GrubGrade

I have no idea how you pronounce “Le Pain Quotidien” or what the phrase means in French, but after visiting the European style bakery/cafe chain I’ve come to the conclusion that it is, indeed, a “pain” in my wallet.

If only they didn’t serve such scrumptious little food.

Key word here is “little,” because this ain’t your typical ‘bombard you with super-sized portions’ restaurant. Part of an international chain which originated in Belgium, Le Pain Quotidien is the kind of upscale and chic bakery and cafe that likes to tout its commitment to stuff that is “organic” and “sustainable.” Basically, think Panera with a haughty European twist and French countryside design interior. Now, I know what you’re thinking, but believe it or not, there are times where I venture outside the walls of value menus and sugary kids cereals. (more…)

After eating at the Abbey Burger Bistro, I have to agree with the citizens of Charm City; this dive bar in Federal Hill definitely serves up some of the best burgers in Baltimore.

Too bad the service there makes a mockery of what I consider to be the city’s already questionable nickname.

Continuing on my month long odyssey through National Burger month, I stopped into the Abbey last Friday with frequent GrubGrade reader and commenter ChrisLad. Friday’s have become my burger “splurge” day, and after hitting up Salt Lake’s ACME Burger the week previous, I was looking forward to another high-end gourmet burger.  The Abbey is well known for its diverse burger selection, and bills itself as having the “Best Burger” in the city. While Kooper’s Tavern would likely dispute that title (which, given my knowledge, is an unofficial claim), the reviews on the Abbey were solid according to Yelp.com, and made a late afternoon lunch worth seeking out. (more…)

May is National Hamburger Month, and in a state known for its burger, shake and french fry culture, there are plenty of options to choose from if you’re looking to satisfy that All-American urge for one of our country’s most iconic of foods. To be sure, the burger ‘culture’ of both Salt Lake and most of Utah has long been built around local, fast-food ‘style’ restaurants such as Hires Big H, Crown Burger, and the western-based chain, Arctic Circle, but on a recent trip to the state capital I decided to fulfill my curiosity for something a bit more “gourmet.” Not that the ubiquitous, griddled-to-a-hockey puck quarter pounder on a sesame seed bun isn’t appealing (it is, after all, what America is all about), but there are days when I long to challenge my past culinary experiences, which in the realm of burgers have been few and far between.

Enter ACME Burger Co.

Located just a stones throw away from Pioneer Park and the Gateway mall, ACME touts a menu filled with foodie-friendly ‘upscale’ burgers and sides that come with the familiar buzz phrase slogans that speak to a commitment in the quality of their ingredients and their staff’s personalized and attentive service. (more…)

Domo arigato Mr. Yogato.  Mmmm, FroYo.  Not feeling too guilty after a visit to Mr. Yogato for a cold treat on an even colder night.  What’s better than a creamy frozen yogurt topped with fresh blackberries? How about some nostalgia thrown at me in the form of a Nintendo Entertainment System.  Mr. Yogato, in the Fells Point neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland, might be my new favorite spot.  Sure the area is littered with bars and restaurants but none of these places can match the simple, charming qualities of Mr. Yogato.  This won’t really be a food review, just pointing out a cool little spot on the map.

Mr. Yogato isn’t really much to look at, but it’s quirky and ridiculous. Hang out in the back room area and come across hordes of white plastic spoons decorated to look like “spoon-people”.  Board games piled up in various places, so take out an old favorite and knock yourself out.  I’ve heard that this place gets packed in the summer time and groups end up hanging around for hours.  On this night, I kind of had the place to myself for a good 30 minutes and then was bombarded by a gang of four sub-10yr old kids hanging over my every move. Wide-eyed children impressed at the display of Little Mac (me) pummeling my opponent Piston Honda in the jaw during a round of Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out.

Yeah I hogged the system while the kids looked on.  I gave them a little history lesson and had to point out that the NES came out at least 15 years before any of them were born.  I even heard a “You’re talented” from an 8-year old during a flawless level run on Super Mario 2. To paint a better picture…I am 29 years old and I’m sitting in a kiddie chair at a kiddie table.  I’m hunched over a pathetic 13″ television and I wouldn’t have had it any other way.  This is the way we used to play 20 years ago and I loved every minute of it.  After a good long while, I acquiesced to the minors and gave up my controller.  I just took over as mentor to my new 3ft tall apprentice.

I have a pretty poor attention span for new video games these days.  I own an XBOX 360 and use it exclusively as a DVD player.  So thank you very much Mr. Yogato.  You brought me back to simpler times and had a lot of fun in the process.  Oh and the frozen yogurt was solid too. Ask for a free sample if you’re having a tough time deciding. You can top your frozen yogurt with standards like fresh fruit and granola but some of the more unusual…animal crackers, extra virgin olive oil, gummi bears, Old Bay seasoning, Lucky Charms and more.  Anyway, this is good stuff and fat-free, contains probiotics and a small is less than 200 calories. I recommend it.

723-A South Broadway,

Baltimore, MD 21231 –

443.955.6681

Going to Sonic is sort of a religious experience for me. Located in Peabody, Massachusetts it is right on the way to or from my university. I decided to stop one morning to stretch, use the restroom, and buy some delicious food. For those that are not from Massachusetts you won’t understand this but there is one Sonic in our whole state yet we see the ads on TV for them constantly.  So last year when Sonic opened, it was big!

The first time I went was when the place just opened at least a couple days after the grand opening.  Even at 10 AM in the morning my roommate and I were stuck in a line of at least 30 cars. The issue with the location is that the parking lot gets jammed easily during busy times and spills out to Route 1 in Peabody.

This time, however, it had been a couple months since attempting the 10 AM opening again.. I stopped and parked in the regular lot and walked over to the patio to search the menu for my picks today. I have learned not to go to the car ports as you can’t even see the menu really from them. I finally decided that based on Sonic’s image as the best drink stop around I fixated on a Sonic Chiller. The chiller I chose was the Cranberry Limeade blended with soft serve and topped with a lime and whipped cream. This drink was very memorable a nice tart drink that has the ice cream smooths over the lime and cranberry, very refreshing and I recommend it. The other thing I ordered was a Super Sonic Cheeseburger with light mayo that at my location came with a free medium tator tots. The tots were nicely seasoned and crisp; the burger was a decent burger much better than the time I came when it first opened. I do wish that the burger was hotter temperature wise. Overall a great soul satisfying meal and I even overheard that a second location is planned in Marlborough, Massachusetts. Exciting stuff! I hope to see more fast food restaurants coming to the Northeast in the very near future.

Ok, an honest call to all you GrubGrade readers out there. August might be the official “National Sandwich Month,” but I want to know what’s the best sandwich you ever had. Yea, as in like EVER. Why do I ask?  Because I think I just finished eating the best sandwich I ever had. Have a gander:

I give you the Sugar Spiced Pork Baguette from Elements Restaurant in Logan, Utah. After raving about their woodfired pizzas, I just knew I had to get back to this contemporary American eatery ASAP. I did, and this time made it around for lunch, where their exotic and innovative selection of sandwiches made picking just one almost an impossible task. I ended up splurging on the $8.00 sandwich above, which featured generous portions of perfectly brined and roasted pork loin, crispy tobacco onions, and a savory-sweet combo of barbecue sauce matched with a whole grain ‘creole’ mustard. All jammed inside a crispy french baguette. If this wasn’t perfection between two slices of bread, I don’t know what would be!

So I’m asking you GrubGrade readers…What is the best sandwich you’ve ever had? It can be as simple as your first Burger King Whopper, or something as complex and sophisticated as an Italian panini. I’m not here to judge, I’m just hungry!

