Down Home Cookin' - My Trip Home to New Hampshire

Labor Day weekend I had the pleasure of going home for the first time in almost two years. Needless to say I was pretty homesick for some of my all time favorite eats. For me, food is comforting on so many levels. It takes me back to being little and getting the special treat of having Papa Gino's pizza at St. Mary's one day a month. It takes me back to the dream job I never had at Golick's Dairy Bar, and fun summer days with my best friend at Weirs Beach. Memories that all came back this trip as I made sure to hit up as many of my favorites as I could :)

First stop after touching down in Machester was at Papa Gino's. Like the picture shows below, nothing compares to Papa Gino's. Its NY style thin crust pizza with the most amazing blend of cheese and the most flavorful sauce. If I had to chose one pizza to call my favorite, a plain cheese from Papa Gino's is it. It sounds so simple, but it is the most amazing combination of ultimate crust, sauce, and cheese perfection. If you've never been to New England, go - just for this pizza. Don't let the fact that its a chain make you doubt its deliciousness...

 

Second stop was Blink's Frye Doe. Now, I'm not sure why they don't just call it fried dough like every other New Englander does, but Blink's is a staple on Hampton Beach. Fried dough is a pillow of heaven that I have cherished since childhood. This was a carnival, fair, and beach day staple. I think only New Englanders know what fried dough is, because everywhere else I go, people think this would be the same as a funnel cake. IT'S NOT! It is soooo much better than a funnel cake. Blink's serves it up in a few dozen varieties. I take mine traditional, smothered with melted butter and dusted with sugar. The ultimate indulgence you will NOT regret. You can tell its good, coming from such a classy establishment :)





















Sunday's meant going to the Asia buffet after church. I'm 28 and this is still something I look forward to when I go home. The Asia is a chinese restaurant that is only a place locals would go. Totally a DIVE. This place holds so many childhood memories for me, I've been going since I was a baby. When I was in pre-school I am proud to say that I stood up and sang "Teddy Bear Picnic" to the whole place, I guess you can say it feels like home. The restaurant has seen better days appearance wise, but let me tell you the food couldn't taste any better. The fried rice is unlike any other, its so crispy and full of flavor. Everything they make is fresh tasting and to me, the way all chinese food should taste. Its the only chinese place I will go outside of PF Chang's and Pei Wei, so you know its good!

Golick's Dairy Bar is a Dover staple. It was my dream to work here as a kid, but for some reason I never did. My favorite ice cream can only be found here. Its called a Princess Twist, and it is soft serve vanilla swirled with black raspberry. I always get mine covered with tasty rainbow jimmies :) The picture doesn't do it justice, but this is so yummy!

Weirs Beach is one of my favorite summer spots. Its just a fun place to go, and reminds me of being a kid. Mini golfing at Pirate's Cove, playing on the boardwalk arcade, and hitting up the drive-in theater just make me happy. My dad and I made it to the Tamarack Drive-In which is a classic stop. The best thing on the menu is the onion rings. They are light, crispy, and just plain awesome. They are known for their lobster roll, which my dad had. I am proud to say I tried it! I'm not a seafood eater, but I wanted to try it. When in NH, right?! I hated it, but at least I gave it a shot.

My friend Leya and I celebrated our 28th birthdays in Harvard Square. We tried mini cupcakes from Sweet. Not the same as my Sweet in Orlando, but I will say it was a close second. She chose red velvet and I chose chocolate with vanilla bean buttercream. YUM! Super moist and full of flavor, with icing that was just the right amount of sweet. Minis are my favorite because you can enjoy and not feel guilty! If you are ever around the Harvard campus, make sure to pop in and try one!








This trip was only 3 days, too little time to really give you the run down of all of my hometown favorites, but I hope I gave you a little taste of a few of the best :) If you are ever traveling to New Hampshire or the New England area let me know so I can give you my complete list!

