Left at the Fork

the road | the food | a new direction

Category: News (Page 22 of 25)

They're both Texas donuts, but the bottom one is a TEXAS donut!

Texas-Size Donuts

October 18, 2014 / / 0 Comments

Round Rock Donuts, north of Austin, has been frying ’em up since 1926. They have as cultish a following around here as Krispy Kreme has in other parts of the country. One member of the cult, apparently, is Mary G. Ramos, who writes fondly of Round Rock donuts for The Dallas Morning News: “[T]hey . . . make wonderful, yeasty, glazed doughnuts that have a rich yellow color from the fresh eggs that are used in them, as they were used in the original recipe.” By the way, we’ve actually shared one of those Texas-sized donuts. We’d estimate that it contains about 8-10 donuts worth of dough. But how do they make them? Continue reading

We don't know what's simmering on the stove, but we're certain we'd like the end result, at The Little One.

Best Tucson Chile Relleno at The Little One

October 18, 2014 / / 0 Comments

The Little One (formerly known as Little Café Poca Cosa) was chosen as The Best Place to Eat Lunch Downtown by Tucson Weekly‘s Best of Tucson 2014 (Mi Nidito came in second). When you have that lunch you’d be advised to order a battered and fried, cheese-filled chile relleno because The Little One was also chosen for Best Chile Relleno. How can one city feature so many good things to eat, and so many good places in which to eat those things? Continue reading

The Carnitas Dip, like a Mexican take on a French Dip, is a summer dish at El Charro.

El Charro Café of Tucson Shows Up Often on Best of Tucson 2014

October 18, 2014 / / 0 Comments

El Charro is the most famous Mexican restaurant (since 1922) in Tucson, and Tucsonians love it, as evidenced by their voting it the winner of three categories in Tucson Weekly‘s Best of Tucson 2014. There wasn’t a category named Best Carne Seca (dried beef), probably because El Charro owns that dish in Tucson. They did, however, win Best Carne Asada, Best Carnitas, and Best Margarita. Meat and booze – sounds like a winner to us! Continue reading

Not your average Halloween novelties

Jacques O’Lanterns

October 17, 2014 / / 0 Comments

When some people want to put down a chocolate in the strongest terms possible, they refer to it as “Halloween quality.” Whether you like Halloween candy or not (we do), you know what it means: mass-produced, waxy-textured or grainy, tooth-achingly sweet chocolate that appeals, mostly, to kids. But you know what? All Halloween chocolate ain’t Halloween quality! Here’s one example of a Halloween chocolate novelty that you’ll look forward to devouring the next day: Jacques O’Lanterns. Continue reading

Mi Nidito has won Best of Tucson 2014 for Best Southside Restaurant.

Best Southside Restaurant in Tucson: Mi Nidito

October 17, 2014 / / 0 Comments

The Best of 2014 lists from magazines and alternative weeklies are coming out fast and furious. Today, Tucson Weekly‘s Best of Tucson 2014 survey named Mi Nidito Best Southside Restaurant. Mi Nidito (My Little Nest) is a Sonoran restaurant first opened in 1952, and it  remains in the family to this day. The eatery is famous for the time President Bill Clinton did some serious power eating at their tables. Tucson Weekly says, “For many locals, it’s a solid place to bring visitors and introduce them to Sonoran goodness.” Continue reading

Ribs from Gates Bar-B-Q in Kansas City, one of the barbecue joints you might visit on a KC Barbecue Tour

Take a KC Barbecue Tour!

October 17, 2014 / / 0 Comments

Are you planning a first-time visit to Kansas City? Or maybe you’re a frequent visitor, or even a resident, who would just like to get a better handle on, and a behind-the-scenes look at, the local Q scene. If so, you might want to consider taking a tour with KC Barbecue Tours. They offer two different tours. The midday Original Kansas City Barbecue Tour visits four Q joints. The four may vary but one recent visitor said they went to LC’s, Woodyard, Gates, and Arthur Bryant’s, all, in our opinion, worth a visit. Continue reading

Peanut butter pie: Blue Bonnet Cafe of Marble Falls, TX

Is Texas’ Small-Town Eats Variety Disappearing?

October 16, 2014 / / 0 Comments

John Burnett, writing for NPR’s Foodways blog, presents his thesis that the variety and authenticity of Texas’ small town eats is getting swamped by barbecue, Tex-Mex cuisine, convenience store fast food, and Sysco. We don’t know that we’d restrict the phenomenon to Texas. Hasn’t this been happening across the country for decades? Continue reading

Ben's Chili Bowl's chili half-smoke is Washington's official food.

D.C. Best of 2014 Is Out

October 16, 2014 / / 0 Comments

Express Best of 2014 is out, with a lot of interesting food categories. We definitely want to get to TaKorean, a Korean taco truck which won in the Best Food Truck category. Arepa Zone, also a truck, led the Best South/Central American category. Don’t know arepas? The story describes them as “Venezuelan fried corn pockets, stuffed with meats and cheeses in combinations like shredded beef, queso fresco, plantains and black beans.” Continue reading

Gino's East is one of Chicago's Big Four in the deep-dish pizza business.

Gino’s East Bringing Chicago Deep-Dish Pizza to Texas

October 16, 2014 / / 3 Comments

So what is it with Texas’ infatuation with Chicago edibles? Not only is Al’s #1 Italian Beef coming to Dallas but Gino’s East, Windy City deep-dish pizza specialist, is opening their first branches outside of the Chicago region this year, in the Lone Star State. The four pizzerias will be located in Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and the Houston suburbs. Like the Al’s restaurants, they will be franchises. Word is the pizzerias will add Texas barbecue pizza to the menu. Can Garrett’s be far behind? Continue reading

Italian beef at Al's #1, now in Dallas

Al’s #1 Italian Beef Coming to Texas

October 15, 2014 / / 0 Comments

There are many signature Chicago street foods but our favorite, hands down, is the Italian beef. Thinly shaved beef is plucked from a trough of garlicky jus and laid in a fresh Italian roll. Hot? That’s spicy giardiniera, a chopped vegetable condiment. Sweet? Sweet red peppers. Dipped? They  immerse the entire sandwich in the juice! We’ll take a beef, hot, sweet, and dipped. Continue reading

Carnegie's signature Woody Allen: a corned beef/pastrami combo. Has anyone ever finished one?

New York Daily News Review of Carnegie Deli

October 15, 2014 / / 0 Comments

While Stan Sagner, in his Daily News review of New York’s famed 77-year-old Carnegie Deli, didn’t like everything, he loved the important stuff: matzo ball soup, corned beef/pastrami combo, and cheesecake. As do we. Really, is it even necessary to look at the rest of the menu? Continue reading

We can think of no better totem of autumn than a glass of sweet, crisp, and fragrant fresh-pressed apple cider.

It’s Fresh Cider Time in Northern Michigan

October 15, 2014 / / 0 Comments

Cold, crisp, sweet, and spicy cider, freshly pressed from apples just off the tree – is there anything else that evokes fall quite so vividly? Apple growing regions all over America are currently picking and pressing. Apple farms are holding apple festivals and frying up cider donuts, the perfect accompaniment to a cold cup of cider. Continue reading

Purple Door artisan ice cream is the new king of Milwaukee.

Kopp’s of Milwaukee Dethroned by Purple Door

October 14, 2014 / / 0 Comments

The shocking news is out! OnMilwaukee has been posting their annual Best of Dining awards, which apparently are voted on by readers. For ages, when we thought of ice cream and Milwaukee, we thought of Kopp’s and their thick custard. Doesn’t everyone? Apparently not because, while Kopp’s won OnMilwaukee’s award last year for the category Milwaukee’s Best Desserts, they finished second this year to Purple Door. What makes this more remarkable is that Purple Door makes ice cream, and Milwaukee is a custard town. The only constant is change. Continue reading

Started in 1939 as a convenience store, transformed into a restaurant around 1970, Wolf Lodge has become a favorite of those looking for great steaks in an Old West setting.

Steaks and Trout in Northern Idaho

October 14, 2014 / / 0 Comments

With a decor featuring rustic wood and stone, saddles, and implements of the cowhand trade, servers in boots and cowboy hats, and a menu of steaks, big steaks, and bigger steaks, Wolf Lodge of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho is an Old West aficionado’s dream. Continue reading

Arnold's roasts three of these each day to be assured of having enough for everyone.

Arnold’s Country Kitchen of Nashville Gets More Love

October 14, 2014 / / 0 Comments

Best Reward for Standing in Line. That’s the category in Nashville Scene’s 2014 Best of Nashville awards, won by Arnold’s Country Kitchen, for their roast beef. It’s available every day and is one of Arnold’s most popular items. Continue reading

Zuppardi's Apizza, of West Haven, CT, makes a glorious version of Connecticut's pizza specialty, white clam pie.

Zuppardi Feud

October 13, 2014 / / 0 Comments

What is it about great pizza and family feuds? Here’s the latest complicated story, Zuppardi edition. Zuppardi’s Apizza was founded in 1947 in West Haven, CT by Anthony Zuppardi. Son Robert later took sole ownership of the restaurant. Eventually, Robert’s sisters, Lori and Cheryl, became co-owners, with Robert, of the business. In 2005, Robert’s son Tony began his own pizzeria, with dad Robert’s assistance, in Wilmington, VT and called it Tony Zuppardi’s Apizza. Continue reading

Homemade donuts for the 16th Annual Harvest Moon Pumpkin Fest and Tractor Parade

Saturday: Pumpkin Festival and Tractor Parade in Hadley MA

October 13, 2014 / / 2 Comments

Bring your tractor to Hadley, Massachusetts this Saturday, October 18th. That’s when you’ll have the opportunity to participate in the big tractor parade that takes place as part of North Hadley Sugar Shack‘s 16th Annual Harvest Moon Pumpkin Fest. Over 40 farm tractors are expected. Don’t have a tractor? Not a problem! Hitch a ride on one of the many tractors that will be pulling wagons for tours of the surrounding landscape. Continue reading

Look closer. They are not what you think they are. These are sugar cookies with a bacon/brown sugar glaze!

Cake Nouveau of Ann Arbor Will Be Closing

October 13, 2014 / / 0 Comments

Master baker Courtney Clark will be hanging up her rolling pin, at least professionally, within a few months. She’s decided to close her eight-year-old shop in Ann Arbor, MI, called Cake Nouveau, to spend more time with her family. She’s earned it. Best of luck, Ms. Clark, and we look forward to your future culinary endeavors when the kids are grown! Continue reading

Betty Murphy at Mastoris Diner, from Candacy A. Taylor's new book

The American Coffee Shop Waitress

October 12, 2014 / / 0 Comments

It’s surely not too early to be thinking about gifts for the holiday season. Here’s one for your friends and family who appreciate LAF (Left At the Fork)-style dining: Counter Culture: The American Coffee Shop Waitress, by Candacy A. Taylor. Ms. Taylor, a former waitress herself, has spent years collecting stories from, and photographing, career waitresses at coffee shops, truck stops, and diners across America. You can see a sample from the book at The Guardian. Place your order here. Continue reading

Zada Jane's offers plenty of veggie and vegan options on its interesting breakfast and lunch menus.

Going Veggie in Charlotte

October 12, 2014 / / 0 Comments

We don’t envy anyone trying to keep to a strictly vegetarian diet while traveling in the American South, but it’s far more doable than it was even ten years ago. Courtney Devores, writing for the Charlotte Observer, runs down the wide spectrum of options available in Charlotte, NC for vegans and vegetarians. The options range from raw food emporiums to regular eateries with an elevated health consciousness. Continue reading

« Older posts Newer posts »

© 2024 Left at the Fork

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