Airport Sushi in Portland

Flying out of Portland, OR with some time to kill? Don’t go through security just yet and check out the Beaches restaurant near the D gates.

Front dining area of Beaches restaurant during weekday Happy Hour

My cab driver used to work as a manager there and told me to check out some of their happy hour specials during my wait before flying out of Portland. The place was pretty full of business travelers ordering food and multiple drinks. $2 4-piece sushi rolls, $4 margaritas/cocktails/house wine, and other such deals. No to-go orders of course, but TSA probably wouldn’t like you trying to sneak some sushi rolls through the x-ray anyway.

For $2, these rolls were simplistic but very tasty

Artichokin’ in Manhattan

I had my first taste of Artichoke Basille’s pizza after being introduced to it by Tyler B. on a one-night trip into NYC from Newark (because what the hell else were we supposed to do?). We were getting drunk in the East Village and looking for some late-night snacks. He had been to the area before and knew that it was a short walk, would be open, and was awesome good.

Three nights later, during my stayover in the city, I found myself heading back to the place. Their specialty spinach and artichoke pizza is amazing and they serve huge to-go cups of Bud Light for $5.50. There are other things to buy, but I’d say are hardly worth mentioning in comparison. Two visits in four days and two cases of burnt hard palate. Totally worth it, though.

 

The East Village location is really popular, being just a short walk down 14th from both Trader Joe’s and Union Square (where you can catch the L train to Brooklyn). They have one more location in Chelsea and are opening another in Greenwich Village soon.

[ official site ] [ Yelp page ]

Jonge-what’s?

 A Long Beach favorite for decades!

If you feel a little bored on the drive between Pasadena and Anaheim, I would suggest taking a detour through Long Beach. Sure, go ahead and do some sightseeing in the downtown/Seal Beach area because it’s nice, but head north towards the 405 and the airport when you get hungry.

I think this quote from LA Times food writer Russ Parsons sums up the place nicely:

“Its food will never be mistaken for cuisine — nothing is reimagined and garnishes are usually limited to a single sprig of parsley — but over the last 15 years, I would guess that my family has averaged at least two meals a week there, and if I was being completely honest, probably more. If you’re lucky, you have a place like it near you.” [ link ]

Pronounced something like “young ward’s,” I was introduced to Jongewaard’s by a presenter who grew up in the Long Beach area and has been a frequenter of the restaurant for the last 50+ years (she always gets the burger special with a slice of lemon cream pie). If that doesn’t convince you, I don’t know what will.

Whatever appeals to you on the menu (to-die-for chicken pot pie), please make sure to get some of their baked goods for desert. Cake, pie, cookies, cinnamon buns, and on and on and on!

A Gobblerito?

That’s right, folks: a Gobblerito!

( Fire not included )

Inside the Days Inn hotel in State College, PA there lives a Mexican/American fusion restaurant called Mad Mex. They serve burritos the size of your head. Yes, the SIZE OF YOUR FREAKIN’ HEAD!

( As unappealing as this may look, it was a fantastic burrito the size of my melon )

I opted for the seasonal specialty burrito, which was basically a Thanksgiving feast wrapped in a tortilla. Absolutely delicious, especially in mid-November! Decent prices, good food, and apparently an enjoyable selection of beer all make Mad Mex worthy of your time. Also, Amber has been to the one in Columbus a bunch and has equally good things to say.

[ website ]

Sacramen-thai

Okay, corny title, I know. Simply put, Bangkok @ 12 in Sacramento, CA is an awesome Thai food restuarant just two blocks away from The Sterling Hotel.

Avocado curry, Bangkok @ 12

I tried the Avocado Curry with chicken and was pleasantly surprised. Many of the reviewers on Yelp! [ Yelp! page ] agreed that their curry is great and I'd have to join their ranks. As you can see from the picture, their portion sizes are more suited for 2-3 people, but priced for one. The hotel has a fridge and microwave guests can use, so get the leftovers to-go. $6.95 lunch specials and $2 beers/wine for Happy Hour make this a great option for you or your participants during lunch.

Manchester's Only Brewery

While it doesn't seem like anything to brag about, Milly's Tavern [ link ], next to the UNh-Manchester campus, is Manch-Vegas' only brewery and does a damn good job at it.



