Yogurt Quest

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When I first started writing this blog, I realized there were things I liked to try in most restaurants. Caesar salad, calamari, boneless wings to name a few. I also like to check out different pizza places, and my favorite, Ice Cream places!!!!In the last year or so, I have felt like I have been on a Yogurt Quest. It all started with hearing about Pinkberry in L.A. Ok, I admit it, I am a reality show junkie and first heard about Pinkberry on the Hills. Then I was watching Ellen one day, and she gave Pinkberry to the whole audience. My brother in law is in L.A. so we have reason to get out there once in a while. I started to obsess about having to try Pinkberry when we were in town. I had to know what this stuff was???

Pinkberry is frozen yogurt. They have different flavors, but the base is a tart plain yogurt and it tastes amazing with fresh fruit in it. The difference between their yogurt and other yogurts is the tartness.

Before I ever got out to try Pinkberry, my favorite local icecream place came out with their own Pinkberry like flavor. J. P. Licks, came out with Yo Tango.

When the Pinkberry's of the world were not around, J.P.Licks was making frozen yogurt and making it well. In the 90's there wasn't a place in town who could keep up with the volume Licks did. Lines in their Brookline, Newton Center, J.P, and Newbury Street stores were out the door. Since then, they have added a West Roxbury, Brigham Circle, Davis Square and soon to open Dedham store.

When JP Licks first started carrying Yo Tango, I was a little disappointed. Did they really have to conform to this new type of flavor out on the market? But then I tried it, and it is really yummy, tastes light, and is a nice addition to their menu.

After the induction of Yo Tango at JP Licks, Lou and I started noticing this tart yogurt phenomenon popping up all over the city. Berry Line opened up off Harvard Square. Chill opened up in Brighton near Boston College. It seemed like everyone was jumping on the tart yogurt bandwagon. What was it about this tasty treat?

We visited Berry Line and realized they had the nutritional information on the wall. At first glance, this stuff looks pretty light. Not too many calories per ounce, it's a good source of protein, calcium and live active yogurt cultures, but be warned with ice cream/yogurt shops. You need to know if those calories are posted by weight or volume! I think this tart yogurt craze is the perception this stuff is really good for you. When it comes down to it. Tangy yogurts are better than ice cream, but most still have a lot of sugar in them, and calorie postings can be deceiving, so you might want to keep that in mind.

I did finally make it out to Pinkberry in L.A. I thought, this is the original! If I thought those cheap imitations in Boston were good, this is going to be FANTASTIC!!! But in the end, I have decided all tart yogurt is created equal. It is just how you package it in the form of toppings and atmosphere that is different.

Pinkberry has a cool atmosphere with hip lighting, clear chairs and white tables. Walking into this place you have the illusion of feeling healthy. Their fruit toppings look super fresh, but hey they are in California, of course they can get fresh toppings year round. I liked the way Pinkberry took our order. Once they took it, a sticker popped out of the register they could apply to the cup and hand off to someone to assemble it. (note: my husband's name is Louis not LUIS!!!, see cup below)

Berry Line in Boston has a large selection of toppings. Lots of fruit and several flavor choices. The first store is tiny, subsequent stores are bigger. The art work is done by our good friend Bren Bataclan. It is whimsical and adds to the light and healthy atmosphere. Since opening more stores, they have adopted additional artists to their atmosphere. In Harvard Square, this is definitely, THE place to get tart yogurt these days.

Chill not only has the tart yogurt, but some icecream options as well. Their atmosphere is minimalistic and clean. Seating is limited, but there are plenty of places to hang out nearby if you go when it is warm. Their toppings were limited in the fruit department, but they also seemed to have just opened when we stopped by.

J.P. Licks is still hip and a bit quirky after all these years. Not easy to do for a place that has been around for 25+ years! They have a large selection of healthy and not so healthy toppings. Many of their toppings are homemade, like their delicious fudge and butterscotch. Depending on the store the seating varies, but this is the type of place you can hang out in for hours doing homework, or work. There is ever changing artwork which adorns their walls. In the JP store they have a fireplace with big chairs relax in, and although they are most known for their icecream. JP Licks also does coffee drinks and breakfast items.

