Heavenly? To Die For? Award winning? Yes all those things...

I didn't ask him how to make it. All I know is my cousin in law, Mike, made the best cherry cheesecake I have ever tasted. Handmade graham cracker crust, creamiest of creamy centers and plump juicy cherries on top. I did the whole, "Oh I am going to have just a little piece." Then I had two. Some food I don't want to learn how to make. I want someone to make it for me, and I just want to have the joy of eating it.

Our Breakfast Tradition, Terrie's Place

Lou and I have a tradition when it snows in Southie on the weekend. In the morning, before we dig out, we head up to Terrie's Place for breakfast. Usually it is still snowing, and barely anyone has dug out, so it can be a good workout. When I think back on all the times we have done this, it makes me think it must never snow during the week in Southie.

Terrie's Place is on East Broadway on the corner of K street. It is a small place with seating for about 40 people tops. There are several booths, a counter, and some free standing high tops available. The seating is seat yourself when it's open, and slightly more organized when it is busy. Since there isn't a lot of space to sit down, there really isn't a lot of space to stand and wait, so often when it starts to get busy in Terrie's you see the staff doing the ultimate shuffle routine to move people around so they are not in the way.

There is a girl in Terrie's who is always in there, and I am guessing she is Terrie. It is obvious she is in charge and she is always cheerful and quick to offer some hot chocolate or coffee when you come in from the cold. Sometimes I wish I could ask her what her end game is with this place.

As it is today, Terrie's has a nice breakfast. They have the typical two eggs, toast and hash browns, or the make your own omelet type dishes, but they also offer some unique dishes like Banana bread French toast, and eggs benedict done 10 different ways. This isn't 5 star dining, but it a neighborhood place. It is cheap, and it is consistent. It is also open for lunch, which I have never tried, but closes for dinner.

The only problem with Terrie's is I think it could be so much better. The location is prime, but the space needs to be used differently. The booths seem to be on their last leg, the curtains are old, and the set up is inefficient. This place is in major need of a makeover! I find myself sitting in there wondering why Terrie hasn't changed things. I know it can be financially draining, but there are small things she could do to fix this place up.

First of all the place needs a major detailed cleaning. Do this alone and it would look 10 times better. Service areas are clean, and I don't feel like the place is unsanitary to eat it in, but the baseboards could be scrubbed or a new coat of paint could be added to the walls to brighten it up. Those things don't take too much time or money.

If I was really going to overhaul Terrie's, I would rip out the booths and add two tops. I have said it before, and I will say it again. Small places need two tops!!!!!! You can move them around. You can fit all sizes of parties. Two tops optimize seating in small places! I would also get rid of the Odwalla fridge which is against one of the walls. I can't imagine that many people are coming into Terrie's for their Odwalla fix. If they still wanted to sell Odwalla, they could keep it in a cooler behind the counter. Most importantly though, I would spruce up the wait staff. The only nice person when you go into Terrie's is Terrie herself. Everyone else has the. "it's a job" mentality. It's not that the staff is rude, but they do seem to be going through the motions.

For a neighborhood breakfast place, Terrie's is the old standby. Each time it snows we will make our traditional trek, but I think I will always quietly hope Terrie realizes the potential of her place.

In the Worcester area? Check out O'Connor's

O'Connor's Restaurant and Bar

1160 West Boylston Street

Worcester, Ma 01606

508-853-0789

Menu: Irish and American Fare, with items like Lamb Kabobs, and O'Brien's Chicken Curry spicing up the mix.

Atmosphere: Warm, inviting, great place for big dinners with family and friends.

Kid Friendly: Yes! Especially the soon to be born, there were two baby showers the day we were there.

Prices: I don't know what the price of the buffet was but their menu prices look very reasonable

One of my best friend's in the world, Stephanie has a younger sister, Christie, who is having her first baby. I have known Stephanie for 20+ years since college, and I have been fortunate to stay friends with her and get to know her family. I don't think anyone's family is as fun as Stephanie's when there is a party, I love them like a second family, so when I heard Christie was having her first child, it was as if I had heard the news about my own little sister.

As Christie's due date is fast approaching( Feb) a baby shower was planned in Worcester at O'Connor's restaurant and bar. I was flattered to be invited. Worcester is about 45 minutes from Boston, and if you drive into Boston via the Mass. Pike, you pass right by it. Truman Capote once describe Worcester as, "a Massachusetts Factory town of steep, up and down streets that make even the best of weathers seem cheerless and hostile." I have to admit, I had a few good laughs from that one. I have always thought of Worcester a bit in that light as well, but I have to say my visit to O'Connor's for this celebration has changed my mind.

The day of the shower, the weather was miserable. It was one of the first really cold days, and it was raining, which turned to snow. O'Connors is conveniently located off 190 north, exit 4 or the West Boylston exit. When I pulled around the corner this place screamed Irish Pub and Restaurant. Obviously the name gives it away, but the building is also green with the American and Irish flags proudly displayed out front. It also looked warm and welcoming.

The restaurant itself, has a front dining area with a large bar, like any proper Irish place would, but then it extends far into the back for larger parties and events like ours. From what I could see there was a large long room in the back which formed into an "L" shape, it could

accommodate about 40. There was a similar long rectangular room in the front, not quite as big, about 20 could fit in there, and then there was the room we were in. The other two rooms had windows, where our room was an interior room, but Stephanie picked this room specially for the event, and I could understand why. I am guessing this room could sit 30 comfortably. Maybe a few more if you were having a sit down dinner, but we had a buffet. The room was intimate and warm. There was Irish memorabilia and paintings throughout. The walls were dark wood wainscoting with an intricate stencil complimenting the walls. There were mirrors throughout so it did not feel like we were in an interior room, and there were wreaths placed for the holidays.

The staff at O'Connors was very accommodating and friendly. Stephanie asked for a special meal and they happily had it prepared for her. We also were offered drinks as soon as we entered the room.

In the corner there was a nice buffet displayed with an extra table for the gifts, and the tables where we sat surrounded a central area where Christie could sit and open her gifts, and we could all have a good view.

The name of this blog is Burke's Buffet, so who was happier than me when I saw the buffet spread out before us? There was a little something for every taste, and in my case I tried them all. Two kinds of grilled fish, Salmon and I am guessing Cod. A beef Dish, a breaded chicken dish, a perfect array of mixed vegetables, and even pizza! It was all very good.

Stephanie and her family did a great job with the shower. Christie's sister-in-law, Pam made adorable favors out of small glass jars filled with Sugar Babies, tied with ribbon and accented with a custom sticker which read, "Christie's shower". Another really nice treat were the lemon Italian cookies made by Christie's 4th grade teacher. She put them in clear plastic cups with almonds wrapped in plastic. It was simple but perfect, the cookies were delicious, and there were a lot of extras to take home.

At the end of the day as I ran out to my car amongst the snowflakes I realized my perception of Worcester had completely changed. On this miserable day, there was a whole lot of warmth and sunshine coming out of O'Connor's.

Since Christmas is just two days away, I will sign off with this Irish Christmas Blessing

May God grant you lightness in your step,

a smile on every face you meet

Loved ones gathered at your hearth,

and at your door, good folk to greet.

A holy hymn upon your lips

a windowcandle burning bright.

And may the Good Lord bless your heart

and come to dwell there Christmas night.

Super Crepes, Snow, and The Slutcracker Suite!

Looks like it is going to be a white Christmas after all! Last night a NOR'EASTER blew in and covered Boston with about 7 inches of snow. We had no idea it would end up setting the perfect back drop for our new Christmas tradition!Lou and I hadn't seen our good friend Chris Olex in a few weeks so I asked her if she wanted to get together for brunch today in Somerville. She said SURE, and while we were at it, why not check out The Slutcracker at the Somerville Theater?The SLUTCRACKER?!?!!

My first thought was what could it be? but of course I told her we were in before even checking it out. The Slutcracker is a burlesque version of The Nutcracker. www.theslutcracker.com. It was created by Vanessa White AKA, Sugar Dish, AKA "The Sugar Dish Fairy". Vanessa is a director and choreographer, and has studied ballet since the age of 3 including three years at the Boston School of Ballet.

It's the last day of the event, so, unfortunately, if you missed it this year, you will have to wait until next year. It definitely isn't for kids, but I am sure Lou was much happier to go to this version of the Nutcracker than the original! The score was the same, and I think Tchaikovsky would approve. The show was light hearted, had skilled ballet dancers, but also celebrated women of all shapes and sizes. My personal favorite was the Russian scene with three dominatrixes doing a toe routine complete with whips, hysterical, and they were good dancers!