Find some extra time in the evening and head on down to happy hour from 4-7pm each night for $1.50 draft beers and half price appetizers. Happen to be there on a Tuesday? Skip Happy Hour and catch their 'Beat the Clock' specials after 7pm where beers start at $0.50 each and go up in price $0.50 each half hour (or hour?). Apparently the place turns into a dance club at night, too.

The beer is excellent, the appetizers are also great (what fried food doesn't go well with beer?), so if you decide to skip Unwine'd head on down, but please don't order a salad; I quickly learned the errors of my ways with that one.

Pit Stop Munchies

Keene, NH is a small college town that seems to have a lot to offer a bored and hungry Program Manager on the road. Small shops and theaters, as well as independent restaurants, cafes, and coffee shops line the streets of downtown.

Keene's location, nearly half way between Albany and Manchester, make it a perfect pit stop option before continuing your multi-hour drive. Tell your Garmin to take Route 9 through the countryside instead of the interstate because it's worth the detour if the weather's nice!

Port Authority Cafe - Keene, NH

One of the many eateries near Main Street is the Port Authority Cafe. [ Yelp! page ] Pretty typical college town menu: burgers, sandwiches, and beer, but the food is all made from scratch and includes some vegan options as well. What caught my attention were the multiple reviews raving about their veggie burger. I had to try it.

Veggie burger w/ sweet potato fries@ Port Authority Cafe

I'd certainly say I wasn't disappointed. It was so hearty that I finished the fries and just half the burger, taking the second half to-go. The shop is super small; it takes up just the corner of the building and the seating uses less than half of that space (in warmer months, outside seating must be available). I'd certainly stop by again if I found myself in the area.

Obligatory tourist picture @ Bennington Battle Monument

Along the drive you'll pass through Bennington, VT. You should stop by the Bennington Battle Monument [ website ]. At over 300 feet tall, this monument was built to commemorate an American (or future-American) victory in 1777 that would prove to be a turning point in the Revolutionary War. Excuse the lame tourist picture.

Armory Square, Syracuse, NY

Just a fast second post about Syracuse, NY. If you're in the area with a rental car, it's probably worth your time to check out the dining/drinking options downtown in Armory Square [ link ]. It's a few blocks long and downtown, on a weekday evening, is totally dead, so parking is a breeze.

Armory Square was hopping, however, with people ranging from the college-aged crowd to those New Yorkers with gray hair and college kids of their own. This particular Spring night, everyone was out and about in the Square just enjoying the warm air with plenty of beer at the many streetside restaurants.

I ended up at the Blue Tusk Pub and Wine Bar [ official site ], tasting their mystery draught beer and their Tuesday night special, some sort of pesto chicken and mushroom sandwich on some pretty good bread. $8 well spent. Just check it out for yourself if the weather's nice.

Beer is food, right?

Awhile back I had some time to kill in the Syracuse, NY area and asked for some advice from family in the area. They recommended finding a good local brewery to pass the time, so I did.

Enter: Middle Ages Brewing Company [ more info ]. Like the sign says, it's the home to handcrafted fine ales not too far away from downtown Syracuse. M-F their shop and tasting room are open until 6pm, so hopefully you've got a car and not a long drive between seminar cities.

This shot is from the entryway to the shop and tasting room. How fitting, right? The owners are there every day to give out free samples of their rotating selection of beers, including some seasonal brews as well. You can fill up a growler, buy a case, or even piece together your own custom six-pack (warm or cold bottles available).

Fair prices and tasty beer, what more could you ask for? My faves are the Swallow Wit and the Apricot Ale, so far. The Wizard's Winter Ale isn't too shabby either.

One of the best reasons to stop by the brewing company is because the Syracuse location of Dinosaur Bar-B-Que (the original!) is something like five minutes away. This location also has a few Middle Ages beers on tap and in the bottle, so drink up.

When I first discovered the proximity of these two businesses, how could I deny myself the chance to check off the Syracuse BBQ off my list?

Manhattan? Check.
Rochester? Check.
Syracuse? Check.

Gettin Fresh in Toronto

Yet another wicked find from the WestJet magazine. Fresh has three locations in Toronto, and I loved this place so much that I bought the cookbook. They have noodle bowls, salads, fresh juices, and excellent desserts. I got the prix fix menu, which includes a juice of your choice, an appetizer, a main dish and a dessert. I had the white bean and avocado dosas, the "dolphin" smoothie, a kick butt noodle concoction that I forget the name of, and a cashew cookie for dessert. All were incredibly delectible. An added bonus: you can bring your own container for a take-away juice fix.