As tart yogurt moves from the new hip and trendy treat to the same old, same old. It looks like the newest trend in frozen yogurt will be the build your own yogurt buffet. Yogurtland in L.A. seems to be the trend setter with machines lined up end to end boasting 10 or more flavors to choose from. Toppings are in a salad bar type stand, and you pay by weight. I have heard a place like this is opening in the Brookline area of Boston. The concept is interesting, but messy. Most people have no idea how to really operate a machine to make a good cup or cone, and the toppings bar is always askew requiring frequent clean up. The cost is cheap but, trust me, so is the product. If you want some really great tasting yogurt, not the tart type, head to J.P. Licks. They still are the leader withe flavors like Oreo, Chocolate Chip cookie, Peanut Butter, Ginger Snap.... I could go on.

My yogurt quest conclusions as they stand right now are this... For tart yogurt in Boston, Berry Line is my winner. All they have is the tart treat so they concentrate fully on toppings which compliment it. I have to admit though, if Pinkberry were in Boston, I might go there instead since it is the original.

For regular soft yogurt flavors, J.P. Licks is the clear winner. They have a great reputation and have been around for years. How they make yogurt taste like a Chocolate Chip cookie is a mystery to me, but they do it and do it well. They also have sugar free yogurt, hard yogurt options, amazing ice cream and coffee drinks.

My yogurt quest is far from over. I am sure I will be enjoying it for years to come.

Everyone should have a tie to Ohio, now you can too!

Lou and I have a theory, everyone has some kind of connection to Ohio. They either lived there, or they have family or friends there. In our case, Lou lived there, has family from there, and we both have a ton of friends who either live there currently, or passed through at one time in their lives.

Don't have any ties to Ohio? Well now you can, in the form of apron ties!

Check out www.madebyamyd.com

Amy D is a crafty girl who lives in Ohio and make aprons, but not just any aprons. Her aprons are from reclaimed materials. You can get a full apron, a half, or my favorite the beer holder apron! Who wouldn't want to be able to keep their beer close and hands free while they cook the family up some chicken cacciatore? Amy doesn't just make aprons she also makes reusable coffee sleeves and takes orders for custom clothing.

Don't want to take my word for it? How about Whole Food's word? This past holiday season, two Whole Foods in Ohio, Dublin and Lane Avenue, carried Amy D's aprons and reusable coffee sleeves and she could barely keep them on the shelves. Being made from reclaimed materials and reusable, they were the perfect Earth friendly fit for Whole Foods. My good friend, Kristin, has a background in Media relations and she helped Amy with gaining the Whole Foods relationship. When I told her I thought the aprons were great, she sent me one!

Now I have my own original Amy D apron and more ties to Ohio.

Here's a bit of trivia for you. You may have heard the phrase, "that mom needs to cut the apron strings.." I was told years ago the phrase originated because at one time fires were the main form of heat in most homes. The hearths were open and mom's really did tie their small children to their apron strings to keep them from getting too close to the hearth. I don't know if this is true, but it sure sounds good!

Take me to another place, Take me to another land, Make me forget all that hurts me, Let me understand your plan

Brick's Cafe

2020 Fieldstone Parkway

Suite 200 (next to Publix)

Franklin, TN 37067

Menu: Italian, Southern, Southwestern. Something for everyone

Atmosphere: Nice casual

Kid Friendly: Yes but not exactly Applebee's or a Friday's a bit nicer than that, so don't show up if you let your kids run buck wild.

Price: For the two of us it was about $45 with tip. Not bad for a good meal, leftovers and a decent atmosphere to bring a date before a movie. My sister was my date, and we went to see Avatar later on.

In my last blog, I mentioned visiting my sister, Colleen and her family in Tennessee last weekend. While I was there, Colleen and I went to Brick's Cafe in Franklin. My niece, Corinne is a hostess and food runner there. It was fun to see her work while we had a great meal.

When I was younger, I loved when my family would come visit me at work. Ok, I admit partly because they tipped me really well, but also because it was fun to have them come and support me. It made me proud of the job I was doing because I could tell they were proud.

Brick's Cafe is in a shopping center in the Nashville suburb, Franklin. I have lived in the city so long, it is always strange to me to go to a restaurant in a shopping center. I think I have this preconceived notion a restaurant in a shopping center is not going to be good. I know it is ridiculous, and to be fair on my blog, I need to get over my restaurant stereotyping. At least Brick's went a long way in changing my mind.

