Flaming Amy's

I just liked this picture and wanted to share it. Best burrito place anywhere!

Burgers for a Buck- Wendy's

Wendy's started in Ohio and has close to 7,000 locations. It usually sits at number three in the fast food burger realm. The one I went to for this burger was in Poughkeepsie, NY on Rt 9.

Bun- 3- a bit stale

Condiments- 3

Meat- 2- overcooked hockey puck

Presentation- 4

Aftertaste- 3- it repeated 

Overall taste- 15

Score- 30 out of 50

Burgers for a Buck- Checkers

There are 815 Checkers and Rally Restaurants in the United States. It is primarily a Drive-through place, but there is a walk-up window and most of them have some tables outside to eat at. The one I went to is on Oleander in Wilmington, NC. For a buck you can get the basic cheeseburger and I had two of them. 

Bun- 5 points- Fresh with sesame seeds

Condiments- 4 points- Plenty of pickles, a tad too much ketchup

Meat- 5 Points

Presentation- 4 points

Aftertaste- 5 points- There was no greasy after taste 

Overall taste- 20 points

Total points- 43 out of fifty

Best Burger for a Buck- The Ground Round Rules

This summer I will be doing two burger competitions so cheap burger posts will be interspaced with my regular restaurant reviews. 

The first is “Best Burger for a Buck” and will feature one-dollar burgers at fast food chains. The only rule is that it has to be a buck before tax.

The ratings are as follows:

Bun- five points

Condiments- five points

Burger- five points

Presentation- five points

Overall taste- twenty-five points

Aftertaste- five points (The higher the number means less aftertaste)

This adds up to fifty points and the winner will be the burger with the highest rating. The burgers will come from fast food chains such as the Clown, The King, The Redhead and regional chains. It will be a truly random sampling and they have one shot to be perfect. No pressure. 

The second competition will be burgers under five bucks. Oh the sacrifices I make for my readers.

Circa 1922, Wilmington. NC

I'd heard some mixed reviews of Circa 1922 and we tried it last summer . . . well we tried to eat there, but it was very crowded, very loud and the menu was a bit confusing without help so we left. This time we went on a slow Wednesday evening (they were setting up to film in an alley across the street) and we brought our daughter Rachel who has eaten there a few times and said it was good. Well, with her help and help from our waitress, the menu wasn't all that intimidating. You see, they bill themselves as a tapas place serving small plates and I just wasn't sure how small this plates were going to be. On top of that, everything is ala carte, except for the prix fix meal at $21.50 which gives salad, entree and desert. 

Circa is on Market Street in a building which once housed a bank, as evidenced by the remains of a large safe in the back. It is a two story affair (bathrooms are on the second floor so if stairs are a problem I'd hope they have an elevator somewhere, or you'll learn to hold it). The kitchen is on the second floor as is a smaller dining area, presumably for private parties. There is plenty of dark wood, high ceilings, some exposed brick walls, and some tin ceilings. Just the atmosphere I like.

We started with the Fried Calamari for $8.75 with a wasabi and citrus sauce. It was quite large (a normal appetizer size that two or three people could share, and we did) and quite tasty. The calamari was cooked perfectly with just the right amount of breading and the sauce on the bottom of the plate was a balanced mix of a citrus taste and the tang of the wasabi. My only complaint is that I would have liked a bit more sauce, perhaps on the side for dipping.

Teresa ordered the orechetti with chicken (not shown here) and I tasted a piece. It was very nicely done. Rachel got the Paella shown above at $15.50 with seafood. I had a taste of hers as well, and it was good. Both of the portions were adequate, much like a half-plate we've had other places. 

I ordered the Duck shown above at $14.00 which was probably the best of the three dishes, and one of the best duck dishes this writer has had the pleasure of consuming in the line of duty. My only complaint on this is the dull butter knife I was trying to hack at the duck with. I switched with another knife at the table and it worked better, but a steak knife would have been better. As for the portion, it was perfect, especially after sharing the appetizer and the delicious bread they serve. 

Overall, it was a lovely meal for three at $54.00 plus tip. The atmosphere is excellent, the food excellent and the service . . . well our waitress did a great job but it did seem to take an abnormally long time to get our food. There were a few other items on the menu I'm going back to try.

