Fat Bob's Corvette (Dive) Bar in PA

FAT BOB'S CORVETTE BAR GRILLE RESTAURANT! What more can I say, that name says it all. Matt and I were on a trip to a wedding this past weekend and were driving through Pennsylvania looking for a bite. Trip Advisor pulled up Fat Bob's along with great reviews,only told 10 mins down the road from Hershey, how could we go wrong.
We opened the door and it was like the wild west, a tumble weed blew by. It was just a bar, no a dive bar,  with a few scatterd tables poorly lit, no patrons and only one guy serving. He had on a T shirt that said "Townie", he looked kinda pissed we were even there. He asked us what the hell we wanted... "ummm food and beer." I squeaked out.

He told us to take a seat at the bar and he suggested that we try some local beers. He carded us and shouted, "What the hell are you doing down here all the way from Connecticut?" We sipped our local beer and slowly we became more and more comfortable with the barkeep and the dingy dive bar.

When I ordered the grilled cheese he shouted at me "What you are not 5! Get a real meal!"  He basically forced Matt to order the fries with bacon and cheese. In the end we were really happy with the food. It was greasy, cheesy and horrible for you but it was DAMN GOOD!

The atmosphere was the best part. We came around to really liking the creepy server and talked about a large variety of subjects from Hellboy to Snookie. At one point, I kid you not, we even talked about how to kill a man. Wow, okay.
In the end we ended up hugging the man who forced fed us and yelled at us for the past hour and a half. He told us that we need to come back on our way back through but NOT on Sunday, he doesnt work Sunday.

We may have to stop by again, on the way out we noticed that they had an award for Best Wings in PA.
Such an experiance, Try it if you dare!

3 out of 5 Dive forks!

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g30045-d821715-Reviews-Fat_Bob_s_Corvette_Bar_Grille-Annville_Pennsylvania.html

Jalapeno Corn Bread

I subscribe to THE FOOD NETWORK MAGAZINE, last Sunday I was thumbing through and stopped on a recipe for Jalapeno Corn Bread. I though to myself, hmmm I think I have everything in my kitchen to make this right now... I should do it!
Later that afternoon I attacked! My only problem was I only had fresh jalapenos not pickled, so I sauteed them in a little olive oil to soften them.

Then I tried my hand at the bread. Not sure how many of you know this but I am not the best baker ever, too much measuring. However this recipe seemed pretty easy. I had to substitute the yellow cornmeal for white but other then that everything else was already in my cabinets. Flour, baking soda, baking powder, eggs... don't even ask me why I happen to have buttermilk in the fridge, that was just lucky.

 The key player in this recipe is a good strong cast iron pan, the kind passed down from generation to generation. Or just picked up at your local tag sale or HomeGoods. Butter that sucker up, sprinkle on some cornmeal and you are good to add the batter. Use some of the jalapenos for the batter, just chop them up and toss them in. Poor the batter into the pan and then top with the rest of the jalapenos.

Cook in preheated oven at 450 for about 25 minutes. When it is nice and golden take it out and let it sit for a few.

 Ta-Dah! Jalapeno Cornbread!
See Food Network.com for the recipe and much more!
3 1/2 out of 5 forks!
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/jalapeno-cornbread-recipe/index.html

The Little Grill That Could

Our little red charcoal grill is on fire! Summer is here and we have begun to cook outside!
A few weeks ago we emptied our freezer and grilled up anything we could find. Sausage, chicken, burgers you name it. There is nothing better then the taste and smell of a back yard cook out.  What we couldn't eat we put in Tupperware and stored it for leftovers.

 Last weekend my lovely mother-in-law, Shari came to visit us. Matt and I wanted to show off our back yard and grill so Shish Kabob was on the menu!
Shari doesn't eat red meat so we thought tons of shrimp and veggies would be the way to go. Seasoned with some cumin, olive oil and paprika we threaded those bad boys and grilled them up. As for the vegetables those were sprinkled with a bit of garlic salt and some vegetable season medley I had gotten as a stocking stuffer last Christmas from Shari. Mushrooms, bell peppers and red onions were added to the grill.
For a side we pan grilled some black beans with jalapeno's and garlic and added a dollop of sour cream for a cooling agent. I also had some nice soft Italian bread from Stop and Shop, so I made up some quick large chunk garlic bread.

It is so much fun to grill outside in the back yard with family, fireflies and the bats. Summer, we missed you!
4 out of 5 forks!

Brazilian Meat-fest!

There is nothing like it! You are sitting at your table and the waiter comes around and askes you if you want any sides? At first you are like, sure, lets have some veggies and mashed potatoes.... Oh fried bananas sounds good! He takes the order and directs you to the "salad bar".
I am talking about lunch at Plataforma, a Brazilian restaurant on 49th street in New York. I have to tell you, if you are looking for a true new dining experience you have to try this place! Iam jumping the gun here, everything sounds pretty normal up until now.
The salad bar is a salad bar in name alone, there is risotto, tortellini, Chinese rice, scalloped potatoes, olives, cheese, beans, prosciutto wrapped around broccoli rabe, fish even salad for those who just had to have it.

Then it comes, the MEAT! Meat on skewers and swords! Skirt steak, flank steak, garlic steak, chicken, sausage,you name it! They bring it to you and ask if you want some, sure you say. They carve you a slice right there in front of you. You can see the juice dripping off each cut as they have you pull off the slice onto your plate.

And it doesn't stop! one by one they bring the meat around and you try all of it! WHY NOT?! Amazing cuts and they are grilled perfectly. If you want a more rare slice they cut your part from the top, if you want it well done, from the bottom. Mouthwatering! Brilliant!
It doesn't stop until you have completely had enough and turn your little coaster from green AKA- "Bring it on" to Red AKA- "OH STOP, I CANT DO ANYMORE!" ha!

 The only way to end it was with a dash of sorbet served in the fruit of the flavor you ordered. perfection!

Go if you can! It is such a fun and tasty dinning experience!

5 out of 5 Meaty Forks!!!
http://www.churrascariaplataforma.com/

Many thanks to Mike and Chris!

Bier Garden 2012

Everything we cook and eat comes from the earth (well, except space ice cream) so once a year I go back to my foodie roots and create a veggie and herb garden in our backyard. Some years are heartier than others but I have a strong feeling this year is going to rock.
Matthew and I went to our local Home Depot to pick out a few plants. We grabbed 4 tomato plants, 2 jalapeno plants, two tiny salsa chili plants, couple of rosemary, four basil and one thyme plant.

We had to gut and turn the soil in our garden because it had been such a long time since we planted anything and we wanted to start fresh. Adding the new soil and mulch was a lot of fun! GET DIRTY!

In the end it only took about half our Saturday and with the rain coming and the temperature climbing, I am looking forward to seeing the blooming and fruitful progress of Bier Garden 2012! Stay Tuned for updates!

Coney Island Dog of Michigan

For years Matthew has told me about the legend that is the Coney Island Dog of Michigan. He has fond memories of scarfing down multiple hot dogs covered with chili, mustard and onions with his grandpa and cousins, daring each other to eat more and more. Matthew's grandpa (Boppa) still gets excited at the very mention of a trip to the diner. Finally, I can now say that I had the privilege of enjoying the classic Coney Island Dog!

The only way to get it is "over the top" with chili, mustard and onions! The chef lays multiple hot dogs across his arm and adds the toppings like a delicious assembly line. The mustard is applied quickly with a long thin stick and spread across the buns. The chili is next, it is thin and spicy and packed full of flavor. You want cheese, they can do it! Then each dog is crowned with diced onions.  Simple as can be but it knocks you out with flavor!

 BANG! Now that's a good hot dog!

Matt and Alex did 3 each!

Boppa was loving it!

I am so happy I finally got the chance to indulge in this Bier family tradition. Special thanks to Boppa for treating us all! What a blast!

5 out of 5 nostalgic forks!

http://www.mamavickis.com/ordereze/1000/Page.aspx

Early Easter

This year a lot of my family is scattered to the winds on Easter so my Mom and I decided to cook up a ham at my house last Saturday to celebrate early. This was the easiest meal ever! I bought a precooked 10 pound ham for 5 people (yes I am that crazy) and steamed up a few carrots with lemon and butter and Mom took care of the rest.
The ham just jumped off the bone and onto our plates, it was super sweet and juicy.