When we walked into Brick's I immediately forgot there was a Publix looming outside the door. The setting inside was exposed brick, nice table settings and soft lighting. We were sat quickly probably because Corinne sat us, but hey she seats everyone, so you will probably be sat quickly as well. We were greeted at the table quickly too.

Bricks has a little something for everyone. Their menu has an Italian influence, but it also has a Southern and South Western influence. It seems as though whoever owns Brick's figured they would just put all their favorite foods on the menu and who cares if they don't have a particular theme, as long as the food tastes good, people will come.

If there is one thing my sister and I have in common it is we LOVE to eat. We used to eat so much when we were tweens/teens we would have contests to see who could eat the most. Split a large pizza? No problem 6 to 8 tacos? A breeze. I was really excited to enjoy a good meal with her after all these years, but with the metabolisms of two 40 year old woman, we skipped the eating contest.

During our visit to Bricks we started with the Cajun Bayou Fondue. I ask you, what is better than melted cheese in a bowl? That's right nothing, especially when it is packed with shrimp, bay scallops, crawfish, spinach and baby portabellas. Check out the pic below. I am only sorry I would have looked foolish asking for a to go container for the leftovers. It was so good, I almost forgot to take a picture.

For dinner, I got the Portabellini Chicken, and Colleen when for the Smothered Chicken. The Portabellini Chicken was a grilled chicken breast over red mashed potatoes, smothered in sautéed portabelllini mushrooms in a roasted garlic red wine demi glaze. Yes, it tasted as good as it sounds. I ate most of it, and this is actually what I got to take home.

The Smothered Chicken was grilled chicken over sauteed spinach and covered with creamy smoked gouda sauce served with steamed vegetables. Here's Colleen enjoying it. She is going to be so happy about this picture. Look how into the food she is!

Both dishes were big enough to eat half and have another full meal to take home. Don't be ashamed to take your leftovers. Sometimes they taste better the next day. Besides restaurant portions tend to be enormous these days, and to be perfectly honest... we needed room for dessert!

We went for the Chocolate Truffle Cake. It was Kona coffee ice cream over a truffle cake, drizzled in Bailey's Irish Cream. Perfect way to end a really yummy meal.

If you happen to be traveling through Tennessee and stop in Franklin to eat at Brick's, say hello to my niece Corinne.

This Place Takes Their Name Seriously! STAX

STAX

Opryland Hotel (in the Delta)

Nashville, TN

Menu: Different types of Burgers

Pricing: Hotel's are always overpriced, for a burger and fries this was $13

Kid friendly: Sure if you want obese children

Atmosphere: Atrium style casual, tables around the perimeter amongst the trees

I was in Nashville this past weekend working a photo convention at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. The Opryland is an atrium style hotel with rooms facing into the inner areas of the hotel which are filled with shops, restaurants, plants and waterfalls. As one convention goer put it, we were in a giant biosphere. The Delta area of the hotel actually features a boat ride along a small canal. It is a sight to be seen.

How does someone with a full time job in telecommunications end up working a photo convention in Nashville? I have a good friend, Maryann who does work with a company called Kimbra studios.Kimbra Studios is owned by Kimbra Orr. The company makes high quality photo jewelry and they have a wholesale program with photographers. Maryann helps Kimbra work conventions to showcase the wholesale program and allow photographers to see the quality of the jewelry in person. Check out her website www.kimbrastudios.com. I was lucky enough to be asked by Maryann to work the convention in Nashville this year. Lucky not only because it is a really fun part time gig I get paid for, but lucky because my sister lives in Nashville!

Most people who have worked conventions would say they can be tedious and boring at times, but not when you are working for Kimbra. Her booth is packed because her product is amazing. We barely have the time to take a drink of water, let alone eat, so at the end of the day, we are famished. This made Stax the obvious choice for our afternoon meal on the last day.

Stax is a burger joint in the center of the Delta area of the Gaylord. If you haven't been there or seen someone eating there, be warned. The burgers are GIANT. Walking in, you are presented with the basic menu to check off. Choose your size, single, double, or triple. Choose your bun,

white, wheat, or pretzel. Choose your type, beef, chicken, turkey, or veggie. Choose your cheese cheddar, pepper jack or Swiss. Choose your toppings, and choose your side chips or fries. Hand that to the cashier and then wait for your number to be called.