Hidden Gem in Cocoa Beach

I'm proud to say we have FINALLY found a great place to eat in Cocoa Beach! After many failed attempts, on our most recent visit we found a gem. Brano's is located just down the road from Ron Jon's. It doesn't look like anything fancy from the outside, but on the inside its very nice. Perfect for a casual dinner or even lunch after a day on the beach. Since its Cocoa you can pretty much expect to find people in their most casual clothes at any restaurant.

We ate here for dinner and then lunch the next day since we enjoyed it so much. Its a genuine family italian place, no frills, just yummy food. A nice bonus is they serve big garlic butter rolls at lunch and dinner! You know how I feel about bread...

We tried the pizza, which was really good! Everything tasted very fresh, especially the dough. You can tell that it is made fresh in house. It is slightly sweet and was a welcomed surprise. They have a great homemade italian dressing that compliments not only their salad, but their italian sub. I had that for lunch and was awesome!

So next time you are in Cocoa Beach, check this place out. I know you won't be disappointed! Brano's is going to get our business each trip!

Jazz Brunch Munch

So I have a pretty cool job that allows me to get some pretty great stuff for free. Often I get the opportunity to eat for free, and most recently I had the opportunity to try the Jazz Brunch at the Bohemian hotel downtown. I was able to take my mom for her birthday, which was even more fun. So this brunch costs the average person $40, which is a hefty sum in my opinion. Not to say its overpriced, its just a lot of money because I don't think anyone can eat enough in one sitting at a buffet to make it worth the price. You do get unlimited mimosas, which does make the cost a bit more manageable.

The atmosphere is very chic. The restaurant has a cool vibe to it, modern yet classic at the same time. Red velvet plush chairs, with a black and white decor. The jazz band plays in the center of the food buffet, which was an interesting concept.

The menu consisted of a large amount of seafood, which I don't eat. What I did enjoy was the fact that there was a menu of select items at our table that were made to order specialties. I tried one of these items, the turkey and brie eggs benedict.

This was absolutely delicious! There was also cranberry sauce that was underneath that balanced the salt from the dish and added that sweet element. The portion size was nice, on the smaller side, to allow you to continue eating the buffet and not getting full from one dish.

The buffet had your traditional bacon, eggs, sausage, chef created omelet bar. It also had some delicious mini belgian waffles! Berries, whipped cream, and warm maple syrup were the provided accessories.

The dessert selection was impressive. They had a large amount of meringues, cakes and my favorite, a mint chocolate mousse. The mousse was so filling that I couldn't even finish it. It was unique for sure, I have had my share of chocolate mousse, but never a mint chocolate mousse.

So, if you are in the mood to hear some jazz, eat some good food, and drink your fill of mimosas, check out this brunch. Its even better when you get it free :)

Something new for lunch

Sometimes we all get into a rut of where to go for lunch. If you are like me, you have your usual spots that are always a staple throughout the week. A few weeks back I noticed that a new restaurant had opened up fairly close to work. The name was catchy "Hot Krust." As the name eludes to, its a panini place. This is located right next to Pei Wei, in the former Delish spot. Needless to say I wasn't surprised that Delish had closed down...Anyways, Hot Krust has a pretty straightforward concept. Paninis, salads, that sort of stuff. I went with a roasted turkey with some yummy cheese and cranberry sauce. It was served with some outstanding homemade chips. 

I chose to have it on the herb bread, which I don't think I would do again. The seasoning on the bread overpowered the flavor in the sandwich a little bit, and had some spice that I didn't like. Overall, the sandwich was pretty good. I liked the chips best :) I would say try this place if you are looking for something new to throw into your lunch mix.

Brownie Sundae = Paradise

So I was having one of those days that I desperately needed something sweet. Typically when this happens it means I need something of the baked goods variety. I cured this craving by eating this AMAZING pecan brownie sundae at Copper Canyon Grill in Pointe Orlando. Copper Canyon is a great place if you are looking for some all around American fare, and they specialize in rotisserie chicken. I would have to say they also specialize in this heavenly treat.

This beauty features a large nicely cooked pecan brownie with crispy edges. It is then loaded with a huge scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream that is then covered in a heavenly cloud of thick whipped cream. YUM! It floats on a chocolate sauce pool and walnuts top it all off.

If you are ever craving something sweet, check this out. Make sure you have someone to share it with, because it is absolutely divine!

Heaven on a Plate - Goodfellas Cheese Calzone

Cheeze! One of my absolute favorite foods, especially combined with bread, garlic and melted to perfection. Goodfellas is one of my college favorites that I will drive the 30 minutes for any day. The pizza is excellent, but the cheese calzone is the absolute best you will ever have.

It sounds so simple, but they blend the perfect amount of mozzarella, ricotta, garlic, and olive oil into a toasty bread shell. It is oozing with an insane amount of cheese that floods out when you cut into the crust. This is truly unlike any other calzone you have ever had. Sure they make them with any filling you like, but trust me - the plain cheese is so good you won't need anything else to distract your taste buds.

Goodfellas is a no-frills family pizza restaurant. Make sure to eat here if you are simply craving something cheesy and delicious ;)

Sweet - My Favorite Guilty Pleasure

Cupcakes are all the rage right now, and it seems like wherever you go a new gourmet cupcake bakery is popping up! Being that baked goods are my ultimate weakness, I can't go by one without trying a bite. I have tried so many different cupcakes around the country and most places make you regret wasting the obserd amount of money that these places charge.

One place is unlike any other, and I am soooo lucky that this place is in Orlando. Sweet - by Good Golly Miss Holly is in Waterford Lakes by UCF. I am so sad that this place was not around when I lived on that side of town! However my waist line is thankful that it is a 30 minute drive to get a heavenly bite of these amazing cupcakes.

Make it on Monday for $1 mini cupcakes for a special bargain :) That's the great thing about Sweet - they have a mini size that lets to try several of the flavors, rather than getting full on just one!

So many of the flavors are my favorite, its hard to pick just one :) They have the perfect balance of cake and frosting. The best part about it is the frosting is not super sweet, it is utterly delicious. I'm not a big fan of frosting to begin with, but this is the only place that I will actually eat all of my frosting with my cupcake. Each flavor is totally unique and outstanding.

Red Velvet, PB & J, Coffee, Chocolate Mint, White Raspberry, Toasted Coconut, and Lemon are only a few of my favorites.

In this picture are Toasted Coconut (left) and White Raspberry (right) in the mini size. 

If you are looking for a place to indulge, make sure to visit Sweet! It is insanely good, and will be sure to fulfill your craving for something delicious :)

Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives Favorite - California Tacos in Tampa

Being obsessed with the Food Network has its advantages. I've learned where some of the best places to chow down across the county are! One of my personal favorite shows, Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives has inspired several stops on many different trips. Recently I was watching an episode that featured California Tacos in Tampa, I was so excited that I made a point to stop on a recent work trip for lunch.

If you have ever visited southern California I hope that you have been lucky enough to try Wahoos, its AMAZING! Its a fresh taste that you just don't find on the east coast too often. Alot of that has to do with corn tortillas, which rock in my opinion. Well, California Tacos has the BEST tacos that I have ever tasted - YOU NEED TO GO HERE!

Don't let the shack like order window scare you!

This place is really in the middle of no where, just outside the USF campus. Its in the parking lot of a army/navy surplus store, but don't worry - everything is cooked fresh to order. The person taking my order was super friendly and walked me through everything as I mentioned I had never been here before. Come hungry because the portions are HUGE! The speciality is fish tacos, but being that I don't eat seafood, I opted for the next best - the pork taco and the chicken taco. Each were unique, the pork was super flavorful and the chicken was grilled with peppers and onions. Both were topped with crunchy cabbage and fresh pico. I have to tell you, I even ate the pico it was so good! Check out my tacos!

They have a $10 minimum for credit card purchases so I was "forced" to have a fresh churro for dessert. It was so delicious and covered with cinnamon and sugar like a good churro should be!

California Tacos is a MUST GO for anyone who is looking for a taste of the west coast on the east coast. You won't find anything more fresh, authentic, and especially DELICIOUS than this place. Thanks Guy Fieri for the heads up!

BRAVO! Italian Restaurant - Delicioso!

Bravo! is an absolutely delicious italian restaurant nestled into the Delagio in Orlando off of Sand Lake in Dr. Phillips. Its a great choice if you are looking for something in a moderate price range for a nice night out. They have a great outdoor patio which is where we sat for dinner. This is a sister restaurant of Brio, the Tuscan grill at the Millenia Mall. While its a chain, it is unique enough to deserve a review!

We started with the most delicious bruschetta I have ever tasted. Being that I don't like raw tomatoes, I am always hesitant around this appetizer. The Portobello and Boursin Bruschetta was to die for! It featured caramelized onions and provolone in addition to the mushrooms and Boursin cheese. It is making my mouth water now as I think about it. Its THAT good :) Here is a picture of this amazing app

It was fresh and super flavorful. Make sure to get this, no questions asked!

Of course we indulged in the warm fresh bread that was brought to our table with our beverages. Sure you can get bread anywhere, but what you can't get everywhere was the delicious sun dried tomato oil for dipping! This oil was so flavorful I could have drank it. It has a unique blend of herbs and spices in it, with a hint of parmesan cheese. FANTASTIC (and free!). My husband had the ceasar salad, which was crisp and fresh with a creamy and peppery dressing. I chose the chopped salad, which was very fresh and flavorful.

For our entrees, I chose the Pasta BRAVO! which was a rigatoni pasta, with grilled chicken, mushrooms, and a tasty red pepper cream sauce. The portion looks small when its presented, but it is very filling! It is rich, creamy, and full of smokey flavor. If you like vodka sauce you will love this dish!

Pictured below is the Balsamic Chicken which my husband claims was one of the best chicken dishes he has EVER eaten! That's a big compliment coming from him. He could drink balsamic vinegar straight, and found that this chicken was so rich in balsamic flavor that he was practically scraping the plate. If you like grilled chicken and balsamic flavor, then this dish is one to be sure to try!

So, if you are looking for a casual, delicious, and tasty place to try some non-traditional italian dishes check out BRAVO! Cucina Italiana - you won't be disappointed!

Sangria! Or should I say nectar of the gods?

To celebrate one of my good friend's graduation we went to Ceviche in Downtown Orlando. I have been on a downtown trend :) This was my first time visiting Ceviche, however I have always wanted to try it! Its right on Church Street across from one of my favorite places, The Dessert Lady (we'll talk about that another time).

If you know me, and hopefully you do if you are actually reading this, you know I did not inherit my parents genes when it comes to alcohol consumption. I am usually the one drinking a diet coke when I am out with friends. This time was a little different...

I have never tasted a sangria this DELICIOUS! It was super super super sweet, which is something that I loved. I am not a red wine drinker at all, but I have started being drawn to sweet white wines. Whatever Ceviche does to make their white sangria taste so amazing, I don't know, but I can certainly say I will be going back for more! I had almost 4 glasses I think...

The food at Ceviche is a little blurry for me, which is to be expected after the amount of sangria I drank. Ceviche is tapas, so smaller portions. The girls that I went with and I all decided to get 2 items each. I chose a delicious salad with warm goat cheese, which was some of the yummiest goat cheese I have ever had. Again, it could have been the sangria talking, but it was warm and delicious mixed with the roasted red peppers and greens. I also had filet medallions with a sherry mushroom sauce which was good.

We were treated with a complimentary dessert, which was a special creme brulee, which tasted almost like ice cream. I am not sure how they did it, but it was fabulous! It was not served in a traditional ramekin, however a deliciously edible chocolate shell. It was so tasty!

I can't wait to go back to Ceviche with my sister in law when she visits from Chicago! Its a must go for a date night or a night out with the girls!

Pine 22 - A Unique Downtown Burger Bar

So about a month ago we visited Pine 22 in Downtown Orlando, which was a place that a friend of mine suggested. Downtown Orlando is often a place that I hesitate to go to simply because parking is difficult to find and I never really know where to go for a good bite to eat. I regret not checking this place out sooner! Its fun, trendy, casual, and most of all TASTY!

This is a burger bar, so you can choose from their pre-selected specialities or you can make your own. I love being able to make my own burger and put all the random topping I want, so that's the route that I went. I selected the beef burger of course, on an onion roll. For my toppings, cucumber (a first on a burger for me), a balsamic glaze, Boursin cheese, and raw onion. I played it conservative and went with the house fries. This burger was so fresh tasting! It was hardly greasy and tasted almost healthy, if you can imagine that. The fries were just OK, a little bland actually.

I am definitely going to hit this place up again to try more fun creations. It is a fun place to walk to, and a walk around Lake Eola is needed for sure after stuffing yourself with a burger and fries. It's certainly a place to hit up if you are into trendy spots with yummy create your own type foods :)

Take a peak at my burger! YUM!

Zorba's Greek Taverna - A MUST GO!

My husband Dave and I LOVE where we live. We are close to work, close to all the attractions that make Orlando famous, but best of all we are right around the corner from the best Greek food Orlando has to offer. Make that the best Greek food I have ever had. Zorba's Greek Taverna is located just down the road from Universal Orlando at the intersection of Kirkman Rd and Conroy Rd. 

The atmosphere is casual which is perfect for us, since we are jeans and t-shirt kind of people, and its a family owned place that is always welcoming. We have been eating here since it opened about a year ago, and have not had a bad meal yet. Dave is a fan of gyros, so that's his go-to. They have an incredible platter that comes full of gyro meat, pita, salad (with a GREAT creamy greek dressing), and french fries. You can get the platter with grilled chicken skewers, which I normally indulge in. Let me first tell you about this great dressing. I am a big fan of greek dressing, normally served as a vinaigrette. Well at Zorba's they have this yummy creamy version, which is totally unique and has incredible flavor. I know you have all had french fries more times than probably any other food, but wait until you experience Zorba's fries. They are steak fries cooked perfectly crisp and topped with a heavenly sprinkle of feta cheese. INSANELY GOOD.

My new love at Zorba's is the spanikopita. This is what I had tonight and my mouth is still watering as I think about how great it is. Spanikopita is pretty hit or miss. I am not a huge fan of spinach, but I am a huge fan of fried phyllo dough. Zorba's spanikopita is the best I've ever had because of the spinach, feta, and garlic ratio. Its perfectly balances throughout and is served in a delicious blanket of crispy phyllo. Tonight I feasted on this treat and wanted to share a picture with you all. Enjoy!

Everything at Zorba's is great, but if you only go once let me tell you what you MUST try from appetizer to dessert.

• Appetizers 
• Tirosalata: a heavenly whipped feta cheese that you will go crazy over
• Spanikopita: a pillow of delicious flavor
• Main Course
• Platters: gyro, chicken, or spanikopita - each platter is $11 and comes with so much food you will be stuffed
• Dessert
• Tiramisu: a greek spin on this traditional italian dish compares to my mother in law's, and that says a lot!

So, if you are in the area and looking for a great local spot that consistently delivers on flavor, hit up Zorba's. Its a great spot every day of the week. Taking a tip from my friend "The Food Reviewer" - Its definitely a BUY!

Welcome to my hungry world!

Lately I've been feeling like time is just passing me by and I haven't been living life to the fullest. So I have decided to put two of my interests together and start detailing all the fun I have experiencing the delicious side of life! So welcome to my new project...Wicked Good Eats and Treats! I'll be sharing my adventures in food and travel. Whether its a great lunch I experience during the work week, or a special night out on the town, if its great I'll share it with you! If its not so great I'll warn you so you don't make the same mistake. Taking a tip from "The Food Reviewer" I'll let you know if its a MUST GO or not. If you haven't heard of "The Food Reviewer" check him out on YouTube if you are looking for a laugh. Thanks for following me on my quest to enjoy all things delicious! Enjoy :)