Ok, I’ll admit it; I’ve never been a big diner guy. Just haven’t.  That is until a few years ago, when I began watching “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives” on the Food Network. Ever since then I’ve had an inkling to get into real deal ‘local’ type diners and sample all the homemade, artery-clogging goodness which we inevitably associate with these American icons.

A couple weeks ago I had the chance to visit just such a place. With my mother in town on a visit, I took her out to a local institution out here in Logan, Utah – Angie’s Diner.

Angies’ slogan is “Where the Locals Eat,” and from a quick perusal around the restaurant it was apparent that this mantra rings true. (more…)

When it comes to pizza, Logan, Utah might as well be the infamous Star Wars planet of Hoth. Not only does the college town rival the fictitious sci-fi orb in terms of climate, but Logan has placed itself so far away from the Pizza nexus of this country that Utah State University students are inclined to actually view the atrocious five dollar “Hot and Ready” pizzas at the local Little Caesar’s as an accurate representation of the Italian classic.

Hyperbole? Maybe, but you get the point.

Fortunately, Logan does have its share of saving graces when it comes to fine dining.  Elements Restaurant is not only my favorite local institution, but it’s an oasis of contemporary American cuisine and fine dining set in an otherwise fast-food and fast casual culinary climate (not that there’s anything wrong with those kinds of locations, but c’mon, a foodie needs some variety, right?). Providing a “refined and sophisticated” approach to a bevy of American classics, chef Dustin McKay has done a terrific job in shaping Elements into Cache Valley’s most affordable and one of its most enticing-foodie friendly destinations.

One can order all kinds of dishes at Elements, which boasts a menu featuring items ranging from a Sweet Cola Glazed Meatloaf to an amazing and hearty Chicken Bolognese pasta. Their list of appetizers and desserts is extensive and no-less impressive, but when I head to Elements I almost always order a personal Wood-fired Pizza. (more…)

Earlier this week I did a little bio on myself.  It was a way for my readers to get to know me a little better after having this blog up and running for 11 months.  I forgot to mention that my mom is Colombian.  We had a little family time today with lunch at a place called Colombian Breeze in Gaithersburg, Maryland.  A tiny hole in the wall that serves up authentic specialties from the northwest South American country.  I won’t go too deep into the details as this post is just an excuse to post pictures of food other than pizza, hot dogs, burgers and fries.

I started off with some empanadas with aji.  There are many different styles of empanada.  This Colombian empanada was fried and stuffed with a mixture of ground beef and potato. Aji is a sauce made of cilantro, green onions, red or black pepper, vinegar, salt, and lemon juice.

My main course was Chuleta de Pollo con arroz y platano.  Looks a little plain, but that was the kind of mood I was in.  Basically a flattened, breaded and fried chicken breast served with rice and fried plantains.  Forgive me for not knowing exactly what is on everyone’s plates.  Just know that chorizo is usually involved.

Check them out:

Colombian Breeze

48 Main St.

Gaithersburg, MD 20878

240-350-4217

In my vast travels through my hometown state of Maryland, nothing catches my eye more than these three words in succession, “Brick Oven Pizza”.  Driving up Rt. 108 on a lazy Saturday afternoon, Julliano’s Brick Oven Pizza was all I needed to see to make a stop at this oasis of a strip mall.  There is really nothing to find around this part of Rt.108 except for some farm land, some golf courses and a scattering of houses.  You won’t encounter much in this quiet, drive-through town, and the nearby cities of Gaithersburg and Olney can be looked at as bustling metropolises next to Laytonsville.  OK, enough with the geography-speak and back to the pizza place.  In all honesty, I’ve had my eye on this place for months before I got the nerve to actually stop.  My grub-radar locked down on it from the first moment I drove passed.  Like I said before, the words “Brick Oven Pizza”, made it so.  On this day, I made the stop and I’m happy I did.

Now before we get the pizza snobs look down on me for my excitement, just know that we’re talking Laytonsville, Maryland not New York City.  Julliano’s is as non-descript as they come. (more…)