Les Moules Christophe

I used to think of mussels as the poor man's clams, but my thinking has changed over the years and I now prefer mussels to clams. They are cheaper, sweeter, and take on the taste of the broth much better than clams. I also find that they are as easy to cook as clams and here is a simple recipe.

   

Take two pounds of mussels (I use farm raised from Prince Edward Island as the wild ones are too sandy) and wash them well in cold water, making sure to remove any beards on the muscles by either pulling them off or cutting them off with a knife. Put the mussels in a pot with ice cold water for about twenty minutes to allow them to breath and expel any sand and other stuff. Dump the water and put fresh water on them and let them sit for another ten minutes. Rinse again before cooking.

While the muscles are taking their next to last swim chop up four garlic cloves and two medium shallots. Take a third of a stick of butter and put it in a pot at medium heat. When the butter is melted add the garlic and shallots and get them just slightly browned. Add six ounces of beer (I use a wheat beer like Goose Island 312 or Hocus Pocus from Magic Hat) and a dash of salt, pepper and cayenne. Bring to a low boil and add the mussels for their final swim and some chopped fresh parsley, then cover. In five to seven minutes the mussels should be open and ready to eat. Discard any mussels that didn't open.

Spoon the mussels in a bowl and pour the broth over them. They are best eaten with the same beer you used to cook them with. The broth is real good on pasta too.

Fuji Steakhouse, Middletown, NY

My Mother-in-law took Teresa and I out for Teresa's birthday and after some time trying to decide where to go, we wound up at Fuji Steakhouse at the Galleria Mall in Middletown. Well, actually we started at another restaurant and looked around and shook our heads. The restaurant looked like it was last cleaned when I was in high school (and that is a very long time ago). We apologized, said that one of us didn't feel well, and left before we even got water. 

We went across the street to the Galleria Mall and entered the restaurant through the outside exit. I was quite surprised by the size of the place, it was quite large, and the fact that you didn't realize it was a Mall restaurant at all. There are about a half a dozen hibachi tables that seated over a dozen people, plus a few regular tables. We opted for the hibachi table for the theater. There's also a rather large bar and it had a box of sake on it, much like a box of wine. 

After looking through the menus we decided to get hibachi. I ordered the salmon, Teresa got the chicken and Mom got the shrimp. We also shared a vegetable tempura and a calamari appetizer. The vegetable was good, the calamari being excellent. We were brought tasty soup, not quite a miso, but similar, and a fair sized salad.

Our chef came along and started to cook for us, and the group of four seated near us. You can see Teresa in the top photo with our chef after we told him it was her birthday. It was indeed theater as he hammed it up and made the flames jump and flipped the spatula and the knife. He made us all a fried rice and I ate quite a bit, and I don't like rice unless it is part of sushi. My salmon was cooked perfectly with a sear on the outside and moist in the middle and it came with two large shrimp, also cooked perfectly. 

The food was very good, fresh tasting and plentiful. Service good and friendly. Prices averaged about twenty dollars per entree, but the portions were large. I'd definitely go back.

Crock Pot Beef Back Ribs

Real simple to make. I took about a pound and a half of beef back ribs and put them in the crock pot. I added a dash of vinegar and enough Sweet Baby Ray's and water to cover, turned it to low and let it cook for about 8 hours. The meat fell right off the bone and it was so tender. 


The same thing works for pork ribs and I've even added a half a can of Coke in place of some of the liquid. The Coke helps break down the meat and adds a caramel taste as well.

Our Crepes and More, Wilmington, NC

I like French food. There is a certain simplicity to it in elevating a few flavor notes to create a masterpiece. Unfortunately there is a mystique to French food which makes people assume that it should be snobby and expensive, often perpetuated by French restaurants. Not so for the noble crepe which is the ultimate in simplicity. Crepes can either be savory or sweet and are really nothing more than a slightly sweet, thin pancake.

I've not yet been to Paris, but I have had some very good crepes in Montreal. I've even tried to make them myself. Once they were terrible and were really pancakes and the second time they were edible. Since then I leave it to the experts to make my crepes. The amount of heat required and the skill in spreading the batter are an art form.