Originally this morning we all thought the snow was going to ruin our brunch and theater plans. Brunch ended up being out, but by noon we all rallied and decided to hop on the train and head out to Somerville. We had one more person coming than we had tickets for, so Lou and I told Chris we would go to the theater early tosee if we could score a ticket. It turns out Lou and I had perfect timing. As we walked up to the ticket window, an Irishman was asking if the show was sold out. The ticket booth clerk said it was, and we thought oh know! Than that same Irishman turned to us and said, do you need tickets? I only have one, but you can have it! Talk about serendipity, one was all we needed, so we bought it and decided to get a bite to eat before the show. As we turned to find a place, I called Chris to tell her the good news, and she informed me they had just arrived at the theater as well. Serendipitous again! We all decided to get a bite to eat. The fivesome was Lou, Chris, Cyndi, Kim, and Me, andthe closest place was Mr. Crepe.

Mr. Crepe is situated next door to the Somerville Theater in Davis Square. They have a full menu of sweet and savory crepes. Build your own or try one of their "super" crepes. There are plenty of vegetarian selections. They also have an array of salads, loose teas, coffee drinks, and pastries.

Lou and I decided to go for the "super" crepes. I got the Super Chicken and he went for the Super Pear. The Super Chicken was smoked chicken caramelized onions, sundried tomatoes, fresh spinach, and herbed feta goat cheese. It was the largest crepe I have ever had, but it was perfectly filling when I was done, and the mixture of flavors was delicious.

The Super Pear was spiced pears, crumbled blue cheese, toasted walnuts, and fresh baby arugula. It was equally as large and I imagine it was delicious because Lou continually tried to get everyone to taste it throughout our meal.

For a drink I got a large pot of tea. The pot was very generous and inexpensive. If you want to have a cheap, hot drink with a friend on one of these winter nights, go to Mr. Crepe and share a large pot of their tea. There is more than enough for you both to have a cup and then some.

Mr. Crepe is casual, quick, and healthy dining if you choose the right crepe. The seating is all two and four tops which can easily be pushed together for larger groups. The bathrooms are locked with the key being at the counter, so you can count on them being clean:)

After our Christmas show, we decided the day could not be over yet, so we headed over to The Burren, an Irish bar off of Davis Square. (www.burren.com)

The atmosphere was perfect for a snowy afternoon. It was warm, there was a duet of fiddlers in a booth playing Irish tunes, the bartender was nice eye candy for Cyndi Tarbell, the bar was fully decorated for Christmas and the beer was flowing. After a couple rounds, we decided to get a few apps to share. We went for some chicken fingers, cheese nachos and mozzarella sticks. Typical you might say, but not all places do them well, and this place did. They were hot, they were good portions for sharing, and it was good fuel for the trek home we all inevitably had to make. The Burren also has plenty of booths to sit in and a full dinner menu. Being an Irish place there are traditional favorites like Shepard's Pie, and Banger's and Mash, but I also spotted a Cod Espanola on the menu as well as a Spicey Thai Steak salad.

It's Sunday night, and Lou and I just got home from trekking through the snow from Broadway station. Today turned out to be the perfect, snowy Sunday afternoon with good friends, good food, and a great new Christmas tradition, The Slutcracker!!!!

Dora Wat, Lega Tibs, and Boston Cream Pie

Addis Red Sea Ethiopian Restaurant

Menu: Ethiopian traditional dishes

Atmosphere: Traditional Ethiopian tables a

nd chairs. Relaxed, uni

que

Kid Friendly: Only if your kids like Ethiopian food

Prices: The Combo dishes were very reasonable and more than enough

food for 4 of us

Okay, I will admit it. I am a total chicken when it comes to trying other countries' cuisines. I am afraid to go into their restaurants and look foolish. I know, I need to get over that if I am going to write a good food blog. Last night I didn't have to worry about my fear because we were with our good friends Zev and Maureen, and Zev suggested we go to Addis RedSea and Ethiopian restaurant. I had no clue what Ethiopian cuisine would be, but I was always curious. Addis is located in the South End on Tremont street and I must have walked past it a dozen times hoping to someday get over my fear and just try it out. Zev and Maureen had been before so this was my perfect opportunity.

When we entered Addis the first thing I noticed were the tables.There weren't any, in the traditional sense that is, instead there were "Mesobs". Mesobs are

Ethiopian low basket style tables. The tables were surrounded by beautifully carved wooden chairs, and the chair seats are even with the top of the mesob. The mesobs are for the meal to be eaten from. On the sides of the mesobs were smaller side tables for drinks to be placed.

We really had no idea what we were in for, but luckily we had Zev and Maureen with us who said the food would be served on one platter and we would use our hands to eat it. No Utensils! If you know my husband we all got a good laugh out of this. He likes to keep his hands clean, but he is not a wimp, and he embraced the cultural experience.

Before dinner, our waitress brought us hot lemon scented towels to clean our hands with. We were almost reluctant to give them up. The warm clothes felt so good after walking through the cold to get there. I think Lou enjoyed his the most, remember Mr. Clean Hands.

Because it was our first time at Addis, we trusted Maureen with the ordering. This is what we got if I am remembering correctly.

We started with Sambusa, which is a pastry filled with either vegetables, beans or meat. Ours was stuffed with a spicy meat. Two pastries came and we split them in half with our hands and ate them. I think this was Maureen's way of easing Lou into

using his hands to eat. The Sambusa was like a Samosa. The beef inside had a nice spice to it. It was dry, but I think it was meant to be dry. We enjoyed it as our prerequisite of what was to come.

For dinner we ordered the Addis Red Sea Special which was a combo for two containing:

Dora Wot (chicken)

Dora Alcha(chicken)

Lega Tib (Lamb)

Zenge (Exotic beef stew)

We also ordered the Vegetarian Combo for two and chose:

Gomen Wot (Collard Greens)

Butecha (Chickpea paste)

Atakilt (Mixed Veggies)

Yesmir Wot (Lentils)

Mitten Shuro Wot (Split Peas)

The best part about the meal is how it was served. A large round platter is placed into the mesob. Spread out all over the platter is Ethiopian bread called injera. It is a spongy bread with holes in it made of Teff Cereal. It looks like a big spongy tortilla. On top of the injera were mounds of the items we ordered. Accompanying our platter were separate dishes of injera to use to pick up the various items. As the mounds of food got smaller we were able to pull the injera from the platter and eat that as well. The injera below any of the meat dishes was extremely flavorful as it sopped up all the juicy goodness of the dishes.

The food was very good. There were spices used in the meat dishes like cardamom, ginger, rosemary, tumeric, and chili powder. The chili powder added spice but not too much. Onions are used in a lot of the dishes as well but are not overpowering. Spices were also used perfectly in the vegetarian dishes. The chickpea paste, Lentils, and collard greens were my favorite.

The food is extremely filling. Zev joked that the injera expands in your stomach. We definitely were full at the end of the meal, but not too full for dessert!

Addis didn't seem to have anything unique as dessert. I am guessing Ethiopian's aren't famous for their pastry chefs. They had things like Tiramisu, and a fruit tartlet. At first we decided to pass on dessert, but as we were walking back to the car, Lou yelled out Omni Parker House Hotel for Boston Cream Pie!

Omni Parker House

Menu: We went there specifically for the Boston Cream Pie

Atmosphere: Stately, Historic, Rich

Kid Friendly: Sure but we didn't see any

Prices: Typical for Boston, the Cream Pie is $8

About a month ago we were watching the food network and discovered the Omni Parker House hotel invented the Boston Cream Pie. We have been wanting to try it ever since. Last night, everyone was game, so we headed over.

The Omni Parker House has been has been a Boston landmark since 1855. It has a rich and interesting history. Besides the Boston Cream Pie being invented on the premises, the Parker House also perfected the Lemon Meringue Pie.

Some other notables about the Parker House:

*Ho Chi Minh worked as a baker from 1911 to 1913.

*Malcolm X was a busboy there during the invasion of Pearl Harbor

*John Wilkes Booth once stayed at the hotel

*John F. Kennedy's bachelor party was held there in the Press Room

These are just a few of the interesting facts surrounding the hotel

We headed to the Parker Bar to seek out our Boston Cream Pie. The bar has a timeless beauty with detailed hardwood walls, and rich interiors, you can sense the tradition and history that is part of the hotel.

Along with our Boston Cream Pie we also ordered a few coffees and teas. The Boston Cream Pie

was served on a dish accompanied by two dollops of whipped cream. It was accented by chocolate sauce. If you don't know, a Boston Cream Pie is actually a cake made of several layers of vanilla, yellow cake and vanilla custard alternating, topped with a layer of chocolate. We got two and shared them. They did not disappoint. If you're going to try this dessert

while in Boston, you've got to try it here.

Is she really going to talk about the golden arches???

When I started writing this blog it was with the intention to write about every place I ate for a year. You realize a lot about your eating habits when you go on a quest like this. I have to be honest about where I am eating!!! I think there may be a few foodies out there who are appalled that I do still have the occassional McDonald's hamburger. I was debating whether to write about it at all. I mean reviewing someplace like McDonald's seems ridiculous. Who hasn't been to a McDonald's? But, I have decided I need to stay true to my original mission of writing about every place I go.

You know what's on the menu at McDonald's but have you ever been to the one at 870 Mass. Ave late night? Come on all you party goers raise your hand. I know you have been there, and some of you have been in my car. My point is, this place can be rocking after 1 am, and the people working there handle it in stride. Especially when 3 out of 4 people in most cars are probably drunk, excluding the driver of course. Let's drink responsibly.

The last time Lou and I went to this McDonald's, the girl working the drive thru window was so efficient I made Lou tip her. After that, I think he has taken notice of just how hard some of the workers in places like McDonald's or Burger King work.

Think about it for a second. Why do people at Starbucks have a tip jar out? Why do we feel obligated to tip the Dunkin Donuts workers? and Why would we never think of tipping a McDonald's or Burger King employee?

You may have heard the word TIPS is an acronym. To Ensure Prompt Service, but if you look up the etymology of the word, it was first used to describe softly touching someone. It gained popularity amongst thieves who were handing over goods to one another such as small sums of money, and it eventually became widely used as the act of paying for a small service rendered.

I am not saying we need to start tipping all McDonald's and Burger King employees, but I am saying lets be thoughtful in the tips we give. Take notice of that person working behind the counter next time you order from them. Are they particularly efficient? Are they extra friendly? Did they anticipate you needed something and hand it to you before you could ask? Maybe that is the person you should be tipping. Besides that, you all know McDonald's has the best fries!!!!

The Tremont Street Cafe and Lady Sauce

Lou and I happened upon the Tremont Street Cafe today while having to waste an hour's time, and it worked out perfectly. We wanted a nice place to sit and have coffee while we waited for Lou's mom to get a facial, and this place fit the bill.

The Tremont Cafe has been open for about 6 months. It is in the concrete building towards the end of Tremont Street. It is the building where there is an alley of parking in front separated from the main road. It is definitely worth seeking out.

The sign out side of the cafe says they have mediterranean food, spinach pies, homemade hummus, taramosalata, but they also have a variety of other things. There is a gelato counter as you walk in the door. The cups they serve the gelato in are bright and fun. They have a large variety of drinks to choose from, Ginseng Up, Cliff drink, Zico, Naked, Aqua Panna, Pelegrino, as well as, a fresh a juice bar and espresso and cappuccino. There are fresh baked goods, dry goods, frozen icecream pies, and frozen pastas, they even have Tofetti. Overall I would say there is a healthy selection of items to choose from mixed in with some not so healthy items like the oreo cookie bar, but who wants to eat healthy all the time? There is also an apparent effort to conduct a green business. A Reduce, Reuse, Recycle sign hangs on the wall, and cups are made from recycled materials. We would love to have a place like this closer to us in Southie.

When we walked into the Tremont Cafe we were greeted by Seana. To say her energy was positive is an understatement. Seana is engaging, and she has a great aura about her. We ordered two caramel lattes from her and when they arrived, they were picture perfect, so I took this picture.

Seana caught me taking the picture and said she was really flattered and all I could think is, very cool, this girl takes pride in her work. The Caramel Lattes were awesome. The milk had a sweetness that only perfectly steamed milk has. Lou and I also decided to share a cranberry pecan bun made by Iggy's, http://www.iggysbread.com/. It was soft and flavorful with cranberry's and pecan's throughout. A perfect light snack to tide us over until lunch.


As we sat and ate, Seana struck up a short conversation with us. She told me she has a blog of her own http://www.ladysauce.blogspot.com/. We checked it out when we got home and I realized Seana is much cooler than I ever was or will be. She is a hype-girl! Check out her video on the site.

Temont Cafe was great, Seana's service took it up a notch. Drop in if you are in the neighborhood and see for yourself.

Damn the Torpedos! Full Speed Ahead!

Farragut House

149 P Street

South Boston, Ma 02127

617-268-6348

Menu: Irish/American fare

Atmosphere: Casual neighborhood bar

Kid Friendly: For lunch and dinner sure, probably should leave late night to the veteren drinkers

Prices: Average prices decent portions

Since I started writing this blog, I realized there are a lot of places I go to which I think are cool, but I don't know a whole lot about the history of them. Take The Farragut House located in the heart of South Boston off Farragut Road.

The Farragut House is a great Irish bar, but I had no idea who David Glasgow Farragut, the man the bar was named after, was. Here is his story.

During the Civil War, Farragut was the U.S. Navy's first admiral. During his attack on the Confederate Fleet in Mobil Bay, he decisy advanced his ships through an abundant string of aquatic mines known as torpedoes. He pushed froward in spite of the danger of the mines and rebel cannon fire, issuing the most famous orders in U.S. Naval History. "Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!" and you thought Tom Petty said it...

Last night, Lou and I had some good friends, Eric and Mary, visiting from Petersborough, NH. We started our night off at the Farragut House. Lou and I love this place. When you enter the restaurant there is a large square bar in the center of the restaurant surrounded on the outside by tables and booths. The atmosphere in the Farragut house is always warm and welcoming. Dress code is casual, and the food is consistently outstanding. It is an Irish pub with hundreds of mugs and pictures representing Ireland hanging from every piece of empty wall space and even the ceiling.

The Menu is a mix of basic Irish dishes like Bangers and Mash and Shepards pie, to more mainstream choices like buffalo chicken wrap, and Paddy the greek's salad.

I've tried a lot of dishes at The Farragut House but my favorite is the Broiled Haddock. It's about a 4 oz piece of Haddock with light breading on top broiled with mixed vegatables and mashed potatoes. It's an Irish restaurant, so of course the potatoes are good, but the vegatables are what I really like. Most places over cook their vegatables or have a terrible selection, but here they are perfectly steamed al dente and are made up of fresh broccoli, cauliflower and carrots.

Lou usually gets the crab cake burger with a dill mayo on top, but last night he flipped the script and got the fish and chips. Sandwiches are usually served with steak fries, but Mary requested a garden salad with her Buffalo Chicken Wrap last night and they gladly did the substitute. Eric a self proclaimed picky eater opted for the steak sandwich, and was very satisfied.

I don't know what my favorite part of the Farragut House is. The warm atmosphere, the friendly neighborhood vibe, the fact they can poor a perfect Guiness, or the free Tootsie Pops they have at the end of the bar, but I do know, as long as we live in Southie, it will be one of our favorite places to go.

The Shaker Cafe Mueve Todo lo que tu Madre te Dio

The Shaker Cafe

31 Main Street

Flemington, NJ 08822

908-782-6610

Menu: Lunch and breakfast sandwiches, salads, typical
Atmosphere: Eclectic, laid back

Kid Friendly: Sure

Prices: Fair

Shake what your mama gave you! The Shaker Cafe in Flemington sits in the spot the Bagelsmith occupied for years. What happened to the Bagelsmith? I have no idea. I don't even know if there was anything that occupied this space between the two. Hey what can I say I moved out of the area years ago, but I do come back to visit, and over Thanksgiving my parents took me to the Shaker Cafe.

When I walked into the cafe the first thing I thought was, "This lady looks like she collected stuff for years and instead of succumbing to being cast on the show hoarders she opened a restaurant to stick it all her junk in." The decor is extremely eclectic. All the best items you could find at a garage sale. This place is my husband's knick knack nightmare, but it does give the place some character, and makes the atmosphere a little more interesting.

The Shaker Cafe serves Breakfast and Lunch Monday thru Friday, and just breakfast Sundays. Their menu is basic, hot and cold sandwiches and salads with daily specials. I am not saying this is a bad thing, just is what the menu is, and basic food done well, makes for a good place.

This visit I got the Tuna Melt. It was a normal portion and came with chips and a pickle. It was good, but I could have made it better at home.

When we ordered our food a unique twist is the counter gave us an animal to put on our table. We got a giraffe. When our order was ready they delivered our food to us. They also cleared our plates as they saw we were done, so I guess this makes it semi-full service. We had to pick our own table.

An interesting thing about the Shaker Cafe, is the name. My parents told me the woman who owns the cafe, collected salt and pepper shakers for years. If you know my parents, they could have made this story up, but the shakers on the tables were all unique which makes me believe they were probably telling me the truth this time.

So my impression of the Shaker Cafe? Well if I worked in the area, I would probably hit it up for lunch once in a while. The food was decent, prices aren't too bad, and there is a lot to look at in there, but I am not so sure about the service. The woman at the counter was nice enough but the woman who cleared our table got competely bent out of shape when my mother said she wasn't done with the napkin she cleared. When I say bent, she was noticeably irritated, it was a bit ridiculous. I also think the collection of shakers may dwindle the longer the place is opened. People used to steal the crappy shakers we had in Fuddruckers. I can't imagine them resisting the little elf heads, Amish couple or frogs!

My last bit of advice for the Shaker Cafe? Update your website! There is a link for events and the last one listed is from March 14th? The "About Us" link has a plug for personal chef services under the title Our History. It is all very confusing. Honestly this place makes me want to call my friends the Grieshabers and ask them why they are waiting to open their own place? Hopefully they read this, What are you guys waiting for????

Everybody Has a Hometown Favorite

Maria Rosa's

541 Sergeantsville Rd. (Rte. 523)

Flemington, NJ 08822

908-788-4945

Menu: Pizza, Pasta, Wraps, Sandwiches Salads

Atmosphere: Hometown laid back favorite

Kid Friendly: Absolutely

Prices: Inexpensive way to have an excellent meal out with the family

Every person who lives away from home has a favorite restaurant they hit up when they go home for something they've been craving. For my sister, Kira, and I, that place is Maria Rosa's. The address is Flemington, but it is closer to Sergeantsville where we grew up.

When I visit Maria Rosa's the thought always enters my mind, why wasn't this place here when I was growing up? Maria Rosa's is a Restaurant and Pizzeria run by the Marinelli family. I can't remember when the restaurant actually opened. I know it was after I moved away from the area, but I feel like I have been going there forever. It is the quintessential, hometown place with great food, a laid back atmosphere, an ultra friendly staff, and you're guaranteed to run into someone you know when you are there.

When I first moved to Sergeantsville, I was 9 years old. I remember in the first month my father decided we were going on an adventure! He said we would seek out the best cheese steak in the area. We had moved up from outside of Philly, and so there were big shoes to fill, but we were determined. We went to about 5 different places that day, and struck out. We thought there was just no way a place in Central Jersey would know how to make a good cheesesteak, but then along came the Marinelli's at Maria Rosa's and their award winning cheesesteak. The steak is shaved, the cheese it melted perfectly, there is marinara sauce on top, onions, peppers and mushrooms if you want them... It is Cheesesteak perfection. If you look on Yelp today there is a review from someone who says, "O MY GOD! That was the best Cheese Steak Sub I ever had and I used to live in Philadelphia"

Besides the cheesesteak, the rest of the food at Maria Rosa's is just as good. The pizza is great, and of course they have traditional Italian pasta dishes like Chicken and Eggplant Parm, Stuffed Rigatoni Pesto, and the house specialty Penne Maria Rosa. Salads come with every entree and are always fresh and crisp. My mom love's Mike's homemade vinagrette. Maria Rosa's also has wraps on the menu, Ralph's Chicken is delicious and a healthy option.One of the best parts about Maria Rosa's is the Marinelli's. They know everyone. It is truely a family run business. Brothers Ralph and Mike are almost always behind the counter, Mike cooking and Ralph greeting everyone as they come and go. Mr. and Mrs. Marinelli used to run the business full time, and will often still be in greeting customers and helping to deliver food. Long time waitress Donna, is always pleasant and quick to serve. I don't think I have ever been to Maria Rosa's where one of the Marinelli's or Donna didn't stop by the table to ask how our family was doing, and at Christmas time, they often give out wine as gifts to their regular customers.

If you are in the Flemington area and you are looking for that hometown place with great food and great service. try Maria Rosa's.

Melt for Melt

Melt Grill

2805 Center Valley Parkway

Center Valley, PA 18034

610-798-9000

Menu: Italian food with a modern twist

Atmosphere: Upscale, laid back, club on third floor of restaurant

Kid Friendly: Get a Sitter

Prices: Not too bad for an upscale place, dinner for 4 was $130 without alcohol

While Lou and I were home in NJ we met up with our good friends Dana and Brian to have dinner near their home in Emmaus, PA. When I say, good friend, Dana and I grew up across the street from one another since we were 12 years old.

There is a new Sands casino in Bethlehem, PA which was built in the old Bethlehem Steel building. Originally we were going to eat at Emeril's Grill at the casino, but it was booked so we opted for a favorite, Melt.

Melt is located in an outdoor shopping mall, The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley. They describe their own menu as a modern twist on traditional Italian cuisine, but I wouldn't classify this as an Italian restaurant. I see it more as an upscale grill with an Italian influence.

The decor in Melt is beautiful. The pictures are a nice representation of the main dining room, but whoever designed melt made the mistake of making the middle of the main floor the focal point complete with a large floor to ceiling fireplace. I imagine most people, who have been to Melt before, ask to be sat on the main floor, but there are only about 40 seats in that area.
Another strange design choice is the bathrooms. They are on the second floor. A lot of restaurants have their restrooms on the second floor, this is true, but the second floor of Melt is up a staircase which reaches a span of 2-3 regular stories. The ceilings are very high. There is an elevator that can be used to reach the restrooms as well, but in general, unless you are sitting on the second floor, it is a bit inconvenient.

