Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving




This is just a quick post for me to wish everyone a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday. Take some time to spend with your family and think seriously about all you have to be thankful for. Enjoy some wonderful food, but don't eat too much. I know that is easier said than done.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

Monday, November 23, 2009

You Know Me, But Do You Really Know Me?



High Tide at Snack Jack's
2805 S. Oceanshore Blvd.
Flagler Beach, FL 32136
(386)439-3344
www.snackjacks.com

I am almost positive that I have reviewed Snack Jack's in this blog before, but am too damn lazy to go back to check for sure. Certainly, it wouldn't hurt to review them again, plus I have a story to tell you about our evening, which will allow readers to determine how well you think you know me.

While running errands this morning, I called my buddy Gary to see if I could stop by his house to talk with Nada about an interview I had coming up later in the afternoon. He told me to come on by as she was going to be at the house all morning. I get out there and she provides me with great pointers for the interview, which has me pumped and excited. As I am leaving, Gary asks me if I want to come back out to his place after my interview to do some fishing. Since it has been a while since I have done any fishing, I tell him I'd like to, but need to see what Julynn and Kennedy have planned for the evening.

The interview goes well, so I figure it would be great to go do a little fishing. Kennedy had told me recently that she wanted to go fishing with me when I went to Gary's, so I ask Julynn if they wanted to tag along. They agree, so it is off to Gary and Nada's for fishing.

One thing you should know about me is that I am not a real outdoorsy type of guy. I like to do a little bit of fishing, but once the mosquitoes start making their presence known, I am done. We are fishing and Nada calls Gary back to the house to assist with their son Vuk. While he is gone, I am baiting hooks for Kennedy and myself and getting killed by bugs. I am just about ready to call it a night when Nada comes out and brings me a beer. I think, "God bless this woman." Things quickly change when she hands me a Corona and I tell her, "This isn't a screw top. Did you bring an opener?" Well, no she didn't. While her heart is in a great place and she is trying to help me out, she has just delivered me the ultimate tease. It's like giving a child a lollipop and telling them they cannot eat it. Gary shows back up in due time and has an opener, so the evening is saved as we have a couple of beers while finishing our fishing. The decision is made pretty quickly to take it to Snack Jack's for some dinner.

We make the short drive to Snack Jack's and Gary orders a bucket of Yuenlings and Budweisers. The waitress informs us they are out of Budweiser. Now how does that happen? I teasingly give her a hard time and go with Bud Light. We settle in by listening to the juke box and ordering the kids some shrimp right away. Vuk goes steamed shrimp, while Kennedy wants fried shrimp. Nada gets a buffalo fish sandwich, Julynn gets scallops and Gary and I decide split 10 wings with their inferno sauce. We both had eaten earlier in the day and were not very hungry. As we are waiting for your food, I cannot help but think about how wonderfully casual this restaurant is. It is exactly what you would expect from a restaurant on the beach. It is the type of place that is a must do for people taking repeat vacations to the Flagler Beach area. You'll see the same faces there just about every time you go.

Our food orders come quickly and everybody starts to eat. Vuk is loving his shrimp so much that Gary cannot peel them enough. Kennedy complains a little bit as she thought she was getting popcorn shrimp and is a little taken aback by the larger fried shrimp she has been served. I explain to her it is the same thing, but she doesn't believe me. She does finally accept the fact that "it is what it is" and eats her shrimp. Gary and I start to get after the wings and are loving the incredible heat of the sauce. Gary also comments on how hot the wings are and the fact that they are burning his fingers. He decides to hold off a few moments to let them cool. Now this is where things get interesting.

Since I like all of my food piping hot, I continue eating. As you know, a plate of chicken wings are made up of drumettes and what Gary and I like to call, flappers. That's the part of the wing that allows the chicken to flap it's wings. The way to eat a flapper is to grab the little bones with your thumb and forefingers and pull them apart to expose the meat. The bones then become perfect tools for dipping the meat into your bleu cheese or ranch dressing. I grab a flapper and try to pull it apart. As I start to pull, the heat of the chicken, the slippery sauce and a tough, sinewy tendon on the bone causes me to think, "Something bad is about to happen." Sure enough, I lose grip on the flapper and it flies to the floor. I pick it up quickly and toss it back onto the table. This is where the question comes in, "How well do you know me?" Did I throw this particular piece of chicken out, or did I eat it? I ate it and there are specific reasons why.

I think Gary knew immediately what the call was going to be as he just nodded his head as if to say, "I know dude." This is why I ate the fallen flapper.

1. The ten second rule was in effect. Any food that can be picked off the floor within ten seconds is safe for consumption.

2. A childhood mantra came to mind. When we were kids we used to say, "God made dirt and dirt don't hurt, so get your jaws ready to work!"

3. The heat of the hot sauce on the wings could probably kill the H1N1 virus and anything that was probably on the floor.