If you find yourself with some time in the evening in Toronto, pull yourself away from Brampton and get your booty downtown. I visited the one of Spadina avenue, which has the added bonus of being in a super cool neighborhood. Look both ways because there are bikes everywhere, as well as mass transit and lots and lots of people out and a-boot. If I hadn't got there on the late side, I probably would have walked away with several fetching outfits and possibly a new pair of shoes so be forewarned.

Padmanadi Vegetarian Restaurant

Padmanadi is impossible to pronounce, and located way the heck down in what I presume to be Chinatown. No matter. This is the first time I have ever seen a restaurant posted on yelp that exclusively had 5 stars. They've earned it. The menu is entirely vegan, but please don't let yourself beleive that means lacking in taste. I have never in my life tasted a better, more full bodied coconut curry. Overwhelmed with curiosity, I dove into my fake mutton curry with coconut rice and ordered the roti for our appetizer.

The staff were incredibly pleasant and helpful, the tea was delicious, my food was gorgeous and oh so tasty, and we got to sing an asian-style happy birthday to one of the other patrons. If I lived in Edmonton, this is where I would want to be on my birthday and christmas and passover and dawali too. My presenter announced it was the best restaurant ever in her seminar the next day, so don't be surprised if its not flooded with middle aged, slightly overweight teacher ladies.

Canada's answer to Whole Foods

While in Edmonton, I made my way up to Planet Organic Market. This place has the same flavor as a Whole Foods, complete with lovely prepared foods section. Prices are about the same as home, but as every program manager knows, fresh fruits and veggies are just about the greatest thing you can find whilst far far from home.

Cow town's veggie little paradise

Sweet sweet beans and (tempeh) bacon! I think its safe to say that after this job is over (in about 2 weeks thank GOD) I will never again have reason to visit Calgary. Indeed, a town best known for its faux space needle and a yearly event called the stampede was not really of interest for me.

Until I found the Coup. This incredible little restaurant in the trendy 17th avenue neighborhood will require a car to get to (esp if you are staying at the Port of Call Best Western), but just stick it on the central bill and be done with it. Absolutely worth the shabby explanations if you are even asked to explain yourself.

The Coup is a very fine vegetarian and vegan restaurant that I learned about through the WestJet magazine. They have everything you could want, from intensely flavorful appetizers, big bold dark-green salads, and main dishes that leave you absolutely satiated and yet still curious enough to try dessert. I ordered the balsamic vinegar marinaded eggplant dip with house-made lavash and whole wheat focaccia bread. This sent me to a very happy orbit and i felt compelled to finish the entire HUGE bowl and all the dippers. For my main, I had a truffle cream and portobello mushroom pasta dish and a nice local microbrew. With absolutely no room to spare, I decided to go for dessert. Their frangelico chocolate mousse with hazelnuts was effing crazyshit delicous. To sum up, just GO. You won't be disappointed.

Appleton

Nakashima is a sushi and hibachi place who's looks are deceiving from the outside. Once inside there is samurai decor, and a back sushi room that gives off the illusion that you are going to be sitting cross legged on the floor, but this is not the case. The sushi is more on the commercial side, but delicious none the less. An extra bonus to this place is the toilets, with heated seats and a bode option, they make you feel like you are actually in Japan if only for a quick second.

Yet Another Bar in Bethlehem

Those Lehigh University students sure do love their beer...this is the second good pub to make an appearance on the food blog from Bethlehem, PA.

Machs Gute Pub and Grille is not too far from either the Comfort Suites or the Best Western there in town, so it's a good choice if you're looking for typical pub fare (really tasty chicken cheese steak sandwiches) at reasonable prices. Decide beforehand how you're getting home because the daily beer specials are cheap, including the daily $2 pints. Thursdays are $0.35 wings and $2 draught beers (forgot which ones), too!

It may be a cheap college bar, but with recent renovations, this place now has a fairly modern look to it and, during my dinnertime visit, was very clean and quiet. Everyone in the bar (all five of us) were watching Jeopardy on the big flatscreen TVs above the bar, hah!

[ more info ] [ facebook page ]

Pizza, beer, and green thinking

Scattered across Wisconsin, the Glass Nickel Pizza Company has some incredibly tasty pizza as well some pretty inventive sauce/topping combinations. They have at least seven different locations, which include two in Madison and one in Milwaukee, so you've got multiple opportunities to eat and drink there.

To the left was my 10" small pizza with 1/2 chicken alfredo and 1/2 their 'famous' fetalicious (many reviews on Yelp mention this one). 'Twas mighty delicious with very fresh toppings, the ability to do half-and-half on even a small pizza (including sauces, which most places won't do), and some mighty good fresh-minced garlic on the alfredo half.

It may have been one of the many microbrews they have on tap talking, but I very much enjoyed my pizza at the Madison East (Atwood Ave.) location. It was some of the best pizza I've had in recent times, so I'd suggest swinging by if you've got time; heck, it's even a few minutes' drive from the capitol building!

Also, from the "Growing Green" section of their website, it looks like they're putting in some decent effort into changing their operations to be a little more sustainable and energy-efficient. They've got my vote.

Midland Munchies

Formerly a bank and then a steakhouse, Chug N' Chew is right across the street from the Valley Plaza and the Best Western hotel in Midland. Apparently open for business since June, 2009, this place stands up to the reputation its sign out front creates: "good food, huge portions, low price."

The main lobby has a futon facing a large flat-screen TV next to an old-school arcade machine, not to mention the still-installed vault door from the building's previous purpose as a bank. The decor is an amalgamation of Mexican, Halloween, midwest Americana, and other random kitsch.

The food is great, though, and cheap! I had the Southwestern Burger combo with waffle fries (an extra $0.50) that came out to less than $8 after tax, holy cow. The bun and fries were both delicious and were both crispy to perfection. The burger itself was a half-pound patty with cheese, pico de gallo, red onions, and slices of avocado; a unique take on the American classic.

If you're passing through Midland, think about stopping by this joint for a great bite to eat at an incredibly low price. My only qualm is that they don't serve alcohol; only a nice cold brew would've made this experience any better.

Marie Catrib's Restaurant and Bakery

Dear Marie Catrib,

Please adopt me and cook for me every day. I will move to Grand Rapids if necessary. I can't recall ever eating a more delicious meal, possibly ever. (I may be a little stupefied by your luscious chocolate pudding with fabulously dense whip cream and a massive succulent strawberry bigger than my spoon). I have been eating my way through the entire USA one small podunk town at a time, but I can die a happy and slightly fatter woman now that I have rolled through your excellent restaurant. Thank you for speading the love of excellent, creative, wholesome cuisine to all who seek it.

We Love You! Pass it on....


I have been rather lax on adding my food finds to this blog due to general laziness, but I could not WAIT to add Marie Catrib's to the list, lest one more hungry program manager pass through this northerly city without sampling the delights of this exquisite establishment. Marie brings a creative touch to classic american fare, as well as a new take on Lebanese traditional favorites. This place is so much more than soup, salad, sandwiches and Lebanese food. Everything I saw was uber fresh and they try to make the most out of local, organic, and seasonal vegetables as well as choice organic, antibiotic-free meats and "ethically harvested" fish. You can get one awesome fair trade coffee here too, and they are renowned for their brunch.

I stuffed my face and ordered the special, which was a Veggie Pot Pie with soup or salad (I wisely chose the Moroccan Quinoa soup...mmmm). To this excellent line-up, I added a side of hummous with their signature crispy sesame crackers for dipping. And even though I was bursting at the seams and they were closing down the restaurant and I was maybe possibly the only person left, when my charming waitress Shea smiled sweetly and asked, "Dessert?" I was powerless to say no. Oh, Chocolate pudding, I will dream of thee and thy silky smooth texture tonight and hopefully every night.

Everything. Was. AMAZING! I am contemplating returning for lunch tomorrow, but I think I will still have serious leftovers to devour. Maybe for the airport...?

Marie Catrib's is located at 1001 Lake Drive Southeast, Grand Rapids, MI

Coupon Clipper: First Attempt

Talking with Matt D. one early Sunday morning waiting for the great flight from SEA to PHL, I realized that, because we all go to the same locations time and time again, there may be some use in collecting coupons from various restaurants around the country. I have no idea if this will work in actuality, but the full-size version of the following image should be printable to a realistic size from any hotel business center; it's 3.5" wide at 300 pixels per inch. If you try it, leave a comment letting us know how it goes.

