You’ll Find Interesting

World Famous St. Elmo Shrimp Cocktail Eating Championship

St. Elmo Steak House, an Indianapolis landmark since 1902, is famed for their jumbo shrimp cocktail with explosive cocktail sauce. We’ve had it and, yes, it’s everything they say it is. But nine pounds of it in eight minutes? That’s what Joey Chestnut did last year to set a world record and win the World Famous St. Elmo Shrimp Cocktail Eating Championship. This year’s event takes place on December 6th, and Joey Chestnut will be on hand to defend his title. Read the details here. Continue reading

Note the large chunks of beef in this hash.

Bijou Cafe, Portland OR

November 10, 2014 / / 0 Comments

REVIEW

They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and we suspect “they” are from Portland. Portland is a breakfast hound’s paradise, filled with restaurants that open in the early AM, and close after lunch. One of our favorites is a high-energy, stylish but casual place called the Bijou Cafe. Continue reading

The New Braunfels Wurstfest Wurstkabob features pork and beef sausage, bratwurst, jalapenowurst, cheddarwurst, and applewurst. Yep, you get 'em all!

LAF in the A.M. November 10th, 2014

November 10, 2014 / / 0 Comments

A Morning Menu of Stories We Think You’ll Find Interesting

New Braunfels Smokehouse and the Wurstfest

One of our favorite all-time festivals is going on right now. The Wurstfest, in New Braunfels, Texas, is a German/Texan celebration of beer, sausage, and music. The eating, for carnivores, is spectacular, much of it supplied by the New Braunfels Smokehouse, which produces those sausage kabobs you see pictured at the top of this post. In all, the NB Smokehouse expects to sell over 40,000 pounds of sausage at the Wurstfest. Read more about the New Braunfels Smokehouse and the Wurstfest in The Herald-Zeithung. The festival continues through Sunday the 16th. Continue reading

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