4. Most importantly, Gary and I had only ordered 10 wings. Had we ordered 20 then a sacrifice of one wing would not have been that big of a deal, but losing one of only five I have to eat was more than I could stand.

I washed the wing down with some beer and continued on. We had a great time eating, drinking and listening to music and wrapped the evening up accordingly. Snack Jack's is a great place to hang out with friends, have a few beers and just relax. They also have floors so clean you can eat off of them. For our visit tonight to Snack Jack's I give them four Stiffy's.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Paul's Deli Restaurant



Paul's Deli Restaurant
761 Scotland Street
Williamsburg, VA 23185
(757)229-8976
www.paulsdelirestaurant.com

My guess is that every college or university across the country has a restaurant that is a staple of the campus. For the College of William & Mary, that place is Paul's Deli. While I did not attend William & Mary, I'm nowhere near smart enough, I am an old Virginia boy that lived in Williamsburg for some time. I have been going to Paul's Deli for close to 30 years and it has remained as consistent as ever.

My buddy Fourth Meal is smart enough to have attended William & Mary and was even there while I was leaving in the area. Unfortunately, he and I did not meet until we worked together many years later. I cannot tell you how much I would have loved knowing him in his college years. That would really have been a blast! Anyway, I was back in Williamsburg the other day and getting ready to make my drive back to Florida. I felt like there was no way I could make it back with a visit to Paul's.

I got there that day around 2:00, so I was not expecting a crowd. As it turns out, I was correct and had completely missed the lunch rush. Paul's is really busy during lunch, in the evenings and anytime The Tribe are playing football. Paul's is the kind of place that if you are back in town for a game or visit, you are going to come here for a sub sandwich. It is just that good! I looked at their menu as if I was actually going to order something different. In all the years I have been going to Paul's, I have only ordered the Holly and the Prince George. Which is amazing when you consider they have 42 sub sandwiches on their menu. The two I choose whenever I visit are fantastic and will not allow me to venture off course and try anything new. It should also be noted they do fantastic pizza and strombolis as well. Those I can speak to with confidence as I have had them both. If you are in the mood for an entree, they offer great selections of the Italian and Greek variety. There is something here for everyone.

Paul's is set up in such a way that you go to the counter, place your order and then pay for your food. Once your order is ready, they call you over the intercom system. The savory saltiness of Virginia ham was calling my name, so I ordered a Prince George. It consists of Smithfield ham, turkey, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle and mayonnaise. This is all good to me, but I had them hold the pickle. I ordered the sandwich hot, so they toast the sub roll and heat the meats and cheese. The sandwiches are so big here that you really do not need to order fries, but it can be quite tempting. I held off and just had the sandwich along with a drink. The Prince George was everything I remembered. The Smithfield ham had just enough, but not too much salt, that goes so well with the heartiness of the Swiss cheese. I am thinking this just might be the world's most perfect sandwich. Certainly neck and neck with the old standard, BLT.

I sat there by myself eating this perfect sandwich and reminiscing about all the good times I have had at Paul's in the past. The decor still features pictures of William & Mary athletes all over the walls and I remember some of them as having been there way back when I was visiting in the 80s. The other thing Paul's features is their cook named Ronnie. I swear I have grown old with him serving me sandwiches through the years. He is still there and to this day, calls out my order correctly before I even place it. He has an amazing mind for his customers.

Paul's is a great place with great food and great people. If you find yourself in the Williamsburg, VA area, you have to try them out. The only problem for people from out of town is finding a place to park. It is very limited, but locals know to park on the street or across the street at the stadium on non-game days.

My sandwich was perfect and the memories great. For this visit to Paul's Deli, I have to give them four Stiffy's.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

El Tapatio



El Tapatio
2129 General Booth Blvd.
Virginia Beach, VA 23454
(757)563-2373

Unfortunately, I was in Virginia earlier this week to attend a funeral for the mother of a friend. His mother, Pat, was a wonderful Italian woman that always wanted you to eat something when you visited her home. She will be surely missed by her family and friends. In fact, her love for cooking was passed along to her son Rocco who owns Mirabella's Italian Grille in Williamsburg. Check them out at www.mirabellagrille.net and be sure to visit if you are ever in town.

While in town, I had the opportunity to visit my inlaws who live in Virginia Beach. We had planned on meeting for dinner and my mother-in-law suggested Mexican. I love Mexican food, but don't eat it that much as I have not been able to find authentic Mexican food in Daytona Beach. Which is actually pretty funny since you would think there would be better Mexican food in Florida than Virginia.

My mother-in-law suggested El Tapatio since they have gone to another place near them quite a bit recently. She wanted to try this new place she had passed on the road for some time now. I am glad that we did as they have a great operation. The restaurant is located in a strip mall that I found quite intersting. There is a Japanese restaurant connected to a pizza joint that is connected to El Tapatio. They are all right by each other and I can only guess they benefit from being all together. You would think they would want some separation.

Before I even talk about the food in this restaurant, I have to speak to the service. These guys are incredible! We walk in and the immediately seat us. Once seated, a waiter shows up to take our drink orders and deliver chips and salsa. From that point on, they were all over the table. We had drinks filled quickly, chips replaced after the basket was half-empty and entrees brought out about seven minutes after ordering, but I am getting ahead of myself.

We order our drinks and start to nosh on the chips and salsa. They serve their chips with a regular type salsa and a white sauce that had a tangy lime flavor. While I don't know the origin of the white sauce, I found it to be truly amazing. This is coming from a person that doesn't really like tortilla chips, but they were so fresh I couldn't stop eating the. I didn't have to eat many as the entrees showed up very quickly after placing our orders.

I think Jim and Barbara got combo platters, but I went after beef and bean burrito with sides of refried beans and rice. The burrito was loaded and had just enough sour cream on top to make it perfect. I loved the rice and beans as sides as the beans were nice and creamy and the rice had a great kick. We all tore through our meals with ease. Jim and Barbara both commented on how good the food was and how fresh everything was. The entire time we were eating we were visited by a waiter about every 10 minutes. If there would have been something we needed, we certainly would not have had to wait very long.

The amount of food you get with your order and the prices makes this a perfect place for Virginia Beach residents and visitors to explore. I truly enjoyed my visit to El Tapatio and cannot wait until I get back with my wife and daughter.

Given the incredible service and great tasting food, I have to give El Tapatio the ever elusive five Stiffy's. You really have to try this place if you haven't been before.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

Daily Grind Burgers vs. The Brickyard



In a previous post I told you I spent some time recently with my friend Paul and his wife Paige at an outing. Paul and Paige live in Tallahassee now, but still own a beautiful home in Port Orange they are trying to sell. This keeps them coming back into town from time-to-time.

Paul and I got to discussing burgers and what we thought were the best in the area. I told Paul The Brickyard has the best burgers, but he is partial to Daily Grind Burgers. I have eaten there before, but didn't find the burgers better than The Brickyard and didn't have a great overall experience. The person making my burger screwed-up the toppings and when they cooked me another one it came out far rarer than I would have liked. Paul stated that when he comes back to town, he was going to take me to Daily Grind Burgers to prove is point. I cannot wait!

I will keep you posted as to the findings from my second trip there. Until then, eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

South Turn Lounge & Restaurant



South Turn Lounge & Restaurant
1540 S. Nova Road
Daytona Beach, FL 32114
(386)253-5004
www.southturn.com

My friend Tara was in town last week and wanted to get everybody together for an evening of wings at the South Turn. She and her husband Andy used to live close to the South Turn when Tara worked with us at ISC and Andy was going to flight school. The South Turn became their local hot spot and even now that they live in Hawaii, they always hit this old favorite when they get back to town.

There was a bunch of us there including Tara, Gary, my buddy Paul and his wife Paige, Chantelle, Mary and Krissy. This is a great place to take a large group of people because the menu is extensive with plenty of great sandwiches and their famous grilled chicken wings. They also have a ton of television screens to watch sports and pool tables if you want to get a game going. This night, our focus was on catching up with each other, having a few beers and eating their delicious wings.

Not surprisingly, everybody ordered wings. We ordered various levels of hot, but I also heard garlic wings being ordered as well. The South Turn's wings are so good because they start by frying their wings, tossing them in your sauce of choice and then grilling them to impart the flavor of the sauce into the crunchy coating. After placing our orders we all caught up with each other, but when the wings came, it got silent at the table as everybody started digging in. These just might be the best wings in Daytona Beach. That is quite a statement when you take into account how many places serve really good wings in the town.

Its funny how much I like these wings, but find myself getting to the South Turn so infrequently. I really need to make this one of the spots on my regular rotation. I consider the South Turn as a joint and I live joints. It is very non-pretentious, yet offers great food, friendly wait staff and an equally friendly clientele. It is very easy to strike up a conversation with people at the next table that you have never met before. I cannot wait to get back for some more of these great wings.

The evening turned out to be a wonderful time with friends I haven't seen in a while and to get reacquainted with wings I haven't eaten in a while. For my most recent visit to the South Turn, I have to give them four Stiffy's. You really should try to get there soon and try their wings. I do know you will not be disappointed.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

Friday, November 13, 2009

The Brickyard



Brickyard Lounge
747 International Speedway Blvd.
Daytona Beach, FL
(386)253-2270
www.daytonabrickyard.com

I went to The Brickyard today for the second time this week. Thinking I was being smart I went at 1:00 to avoid the lunch rush only to find a line at the door. They were really packed today, but that just goes to show you how good this place really is. The owner, Renny, told me to stay right where I was near the front door while he went to get me a stool. He came back shortly and placed me at the bar looking right into the kitchen with my back to the front door. Everybody that came and went let a great gust of cool air in that I knew would threaten the heat of my food when it arrived, so I would have to eat quickly.

Renny quickly brought me a beer as I just sat and watched everyone in action with this large crowd. Since it is never quite this busy, it was something to see the cooks getting after it to get the orders up and the waitresses running to get them out. Everything seemed to run like a well rehearsed ballet. I was impressed. Now if you were to ask one of the other tables that were waiting for their food, they may not have felt the same way that I did. Given that I had nowhere to be this afternoon, I just nursed my beer until things got a little less hectic before placing my order.

Renny comes back once things slow down a little and asks if I am ready to order. He suggests the steak sandwich, a fish sandwich or his all-beef hot dog. All sound good, but I had arrived thinking a burger was in my future, so there is no way I could have changed. Something strange happens to my body when I go to a restaurant expecting to order one thing and then having to call an audible. Its like my cells have already started processing my order and then they cannot catch up when the food that hits the stomach is not what was processed through the brain earlier. Surely it is psychological, but I swear it seems physical. This actually happened to me about a month ago at The Brickyard. I wanted to order a bacon-cheddar burger only to be told they were out of bacon and cheddar cheese. How does that happen? It seemed the wings I ordered were not nearly as good as they had been in the past.

Anyway, I ordered my burger and fries and once again was not disappointed. The meat was so juicy and flavorful. The fries were piping hot and crispy just the way I like them. I was glad I went for the burger instead of going for something else on the menu this time. Maybe the next time I go there will be something else in store for me.

Today I came to the conclusion that if my next job is located here in Daytona Beach, I am going to become the Norm of The Brickyard. My plan is to eat there every day and just work my way back and forth through the menu. My reasons are two-fold. First, the food is great, but secondly I think it is important to support locally owned restaurateurs whenever possible, particularly during these tough economic times. The larger chains will survive these tough times much easier than the Mom and Pops around town. Try your best to support the little guy whenever you can and as much as you can. Most of the time you will probably find yourself getting a better meal at a better price anyway.

For my two visits this week to The Brickyard, I have to give them four Stiffy's.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Publix Supermarkets



Publix Supermarkets

I was feeling a little hungry, didn't know what I wanted, but knew I wanted to keep it simple. The decision was made to take it to Publix for a sub. For those that live in Florida and have access to a Publix Supermarket, you probably already know how good their deli is and what they have to offer. However, you may be surprised that they have started to offer other sandwiches and wraps besides the great subs they serve.

I opted for the Ultimate with ham, roast beef, turkey and Swiss cheese. My sandwich preparer asked me what type of bread I wanted and I ordered white bread. They had a number of whole grain rolls in the bin, but no white bread. The lady told me to hang on a second and turned around to pull a fresh roll off the rack. Now I know this is going to be good. My guess is my late arrival after the usual lunch hour turned out to be a blessing for me to get fresh bread.

To top my sandwich I went with mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato and jalapenos. All of the veggies were extremely fresh and the peppers added a nice kick. The meat and cheese put on these sandwiches is more than enough. When you order a sandwich at Publix you have the choice to get their regular meats or Boar's Head. I have had both, but you can tell the difference in the taste of the Boar's Head. It costs a little bit more, but I believe it is worth it. The bread is so fresh it practically melts in my mouth. They really do make great bread at Publix.

This was one of the best sub sandwiches I have had anywhere. If you are looking for a quick lunch option and have a Publix nearby, consider getting a sandwich there for a nice change from your usual Panera stop. I bet you'll find is just as tasty and cheaper too.

For my visit to Publix and the great sub, I have to give them four Stiffy's. I'll be back for one of those sandwiches in the very near future.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

Monday, November 9, 2009

Chili's



Chili's - Ormond Beach
190 Williamson Blvd.
Ormond Beach, FL 32174-5991
(386)672-7760
www.chilis.com

The one thing many people do not know about me is that I am a serious homebody. You can find me just about any night watching sports and having a cold beer or two. That is exactly what I had planned for last Friday. My plan included the Magic/Pistons game, Boise State/LA Tech game and the NASCAR Camping World Series truck race from Texas. I had changed into my sweats, chilled the beer and limbered up my thumb to work the remote in order to follow all the contests. Then the phone rang.

Julynn asked me if I wanted to meet her and some of her co-workers for dinner at Chili's. I explained my evening plans and bowed out. I sat there for about 15 minutes and called her back to ask if she really wanted me to go. She told me it wasn't a big deal if I didn't go, so I told her I was just going to keep it in. Another 15 minutes passes and I call her back to ask what time they are going to get to the restaurant. Still I wasn't sure since they were going to get there at 7:45. Finally, after another 15 minutes, I call her back and tell her I will be there waiting for them in the bar area. My plan was to get there early to see the start of the Magic/Pistons game and have and El Presidente margarita. I don't know why, but Chili's is the only place I drink liquor. Usually, all I drink is Budweiser, but there is just something about their El Presidentes that I have to get one every time I go there.