Each time we have been to Melt, I been happy with my meal. This time I went for the Penne Pasta Bosciala and a Caesar Salad. Something about me which may become apparent as I continue with this blog, is there are certain items I like to try at different places. One of those items is the Caesar Salad. I love it when it is made correctly. This one was perfect. The parmesan was shaved in large pieces across the top. The dressing was not too heavy, and it had the signature anchovies on top. A slight twist to Melt's version were 3 small, soft breadsticks on the side instead of croutons.

I was also very happy with the Penne Bosciala. It was diced chicken with wild mushrooms, zucchini and sage in a light cream sauce. The combination was outstanding. The cream sauce was light so the dish was not uncomfortably filling like a lot of cream sauce pastas.

This dinner I actually got some wine! Dana and I tried the Sketchbook Pinot Noir. It was a good wine suggested by the server, but I got the impression the server didn't know much about the wine list except a few choice bottles. I don't think this is entirely out of character for a place like Melt. It is probably one of the nicest restaurants in the area, but it is in a Mall, and I don't imagine it draws a professional wait staff with extensive wine knowledge.

For dessert, Brian and I shared the Pistachio Cake with white chocolate icecream. It was two generous pieces of cake. The taste was similar to pound cake with a pistachio flavor and nuts throughout. It was very good.

On a whole our experience at Melt was excellent. Everyone enjoyed their meal choices. Our server was fun. We harassed him consistently through the meal, but he took it in stride. There was one late arrival of a Caprese Salad which Brian ordered, but it was corrected quickly. If traveling through the Allentown area, Melt is worth a trip.

Peddler's Village Annual Gingerbread Competition

If you read my blog regularly, or know me, you know I am originally from NJ. My parents still live in the town I grew up in, Sergeantsville, so I visit often, especially during the holidays. One of our traditions at Thanksgiving or Christmas, is to visit Peddler's Village to view the winners of the Annual Gingerbread Competition! Peddler's Village is located in Lahaska, PA in the heart of Bucks County. It is a grouping of over 70 specialty shops, 6 restaurants and the Giggleberry entertainment center. When you enter the village you feel like you have stepped back in time into a small village. The buildings are brick and form a circle around a landscaped area of trees, ponds and bridges. There is usually a man selling hot cider from a cauldron suspended from a tripod over a wood fire. The entire village is always lit up for Christmas. Every building is outlined in white lights, and the trees are lit colorfully.


Each year during the holidays, my family makes the trek to Peddler's Village to view the winners of the Gingerbread Competition. There is an enclose gazebo in the middle of the village which always houses the winners. This year someone actually reproduced it in gingerbread! (Talk about sucking up) I never knew much about the competition, other than it happens every year and I like to view the winners, but since I decided to write about it, I thought I would look up some information on it.


The competition happens in early November. This year, the deadline for registration was Nov. 13th and the entry drop off date was Nov. 15th. In other words, you better start baking around Halloween or earlier depending on the difficulty of your gingerbread! Once your gingerbread is entered, it stays on display between Thanksgiving through New Years. The winners are always announced before Thanksgiving.


The competition has various categories to allow for all ages to sign up and to allow the creativity of individuals stand out.


1. Traditional Gingerbread
2. Authentic Reproduction of a Significant Building
3. Student Gingerbread for ages 13-18
4. Kids only 12 and under (Every year you can tell some parents helped. Shame on you!)
5. Incredibly Unusual 3-D
6. And the newest category Go Green!


Gingerbread is judged on the following criteria:


1. Overall Appearance/Composition of Design
2. Originality/Imagination/Use of Materials
3. Fit into Category
4. Difficulty of Design/Design of Execution
5. Holiday Spirit


There aren't a whole lot of rules but here the main ones:


Creations must be constructed of mainly gingerbread (50% or more)
Non-Visible Interior Supports: Non-edible materials may be used for non-visible support
Everything Visible on your entry MUST be edible.

For the complete list of rules go here:
http:httppeddlersvillage.com/special_events/pdfs/2009gingerbread.pdf

and now for some of my favorites... Enjoy the tradition!

This was beautiful the picture doesn't do it justice.

This was entered into the kid's category and won. I suspect a parent was involved. I am just saying...
Santa in the summer



This is the gingerbread factory. It thought this was very original
This is the reproduction of the gazebo which holds the gingerbread!

Tavern on the Green
One of the entries in the new "Go Green" category

Jimmy Stewart would be thrilled!