I'd heard that Our Crepes and More in Wilmington was good so we decided to swing by to see for ourselves. The restaurant is in a strip mall on Oleander, just up from another favorite, Flaming Amy's. Outside it is rather unassuming, but inside it is a bright and cheery place with French music playing. You order at the counter, pay, and find a table. In about five minutes your food arrives. We took menus to our table to look over them. 

I usually can't decide which I like better, sweet or savory, so I often try to opt for one of each. In this case I decided on the Quebec (bottom photo) which is smoked salmon, a sour cream and chive sauce and a dollop of whipped cream with a lime in it. It was quite tasty with the smokiness of the salmon, the hint of lime and the sweetness of the whipped cream blending nicely.

Teresa opted for the OCM breakfast special (second photo) with eggs, bacon, sausage and a crepe of your choice. Also quite good. We shared a desert crepe, the Cayenne which had bananas, chocolate syrup, vanilla ice cream and whipped cream (top photo) and it was delightful, and filling. All three, with two coffees, was less than thirty bucks.

The owner, Sylvain Marguerat, waited on us and he was quite gregarious with his heavy French accent. Overall a lovely meal and we will certainly go back again. This is one of my new favorites in the Port City.

Chick-fil-a, Cullpepper, Va

I like Chick-fil-a. I'm not a huge fan, but I do like it. What I don't like is the limited menu (yes, it is a chicken restaurant but they could add wings, legs, thighs and such) and the waffle fries (they always seem to be too undercooked). What I do like is that the chicken tastes fresh, the restaurants are always clean, and the employees always seem pleasant. 

I usually get the spicy chicken sandwich which isn't all that spicy. The chicken is moist, but without the spice there would be little flavor.

Chick-fil-a is a restaurant that caters to families, especially young families, and offers an alternative to the king and the clown. Perhaps a healthier alternative. As a Christian organization they are closed on Sundays.

Lambertville Station Fish Sauté.

I just liked the picture, as well as the dish. Shrimp, mahi-mahi, shark and lobster over spinach greens.

Mix N Mac, Middletown, NY

Fried Bacon, cheddar and macaroni balls

I heard about the new Mix n Mac restaurant in Middletown a few weeks ago when my wife told me that people she knew went there, and that they said it was good. I looked them up online (not the people but the restaurant) and checked out their Facebook page. Next I added them to Urbanspoon, and put them on my short list. This is what foodies do when we stalk a restaurant prior to a visit, we plan it out and dream about what we're going to eat. 

Well, today we stopped by and I must say that I have to applaud what I think is pure genius. Some brilliant person has taken one of the most classic of comfort foods and built a restaurant concept around it. This idea ranks right up there with that grilled cheese place I went to a couple of months ago.

Buffalo Chichen Mac and Cheese

Mix n Mac sits in a strip mall on Rt 211 by the Pizza Hut. It isn't that big inside, but it looks like a fairly efficient operation. There is a counter to order from, and where the food is assembled. You can watch the food being made and it reminds me somewhat of a Subway Restaurant in some ways. In the back is a kitchen where the steak, shrimp and other ingredients are cooked.

The wall menu over the cash register lists a whole bunch of options like; cheeseburger, buffalo chicken, cheese steak, mexi, vegi, lobster, shrimp scampi, and the classic American with prices ranging from $6 to $14. You can even mix it your way by choosing the cheese and adding three ingredients for $8. 

The process is simple, after they take your order they take an aluminum pan and put in the macaroni (white or wheat), then add whatever is needed and run it trough a conveyor oven where it comes out all cooked and browned like the picture here. We watched the girl make an order and asked her some questions while she did before deciding what we wanted.

I chose the Buffalo Chicken at $7 and Teresa got a Noodle Salad with cilantro dressing at $8. We also had the Fried Bacon and Cheddar Balls at $6. The fried mac and cheese balls were very good and came with a dipping sauce that tastes like what you'd get with onion blossoms and fried pickles, a spicy Russian dressing/remoulade of sorts. The Buffalo chicken was good. Good like getting a back rub and a foot massage at the same time. This is comfort food at its best and you should stop by and give them a try sometime. We'll be back.