I get there and as it turns out the bartender is from Detroit, so he is all about putting the game on for me. I get my margarita and settle in to watch the game. The bartender and I start to talk about the Vikings and the Lions upcoming game while I wait on the group to arrive. Julynn calls me and tells me they are on the way. By this time the crowd has thinned out since I had arrived. They were very busy early that evening, but it didn't appear we would have a hard time getting a table at this point.

The crew arrived and it was Jeff, Ronda and their daughter Amanda, Darlene and her husband Tom and of course Julynn. I have been out with Jeff and Ronda before and they have read the blog, so they know a little bit about how I feel the evening should go. This will come into play a little bit later. The waitress is prompt to come to the table and get everybody's drink orders. After looking at the menu it appears the best deal is to order from their $20 menu which offers an appetizer, two entrees and a dessert. Julynn and I get the Half Order of Texas Cheese Fries for an appetizer, I get the Old Timer burger with cheese and Julynn gets the Quesadilla Explosion Salad. She also chooses the Brownie Sundae for dessert. Other orders include another Old Timer burger, Cajun Chicken Pasta, Ribs and a Wrap.

The other couples both order chips and salsa as their appetizers and the waitress brought them out immediately. I don't know why she didn't hold off and bring them with our cheese fries even though the fries were going to take a little longer, but she didn't. As it turns out, the fries took a lot longer. They were just about finished with their chips and salsa by the time the cheese fries came out. Not only that, but when they did come out it was clear they had been sitting a while. The cheese had already started to harden. This is when Jeff looked at me, saw the expression on my face and said, "Uh-oh, that's going to go in the blog." He knew I was not happy. The other funny thing is the fries come in a little cast iron skillet with a handle cover and a little mat to keep you from burning your hands. That turned out to be the biggest joke of the evening. That aside, the cheese fries were good and I can only imagine how good they would be if they were served hot. They give you a great dipping sauce along with the fries as well. We enjoy our appetizers and await our entrees. The entrees show up and everything looks great. I reach for the ketchup on the table for my fries with my burger only to find out that the bottle is empty. We are at a long table with two set-ups so I ask Julynn to pass me the other bottle of ketchup. That one too is empty. I hate the new plastic bottles that are red to make it look like all the bottles are filled. Finally, I go to another table to find a bottle of ketchup with product actually in it. When the waitress sees all of the bottles of ketchup on the table and I tell her that two of them are empty she replies, "Oh yeah, we never fill those up throughout the day." She also didn't even take them off the table and get them out of our way. Simply amazing!

All of us are pretty pleased with our meals. The burger I got was cooked just the way I asked, medium-rare and the fries were really hot and crispy. I noticed that everyone at the table seemed to be enjoying their choices, so overall it turned out to be a nice evening out with some nice people. I was really glad I decided to go out and meet everybody for this meal.

For the warm cheese fries and the lame ketchup comments from our waitress, I cannot give this visit to Chili's any more than three Stiffy's. Chili's is one of those places that I think people have an item or two that they love and they probably always get that one item. It is all right from time-to-time, but would not be my go to choice on a regular basis.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

SmokeShack BBQ



SmokeShack BBQ
1105 N. US Hwy. 1
Ormond Beach, FL 32174
(386)673-RIBS (7427)
www.thesmokeshackbbq.com

My buddy Ryan read my last post regarding SmokeShack BBQ and sent me an email. He wanted to take some other guys from the ISC office to check it out and wondered if it would be too soon for me to join them? I told him I would be able to go for great barbecue anytime he wanted me too. My thoughts went immediately to what I would have for lunch on this trip. I was also anxious to find out how well the SmokeShack did in their last barbecue tournament the week before up in Georgia.

Upon arrival, I first noticed that this time the parking lot was packed. I was able to get one of the last parking spaces in the lot. In my last post I spoke of the smallish dining area inside and knew it must be packed as there wasn't anybody sitting outside at that moment. While waiting for the other guys to arrive I asked one of the waitresses how they did at the barbecue tournament. She told me they placed second in ribs, second in chicken and first in desserts, which they entered an apple pie. Impressive to say the least.

The guys showed up and it was Ryan, Marty, Todd and the Spice. The Spice is well-known for occasionally having a big meal at lunch and then having to fight off sleep the rest of the afternoon. As we were looking at the menu board I asked Spice, "What are you going to have with your afternoon nap today?" Everyone knew exactly what I was talking about, so it is glad to see some things have not changed since I left.

I decided to order the large pulled pork sandwich, as did the Spice, Todd and Ryan had platters and I think Marty had the brisket. The picture above is not one I took of my sandwich, but is a great representation of what I received. My order came first, so I took it outside to find a table. The weather was perfect, so there was no problem with me sitting outside. Before long there were multiple tables filling up with patrons outside. It seems this place is being discovered by others and they are starting to get some good crowds.

Once everybody got to the table, we dug in right away. My sandwich tasted fantastic! The pork was juicy, deliciously smoked and tender. Everybody at the table loved what they ordered and stated that it was some of the best barbecue they had had in a very long time. Even the Spice, who had just returned from Talladega Superspeedway and Dreamland Ribs, stated the food was great. Everybody also agreed that all of the sauces were outstanding. This restaurant is the real deal offering great barbecue at great prices. I have said it before and I will say it again, get out to SmokeShack BBQ and give this place a try. You'll be glad that you did.

For my second visit to SmokeShack BBQ I have to give them four Stiffy's.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Down South Philly Grille



Down South Philly Grille
3830 South Nova Road, Suite B1
Port Orange, FL 32127
(386)304-1111

Surely you have seen my post here before regarding my feelings about Philly cheese steak sandwiches. If not, I basically had given up ordering any cheese steak sandwich outside of the city of Philadelphia. I have been screwed so many times trying to find that authentic flavor and taste. Finally, I discovered Famous Philly's in Port Orange. This was what I had been craving for so long. Now I have to say, "There's a new sheriff in town."

I had heard about this new restaurant a while ago, but just hadn't had the opportunity to get there yet. My friend Kelly lives right down the street and she told me she was down to join me for lunch, so we decided to get after it yesterday.

We enter the restaurant and I immediately notice that it is another shrine to Philadelphia sports teams. It is very spacious with a number of flat screens that would make this a great place to watch the game if you are a fan of Philly sports teams. We sit down and the waitress comes to take our drink orders. We order and are sitting there chatting when something catches my attention out of the corner of my eye. Sitting on the table is a bottle of ketchup with the name, "House Recipe." Are you kidding me? How can any restaurant that claims to be born of a Pennsylvania city serve anything but Heinz? I don't care how much cheaper this stuff may be. There are some things you just have to suck up and take it on the chin for and this is one I feel strongly about. Heinz is the only ketchup as far as I am concerned.

The ketchup issue was so perplexing to me that I had to reach out to my buddy Kraig to ask what the deal is with this House Recipe product. I figured maybe it was made in Philadelphia and since Heinz is from Pittsburgh then that was the reason they don't serve it here. Kraig informed me that House Recipe is a Sysco product with no true history to the city of Philadelphia. I still am suspecting something sinister here and feel like the owners are trying to keep it real and not serving Heinz because it is made in Pittsburgh. Whatever the case, this may keep me heading down to Famous Philly's since they do serve Heinz.

With that discussion out of the way, we start to peruse the menu. I can give them props on the way they have incorporated Philly sports in their menu items. For instance, all of the burgers are named after Phillies players, the sandwiches after Eagles players, the cheese steaks represent the 76'ers and the wings feature the Flyers. I thought that was pretty cool.

Since we were looking for cheese steak, Kelly ordered a cheese steak supreme and I got a mushroom cheese steak. Each sandwich comes with a pickle spear and a bag of chips. We also ordered fries to split. If you decide to order fries, get the small order as it is plenty enough for two. Our sandwiches come pretty quickly after we placed our orders. On my first bite I can tell that this place is the real deal. The buns are from Amoroso's Bakery in Philadelphia and is what you will find at most locations in the city. The steak is seasoned well, cooked just right and quite juicy. We had to remind them we ordered a side of fries to split, so when they finally did bring them, they were piping hot. Both Kelly and I thought the cheese steak sandwiches we had were great.

Since both of these great cheese steak locations are in Port Orange, I can tell you if you go to Down South Philly Grill, you will not be disappointed. They serve great food within a cool Philadelphia atmoshere. If I was an Eagles fan, this would probably be my spot to watch them each week and reminisce about being back home in Philadelphia.

Visit Down South Philly Grille and I am sure you will not be disappointed.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

Smiley's Tap & Tavern Redux

In yesterday's post regarding Smiley's Tap & Tavern I reported that one of the things that lured me to hit their location was a sign outside that said, "Good Food." I stand corrected.

I went by there today on my way to The Smoke Shack BBQ and saw that their sign actually read, "Awesome Food." That certainly ups the stakes tremendously. I'll get back out there soon and try their Patty Melt and report back.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Smiley's Tap & Tavern



Smiley's Tap & Tavern
1161 N. US Highway 1
Ormond Beach, FL 32174
(386)677-9609

See that little shack looking place behind the red truck in the picture? That is Smiley's Tap & Tavern in Ormond Beach. I have been riding by this place for years, but have always wondered what they had going on. The thing that intrigued me is a sign they have out front that states simply, "Good Food." Can you really go wrong here?

So how much of a loser am I that when I reach out to my other unemployed friends that they have plans and cannot join me for lunch? I had sent an email to Gary and Kelly to see if they wanted to get after it. It should be noted that Gary is not working by choice and stays at home taking care of his son Vuk. Great job if you can get it. Kelly and I are both looking for our next opportunity. I say, "What the hell?", and decide to fly solo.

Smiley's Tap & Tavern is a small place. There is seating outside, but you already know where I stand regarding AL fresco dining. When I enter I realize just how small. There are 10 chairs at the bar and by my count another 20 available in the restaurant. There is also a pool table in the room taking up some of the space. I got there a little bit after the lunch hour around 1:00 and there are a couple of people at the bar and one person passing me as I enter. Most of the people at the bar leave and it is now just me and one other fellow left. It isn't long before he finishes his burger and it is just myself and the bartender.

She comes over to take my drink order and I begin to review the menu. It becomes clear that Smiley's prides themselves on their burgers. They have other sandwiches and daily lunch specials, but overall, this is a simple menu. It is printed on a yellow piece of paper and fits entirely one side of the page. I don't think this is a bad thing as long as you do a good job making everything on the menu.

I had ordered a Coke and it arrives in an ice-cold can along with a plastic cup filled with ice. All of a sudden, I am loving this place. I figure I will play it safe and go burger. My order is a bacon cheeseburger with french fries. The bartender/waitress goes back to the kitchen and I don't see her again until she comes back out with my order. I think she is the only one working and is doing everything in the restaurant. Who knows how crazy this place would get if there were a number of people there. She's a champ if she can handle more than four or five folks.

She brings my food and the one thing I can say is that everything is really hot and freshly prepared. My burger looks good with a good size bun, three slices of tomato, crispy lettuce, three strips of thick sliced bacon and a sizable beef patty. I had ordered my burger medium rare, but it came out closer to rare. She came and asked me how everything was and I told her fine. I would much rather a mistake more towards the rare side than the well side. The burger is great and the fries are nice and crispy. I am feeling like I have found a new gem.

I like little places like this that are so non-pretentious in their presentation and service. Some people might be scared off by such a place, but I would encourage you to live a little and check-out some different places. I can see myself going back to try to Patty Melt or the Reuben. That will probably go down sometime in the next month or two.

If you are looking for some place off the beaten path, but still delivers good food, check out Smiley's Tap & Tavern. For my visit, I give Smiley's three Stiffy's.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

Tijuana Flats



Tijuana Flats
2280 W. Int'l. Speedway Blvd.
Daytona Beach, FL 32114
(386)366-9117
www.tijuanaflats.com

I had a number of errands to run the other day and got them finished right around 11:45. Two questions present themselves, who and where? Luckily, I was able to reach my buddy Ronk at ISC and he was all about grabbing some lunch. He told me to pick the place and since I hadn't been to the Tijuana Flats in Daytona Beach, I figured we could take it there. My experience with Tijuana Flats has only been at the Sanford location when I worked over there.

Since I was already out and about, I beat Ronk there and waited before ordering. Tijuana Flats does something that I am not a big fan of, but I have to give them props as it is meant to be in the name of good service. There was a bit of a line and I was standing right inside the door. When they get a line they send out a person to take your drink order and bring your drink to you while you are in line waiting to get to the counter to order. I hate this move. It jams me up and throws me off my rhythm for placing my order. I declined the offer and she looked at me like I had two heads. My excuse to her was that my lunch partner still had not arrived.

Ronk got there in due time and we placed our orders. Ronk got a wrap and I got a beef and bean burrito combo, which includes rice and beans. The burritos come in three sizes with something to meet your needs no matter how big or small your hunger.

The only challenge I seem to have with Tijuana Flats is available seating, since as you know, I cannot eat outside in Florida. We were able to find a table, but it was all the way back at the rear entrance to the restaurant. My first reaction is that this is going to be a problem since they usually have waitresses roaming the restaurant offering drink refills, which I know I am going to need with all of the hot sauces they have. I am thinking they are going to forget us way in the back. As we sit down and start chatting, Ronk tells me that he likes hot sauces and can't wait to get at it. My thoughts are that this is great as we will both be sweating. I usually get Endorphin Rush and Ronk says he eats that as well. Now I am really psyched.

Have you ever been in the position where you want to start a conversation that you know has the potential to be painful if you don't word it right the first time? That was the situation I found myself in when one of the waitresses started heading back towards our table. I decided to go for it and the following is the exchange we had:

Me: Excuse me Miss. I have a question for you. I was at the Tijuana Flats location over in Sanford one day and I was talking to a young lady that worked there about a sauce they had that was even hotter than Endorphin Rush.

Her: Dolphin Rush? (Now I know I am in trouble.)

Me: No, Endorphin Rush. They had a sauce that was even hotter than Endorphin Rush, but it wasn't on the sauce bar. They had to bring it to me from the kitchen.

Her: We have Endorphin Rush on our sauce bar. (My head is now starting to throb.)

Me: Yes, I know you do, but I am looking for a sauce that is even hotter than that, but they won't put it on the sauce bar because it is too hot for the general public.

Her: I don't think we have anything else. All of our sauces are on the sauce bar. Are you familiar with our sauce bar? (My back teeth are now starting to ache.)

Me: Yes, quite. Would you check in the kitchen to see if they have a sauce they keep there that is hotter than the Endorphin Rush?

Her: Sure, but I don't think we have anything else.

Epic fail on my part to communicate with this woman. LOL

She trots off to the kitchen and I tell Ronk, "We better head to the sauce bar and get our Endorphin Rush as I don't think we are getting anything hotter."

We go up to the bar and heavy up on the sauces we want and return to the table. Another waitress calls our names and delivers our food. Everything looks great and I begin to scare Ronk with the amount of Endorphin Rush I spread over my food. I love this stuff, but know I am going to be sweating like crazy. Sure enough, the first waitress returns with a bottle of sauce from the kitchen. She explains that she didn't know anything about it, but they told her to tell me to be careful with it and to let her know when we were done so they could take it back into the kitchen. It came in a bottle, but I knew right away it wasn't the same as what I had at the Sanford location. This was a sauce that you could pour. What they gave me in Sanford was more like a paste that you had to spread. As a matter of fact, when the girl let me sample it, she put about a pin drop on the end of a toothpick for me to taste. Just that little bit blew me up! We thanked her and decided to try it as well. I dripped it on my food along with the Endorphin Rush that was already there. It was hot, but I cannot say it was as hot as what I had in Sanford.

My burrito, rice and beans were great. Ronk said he enjoyed his wrap and we both loved the sauces we used. Tijuana Flats is a great place and I have found they have incredible consistency in terms of quality and taste. If you like Mexican food and enjoy hot sauces, I would suggest you give them a try. I cannot wait to get back there sometime soon.

It was great catching up with Ronk and for our visit, I have to give Tijuana Flats in Daytona Beach four Stiffy's. Get there soon! I think you will enjoy it!

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Smoke Shack BBQ



Smoke Shack BBQ
1105 N. US Highway 1
Ormond Beach, FL 32174
(386)673-7427
www.thesmokeshackbbq.com

Finally, there is some real good barbecue being served in the Ormond Beach/Daytona Beach area. The Smoke Shack BBQ opened a few months ago on US-1 and it has been my desire to go for some time now, but just hadn't had the opportunity until a few days ago. All I can tell you is that I am glad that I did.

Parking for The Smoke Shack is behind the building, so don't look for cars to find the restaurant. You enter from the rear of the building and grab a menu to order at the counter and then find a spot to sit. I went that day with my friend Kelly and we were waiting for Gary, his father and Vuk. We sat down and a waitress came to take a drink orders. As we were waiting for her to return and Gary to show-up, I noticed all of the awards the restaurant has won for their barbecue. As a matter of fact, there was a notice on the wall alerting people the restaurant would be closed the following week as they were attending a BBQ competition in Georgia.

Gary and his group show-up about the same time as we get our drinks. I can't help but notice I have just been handed one of the coldest Bud bottles I have ever received in a restaurant. I immediately think, "Life is good."

We peruse the menu and see that there are a lot of choices available. They have the usual choices of ribs, brisket, chicken and pork, but I am loving the sides. The restaurant offers baked beans, Cole slaw, collared greens, smoked rice, mac-n-cheese and baked potato. They even offer a loaded baked potato filled with pork, cheese and a sauce. At first, I was a little disappointed they didn't have fries on their menu, but things were just fine with what they do offer. You can order your meals as a plate, sandwich or combo platter.

I order a full slab of the St. Louis ribs with mac-n-cheese and baked beans. Kelly got after the beef brisket, Gary ordered a combo platter to try the brisket and pork and Vuk had the kids order of ribs. Gary's father ordered a pulled pork sandwich. Gary tried the collared greens with his brisket and said they were great. He said the brisket was tender and juicy with just the right amount of smoke. The same could be said for the pork. My ribs were meaty, juicy and bursting with a rich, smokey flavor. I originally ordered the full slab with the goal of taking some home for later, but they were so good I ate most and then got Kelly to try one of the only remaining ribs. I overheard a man at the table next to us commenting on how much he had enjoyed his beer brisket sandwich. It seems as if just about everything is good here. The Smoke Shack has a variety of sauces to satisfy just about all palates. They have a sweet & tangy, mustard, original and hot. They are all made right there in the restaurant and make a great complement to their meats.

The Smoke Shack has both indoor and outdoor seating. The inside seems a little bit small when you take into account how good the food is. It won't be long before people discover this great location and start filling it regularly. It was not overly busy the day we were there, but still had people at just about every table. My guess is there are about 12-15 tables inside and about eight outside.

We all agreed the food was really good and glad we made the stop. This will definitely become one of my favorite locations for lunch or dinner. For this first visit at The Smoke Shack BBQ, I give them four Stiffy's. Do yourself a favor and get out there soon!

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry