Sunshine Sunset Grill

Sunshine Sunset Grill
1185 W. Granada Blvd.
Ormond Beach, FL 32174
(386)672-6465

I have eaten and reported on the Sunshine Sunset Grill before, but my buddy Paul asked me if I had ever had the biscuits and gravy there. I told him I had not and he said I definitely needed to go back and try it. At the time of our conversation, my answer to him was that I would go that following weekend. Well, life takes over and sometimes things don't work out the way that you plan, but today, nearly five weeks after our discussion, I finally made it back.

My daughter, Kennedy had a friend sleepover last night, so we had a party of four with us today. I was a little worried as we didn't get there until 11:00 on a Sunday morning and I thought we were going to be faced with a long wait. We got lucky and got there right when a booth had become available. I immediately felt like good things were going to happen for me on this trip.

We get seated and order our drinks as I notice the owner working with his staff and just handling his business. All of a sudden, he turns around and looks at me and approaches the table. He extends his hand for a handshake and says, "Hey, I know you." Truth is, we have never met, but he recognized me from my picture on the blog. The owner's name is Don Burke and he seems to be a very pleasant man with a mission to serve good food, while delivering good service. I say this as his staff is amazing and so is the food.

We chatted briefly about our mutual friendship with Paul and his wife Paige and I told him I was there to sample his biscuits and gravy. He told me about the special sausage he uses that he gets from North Carolina. I won't tell you the name of the sausage as I don't want to totally give away his secrets.

After ordering our drinks, I placed the order for the table. My daughter Kennedy wanted the pancake with bacon, her friend Skylar ordered the French toast with bacon, Julynn got the Garden Patch eggs Benedict and I order traditional eggs Benedict with biscuits and gravy for Julynn and I to start.

When I asked Julynn if she would eat some of the biscuits and gravy with me, she stated, "Yes, I'll eat a little bit." That quickly changed after she had her first bite. The biscuits and gravy showed up rather quickly and we started to dig in. The gravy was nice and flavorful without being too heavy, but the sausage was just incredible. It had a nice spice with a hint of pepper that snuck up on you after your first bite. These biscuits can only be described as buttery clouds of fluffiness that just melted in your mouth. I would give anything for the recipe. Julynn and I truly enjoyed the biscuits and gravy and I have my friend Paul to thank. If you have never had biscuits and gravy before, don't have them here for the first time. If you do, you'll think that all biscuits and gravy taste this good and will be ruined for the rest of your life.

We finished our biscuits and gravy and then the girl's breakfasts showed up next. Skylar's French toast had the wonderful smell of cinnamon and Kennedy's pancake looked as fluffy as the biscuits we had just ate. Both of the girls started right in and they said it was good. Our food hadn't come out yet, but Don told us he had the kid's food come out first as he knows how kids can be when waiting too long for their food. I thought that was a nice touch.

Julynn and I got out eggs Benedict shortly after and again, it was phenomenal. The last time I was there, my eggs were a little over poached, but today they were perfect. Julynn ordered grits as her side and I ordered home fries. As soon as she tasted the grits, she said I had to try them. They were so creamy and delicious. I have to assume there was some cheese in those grits, but I am not sure. Upon first inspection, the home fries look as if they are overcooked because they are so dark, but nothing could be further from the truth. These home fries are dark and delicious. They have a crispy outside and the inside has the consistency of smooth mashed potatoes. These were perhaps the best home fries I have ever eaten. Both Julynn and I enjoyed our eggs Benedict. As I have stated before, eggs Benedict is one of the items I have been on the search for perfection and I think I have found it. The hollandaise sauce is light, creamy and has just a hint of lemon. It was truly amazing. The other thing I like is that they don't drown the dish with the hollandaise sauce as some places do.

We had a fabulous breakfast and I cannot wait to get there again. I really want to try their Surfside Croissant Benedict. I would have done it today, but I could not decide in my mind between the shrimp or crab meat version. I am stating here now that I will do this soon and have the crab meat version.

This restaurant is truly a great dining spot. It is full of families enjoying good food and has great people working there. Everybody we interacted with was friendly and helpful from the hostess to the owner. I urge you to go there soon and find out for yourself. The Sunshine Sunset Grill is open for breakfast and lunch, but also open for special events for dinners. They can do buffet style or sit down. If you are planning a special dinner, I would strongly urge you to take a look at this location. I cannot tell you enough how bad I feel about not getting there before they had stopped serving dinner. Hopefully, the economy will turn around soon and dinner will once again be offered at the Sunshine Sunset Grill.