A Program Developer's Take on Things (pg 2 of 5)

Disclaimer: Former BER program developer, Sandy Anderson, has kindly provided her list of favorite restaurants around the country and the following descriptions are verbatim from her notes with the addition of formatting and hyperlinks by myself. Enjoy!

Sandy's Restaurant Reviews - Updated Version for Fall 2000 (continued)

Cincinnati, OH

You might enjoy Champs in the Hyatt-Saks Square (map). Informal yet tasty. Other options include Sturkeys (map, now an Encore Bistro), Cafe Cin-Cin in the Crowne Plaza (closed) and Boca (map) - all eclectic menus.

Cleveland, OH

Harry Corvairs (closed) serves modern American cuisine. Also, you might try Moxie (map), an American bistro, or Lola (map).

Columbus, OH

I've not tried it, but Rigsbys Kitchen (map) comes highly recommended, so the next time I'm in Columbus I'll have to try it.

Dallas, TX

If you want to splurge, there's The Mansion on Turtle Creek (map) which is wonderful. If you want more reasonably priced and like Mexican, try Uncle Julios (map) near the Galleria.

Denver, CO

Z Brasserie (closed?) is a fun place in the heart of downtown. Situated in a former bank, the restaurant offers up a lively atmosphere with a stellar menu. Selections lean toward a New American bent, but you can find a wide variety of dishes to tempt your palate. The formal restaurant at the Brown Palace Hotel (map) is yet another classic on the Denver restaurant scene. The Beef Wellington is well worth the wait, especially as your server slices it tableside. A very formal atmosphere with first class service.

Detroit, MI

Some recommendations include French Asian at Tribute (map) in Farmington Hills and Duet (map) for French American.

Honolulu, HI

My two favorite places are A Pacific Cafe (map) for seafood and Alan Wong's (map) for the best Ahi I've ever eaten. Another to add to the list is Yanagi Sushi (map).

Indianapolis, IN

If you like Italian, try Benvenuti's (location unknown). I enjoyed it. The California Cafe (closed) also serves an eclectic menu with fresh seafood each day.

A Program Developer's Take on Things (pg 1 of 5)

Disclaimer: Former BER program developer, Sandy Anderson, has kindly provided her list of favorite restaurants around the country and the following descriptions are verbatim from her notes with the addition of formatting and hyperlinks by myself. Enjoy!

Sandy's Restaurant Reviews - Updated Version for Fall 2000

I always enjoy the opportunity to try out innovative, fresh cooking (or maybe decadent, wonderful cooking). So I thought I'd pass along some of my favorites - if you have favorites, I hope you'll let me know, and I'll add to the list.

Albuquerque (Santa Fe), NM

My favorite is the Coyote Cafe (map) in Santa Fe - incredible southwestern food and well worth a trip to Santa Fe. They also sell some of the spices and sauces in their gift shop.

Alexandria, VA

Try Le Gaulois (map) for great country French cooking. It's in Old Town on King Street - great fireplace for a cold winter day.

Anaheim, CA

If you're int he mood for Italian, consider Pavia in the Anaheim Hilton (map). The prawns were incredible. Tutto Mare (map) in Newport Beach offers upscale contemporary dining at reasonable prices. They always feature a wide assortment of fresh seafood and shellfish. You can eat to your heart's content and then shop until your plastic melts at Fashion Island (map) right next door. The sushi restaurant at the Disneyland Hotel (map) has excellent sashimi and roll assortments created by a talented crew from the Land of the Rising Sun using only the freshest ingredients. Try the Ahi roll or California Roll - they're outstanding.

Atlanta, GA

Buckhead has a number of restaurants that are outstanding, but one of my favorites is Cafe Tutu Tango (map), which serves incredible tapas. They also have one in Orlando.

Boston, MA

If you like seafood, try Legal Sea Foods (map). There are several of them in the Boston area.

Chicago, IL

The list is unending, but some of my favorites are Cafe Spiaggia (map) near the Drake Hotel (map) serving Italian, the Cape Cod Room in the Drake Hotel with incredible seafood soups and chowders, Prairie in the Hyatt on Printers Row (map) where I had a portabello salad, and Cafe La Cave (map) near the airport for wonderful seafood and/or Italian food. A new favorite is Maggiano's (map) for Italian food - the portions are oversized so plan on sharing or eating a lot - there are multiple locations, including downtown, Oak Brook, Schaumberg, and Arlington Heights.

Sticky Icky

On a recommendation from a recent presenter (and fellow sushi lover), I'm posting about an awesome-looking sushi stop with locations in both Richmond, VA and Washington, D.C. I've not yet been to either city to experience this small, but independently-owned, chain, but from the looks of their web presence, they must be awesome!

Geek out: They've got at least two different websites with great design/coding, social media interaction all over the place (on-location photos, Twitter, blog, etc...), and even a list of their go-to websites (must be a work in progress with only two links right now)! Any place this "hip" to the latest web and marketing trends (and that does it well!) gets a huge thumbs up from me; way to go, Sticky Rice.

Looks like these locations are all pretty happenin', with live DJs, alcohol sales, and all sorts of other cool things, but some reviews online average out to 3/5 stars. Looks like there's good sushi, but it may not be a great idea to go during a rush or later in the evenings when the bar gets crowded with college students.

[ Website #1 ]
[ Website #2 ]
[ Google Map ]
[ Yelp ]

P.S. Did I mention one of their specialties is tater tots? Craziness.

Chain Gang #3

Because of what some have started to call "Stormageddon" here in the northeastern US this February, I have found myself stuck at the Hampton Inn next to the Philadelphia airport for two days to end out this week. The hotel has no restaurant, of course, and the only thing within walking distance is the Ruby Tuesday next door.

Now, I haven't been to a Ruby Tuesday restaurant in a while and may have just missed the memo about their improved menu, but I'm guessing, instead, the cooks at this location must have just been on-the-ball today. There wasn't a shift change between my lunch and dinner visits, so I couldn't tell if that was a factor. For lunch, I had a turkey and avocado sandwich on a delicious pretzel bun. The chunk of turkey they gave me was grilled to perfection with some amazingly scrumptious seasoning. The warm avocado topped it off for a very surprising experience.

Image courtesy RubyTuesday.com

Dinner started out with a Sam Adams seasonal ale, which just so happened to go very well with the Chicken Fresco entree.

Chicken Fresco
A fresh, all-natural grilled chicken breast topped with vine-ripened tomatoes, lemon-butter sauce, and a splash of balsamic vinaigrette. With steamed broccoli and white cheddar mashed potatoes.

The chicken was grilled right on the outside and incredibly moist on the inside, the balsamic vinaigrette had that certain sharp taste that seemed to mix perfectly with the beer, the steamed broccoli couldn't have been cooked better, and the mashed potatoes...what I would give to have some more of those mashed potatoes!! Absolutely brilliant, all around.

If you find yourself in the area, especially if you're snowed in with nowhere better to go, I hope you get a chance to experience this food at its best.

P.S. Skip dessert; my Blondie for 1 came with partially-melted ice cream and a slice of brownie cake that was burnt on the inside from whatever microwave they used to heat it with.

A Panda Wearing a Sombrero

Have you finally been sent somewhere in the southern US (sun, at last!)? Do you happen to be in Phoenix and also happen to be staying at the Crowne Plaza on West Peoria Avenue? Good, you're in for a treat.

Trusty ol' Yelp.com led me to find a great little dive with Asian/Mexican fusion food called Chino Bandido. They have two locations in the greater Phoenix area and one happens to be only three or four miles from that Crowne Plaza, so you may be able to get the hotel shuttle to drive you, but I personally had a friend pick me up at the hotel, so I can't be certain. The restaurant is a dingy little place in an even sketchier part of town (there were a few police helicopters with spotlights doing fly-overs just down the street), but the quality of food, on my visit, far surpassed the appearance of the shop.

You walk in and, if it's your first time at the place, the staff walks you through a sampling of six menu items before showing you how to order. I followed the advice of quite a few Yelpers and ordered the Jade Red Chicken; I was not disappointed! The statue of a panda in the next room, wearing a sombrero, is also not to be missed (it's better when you walk in and there are three small kids crawling all over it!).

Also featured on Food Network's "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives," hosted by Guy Fieri, episode DV0305 titled A World of Flavors.

[ Google map ]
[ Yelp review ]
[ website ]

Boise Bento

Who knew downtown Boise was so adorable? If you're staying at the Owyhee Plaza and want some decent Asian food, wander over a couple blocks and go to Zen Bento (10th and Main). Matt suggested this one to me, and it was a winner! While it's not really bento boxes, its pretty tasty. Veggies and your choice of protein (I chose tofu today) over rice and your choice of sauce over all of it. They also have sushi and gigantic cookies (it was hard to restrain myself). Best of all, it's all under $10!

Good Greek in NY

If you're staying in downtown Buffalo, NY near the convention center (the Hyatt Regency, for me), check out this great Greek restaurant, Taki's, that is a short one- to two-minute walk around the corner. They've got pretty inexpensive lunch specials and, considering I was at the convention center, which has no in-house restaurant, this was an obvious choice based on local advice.

When you're there, check out the cheeky and self-promoting posters stuck to the walls (see above). That, and can you REALLY say no to the chocolate cookies that are as big as your face? I couldn't.

[ Google Maps ]

[ A much better review ]
[ Yelp page ]

Pit-Stop Through Canada

Back in December 2009, during my last week out before our glorious multi-week winter vacation, I found myself north of the border with an appetite. I in Toronto, heading south, and another program manager in Hamilton, heading north, decided we should meet up with our presenters for an early dinner somewhere in between. Not exactly a "same-city" day, but close enough.

Not being all too experienced with Canadian eateries (eh?), Yelp once again came to the rescue by leading us to a small industrial town called Oakville that is just about smack dab in the middle of our two destinations for the evening. Stoney's Bread Company is a great local restaurant that serves much more than just bread. Think of it as an upscale, independent version of Panera...I guess. Fantastic salmon sandwiches, caesar salads, handmade pizzas, and other such things. Slightly more pricey than my previous comparison to Panera, but certainly worth the experience and worth a break from driving the snowy roads of Ontario between Toronto and Hamilton.

Locally-made desserts are a must for the to-go box, as well!

[ Yelp page ]
[ Google Map ]

Gastropub near Harrisburg

Staying at the Hotel Carlisle near Harrisburg? Craving something a little more Continental? Head down the road about 5 miles to Cafe Bruge. My presenter and I had amazing Belgian beer, super tasty french fries, and amazingly tantalizing mussels cooked in butter and white wine... YUM. They have a decent menu of salads and burgers as well as the typically French/Belgian fare. It's a little on the pricier side (the 2lbs of mussels and giant cone of fries were $19, and we each had a green salad at $5, plus the beers at $7...), but it's very much worth it for a nice night out when you're in a truck-stop hotel.

Petra's Cafe in Fayetteville, AR

Okay so no pictures since I was super hungry and had about 20 minutes to get in, scarf down some food, and get out! This little tiny place called Petra's Cafe on East Center Street in Fayetteville (close to University of Arkansas) is fantastic! I stayed just a block or 2 away at the Cosmopolitan Hotel (a real fixer-upper) and was walking around on my lunch break and found this cute little cafe! They have pictures of Jordan all over and apparently the owner is from Jordan. Anyway, I went in and ordered a platter with falafel, hummous, pita and this interesting stuff called foule (pronounced "fool"). Super good! It's this tangy bean dip with garlic, onions and tomatoes that is incredible! I was super stuffed after this protein-rich meal and I wish I was here tomorrow to eat there again! It's only open for lunch, but you have to check it out! It cheap too and it's like eating in someone's living room since the other side of the room has an oven and stove and refrigerator. Who knew there was fabulous middle-eastern cuisine in Fayetteville??

And just as an added bonus, if you're in for a home-made type burger there's a place called Hugo's that has great burgers across the street from the hotel!

Airport Dining, ATL

Stranded in Atlanta? Hungry? Near the C terminal?
Try Pashals Southern Restaurant at the C centerpoint (near gate C30). I had an hour at dinnertime in ATL yesterday, and after asking what we could get and eat in 20 minutes, our server suggested the veggie platter... your choice of 4 sides and cornbread muffins for $10. It was great southern comfort food--black eye peas, collards, mashed potatoes and gravy... YUM. If I'm back there for longer, I might have to head back to tried their fried chicken or smothered meatloaf.

I wrapped up a cornbread muffin in my napkin as we had to run to our gate, and let me just say, anything that results in a see-through napkin after less than 3 minutes is good southern cookin'.

Anyone else have a decent airport food find lately?