Month: February 2015 (Page 1 of 2)

Grant Seafood Festival, Grant FL, February 28th Through March 1st, 2015

February 28, 2015 / Bruce Bilmes and Susan Boyle / 0 Comments

What started as a fish fry for a couple hundred people in 1966 has turned into a two-day event for 50,000. It’s the 49th annual Grant Seafood Festival in Grant, FL. There’s music and arts and crafts, but what you’re really here for is seafood, and lots of it! Continue reading

A chocolate frosted and a salted caramel - the chocolate frosted, with its deep chocolate crown, is our favorite Donuts Time donut to date.

Checking In at: Donuts Time Cafe, Hamilton NJ

February 28, 2015 / Bruce Bilmes and Susan Boyle / 4 Comments

For our return visit to Donuts Time we brought our friend with the inestimably discerning palate, Chris Ayers. We all agreed that these yeast-raised donuts are denser and chewier than those from other shops, and that we consider that a compliment. There’s an element of real substance to these pastries – the dough is not simply an airy vehicle for transporting sweet toppings to the mouth. We recognize others may disagree with us on the subject of light-textured donuts. Continue reading

Sheila's Bread Pudding, served with warm Bourbon sauce, at the Beaumont Inn of Harrodsburg, KY - named one of five America's Classics by the Beard Foundation for 2015

LAF in the A.M. February 28th, 2015

February 28, 2015 / Bruce Bilmes and Susan Boyle / 1 Comment

A Morning Menu of LAF-Style Food News and Stories to Begin Your Day

HAPPY NATIONAL CHOCOLATE SOUFFLE DAY!

5 America’s Classics Named for 2015

Two New Boston-Area Shake Shacks Opening Next Week

KC Star Reviews Snead’s in Belton

Secret to Getting a No-Wait Seat at Al’s Breakfast of MPLS

Smelt Derby Festival, La Conner WA, February 28th, 2015

February 27, 2015 / Bruce Bilmes and Susan Boyle / 0 Comments

How’s your smelt jigging? The waters around La Conner, WA used to be thick with smelt (there was once a fish processing plant in town), but ya gotta be pretty good with the jig these days to collect a worthwhile haul (no license is needed to jig for smelt). If you fancy yourself the Yo-Yo Ma of the smelt jig you might want to try your hand at the Fishing Derby Saturday at this year’s 50th Annual Smelt Derby in La Conner. Prizes will be handed out. Continue reading

A Ronald's apple fritter: we believe they serve up one of the best examples of this donut-shop staple.

Ronald’s Donuts, Las Vegas NV

February 27, 2015 / Bruce Bilmes and Susan Boyle / 0 Comments

REVIEW

First off, let us state up front that we are not vegans, nor have we ever been vegans (save for a seemingly endless five-day macrobiotic episode decades ago). So why do we recommend a vegan version of one of America’s naughtiest foods? More to the point, in our minds: why is there a vegan version of donuts? Are there really that many people who crave fried, sugared dough but avoid them because of the use of animal products? There must be, because here is Ronald’s Donuts of Las Vegas, maker of vegan donuts that put to shame those turned out by the big donut chains. Continue reading

Fried Portobello Tacos from San Antonio's Green Vegetarian Cuisine

LAF in the A.M. February 27th, 2015

February 27, 2015 / Bruce Bilmes and Susan Boyle / 0 Comments

A Morning Menu of LAF-Style Food News and Stories to Begin Your Day

HAPPY NATIONAL STRAWBERRY DAY!

Meatless Fridays in San Antonio

Another Favorable Review of Deli Man

Chicago Fire in Texas

40 Great Minnesota Food Experiences

Sloppy Joes come in beef, turkey, and veggie versions, with sweet potato fries or Tater Tots. The sloppy Joe is good, as virtually all sloppy Joes are. They're not rocket science.

The Trailer Park Lounge & Grill, New York NY

February 26, 2015 / Bruce Bilmes and Susan Boyle / 1 Comment

REVIEW

We were faced with a tricky proposition: a bunch of us would be spending the day in Chelsea (a neighborhood in Manhattan) and wanted somewhere to hang out and get something to eat around 7:30 p.m. Oh, did we mention it was Valentine’s Day? Not only is that holiday the ultimate amateur night for diners (special menus geared toward those who dine out once a year), but every table at every restaurant that could even remotely be considered romantic had been booked weeks in advance. We had to find the sort of place that no couple in their right minds would even consider visiting on the most romantic evening of the year. And so we did. Continue reading

A cross-section of the amazing White House Special from the White House Sub Shop of Atlantic City, NJ.

LAF in the A.M. February 26th, 2015

February 26, 2015 / Bruce Bilmes and Susan Boyle / 0 Comments

A Morning Menu of LAF-Style Food News and Stories to Begin Your Day

HAPPY NATIONAL PISTACHIO DAY!

10 Worthy Atlantic City Restaurants, Not in the Hotels

An Ode to Ann Sather’s Cinnamon Rolls

Charleston Heavily Represented Among Beard Semi-Finalists

If You Can’t Park, You Can’t Shop

A Runza is a hot, soft bread pocket filled with seasoned ground beef and onions, and some cabbage. The photo angle may make it appear that a Runza is a giant loaf, but they are single-serving-sized.

Runza, Lincoln NE

February 25, 2015 / Bruce Bilmes and Susan Boyle / 0 Comments

REVIEW

One of the problems we have with fast-food chains is how the food’s had all traces of regionality wrung out of it. To a large extent, the success of national or global fast-food chains depends on their ability to serve the same burger and fries in Maine that’s served in New Mexico. So we think it’s interesting when we encounter a local fast-food chain serving something unique to its region, like Runza does in Nebraska. Continue reading

Burnt ends at Gates really are the fatty trimmings from the smoked beef. If that sounds like your kind of thing (it's ours!), you'll enjoy these. This sandwich actually includes a portion of regular sliced smoked beef.

LAF in the A.M. February 25th, 2015

February 25, 2015 / Bruce Bilmes and Susan Boyle / 0 Comments

A Morning Menu of LAF-Style Food News and Stories to Begin Your Day

HAPPY NATIONAL CLAM CHOWDER DAY!

Gates Bar-B-Q of Independence MO Burns Down

Shake Shack Coming to Japan Next Year

Graeter’s Coming to Tennessee and Cleveland?

Giordano’s, Stunned by Indy Success, Plans Further Indiana Expansion

For bread lovers, there's no better pizza than the Bianca, dressed only with sea salt and green-gold olive oil. The side of creamy fresh ricotta is optional, in theory.

Co., New York NY

February 24, 2015 / Bruce Bilmes and Susan Boyle / 4 Comments

REVIEW

We first fell in love with Jim Lahey’s pizzas at his Sullivan Street Bakery, back when it was actually doing business on Sullivan Street (it moved to Hell’s Kitchen in 2000). We would devise any sort of pretext for passing by the bakery, where we’d stop in for a slice of his extraordinary potato pizza or pizza bianca. So we were thrilled when, in 2009, Mr. Lahey opened Co. (pronounced company), his first actual pizza shop. Continue reading