For our visit today to the Sunshine Sunset Grill, I have to give them the unprecedented five Stiffy's!

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

Famous Philly's

I had the opportunity to visit Famous Philly's last week with my buddy Kraig. Kraig had suggested we get there around 11:30 to beat the rush. At first I thought that was not necessary, but found out it was a good thing that we did. We got there at 11:30 and placed our orders and watched the restaurant quickly fill up after noon.

Kraig had the good sense to ask our waitress if they had any specials. She told us that their daily special is any seven inch cheesesteak, chips and a drink for $6.95 or either 7.95. I cannot remember which, but it doesn't matter since a seven inch cheesesteak by itself starts at $7.25. Plus, you can substitute chips for fries for just s dollar more. I was thinking about going nine inch cheesesteak, but Kraig made it easy for me to change my mind. This was obviously the best deal and I can only imagine that this is what brought the crowd in after we got seated. This is a great deal.

Kraig got the cheesesteak with Cheez-Whiz with fries and I got the mushroom cheesesteak with fries. Our order came out in a timely manner and was just as I had expected. These are truly the best cheesesteak sandwiches in the area. The fries were also crispy and hot, so we were pleased with our meal. We still couldn't believe the great special price. If you go there, you have to ask about their specials and take full advantage.

I reviewed Famous Philly's before, so you should know how I feel about this place, but finding out about their special prices is just another reason for you to visit. If you like cheesesteaks and find it hard to get to Philadelphia on a regular basis, this should be your spot.

For our visit to Famous Philly's last week, I have to give them four Stiffy's.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

Fish City Grill

I have posted here before about the Fish City Grill in Ormond Beach. Today it is with much sadness I must post of their demise. A friend of ours was going there last night and called us to ask if we wanted her to bring us anything. While I love the place, I wasn't real hungry, so we told her, "No thank you." She called back shortly after and told me they were closed.

I can still remember the first time I went to their location to eat. My first concern was their position in the center in which they were located. The back of the restaurant faced the street and there wasn't a good sign for them anywhere. You had to know they were there. They were also located on the far end of the center. It is too bad, as they served great food.

It is really tough for a lot of restaurants in this economy. I hope I don't lose too many more of my favorites before this economy turns around.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

Vince Carter's Restaurant

Vince Carter's
2150 LPGA Blvd.
Daytona Beach, FL 32117
(386)274-0015

Vince Carter's Restaurant opened today and I decided to go by to check it out. While I was not hungry, I did plan on going by for happy hour just to check the location out. Not wanting to go alone, I called my friend Kelly and she decided to meet me.

As I walk to the doors, I can tell this is going to be better than any other Daytona Beach experience I have had to date. I was pleasantly surprised to find my hunch was correct. This restaurant is BEAUTIFUL!

When you first enter you will notice the piano bar to the right, which is in its own room. You'll also see the restaurant's wines in the cooler embedded in the wall on the right. As you move further down the hall, you'll encounter the sports grill on your left, which is also behind glass in its own room. The main dining room is across from the sports grill past the waterfall on the wall. I also noticed the main dining room has a patio overlooking the pond out front and there are also outdoor tables with flat screens outside the sports grill.

Since I was only planning on having a drink, I opted for the sports grill and was escorted there by the young lady working the front door. I promptly found a seat and was amazed at the layout of this room. There are flat screens in here all over the place with the showcase being a 105" screen above the bar. Happy hour specials are from 2:00-6:00 each day with two for one specials on well drinks and a dollar off on draft beer. I ordered a bottle of Budweiser and asked for a menu just to check it out.

Kelly arrived shortly after me and ordered a Jack and Coke. After perusing the menu, Kelly decided she was going to get something to eat. She ordered the Carolina Shrimp and Grits. About that time I get a call from my wife Julynn asking me where I was. I told her I was checking out Vince Carter's and urged her and my daughter Kennedy to come join us. They did and Kennedy kept talking about how beautiful it was inside. Because Julynn is doing a special fast, she ordered the hummus and grilled vegetables, while Kennedy opted for the fried shrimp with french fries. Kelly's shrimp and grits came with a salad and one side and she chose the sweet potato fries. Everybody loved their meals, which excited me about coming back for my first meal. Hopefully, I'll get there for lunch sometime soon.