I got the single burger because Maryann had warned me about the size, but she and her sister Sofia opted for the double. The first thing out of the cashiers mouth was "that is a pound of beef!" but Maryann was starving and steadfast in her choice. She also boldly chose the pretzel roll as a twist to the traditional burger.

We put the ketchup in the picture to try to give it some scale. These burgers were huge.

Unfortunately besides the size of the burgers, Stax is nothing to write home about. I guess this is ironic, since I am writing about it in my blog. I don't think the burgers were awful. They just weren't anything special. I admit, I used to work at Fuddruckers where the beef is fresh ground and pattied every day so maybe my opinion is skewed, but let me present some facts.

Stax doesn't ask you how you would like your burger cooked. For a burger this big, that is odd. All of our burgers came out medium well to well done. Personally, I think the more you cook beef the less flavor it has.

I asked for lettuce on my burger, and on a half pound of beef I got one leaf of romaine lettuce. A leaf from the center of the bunch, so it barely covered half the patty.

As I mentioned, Maryann went for the pretzel roll. It seemed like an interesting twist, but she said it wasn't anything particularly earth shattering. Good bread usually makes good sandwiches and this roll didn't add anything to the flavor. We had a friend from the convention sitting with us who agreed with this assessment.

Speaking of bread, these burgers were completely opposite of the "Where's the Beef?" days. These were more like where's the bun? Especially the bottom half which was so small, it became soggy and fell apart making the burger hard to eat unless you had a fork and knife.

Overall, the only thing which makes Stax stand out from the crowd is the size of the burgers, and in these days of over portioning I am not sure it should be considered a plus.

Whatever Happened to Jello Pudding Pops?

We had some egg nog left over from Christmas which had an expiration date of sometime in February. Okay, I admit, scary, but we can save that discussion for another time.

Lou was a little scared as well when he saw me drinking some. "Is that still good?!?!" He asked me accusingly.

"Sure, look at the expiration date." I answered.

He checked it out, because obviously he thought I had lost my mind, but then he came up with an idea. If you know, Lou, you know he is the idea man. He decided we should freeze the rest of the egg nog in cups because it would taste, "...just like a Jello pudding pop!" Brilliant!

So we did, we froze the egg nog, and I have to admit, Lou was right. Our newly frozen treats did taste just like pudding pops. Notice Lou doing his best Cosby face as he enjoys the pop!

The enjoyment of our tasty treats brought us to the obvious question. Whatever happened to Jello Pudding Pops??? I decided to look it up in Google today. I mean Google knows everything right? Well not this. What I found is there are a lot of people who want to know where they went, but no one really knows the answer. One person says you can get them at Walmart, but they don't taste as good. One person said Kraft used to make them but Popsicle does now, but again, they don't taste as good. I found a recipe to make them at home. I found a petition to bring back the originals, and I found a fairly incoherent rambling I am sure was written in the middle of the night by a stoner with the munchies who was jonesin' for a pudding pop.

Our recipe for pudding pops?

Plastic cups

Egg Nog

Freezer

Popsicle sticks, or in our case, plastic knives, not the safest of ideas, but we were in a bind!

Pour Egg Nog into Plastic cups. Freeze. Put a stick in once slushy and freeze until solid.

Hey we like things quick and simple around here.

Breaking Bread with Friends and Family

I need to give a shout out to everyone who cooked for Lou and I over the holiday season. We have a lot of great friends and family who took the time to cook us wonderful meals. Nothing can compare to sitting down at a table, having good conversation, and breaking bread with the people you love. Especially when the meal is home cooked. So turn off the TV people! Invite some friends over and have a home cooked meal!!!!

Dana- We will be your guinea pigs for new recipes anytime. The crepes were tres bon!

Mom- You give me a run for the money in the best paella contest. We will have to battle it out Bobby Flay, throw down style in the summer!

Galen and Chris- Who knew adding a Italian bread crumbs to catfish could create such a taste sensation? You two always feed us well and we are grateful!

Gaby- Here's to our last meal of 2009 and helping us ring in the new year. The salmon, rosemary potatoes, salad and peas with portabellos were outstanding. Being able to watch you prepare it with such obvious care was a bonus. Like my own live food network show.

May the new year bring you and yours many occasions to break bread together.

Yes you CAN AFFORD that fancy restaurant, just be creative!

We all know eating out is not the most economically friendly decision when it comes to our own finances, but I am writing a blog based on my visits to different restaurants. I need to figure out a way to afford it, otherwise there would be nothing to read. Here are some of the things I have taken more notice of in Boston since I started blogging.

A lot of restaurants are aware the economy is affecting their sales so they have come up with discounted dinner menus on slower nights to draw people in.

Moo0...

15 Beacon Street

Boston, Ma

Menu: Steakhouse, but also serve chicken and fish

Kid Friendly: Leave the kids at home

Atmosphere: Upscale, Fancy, impeccable service

Moo0..., a phenomenal steakhouse in the bottom of XV Beacon has a special menu Sunday and Monday nights. $35 a person for a three course meal, plus complimentary valet! That is a steal for a place like this. Most menus a limited to three choices, but usually include a steak, fish, or pasta option. Pair it with dessert and an appetizer, and it's a pretty good deal. That price is better than one entree any other night at Moo.

Also at Moo everyday in the bar from 5:30 pm on they have $15 entrees and $7.50 appetizers. Hey, if you don't mind sitting at the bar you are basically getting 1/2 off the price of your meal.

Here's a huge hint for Mooo... Have a party of 4 and want to impress your friends? Call a few days ahead and request table #36 in the back corner. It's the best table in the house with great winged back chairs to add to the ambiance!

Another great restaurant which has a special menu on Sundays is Harvest. I wrote a review on this restaurant earlier in my blog, but we were lucky enough to return for Lou's mom's birthday. The design of the special menu is similar to Moo, $35 for a three course meal. The portions were definitely smaller than what you usually get ala carte, but American's portions are out of whack anyway, and the sizes of these dishes were perfect. Lou and I both started off with salads. We then moved onto entrees, I got a fish dish and he got the mushroom ravioli. Both dishes were excellent. I swiped one of the special menus that night to ensure I got the proper descriptions on my blog of the food, but unfortunately, I can't find it. That's what I get for thieving their menu! You will just have to enjoy a few pictures:)

We finished our meals with a grapefruit sorbet, and pear tartlet. I used to work in JP Licks and a woman came in one day and told me the sorbet was "superb". I thought, I don't know if I would ever have a reason to use that word? but eating Harvest's grapefruit sorbet that night, sure made me think superb. It was perfection.

If you have a restaurant you have been wanting to try, like the ones I mention above, but think it is out of your budget, go on line or call and ask them if they have a special menu certain nights.

Another way to enjoy a restaurant you think may be out of your price range is to try it during restaurant week. There is a Summer and a Winter restaurant week in Boston each year. This winter there are two weeks. From March 14th thru the 19th & 21st thru the 26th. Restaurants who participate in these weeks will put together discounted menus which usually include 3 to 4 courses. Type in Boston Restaurant Week 2010 into your search engine to learn more.

Bouchee Brasserie

159 Newbury Street

Boston, Ma

Menu: French inspired fare

Kid Friendly: Sure

Atmosphere: Casual or dressed depending on time of day

My last tip on enjoying a fancier restaurant at a more reasonable price is go during lunch! A lot of places will serve the same menu or portions of their menu for discounted prices at lunch. Bouchee on Newbury St. is one such place. Lou and I were out with our good friend, Kat a few weeks ago and we were all yearning for a really good meal, so we popped into this self described urban brasserie and were pleasantly surprised to find a more affordable lunch menu. I had an outstanding French Onion soup and a side of Pomme Frites. Yes, I know, they are French fries, but they just sound more delicious. I think I fool myself into thinking they taste more delicious too and are better for me! Kat had the Sauteed Cod which came with creamed corn and duxelle stuffed crepes. I didn't taste it, but judging by the way Kat scarfed it down, I would say it was really good. The prices at Bouchee average about $10 cheaper at lunch. If you want outstanding and entertaining service ask for James to be your server. I don't know how to describe his style of service, but I assure you it adds to the atmosphere.

That's all I have as tips for now, but here's hoping at least one of them allows you to enjoy a place you've been wanting to go to.