 Mom brought some classic home made favorites! Green bean casserole with Frenches fried onions and scalloped potatoes!

Then Mom topped it all off with some delicious carrot cake cupcakes with cream cheese frosting! Yumm!!! I literally ate mine in under a minute. When it's good it is GOOD! I Don't mess around!
Thanks so much Mom for making Early Easter so sweet!

(Above- Mom, Dad, Grandma Testa and Matt)
5 out of 5 home cooked forks!
Happy Easter!

St. Patrick's Day

I never thought you had to be Irish to really celebrate all the glory that is Ireland. This year I decided to go for the gold (at the end of the rainbow) and make the ultimate St. Patrick's Day dish. Corned Beef and Cabbage!
First you have to make this thing.... It's called a bouquet garni. That is just fancy talk for a nest of garlic, peppercorns, thyme and bay leaves tied together.

Then you take your corned beef and put it in the pot (make it a big pot!) with the bouquet garni.

Looking good right?! Now comes the fun part, add a Stout beer like Guinness or I used Sam Adam's Black Lager. Also add a cup of beef broth and water until the meat is covered. Boil it and then let it simmer for 4 hours or so.

Then add 4 onions, 2 carrots & 2 1/2 parsnips, let cook for a half hour.

Then add in 6 small red potatoes and a head of cabbage cut into wedges, cover and let cook until the cabbage is tender but not limp. Let the meat and the rest of the veggies continue to cook.

When the cabbage is done cooking take it out and chop it small. Take a pan and melt 4 tablespoons of butter, add one onion and saute until brown. Then add the cabbage and toss, saute that until brown.

Take out your corned beef and all the other veggies and serve up!

Lastly, poor yourself a tall pint of a good Irish beer and tuck in!

3 out of 5 forks! Only because the cabbage makes you gassy- you have been warned. Just drink your beer, you will be fine.
Happy St. Patrick's day everyone!
Recipe courtesy of Food Network's Melissa d'Arabian
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/melissa-darabian/corned-beef-and-cabbage-recipe/index.html

Super Bowl

As much as I wanted to create a snackadium for the Super Bowl I just didn't have it in me.. However feast your eyes upon the astonishing job done by my buddy, Yvelisse! She is truly MVP material. Bravo!

The main challenge I wanted to tackle for this Super Bowl (Get it?) was to try to make a bread. Just a simple, no kneed bread.  My brother in law's girlfriend Molly had made this recipe over the holidays and shared it with me. I have to say it was really easy and fun. OH yes and Delicious! No bread maker required, just your hands, flower, corn meal, salt, yest and a bunch of time for the dough to sit.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/08/dining/081mrex.html

Pretty, right? We cut that baby up and dipped it in some good old fashioned spinach artichoke dip.

 http://allrecipes.com/recipe/hot-artichoke-spinach-dip/
And we ended it with Nachos, YUM!

What a fulfilling night! To top it all off, THE GIANTS WON THE SUPER BOWL! You just can't beat that!
5 out of 5 forks!
GO GIANTS!

Louis Lunch - Birthplace of the Hamburger Sandwich

Louis Lunch is one of those famous little restaurants that is always on the Food Network and Travel Channel. It is the birthplace of the Hamburger Sandwich, for real! This was my first time going to the local favorite and I have to say it will NOT be my last.When you open the door, you are hit with the smell of beef cooking slowly.

Established in 1895 in New Haven Connecticut, Louis Lunch doesn't mess around with their burgers. It is the same burger now as it was back then, right down to the grill used to cook it. They can cook up to 27 patties at a time in these sideways flame grills. They are made fresh to order so it can take a little while to prepare but trust me, its worth it.

 Louis Lunch is also extremely particular about how you enjoy their burger, they want to be sure the meat is not tainted by the evils of condiments like ketchup or mustard. So they are forbidden, sorry but you know something that has lasted this long is worth a try without those comforts. Toppings are only cheese, sauteed onions and tomatoes. On the side, your choice of potato chips or potato salad. We went potato salad all the way Baby, it was creamy good and got us pumped for the burgers. Louis Lunch is very small and can only seat maybe 18 people so finding a place to stand or sit is a challenge however we got lucky by coming at an odd time, 3:00pm. We managed to find a seat in one of the little cubicles in the corner while we ate our potato salad and waited for our burger to cook to perfection. Looking around we noticed everywhere there was exposed wood there were layers upon layers of names carved. Apparently Louis Lunch encourages their patrons to leave their mark, so of course we did. 

 Finally our burgers were ready! Served on a small paper plate on white toast, here came our first taste of America's first Hamburger Sandwich! Bite and.... WOW! Tasted like pure charcoal and beef! Good thing I didn't put any condiments on, It would have robed my taste buds of that perfectly grilled American original flavor.

 Oh and here comes the cheese!

Everyone should try this burger at least once in their lifetime. And do yourself a favor, listen to the experts and leave the ketchup packets home.
4 out of 5 forks
http://www.louislunch.com/

Disney World

"When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are, anything your heart desires will come to you" - Disney's Pinocchio
At Disney World in Florida anything your heart and tummy desires will come to you! We just returned from an amazing mini (ha Minnie) vacation to the HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH! In the short time we were there we enjoyed all the park had to offer from the rides to the atmosphere to the food. We wanted to be sure we didn't overspend on food but still enjoy ourselves, I think we did just that.

Lets start with breakfast, the most important meal of the day, especially when the day consists of staying up and active from 7am- 11pm! The Disney All Star Movie Resort is on the plainer side as far as resorts go but they do not skimp on the food buffet! Check out Matthew's spilling over plate of eggs, hash browns, biscuit bacon and sausage. I wanted to go a little healthier and went with the oatmeal, it was so thick you could probably layer the bricks of Cinderella's castle with it. No that's a power meal!

Then it was off to the parks! What says Disney Park more then Mickey Mouse shaped chocolate dipped vanilla ice cream on a stick?! Nothin better, a classic and for a good reason. Reasonably priced, cooling and fun!

Then for lunch we had reservations at the Sci Fi Dine-In at Hollywood Studios. At first we thought that the highlight would be watching black and white B movie trailers for "Plan 9 from Outer Space" and "Son of the Blob". Or sitting in tables styled after old 50's cars and doing a little passionate necking during the intermission song. We were happily surprised to find that the drive in food was actually really good! The fun really started when the waiter brought us two colorful, fruity drinks with glow in the dark ice cubes, Cool! I ordered an All American Picnic Burger with Cheese and it was gigantic. Not only was it a burger but it was topped with two grilled hot dogs! It also came with a pickle and french fries, oh nostalgia. It was so much food I had to give half of my burger to Matt who managed to finish not just my leftovers but also his whole pastrami on rye sandwich! That's MY Man!

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/sci-fi-dine-in-theater

Later that night we found ourselves wondering the many countries represented at Epcot. We drank beer (or bier) in Germany and hot oily fish and chips in England. WOW! That was so insainly good! If Germany and England knew how well their food and drink got along, there would have been no reason to fight that blasted 2nd World War. Well maybe not, but still, the power of good food can perform magic!

The next day we were on a hunt for the famous Magic Kingdom Turkey Leg! We finally found it in Adventure Land and DANG THAT IS ONE BIG TURKEY LEG!!!! Really juicy and delicious and did I say BIG?! It's BIG!!!

Since I did a hamburger the day before this time I tried a hot dog and again it was HUGE! I couldn't do it, the all American goodness was too much for me. I looked up onto Main Street in The Magic Kingdom, were everything around me resembled small town American in 1912 and just smiled and handed the dog off to Matt. He is such a good foodie helper.

On the last night we took the Monorail over to the Polynesian Resort and stumbled onto the Kona Cafe and Sushi bar. We managed to grab a seat at the bar with out a reservation (sweet!) and had our last meal at Disney. Of course Japanese was on the menu and you know that is a favorite of mine. It was nice to get away from the fried foods and heavy beef meals.

Pot stickers with a ginger glaze sauce. WOW amazing!

 Matthew had a noddle shrimp bowl, very tasty and it smelled great.

 I had the sashimi- tuna, whitefish and salmon. It was so fresh and clean, it really hit the spot!

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/kona-cafe/

Disney was a fulfilling and filling vacation and we can't wait to go back. Even eating on the cheap you can really experience all the diversity and classic food that Disney has to indulge in. I miss it!

4 out of 5 forks!
Have a Magical Day!