The menu has most of the typical fare one would expect from an American restaurant. You'll find burgers, sandwiches, steaks and chicken dishes. I was also impressed with the extensive wine list and the appetizers. Every diner should be able to find something to their liking.

The cool thing about the entire evening is that Vince Carter was actually there tonight. He spent the evening going to each table taking pictures with patrons, signing autographs and just thanking everyone for coming and asking how their meals were. It was a pleasant surprise. When he came to our table I congratulated him on the opening and the various rooms. He took the time to tell us that he had chosen the best of the many restaurants he had seen during his travels as an NBA player. He said his mother was a big part of the piano bar since she plays the piano and that he styled the sports grill after the sports book locations in Vegas. If you have ever been to a nice sports book in Vegas, you can see that he is dead on as his sports grill is just like many I have ever visited in Sin City.

I am so excited to have such a wonderful restaurant option to close to my house. I wish Vince Carter well and urge all to check this place out as soon as possible. It is going to be very busy and crazy there over the next couple of months as we go through Speedweeks, the Super Bowl and Bike Week, so get there soon.

While I did not eat there tonight, I have to give Vince Carter's four Stiffy's based upon the decor, ambiance and the satisfaction expressed for their meals by my companions. Trust me, I think you will really like dining at Vince Carter's. Watch this blog soon for my own review of the food.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

Miller's Ale House

Miller's Ale House
2160 W. Int'l. Speedway Blvd.
Daytona Beach, FL 32114
(386)255-2555
www.millersalehouse.com

With the Vikings in the playoffs I just had to find a place to watch that game and get after it. Kraig suggested the Ale House in Daytona Beach as he wanted some of their chicken nachos. Since I really didn't care where we went, I quickly go on board and we decided to meet. It was Kraig, Fourth Meal, Gigi and myself. After I arrived I found a text from my friend Kim inviting me to the Ale House the night before. How I missed that text I'll never know, but I immediately invited her out to join us and she did. She knows what a big Vikings fan I am and her brother is one as well.

At first I was a little hesitant about the Ale House as I thought their television situation wasn't that great. Since I haven't been there in a while, I was proven quite wrong. They have plenty of flat screens all around the restaurant with a clear view from virtually every table. Once that was all settled, I figured we would have a pretty uneventful day. How could I have known that was about to change?

Our challenges start when Kraig asks about their drink specials. Turns out they have a special on Miller beer products with a bucket of five costing $10. Kraig asks if he can have one MGD Light to see if he likes the taste and if he does, they can bring him the other four. If not, he'll just be charged for one beer and switch to something else. The waiter and the trainee we have say, "Sure, not a problem." You really can't blame the trainee for what happens here since she is new, but the waiter comes back with a full bucket of five MGD Lights with the tops cracked off, which means Kraig is going to have to go the distance whether he likes them or not. I couldn't believe this got so screwed-up since we made it pretty clear what he wanted, but that's how it goes. He should have been drinking an A-B product anyway. Waiters never screw-up Budweiser orders.

If you have ever been to the Ale House, you know that their nachos are legendary. I am not a nacho fan, but I can appreciate what they do with their orders. The chips are piled high and then covered with cheese and shredded chicken, then served with a healthy portion of salsa and sour cream. Kraig orders the chicken nachos, Kelly orders a sampler platter and I order cheese fries a while after they place their orders. I really was not that hungry when we first got there. I think Kraig had asked them for a double layer of cheese or something different from the usual order and the waiter seemed to understand, but Kraig didn't have any real confidence he would get what he ordered. Turns out he was right.

We can see the nachos sitting in the window from the kitchen waiting to be served. They easily sat there 8-10 minutes while they prepared Kelly's order. Why they didn't just bring the nachos right away I cannot tell you. When the nachos got to the table, the cheese had already started to harden. Kelly thought the chicken zingers on her platter were overcooked, but the wings I tried were fine. She also stated the the buffalo shrimp were pretty tiny. I did think the loaded cheese fries were pretty good. The fries were hot with melted cheese, bacon bits and green onions. They are served with a ranch dipping sauce that I thought was great. It was all pretty typical bar food that serves the purpose of giving you something to nosh on while watching the game and drinking beers.

While everything didn't hit the mark, it was quickly overlooked given the fun time we all had with each other. It is always good to get together with friends and hang-out when you have the chance. Plus, the Vikings really put it on the Cowboys, so I was happy.

There are a number of Ale House locations throughout Florida. If you are looking for bar/pub type food, you really can't go wrong here. There is something for everybody on the menu. I suggest their burgers or their chicken zingers, which they claim are world famous.

For this visit to Miller's Ale House, I have to give them three Stiffy's.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

Houligan's

Houligan's
1110 W. Granada Blvd.
Ormond Beach, FL 32174
(386)671-2285
www.wallywings.com

A few days ago I was caught up in the excitement of the NFL playoffs and started feeling hungry. However, it was one of those nights where I could not decide what I wanted to eat. After much haggling between my brain and my stomach, I finally decided on chicken wings. That decision then led to the next decision that needed to be made, which was, "Wings from where?"

Now this decision is very important due to the fact that I was very hungry. As I head over I-95 I have a choice to make. Do I go south and get wings from the Wing House, Hooter's, Ale House or even KFC's new grilled wings? Or, do I go north and get my wings at Houligan's? From the name of this post, you know I headed north.

I get to Houligan's and they are not too crowded for a Saturday night. The easiest thing to do when ordering to go is to head to the bar, order a beer and place my wing order. I do so and start to drink my beer. As I go for my second or third sip of beer, the young lady that took my order comes back with my wings. I am wondering if they have wings all ready to go and then just run them through the appropriate sauce when the time comes. This is one time when I wasn't excited about really quick service. That doesn't happen often. After finishing my beer, I pay my bill and head home.

Once home I get everything set up and get ready to dig in. When I open the top on the container I am immediately stunned at the size of the wings. As God as my witness, I thought these were wings from Cornish hens. I could not believe how small they were. After getting over the size of these wings, I start to get after them and have to admit they are probably better than any of my other choices. I got my wings extra hot and grilled. They were full of flavor and had stayed on the grill just the right amount of time. It should also be noted that Houligan's serves a great tasting Bleu Cheese dip for your wings, which I think they may make in-house. While some people like Ranch dressing on their wings, I would encourage you to try Houligan's Bleu Cheese dressing.

I'll probably give Houligan's wings another shot to just see if I caught them on a bad night when the wings were smaller than usual. If not, I'll get back to ordering their burgers which I find to be pretty tasty. It is just hard for me to get a burger to go as I don't think burgers travel as well as wings.

For this trip to Houligan's I have to give them three Stiffy's.

Harry

DeLand Fish House

De Land Fish House
310 Int'l. Speedway Blvd.
De Land, FL 32724
(386)740-0069

My friend Kelly and I went looking for a restaurant in De Land yesterday and had no luck in finding it. We wanted to go to a place I had heard about called Coach Val's Cafe, however, I wonder if I had the right name or not, because we were not able to find anything remotely like this. Even when we stopped to ask people, they thought we were crazy. I remember the map for it I saw in the paper previously, but still no luck. It just goes to show you how quickly a restaurant can open and close in today's economy. The first article I read about this place was probably four months ago. That is plenty of time for a place to figure out they are not going to make it, even though the reviews were good.

After driving around for an hour or so, we decided to take it back towards Daytona Beach and hit the De Land Fish House. Man, I am glad that we did.

The De Land Fish House is a small building that sits next to a 7/11 on Int'l. Speedway Boulevard in De Land. When you go in you are immediately faced with the fish market offerings and you will notice it is really more spacious than you think from the outside appearance. We were told we could sit wherever we want and were handed menus by the young lady near the door. As we sat down, I noticed that the interior of the restaurant was simply decorated, the tables didn't have tablecloths and the floor was just a plain floor with no carpet. These things really don't matter to me as long as the food is good. Quite honestly, I would rather a restaurant spend their money on fresh food and good employees than aesthetics that don't really mean a whole lot. That is the case with the De Land Fish House.

Because we had been driving around for so long, we missed the regular lunch rush. There was about five tables occupied when we got there. A few more filled-up while we were eating. We both ordered sweet tea for our drinks. Kelly ordered a salad and I got clam chowder to start. For our meals, Kelly ordered the shrimp roll and I went after the blackened grouper sandwich. This is where things got funny.

I asked our waitress, Donna, if she liked her fish blackened? I did this as many places say they serve blackened food, but it is really not spicy blackened the way I expect blackened to be. She said she didn't eat fish. I asked her if she ate chicken? She said yes and I told her, OK we are getting to the root of my question. I then asked her would she order blackened chicken at this restaurant. She assured me she would and asked if I was going to be mad at her if I didn't like my sandwich. I assured her I wouldn't and ordered the blackened grouper. She was really nice and funny, so I felt there wasn't going to be a problem.

Shortly after ordering, Kelly's salad comes out with my clam chowder. At first, I was a bit jammed-up about the clam chowder being served in a black, Styrofoam bowl, but once I took my first spoon full all doubts were put away. The chowder was extremely hot, like I like it, full of tender potatoes, tender clams and a savory broth. This is great clam chowder. I crushed up all the crackers that were given to me and enjoyed every spoon full. Kelly said her salad was good as well.

Our sandwiches showed up at just the right time. The menu states that their bread is baked fresh every day, which I am usually skeptical about, but this was the honest truth here. My blackened grouper came on a very soft, fresh, toasted roll that was simply incredible. The grouper was tasty, tender and well-cooked. My fries were hot and plentiful as well. Kelly said her shrimp roll was awesome and was excited that it came with cole slaw and a remoulade sauce on the sandwich.

We were both blown away with how good our food was and happy we decided to check this place out. This will definitely be a place that I will return to in the future. They have a vast menu with a lot of good fish and shellfish dishes available. My guess is there is something for everyone here that likes seafood.

For our visit yesterday to the De Land Fish House, I have to give them four and a half Stiffy's. You have to stop by this great little place for some seafood the next time you are on the mood.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

Prince's Hot Chicken Shack

Two years ago I went to Nashville for a conference with Begs and Marlaine. While there, I wanted to check out a place Gary had turned me onto call Prince's Hot Chicken Shack. One day we were coming back from a nearby mall, heading back to the hotel when we decided to hail a cab. We got into the cab and I asked the cabbie if he knew where Prince's Hot Chicken Shack was and how far away we were from it. He had no idea, so he got on his radio and called it in. The dispatcher comes back to him with an address. The guy looks at me and then looks into the rear view mirror and looks at Begs and Marlaine. He then explains that it is in a bad part of town and we probably don't want to go there at night and that we should probably make it lunch. I don't buy into his fear as the one thing I have learned is that nobody messes with people coming into rough areas when they are going there to eat. I think it is part of the mugger's code that you cannot attack a person looking to feast upon your local and legendary fare.

Because of the conference we were attending and the aggressive schedule we had, we were never able to make it to Prince's. This is one of the places that is on my culinary bucket list. I have to go there with Gary as he gave me the magazine with the article about Prince's. He will definitely be down for checking this place out.

I found a short documentary film about Prince's and wanted to share this with you. I hope you enjoy it.



Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

Grand Opening!

I am excited about two grand openings that are going to be happening over the next few weeks. It seems that Vince Carter's Restaurant is their VIP introductory function tomorrow, which leads me to believe they will be opening soon. I am very excited about the opening of this restaurant, because it is actually within walking distance of my house. Not that I will ever walk there, but if I get after it too much one night, I may have to walk home. Vince Carter's is promoting itself as a fine dining, piano bar and sports grill location. The building looks incredible from the outside. I have read that the sports grill is going to feature a 105" HD television for sports viewing. When you include a nice piano bar and fine dining restaurant, it makes for a location that is badly needed in our area. I hope to be reporting on Vince Carter's in the very near future.

The second location that has me excited is the future opening of the Five Guys Burgers and Fries location down in Port Orange. They are going to be located in the new Port Orange Pavilion right off I-95. Their burgers are some of the best I have ever had and to have them a mere seven or eight miles away is going to be problematic for me. These guys really make a great burger.

Also going into the Port Orange Pavilion will be Red Robin and Olive Garden. I am a bit surprised at the inclusion of Red Robin since they are primarily a burger restaurant. One would think the owners of this pavilion would have offered either Red Robin or Five Guys exclusivity in the burger category. It really doesn't matter to me as Five Guys is my spot. It has great food with no frills. I am sure I will go into Red Robin to check them out as I have never eaten there before, but they better bring it and offer good value for a good price. I don't have much to say about the Olive Garden opening. You have probably gone there before and know what it is they have to offer.

I will keep you posted as to these openings and my first visit.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

Breaking News!

My daughter, Kennedy, has a friend over and they are playing in front of me while I am trying to watch the Cincinnati Bengals/New York Jets game. They were getting a bit loud and I told Kennedy they would have to take it to her room if they couldn't keep it down. The following is the conversation that ensued:

Kennedy: Daddy, we're bored. Can you play Easy Bake Oven with us?

Me: Not right now honey. I am blogging.

Kennedy: Guess what daddy? Daisy Dukes has closed down.

Me: NO WAY! Are you sure?

Kennedy: Yes, I am sure. They have closed down. Anyway, their food was horrible!

Now I don't know what I am more proud of. The fact that she knew what it meant when I told her I was blogging, or the fact that she knows how bad the food was at Daisy Dukes Saloon. Either way, it left a tear in my eye.

I think if you go back and look up my post about Daisy Dukes you will find my prediction of their demise. I may not have hit the closing time on the head, but I knew these guys could not survive. This was truly my worst dining experience of last year. Because we are dealing with an eight-year-old here, I just tried to call Daisy Dukes Saloon and got the message that the number has been disconnected. Seems my girl knows what she is talking about.

It just goes to show you that a great ladies night and chocolate pudding wrestling, does not a restaurant make. I say good riddance to this location and hope new tenants will be coming soon.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

How long into the new year is acceptable to wish others a happy new year? I have personally received that greeting as late as February and thought to myself, "Dipshit, my wife could have left me in January. It is too late for me you idiot!" With that said, I do wish you a happy new year and feel nine days in is not too late.

Last year was a great year for me in regards to food, but I am very excited about 2010. Which brings me to another question. How are you going to say the year this year? Is it "twenty-ten" or "two-thousand-ten?" I think I am rolling "twenty-ten." I just think it rolls off the tongue better.

Anyway, here is a brief look at the good and bad of 2009 and my food resolutions for 2010.

THE GOOD:
1. Sunshine Sunset Grill - Outstanding breakfast. I have to get there and try their biscuits and gravy. My buddy Paul turned me onto this dish.
2. Bubbalou's Bodacious BBQ - While the psycho sauce blew me up, it was the best hot sauce I found all year.
3. Quaker Steak and Lube - Great wings, great atmosphere and a great time.
4. Smoke Shack BBQ - What a great find in our local area. We have needed a great BBQ location for a long time.
5. Gene's Steakhouse - Shame on me for not having visited this iconic steakhouse sooner. It is about five miles from my house.
6. Daisy Dukes - Best chocolate pudding wrestling I saw all year.

THE BAD:
1. Arby's - What was I thinking?
2. Daisy Dukes - Don't you dare thinking about eating here.

BEST MEAL COMPANIONS:
1 Goo-Goo, Nada and Vuk
2. Begs
3. Seabass
4. Fourth Meal
5. The Hulk
6. Whitmer
7. KK
8. Gigi
9. Katie
10. Ju-Ju and Kennedy
11. Ronda and Jeff
12. The Spice
13. Meyer

* I eat a lot of meals with a lot of people. This list represents those that I have probably eaten with two or more times last year. Please forgive me if I have inadvertently left you off the list.

Food Resolutions for 2010:
1. For a couple of years now, Gary and I have been talking about going on a BBQ tour. 2010 is the year this will happen. I resolve to experience BBQ in either Austin, TX or Memphis, TN this year.
2. I resolve to take at least one of the challenges that Adam Richman has done on Man v. Food.
3. I resolve to visit at least one location Guy Fieri has featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
4. I resolve to fully conquer the Psycho Sauce at Bubbalou's. When I say conquer, I mean that it will eventually be like hot ketchup to me. My guess is this will take me another 8-10 visits this year to get my tolerance where it needs to be.

I promise to keep everyone abreast of my progress with these food resolutions. Additionally, I'll report on some of the trips before I go and welcome any and all folks that may want to attend as well.

The new year represents a new beginning. I challenge all readers of this blog to explore your epicurean nature and specifically try to find some new culinary experiences. Think to yourself about how fast last year seemed to fly by and then think about how many new restaurants you went to last year. I promise you will feel great satisfaction in finding a food gem that you have probably been driving by for years. Remember that life is short and we all need to enjoy ourselves as much as possible.

Happy New Year to you all! Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

Smoke Shack BBQ

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

By now you have probably noticed a common theme for many of my posts in that I do a lot of meals with Gary and his son Vuk. Not only does Gary appreciate and understand my love of good food, but he is going to be moving to Manhattan soon, so we are trying to get it done before he gets out of here. His buddy Murph from Chicago was recently in town, so we thought we would take him out for some good BBQ.

We headed to the Smoke Shack again and got there after their main lunch rush, which was great as it was a pretty cool day and I could not sit outside to eat if there were no table available. We placed our orders and since Murph was on vacation, we also got after a bucket of beers. There is nothing like a couple of beers in the middle of the day when everyone else is at work. It feels like Tiger Woods must feel during a weekend in Vegas. You know you shouldn't be doing it, but it just feels so good.

I ordered the pulled pork sandwich with macaroni and cheese, Gary and Murph both ordered the Big Poppa. The Big Poppa definitely earns its name. It is a sandwich with generous helpings of beef brisket, pulled pork, cole slaw, shredded cheddar cheese and barbecue sauce. This was the first time I had seen the sandwich and it looked incredible. I may have to give it a shot the next time I go. Vuk got after some ribs and baked beans and when I saw his beans, I had to go back to the counter and order myself a side as well. They have really good baked beans. They add chunks of pineapple that give the beans a wonderful sweetness I have never experienced anywhere else.

All of us agreed that the food was exceptional as always. This restaurant seems to be very consistent with their food and is a great addition for our area. The only slight complaint I had is that my pulled pork was not as hot as I like. Don't get me wrong, it was warm, but I like my food really hot as if it has just come off the grill.

We had a great meal before sending Murph off to the cold of the Windy City and promised to bring him back again the next time he is in town. I don't feel bad for Murph though as he lives in one of the best cities for anybody that loves good food.

If you haven't made it out to the Smoke Shack yet, I am telling you get there soon. This is award winning barbecue. For this visit to the Smoke Shack, I have to give them four Stiffy's.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

Larry's Giant Subs

Larry's Giant Subs
1500 Beville Road
Daytona Beach, FL 32114
(386)257-2200
www.larryssubs.com

I was hanging with my buddy Gary and his son Vuk a couple of weeks ago and Gary said we needed to get Vuk something to eat. We were in the Beville Road area, a spot we don't get to often, so we weren't real sure about what we could find. Gary said he knew there was a Taco Bell nearby, so we headed in that direction. At the last moment, Gary remembered there was a Larry's Giant Subs nearby and thought that would be a better place to go as Vuk likes the big gorilla they have coming out of the wall inside. I think this may have been the first time I've been involved with a restaurant choice that was based on the location's decor. At the end of the day, I am glad we decided to go.

It has been ages since I have been to Larry's Giant Subs. I got turned onto Larry's Giant Subs by my buddy Daryl when I worked at ISC. Anyway, we got there after 1:00 and the place was just about empty. Turns out it was perfect timing as a bus pulled in as we were finishing our sandwiches filled with about 50 kids that had just finished a soccer or volleyball game.

It took me a little while to peruse the menu, but I finally settled on the Ultimate. This sandwich has roast beef, roast turkey and ham with your choice of cheese. I chose provolone. I included lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise and jalapenos. I was torn between the 8" or 12" version and finally decided to go with the smaller version. I ordered it as a combo to include chips and a drink. I think Gary got the liverwurst and Vuk a hot dog. Our orders came out quickly, which was good as we were very hungry.

My first bite of my sandwich made me immediately ask myself why I have not been going there on a more regular basis. The bread was extremely fresh and the meats and cheeses were tasty. Gary said his sandwich was tasty and it should be noted he went all out and went for the 12". I have to assume Vuk liked his hot dog as he didn't complain and he ate most of it. He was in fact enthralled about the gorilla up on the wall.

I can definitely see myself getting back to Larry's Giant Subs sometimes soon. I am a huge sandwich guy and these guys have got it right. For this visit to Larry's Giant Subs, I have to give them four Stiffy's.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry