Dinner at Dienner’s

Last weekend I spent some time with my wife’s Abuelos in a familiar spot from my childhood…. Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  I can remember our frequent trips in the countryside.  The smell of fresh cut grass.  The occasional horse and buggy.  And the food.  Lancaster is a fall foodies heaven on earth.  Pies, caramel apples, apple cider, cider doughnuts, and comfort foods alike.  Being the foodie that I am, I love to share my food experiences with those that I love.  Lauren has been to Lancaster plenty of times with my family, and always mentioned bringing hers one day.  We decided the there was not better time then now. We picked a perfect fall weather Saturday and left around 10 o’clock in the morning.  We arrived shortly after 11 a.m. and headed straight to “The Outhouse”.  It’s a cute little prank store that was and is a favorite stop for my brother’s, sister, and I.  After spending awhile there, we stopped at the secret reason I wanted to go in the first place, Dienner’s.

Dienner’s is a homestyle, Amish comfort food buffet.  All the waiter’s and waitresses are Amish, and fully clothed in their Amish attire.   For my entire life Dienner’s has been our go-to location in Lancaster.  The lunch buffet is normally 45 minutes to an hour wait, which probably has as much to do with the quality of food as the price ($9/person).  The buffet has four sections, hot items, a salad bar, a dessert bar, and a pie cooler.  The hot items are tender beef tips in gravy, roasted chicken quarters, country ham, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, homemade stuffing, baked navy beans, corn, and an assortment of gravies and sauces.  My favorites are the beef tips, homemade stuffing, and baked navy beans.  On my way back to the table I always stop at the Salad Bar.  The salad bar consists of salad, coleslaw, potato salad, broccoli salad, three bean salad, pickled beets, and variety of dressings, and other sides, as well as homemade soups.  My plate is always filled with three things… Broccoli salad, potato salad, and the homemade pickled beets.  The broccoli salad is one of my top three favorite things at Dienner’s.  It has fresh broccoli, bacon bits, shredded cheese, and homemade dressing, and tastes like it has been marinating together for a half a day.  Perfect combo of salty, sweet, savory, and crunchy.  To be honest, I have never eaten anything off the dessert bar, so I wouldn’t be able to tell you what is on it. The reason for this is summed up in one word, Pie.  The pie cooler at Dienner’s is amazing.  There are always a number of selections and the pie is homemade fresh everyday.  I normally go for two slices, one pecan pie, and one chocolate creme pie.  Also they have blueberry, apple, cherry, peach, lemon meringue, key lime, coconut custard, and some others on any given day.  Hands down one of my favorite places to go for pie, other that my mom’s kitchen table.  The rest of the day after that meal was fantastic.  We shopped at some local antique shops, rummaged through some yard sales, and walked around Kitchen Kettle Village.  We also spent some time at the Bird-In-Hand Market, where a plethora of vendors have set up a one of a kind indoor food extravaganza.  I wanted to visit my favorite ice cream place, The Strasburg Creamery, but I was too full to eat anything else.  Maybe next time I will save some room….  Nah.

 

If you would like to check out any of the places I have mentioned today, here is a list of their websites:

 

http://outhousepa.com/

http://www.dienners.com/

http://www.birdinhandfarmersmarket.com/

http://www.kitchenkettle.com/our-village/index.asp

http://www.strasburg.com/The-Strasburg-Creamery/

A Week off in Jersey, Philly, and NYC…Chick-Fil-A, Pizzicato, and Franklin Fountain

(Continued from previous post)

Our adventure continued that Wednesday with our very close friends, Phil and Beth Kelley.  Phil and Beth are fun-loving, and outgoing people, who have a great taste for delectable food.  We decided to go to the Philadelphia Zoo, something we hadn’t done since the 6th grade, but we needed to stop somewhere for lunch first.  We talked briefly, and we all knew where we wanted to go… Chick-fil-A.  We decided to stop at the Philadelphia CFA FSU near Ikea on Columbus.  Lucky for us they were running a promotion for sweet potato fries.  Lauren ordered an 8 piece chicken nugget combo with sweet potato fries and sweet tea.  I had the Spicy CFA sandwich, with regular fries and a side of cheese, and a sweet tea with lemon.  Phil ordered a Chargrilled sandwich combo with regular fries and a coke, and Beth had a salad, with no meat.  I won’t spend any more time talking about our endeavors there though.  If you haven’t had CFA, 1) where have you been for the past 10 years, and 2) go there now!

After CFA, we went and spent a blistering 3 hours at the Zoo.  It was fun, because Phil and Beth were there.  And the monkey house was definitely the highlight of our time there.  Afterwards we decided to go back to  the Kelley’s and cool off.  We had planned to go on a Ghost Tour of Philly later that evening, and wanted to rest and possibly change beforehand.

A few hours later, we arrived in Philly, and parked close to 5th and Market.  We walked around for awhile because we had some time to kill, and looked for a place to have dinner.  It was one of those random, close your eyes and point kind of deals.  We ended up at Pizzicato, a small Italian eatery on Market.  We briefly looked over the menu and placed our orders.  I had never had risotto before, and promptly ordered the wild mushroom risotto.  I had always heard of it’s creamy texture, and rich decadent flavor and thought the time was right to give it a try.  Since I have nothing to compare it to, I won’t say it was the best risotto I ever had, because obviously it was.

After that we walked around Olde City and Society Hill for a few hours.  In the middle of our leisurely stroll my friend Phil mentioned to me that one of his favorite ice cream spots was just blocks away.  Without hesitation I suggested that we stop by and give it a try.  He explained that it was a really old place that made you feel like you were in a genuine ice cream shop from the early 1900′s.  My interest peaked even more.  Then he told me that the ice cream was homemade… Enough said.  By the time I came back to reality we were turning the corner of Letitia and Market and there it was.  The sign was welcoming, and the smell of fudge and butterscotch filled the air.  Phil told me I should try the Mt. Vesuvius, so I did.  The description online is more than fitting:

“A mountain of CHOCOLATE or VANILLA ice cream ERUPTING with chocolate brownie pieces, CASCADING with hot fudge and BLANKETED in malt powder. A dollop of whipped cream indicates her smoking signal.

A true display of Pomp-eii circumstance.”

Hands down one of my top three ice cream locations ever.  The ice cream was rich, creamy, and smooth.  The brownies were fluffy and chewy at the same time, and the malt powder took me over the edge.  I was in ice cream heaven and next time you are in Philly, or anywhere within 50 miles, you should stop in and get your own little scoop of heaven too.

A Week off in Jersey, Philly, and NYC…Guapos Tacos

In my last post I wrote about a whimsical chocolate place in Philadelphia that I have now been to two times in the last three weeks.  Don’t judge me.  Our week continued on Monday with lunch at Umpasri.  We had a new appetizer, BBQ Pork Skewers with Savory Tomato Salad, and ordered our favorite cucumber salad.  For our entrée Lauren decided to stay with her favorite dish, Beef Thai Fried Rice.  I, on the other hand, decided to be adventurous and try the newest entrée, a cold noodle dish with ginger, garlic, pineapple, coconut milk, and shrimp.  I was pleasantly surprised and you will be also if you give it a try.  It was very refreshing.  I’ll leave it at that though because this post is not about Umpasri (My Favorite Thai Place).  Later that night we took Gabby and Jeremiah, my brothers-in-law to celebrate their 8th and 12th grade graduations.  We ended up at Red Robin, and were barely able to walk away.  I’m not proud of it.  Okay maybe a little.

The next morning we woke up and took some out-of-town friends, Tony and his soon to be bride Celeste, to Philadelphia for a Double Decker bus tour of the city.  Now beforehand, unbeknownst to my wife or the others, I had made up in mind that I was going to try out a fairly new taco truck in Love Park called Guapos Tacos.  The truck is owned by The Garces Group, and they are owned by Jose Garces, the second newest Iron Chef, and last year’s winner of The Next Iron Chef.  I timed our endeavors just right to arrive at Love Park around lunch time.  I began to worry though that my plan would unravel and those tacos would escape me yet again, so I gave in and told them of my plan.  They all looked at me, shrugged, and said “Sure”.  Not the excitement I was looking for, but I’ll take it.  We rode around the city and looked at some pretty cool stuff, but this isn’t a travel blog…

When we arrived at the truck I was immediately taken in by its artistic expression.  The side of the truck was a mosaic of bottle caps, arranged in a colorful array of hexagons with the Guapos Tacos brand on the side.  I walked to the truck and was hit with reminiscent aromas of my time near Tijuana with my childhood friend, eating tacos and huevos con chorizo.  The menu was simple.  The pricing was moderate.  I decided to order the Chipotle Shortrib Tacos, with a side of chips and guacamole.  I then talked my wife into ordering the Carnitas so we could each have a taste of two different tacos.  Our friends unknowingly did the same.  The tacos were prepared fresh, and arrived at the front of the truck in just a few short minutes.  My Chipotle Shortrib Tacos came topped with White Onion, Radish, Cilantro, Crema, and Queso Fresco.  Lauren’s were topped with Smoky Black Beans, and Pineapple-Habanero Salsa.  We sat at a table and popped open our take out boxes to find two tacos each, nestled on a thin layer of tin foil.  At that moment, there were four tacos, and seconds later there were none.  I don’t remember much, except thinking that these were some of the best tacos I have ever had, and that I loved the idea that they came from a gourmet food truck that was owned by an Iron Chef.  The tacos were flavorful, bold, juicy, and smoky.  The guacamole was fresh, salty, and had a hint of lime and cilantro.  After we were finished eating, we took a stroll in the park, and took some pictures in front of the iconic “LOVE” sculpture.  It was everything you could ask for on a sunny day in Love Park.

A Week off in Jersey, Philly, and NYC… Max Brenner

Hello fellow foodies.  It has been several weeks since my last post, due most in part to my crazy work schedule.  And with my wife and I’s 5 year anniversary on June 17th, we decided to take a week off and do some day trips with friends, family, and alone to Jersey, Philly, and NYC.  Little did we know that this would not only be the best week my wife and I have had together, but that it would go down as a legendary week of amazing food.

We went to our church, Connect Church, in Philadelphia on Sunday night, June 12th.  Afterwards we were invited out by some new friends, Jon and Cat Campana.  Our friend Cathy was with us too and came and added to the excitement of the evening. We readily accepted the invite without knowing where we would go, because that’s how we roll, haha.  When we found out where they wanted to go we were so excited because it was a place we had wanted to visit for some time but just never got around to it.  Let me just say we will be getting around to it more often.  The place…. Max Brenner.

Max Brenner is a whimsical place, filled with all sorts of treats and eats.  When you first arrive you are welcomed by a huge stirring vat of liquid milk chocolate.  Beautiful antique pipes, labeled “Chocolate”, run in every direction from the vat throughout the store (our waiter later told us that they are faux pipes and no chocolate actually runs through them).  The lighting is very dark and private.  It’s not too loud except for the occasional scream by a middle aged woman who has taken her first bite of their chocolate concoctions.  But enough about her, let’s talk about the actual food itself.

We didn’t order an appetizer. I know I know.  This is not proper foodie etiquette.  A foodie always orders an appetizer… Well okay I did order a white chocolate milk.  Served chilled, in a ceramic cup that says “drink me” with a metal straw.  For the meaning of “drink me” see Alice in Wonderland.  I told you it was whimsical.

Next came the main course.  My wife had “The Best B.A.L.T.” (Bacon, Avocado, Lettuce, and Tomato).  It was literally “The Best”.  The bacon was crispy, the avocado was perfectly ripe, and it was served with a cilantro-avocado mayo.  For my entree I decided to go a little more “Fancy Shmancy”.  I ordered the Tostones Alla Marie.  the dish arrived and looked like a work of art.  Sliced skirt steak was delicately placed over a bed of mixed greens, which was piled high on a layer of seasoned plantains.  The most authentic tasting rice and beans were served on the side with white rice.  Needless to say we were more than satisfied.

And for the pièce de résistance… We had a hard time with the dessert menu because there are so many delicious options.  Finally though we decided, with help from our new friends the Campanas, that we were going to get “The Melting Chocolate Truffle Heart Cake and Shake”.  It can be described in one word…. Ooey Gooey.  Okay that’s two words, but whatever. It’s that good.  The cake is served on a plate that looks like a piece of ruled paper, with your choice of a raspberry red heart, milk and white chocolate heart, or golden caramel heart served warm in the middle of the cake.  Then red berries are served on the side, with a carafe of hot milk chocolate to pour over the cake.  Also, a cannelle of vanilla bourbon ice cream is served in close proximity to the cake, with a iced milk chocolate shot(their version of a milkshake).  Delicious. Melted. Chocolate. Warm. Gooey. Cake. Fresh. Red.Berries. Did I say delicious?

Our evening ended on a perfect note.  Our friend, Cathy, disappeared for awhile to the point where we became concerned she left us with the bill… haha just kidding.  She reappeared, however, with a gift bag of goodies for our 5th anniversary.  Thanks Cathy for the gift.  Thank you Campanas for your new found friendship.  And thank you Max Brenner, the bald man, for thinking outside of the box.

Last Meal

Imagine yourself locked in a cold cell on death row.  You have 24 hours left to live, and you have to decide what your last meal is going to be.  Who can think of food at a time like this, right?  Well with all this talk of the end of the world being tomorrow, May 21st, I thought it would be fun to discuss my LAST MEAL.

Ok, I think that I would go all out… Probably something with a little of everything.  For an appetizer I’d have Chicken and Waffles from Jones in Philly.  The perfect combination of salty and sweet.  Imagine a perfectly fried piece of chicken that is moist on the inside and crisp and salty on the outside.  Then place that over a light and fluffy Belgian Waffle with warm buttery syrup… You’d think you died and gone to heaven, no pun intended.
Next, for a salad I would have to go with the grilled chicken salad from Rocco’s Pizzeria in Florence, NJ.  The chicken is marinated, grilled, and seasoned to perfection.  Then placed over a cold iceberg salad with pimento and black olives, thinly sliced red onion, fresh Jersey tomatoes, and cold, crisp cucumber slices.  The dressing is usually a toss-up between French, and Italian, but for my last meal I would go with French.

Now comes the main course… Wait for it, wait for it. I would have a Filet Mignon, Medium-Well, with Lobster Mac and Cheese, Sam’s Mashed Potatoes, and Asparagus with Hollandaise from the Capital Grille in Philadelphia.  The Capital Grille Filet is hands down the best steak I have ever had.  Melts in your mouth.  The Lobster Mac and Cheese is succulent.  The mashed potatoes are up there with my top 5 mashed potatoes, and the asparagus would help me have a clean conscience.

Finally, for a dessert that is delicious as well as sentimental I would go with the Brownie Obsession from Fridays in Burlington, NJ.  I can still remember the first time I had this dish because I was with my wife and she had told me how much she loved it.  I don’t particularly care for Friday’s food but was more than pleasantly surprised when it arrived at our table.  Imagine the gooeyest (that’s right I made up a word) brownie, served warm, with vanilla ice cream on top, saturated with caramel and hot fudge, and sprinkled with roasted walnuts.  We still go back every couple of months (wink wink) to indulge.  This is the only proper way to send yourself off.

Ok, so now that I have had my fun, let me know what your last meal would be.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Ensaladas Galore

Ok, so with Summer fast approaching everyone is trying to get into their best shape for the beach right?  Well I thought it may be helpful to share some of my favorite salads with you and where you can get them.  Here are my top five in order…

1.   Grilled Chicken Salad from Rocco’s Pizzeria in Roebling, NJ.  This salad is hands down the best you will ever have.  I guarantee it.  I owe this find to my buddy Gary Barlow… By the way, their old-fashioned pizza pie is also worth a try… Sorry for that I couldn’t help myself.  Anyway, back to being healthy.  The chicken is grilled in a savory sauce and poured hot over an ice-cold iceberg salad with kalamata and pimento olives, thin sliced red onion, crisp cucumbers, and tomato wedges.  Dressing: Go with the Creamy Italian.

2.   Southwest Grilled Chicken Salad from Chick-fil-A.  The salad is perfect, and at 2nd place by a slim margin.  The chicken is chargrilled with southwest seasoning and then cooled and sliced.  Then they place the chicken over a bed of greens with shredded carrots, cheese, and cherry tomatoes… But my favorite part is the black bean and corn relish that is nestled in the corner.  It also comes with optional toppings of honey roasted sunflower seeds and tortilla strips.  I love to mix all the ingredients together, pour the dressing over top, put the lid back on, and shake it up.  When the lid is removed again you won’t regret the effort. Dressing: I mix 3/4 of a packet of Spicy and 3/4 of a packet of Blue Cheese.

3.   Taco Salad from Chipotle.  This salad goes great during the summer because it is light and refreshing.  You can select whichever ingredients you want from the plethora of options behind the glass shield.  I was introduced to this by my pastor and friend, Mike Rosado.  I ordered it with chicken, black beans, no rice, grilled peppers and onions, corn salsa, pico de gallo, sour cream, and their tangy vinaigrette.  The combination is perfect between the crunch of the grilled veggies, the sweet of the corn salsa, the heat of the pico de gallo, and the tang of the dressing.  If you want to splurge, get a side of chips with guacamole.  Dressing: Only one option, with or without.  I go with.

4.   Cucumber Salad at Umpasri in Cherry Hill.  I previously blogged about this Thai place in Cherry Hill, but have to revisit one of the highlights of my evening there.  This salad is a side dish, so you should know by me mentioning it how awesome it is.  It is a simple salad of shredded cucumber, shredded carrot, and some other stuff I don’t recognize, dressed in a sweet and sour sauce(maybe vinegar and sugar).  If I could order this as a dish I would.  Dressing: Comes already on it.

5.   Wedge Salad at Outback Steakhouse.  This salad was a present surprise one evening while I was out with my wife.  I wasn’t sure if I wanted a salad with my entrée, and decided to try something new.  Call it luck, but I hit the jackpot with this salad.  They take a whole wedge of Iceberg lettuce (about a quarter of a head) and drizzle blue cheese dressing over top, then a sweet balsamic glaze is lightly drizzled over that.  Next they crumble fresh blue cheese and crisp bacon over top and place a few random cherry tomatoes around the edge of the plate.  The combination of the savory blue cheese, salty bacon, and sweet and sour balsamic over ice-cold iceberg lettuce is a winner.

As a side note, I love to make salads at home during the summer.  I try all types of combos and am always looking for ideas.  I will share a taco salad recipe (My Mom’s)that I use with you, and feel free to share any new ideas with me as well.  The recipe is fairly simple, but is one of my childhood favorites.

Teresa’s Taco Salad

1 Bag of pre-made chopped salad

1 lb. of ground beef (I use turkey)

Half Bag of Doritos

6 oz Catalina Dressing

Small Can of Sliced Black Olives

1 Block of Cheddar Cheese

Brown the beef in a pan.  Remove from heat when fully cooked and place in refrigerator. Pour chopped salad into bowl. Shred cheese over top salad.  Drain can of olives and pour olives over salad.   Remove beef from fridge and pour over salad.  Pour dressing over salad.  Mix well. Crumble Doritos while still in bag and use as an optional topping or mix well in salad and serve.  This salad can get soggy pretty quick so don’t mix everything together until ready to serve.  you can also pre-make everything and keep it in the refrigerator until dinner or lunchtime.  Enjoy.

My Tribute to Uncle John… Marra’s Italiana Cucina

I can still remember the Sunday afternoon as if it was yesterday.  My dad and mom wanted to take us kids to an Italian restaurant that our “Uncle John” had recommended.  (Uncle John was an amazing man who has had a massive impact on my life, and food just happens to be one area he has greatly impacted.)  That would be my first experience with Marra’s Italiana Cucina in South Philly, and it was love at first bite.  It was one of Uncle John’s favorite spots, and my family had a lot of respect for his taste in Italian Cuisine. This was the guy who turned our whole block onto Margherita Pizza.  This was the guy who fed me my first bite of rabbit, slow cooked in a cacciatore gravy.  This was the guy who introduced a whole community to Roast Pork Italian Sandwiches with Sharp Provolone and Broccoli Rabe from Tony Luke’s in South Philly on Oregon Ave.  This was the guy.  And due to his major impact on my life I tend to get into character when it comes to Italian cuisine… What I mean by this is that while I am not Italian, I take my Italian food very seriously.  I only frequent Olive Garden occasionally, and Carrabba’s is the only Italian food chain I visit more than twice a year.  I like to stick to the mom and pop, homemade pasta type Italian restaurants, and this place is the leader of the pack.

Recently I visited Marra’s with my friend Phil.  He’s Italian, and his mom and dad make some awesome food, so I thought it would be a great idea to have dinner with him at my favorite Italian spot.  You know, kinda show off.  When we got to Marra’s we couldn’t find parking.  It took us almost a half an hour to find a spot.  We walked a block to the restaurant and when we finally entered we waited no more than 5 minutes to be seated.  The place was packed and the smell was unforgettable.  We were seated by a window looking onto the street, and started off the evening with an order of Calamari and an order for two of Antipasto.  (While we waited for our food I told Phil that I was waiting for Rocky to walk through the door any minute and sit down with us) When the appetizers arrived we didn’t waste any time digging in.  The calamari was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and was served with a side of red gravy.  The Antipasto was overflowing with kalamata olives, prosciutto, sharp provolone, salami, roasted peppers, and marinated mushrooms and artichokes.  After the first course we dove into our respective plates.  Phil had the Spaghetti Bolognese with Meatballs, and I had the Chicken Parmigiana with a side of homemade angel hair pasta and red gravy.  I finished my plate and used some bread and butter to sop up the remnants of my classic Italian dish.  Phil had to take his leftovers to go… because he wanted to save room for dessert.  We finished the evening off with a couple of cannolis.  They were overflowing with chocolate chip filling, but somehow we managed to leave nothing on the plate.  On the ride home Phil texted his wife about our evening.  We were pleasantly shocked to find out that she knew what we were talking about because she was friends with Uncle John’s daughter growing up, and had been there several times with the family…  Guess his impact reaches farther than I know.

Price:   $$

Signature Dish:   The Classics, Chicken Parm, Eggplant Parm, Veal/Chicken Marsala, Penne Vodka

Dessert:  Cannoli with Chocolate Chip Filling

Black Cow Sighting

With today’s weather being in the upper 80′s I figured it would be a good time to talk about a Drive-In Classic located in Burlington, NJ.  It’s a place that little boys who are now big boys remember their fathers taking them after a little league game, or where young ladies remember going on their first date.  The place I am talking about it Stewart’s on Route 130 North in Burlington, NJ.  It started as a supplement to a teacher’s income and became one of the best Root Beers around.  Let me start off by giving you a little bit of history directly from the website (http://www.drinkstewarts.com/history.aspx)

“In 1924, Frank Stewart set out to develop the world’s best-tasting root beer which he intended to sell in order to supplement his income as a schoolteacher. With the secret recipes in hand, he soon opened his first Stewart’s Drive-In where he served ice-cold Stewart’s Root Beer in tall, frosty mugs. The creamy taste of Stewart’s Root Beer was an instant success and has been enjoyed by consumers for over 75 years!”

 

My wife and I were planning on going to get something quick to eat, when we happened to pass by Stewart’s.  She said pull over and I wasn’t going to argue.  We pulled into the parking spot under the white rooftop and turned our lights on once we were ready to order.  (In my head I was imagining I was back in the 1950′s and I had my convertible with the top down.)  My wife ordered a Cheesesteak and a Black Cow (Root Beer Float).  I had two California Burgers (Burger with Cheese, Tomato, Onion, and Thousand Island Dressing) and a Vanilla Milkshake.  We split an order of Cheese Fries.  We turned the radio on after ordering and shutting off our headlights, and rolled the windows down.  The food arrived somewhere in the middle of our conversation, and was placed on a window rack for our convenience.  The food was hot, fresh, and made to order, and the service was extra friendly.  The grand total for this feast was a mere $16.00. For the food and the experience I felt we got more than a bargain.  So, if you are ever in Burlington you should definitely swing by Stewart’s and have a Black Cow and California Cheese Burger (I also hear the hot dogs are out of this world).  But remember to bring cash, because they are trying to keep it as authentic as possible.

 

 

 

Price: $

 

Drink of Choice: Black Cow (Root Beer Float)

 

Dish of Choice: California Cheeseburger

 

For the Love of Sushi

Okay, so apart from Chinese and Spanish, Japanese is right up there in my favorite cuisines.  Japanese has Hibachi and Sushi, but I would like to spend some time talking about the latter.  I would say that Sushi has become an every other week tradition for me.  I love to experiment with new rolls.  I think like most people I started out with the California Roll (Crab, Avocado, and Cucumber) but have progressed to what I would like to call a moderate Sushi palate.  Let me explain…  I do experiment, but I stick to mostly cooked ingredients.  I do, however, rarely stray off that path and get adventurous enough to try something raw.  That being said, here are some of my favorite spots in the area.

1. Wasabi

This spot is located right off of Rt. 38 on Ark Rd. in Mount Laurel, NJ.  It’s a BYOB with half-price sushi.  The best roll here is the incredible roll.  It’s a spin off of a Shrimp Tempura Roll.  Also the Sweet Potato Roll is worth a try.  It’s simple but delicious.  Wasabi quiet most evenings and the price is definitely right.

2. Mikado

Mikado is located near the Moorestown Mall on South Lenola Rd in Maple Shade.  They are a little more pricey than Wasabi, hence them being #2.  It’s definitely not because of a taste issue though.  Mikado’s sushi is packed with flavor.  Try the Scorpion King Roll (Lobster Tempura with Lobster Salad on top) or you can ask the chef to make you something he recommends (I’ve done this a couple times and haven’t been been disappointed).  Also, right now all beer and wine is half price.

3. Morimoto

I am putting this on the list strictly because of reputation and my desire to eat here one day.  Morimoto is located on Chestnut St. in Philadelphia and is owned by Iron Chef Morimoto.  I have seen pictures online and read tons of reviews for it.  The place looks amazing, and the food is highly recommended.  Chef Morimoto is out of the box, and doesn’t let you down when it comes to overwhelming your senses.  The price is very high compared to the previous two but according to reviewers and critics it is worth the price.  If you have been here let me know what you think…

Umpasri Thai Cuisine

Let’s begin today’s blog with a mini-lesson on Thai cuisine from Wikipedia:

“Thai cuisine is the national cuisine of Thailand. Thai cuisine places emphasis on lightly prepared dishes with strong aromatic components. Thai cuisine is known for being spicy. Balance, detail and variety are important to Thai cooking. Thai food is known for its balance of the five fundamental taste senses in each dish or the overall meal: hot (spicy), sour, sweet, salty, and (optional) bitter.”

I have only recently begun my love affair with Thai food. After my first exploration of the cuisine I wondered how I had not fell in love with it sooner. I love spicy, I love salty, I love sweet, I love sour, and I love Asian cuisine. For me it’s a no-brainer. That being said, my knowledge and experience is limited, and this may be a little premature, but I think I may have found my next favorite spot. For Chinese it’s Kum Fong. For Korean it’s Bobo’s. For Japanese… well that blog is coming soon. And for Thai it’s got to be Umpasri Thai Cuisine in Cherry Hill on Route 38.

My wife and I decided to go out for a weekend date, and she mentioned a place that her and her girlfriend’s had eaten at a few weeks prior. She was adamant that the food was delicious, and I was more than happy to take her word for it and give it a go. When we first pulled up to the tiny strip mall I was questioning if we had the right choice, but upon entering the restaurant and being overtaken by the aroma and ambiance I knew it was going to be a tasteful evening. To start off, we ordered a bowl of Chicken Coconut Soup (Tom-Ka-Gai), and Grilled Chicken Skewers (Satay). The soup was a light coconut broth with chicken pieces, cilantro, and scallion. I liked it very much but it’s impression was not as lasting as the Grilled Chicken Skewers (Satay). The chicken was obviously marinated and then grilled on wooden skewers and served with a chunky, sweet and salty peanut sauce, and a cucumber relish that left us looking for seconds. For the main course we ordered the BBQ Chicken (Gai-Yarng) and Spicy Drunken Noodles (Pad-Kee-Mao). The BBQ chicken was moist, perfectly seasoned, and served with more of that delicious cucumber salad/relish. And the skin was crispy and perfect. What started out as a half chicken ended up a pile of bones. The best dish of the night though would have to go to the Spicy Drunken Noodles. When the dish arrived at the table I couldn’t take my eyes off of it. It was steaming, and the colors and aromas were astonishing. The plate consisted of a wide noodle that was sauteed with mixed vegetables, and your choice of meat, in a spicy basil soy sauce. It was extremely spicy and can be ordered mild for the less adventurous. To end the meal we split an order of Coconut Egg Custard over Coconut Sticky Rice. It was surprisingly good, and reminded us both of an Asian take on rice pudding.

As a whole the night was terrific and the food was beyond delicious. The service was also very friendly, and the prices were minimal to moderate ($7.00-$10.00/plate). If you are ever in the Cherry Hill area, or not, this place is worth the trip. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Favorite Dish: Spicy Drunken Noodles

Favorite Drink: Iced Thai Coffee

Price: $