Lambertville Station, Lambertville, NJ

We travel between Orange County New York and Chester County in Pennsylvania quite often and for some time we thought we'd found all of the decent restaurants along the way, and a few bad ones. Well, one day we strayed off the beaten path and discovered New Hope in Pennsylvania and Lambertville in New Jersey. Between these two small towns on the Delaware River, there must be at least fifty places to try. This should keep us busy for a long time. 

Today we cruised through the Pennsylvania side and couldn't find a place to park so over the river to Jersey we went. We found a parking spot a few blocks into town and walked back toward the river where we'd spotted the Lambertville Station. We looked at the menu they had outside, I love it when restaurants do this, and decided to give them a try. Before we did I thought that this could either be very good, or nothing more than a tourist trap.

The place is big, well it was a railroad station, with a large patio outside along banks of the canal, but it was too chilly for that so we went in. The upstairs dining area was a bit full with a fifteen minute wait and the hostess said we could put our name in, or go downstairs and maybe there was a table in the bar area, or the Tapas room. We went down and that hostess said that a table opened just up in the bar, and she was adamant that we grab it quick. We did. I looked around and it had a British Isles feel to it with lots of wood. 

The bartender brought us water and menus and we perused. It came down to fish and chips, a burger or eggs benedict. I ordered the Angus burger (see the picture above) with bacon and blue cheese for ten bucks and it came with fresh chips which were quite good. By the way, the blue cheese was not listed as an option but they can do pretty much whatever you ask for. I ordered it medium and when I ate it I realized it was closer to being well-done, but it was a darn good well-done burger retaining plenty of moisture without being greasy and it had plenty of flavor. The roll was sweet in taste, and very fresh.

Teresa had the small burger shown above. It was five ounces compared to my eight ounce burger and it had a sautéed pear slice on top with cheddar cheese. She said it was delicious. My son Mark ordered the fish and chips and he said the fish was cooked right and only lightly battered so that it wasn't heavy in taste and the last piece was as good as the first.

We had three excellent meals for thirty-three bucks and the service was friendly and good. I guess it turned out to the first choice, very good, although they probably do cater to tourists. On the way out we picked up a paper that said they also have game meat in the evening such as elk, pheasant, crocodile, and a few others. I'll have to go sometime to try the pheasant. I think we'll be back a few times as we only scratched the surface of this place and there seems to be so much more to explore. Stop by and see for yourself.

Wegman's Sushi, Downingtown, Pa

I like Sushi. Now what I know about sushi could fill a matchbook cover and I'm not an aficionado like my friend Pasquale is, but I like it. What I really like is tuna and salmon which taste great raw. Heck, raw fish is nothing proprietary to the Japanese, the French call it en crue and the Italians call it cerviche.

It's interesting that certain foods have developed a mystique surrounding them, like French food seeming to be so expensive and exotic and sushi was the exotic food of the '90's. It became Yuppie status food, especially when washed down with a martini. Since then sushi has become almost mainstream and, with the exception of a few rare things that can kill you, sushi is not all that complicated and can be found almost anywhere.

One of my favorite places for Sushi is, believe it or not, Wegman's supermarket in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. Yes, it is supermarket sushi. Yes, it is a tad bit overpriced for take away. However, it is always fresh and tasty since they make it right there and they turn it over fast. The people who make it are friendly and helpful, just ask any question and they will happily answer. They are also Japanese. Okay that sounds odd and I've had good sushi made for me by a Mexican in a Chinese restaurant, but sushi should be made by the Japanese.

Blazing Bagels, Montgomery, NY

In the Towne Center Shopping Plaza, the one that has the Shop Rite, in Montgomery, NY there sits a little gem of a restaurant called Blazing Bagels. This has been a favorite of our family for years as they make the best bagels in the area, and some really good sandwiches on those bagels. 

I hadn't been there in some time and I wanted a nice breakfast sandwich so I popped in today for a quick bite. I got a bacon, egg and cheese on a jalapeño bagel and a small coffee for $4.65, tax included. The sandwich was delightful, as good as ever and the coffee good (they grind it fresh). They also have Lana's homemade soups and you can get a sandwich on various breads too. 

So forget the chains for breakfast (and lunch) and go visit a locally owned restaurant where you can get a great meal for less.