The Vitals: the spot: Cheesecake Factory locations nationwide & Canada the eats: Cheeseburger Slider, Chicken Madeira, Espresso Martini the bucks: $$ the full nelson: a burger slider worth going to an indoor mall for

Have I jumped the shark in writing a review about Cheesecake Factory?

Maybe. Since I'm spending my time reviewing a restaurant that many people already know one could say my time could be put to use elsewhere. Like waxing poetic about the epic BBQ scene in the Panhandle of Texas or even an excellent independent Smashed burger joint in my hometown of St. Louis MO. But believe me: if you are a burger lover and have not tried the cheeseburger sliders at Cheesecake Factory . . . you are missing out.

It's all about the sliders(mini burgers) at Cheesecake factory.

Celebrated burger expert George Motz signs off on the greatness of these sliders. Turns out that the CEO of Cheesecake factory is from Detroit and grew up going to Greene's Hamburgers where they make one mean slider. He had to have a great one served at Cheesecake Factory and being a CEO, he made that shit HAPPEN.

Why the Slider is so damn good

They keep it simple. Smashed patty, plus some caramelized onions, pickles, ketchup and of course some American cheese. The beef is fresh and the little brioche buns are soft and also fresh. It's not rocket science, just a simple tasty burger done right. Personally I think the buns are where it's at. I don't want to know the calorie count but they are equal parts butter bomb to the smashed beef patty.

Also, alcohol helps

So the real reason I went to Cheesecake Factory is because my son wanted to go with a friend from school. Yes, my preteen(now a full teen) wanted to go to the mall and eat at Cheesecake Factory. I was enamored with the idea. And even more so because we went for Sunday Brunch and I realized an Espresso Martini was/is the perfect Boozy Brunch drink besides a Bloody Mary.

And I had to try the famous Chicken Madeira

Loyal devotees of Cheesecake Factory seem to love the Chicken Madeira. The pan sauce soaked chicken entree reminded me of eating Chicken Marsala at Italian joints in the 1990s. Both dishes involve a fortified wine making a rich brown sauce to liven up chicken breast, which needs all the fortified wine it can get. This was like a dish you get at a wedding and actually enjoy. I didn't mind it at all but I also was running on two Espresso Martinis at that point.

All that really matters

Is getting these delish sliders at Cheesecake Factory. For all the nostalgia one can have for White Castle, that food is borderline North Korean army rations. The cheeseburger sliders at Cheesecake Factory however, are like what White Castle would be if they came to Japan, where they instantly improve everything. 10 out of 10 I would get these sliders again and probably wash them down with at least one Espresso Martini. Ideally you do this at an indoor mall. And . . . you're welcome.

The Vitals: the spot: Top Roe 120 W 5th St, Austin, TX 78701 the eats: Hand Rolls, Izakaya at the bar the bucks: $$-$$$ the full nelson: If you crave a really good hand roll . . . 

 

Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Top Roe.

I can't help but thinking about the movie Top Gun while beginning to write about Top Roe. Maybe the brash Pro Military Reagan era movie will forever allude to anything close to resembling its name in my mind. But I feel that, much like the main characters in the movie, there is some confidence brewing here. And that helps when you consider the landscape of opening a restaurant in downtown Austin in 2025. I can bemoan menu prices all day. And so can restaurateurs who might have a thing or two to say about rent prices. Add to that the flurry of omakase places that have opened in Austin for the money is no object Tesla cybertruck crowd, one might thing Top Roe is exclusive for Tech Bro Top Dogs. Except it's not. [caption id="attachment_17732" align="aligncenter" width="580"] Top Roe bar seating. Photo by Robert Lerma[/caption] [caption id="attachment_17733" align="aligncenter" width="580"] Plated Sashimi. Photo by Robert Lerma[/caption]

Swanky digs. Swanky Sashimi.

The interior of Top Roe is swanky as one might suspect. But the sashimi is equally swank. And that's not just the plating. Once you walk in, you will see a slabs of tuna being dry aged in a refrigerator in a glass door. Top Roe isn't the only place in town that walks this extra mile but I can honestly say I did taste the fruits of their labor. While cut from a different cloth, the overall quality of aged tuna here took me back to my visit to Miami's Itamae, currently a semifinalist for the 2025 James Beard Awards.

A hand roll experience but with some add ons

When you go to Top Roe, there are two dining options. One is an Izakaya experience available in the dining room where one can enjoy a Japanese tapas experience(think small shareable plates). Then there is the handroll experience which is served only at the bar. As guests of the restaurant, we were treated to some extras beyond the handroll experience. The bluefin sashimi was what one should expect. Pristine seafood, dressed perfectly in an aged soy sauce. The blue crab dip with smoked crab roe and house made chips, which is normally served at the Izakaya was the blingy version of chips and dip one might imagine to find at Super Bowl party hosted by a VC founder. In either case, connections bring one a certain degree of joy.

A breakdown of the Handrolls

The price of a swank restaurant is lighting that sets the mood but not so much ideal photography on an iPhone 12. While I might be debating an upgrade on a phone, I can't imagine upgrading the quality of the nori(seaweed) of these handrolls. Biting into a hand roll has the audible sensation of watching an ASMR biting into an apple video. SO DAMN CRISP. Pictured above are the tuna, blue crab and lobster hand rolls, in that order. You might notice that the rolls aren't twisted into a cone. This is apparently how they are traditionally done. The blue crab at Top Roe is top notch and I could see myself getting seconds on that. I'd also add that if you are a lobster roll fan, you might want to try the Sweet Maine lobster hand roll at Top Roe. Rice doesn't scratch the same itch as bread but sweet butter lobster is still sweet buttery lobster, despite the vessel.

Front runner for best dessert of 2025

I love Pot De Creme. Typically it's done with chocolate but matcha makes a compelling case too. Like the whole meal itself, the caviar is a flex but it isn't what the castle is built on. An across the board baseline of great ingredients and technique are the driving forces at Top Roe. More important though is the opportunity to experience this with a reasonable starting price point. A set of five hand rolls(minus add ons like Caviar or Uni) is $45 which ain't too bad especially when considering the quality an execution. If you have a thing for hand rolls or are all curious about what a top dessert of 2025 could be, I suggest you take a trip to Top Roe. And unlike Top Gun, the only thing standing in your way is booking a reservation.

The Vitals: the spot: Perry's Steakhouse locations across the US, tested in Austin TX the eats: Perry's famous Pork Chop, Wagyu flight, Hoghattan, Chocolate Jubilee Cake the bucks: $$$ the full nelson: The most famous Pork Chop in Texas

Check out the video here

The most famous Pork Chop in Texas

Is at Perry's Steakhouse. What started as a meat market in Houston decades ago has grown into a premium steakhouse chain with locations in seven states, and big cities like Chicago and Miami. I've wanted to try this famous pork chop for years. And I recently got my chance.

The perfect Pork chop cocktail: The Hoghattan

The best pairing for Perry's Steakhouse famous pork chop shockingly isn't the applesauce. It is in fact the "Hoghattan" which their version of a Manhattan. The drink features WhistlePig PiggyBack 6-year-old rye and sweet vermouth, a rim with brown sugar and Perry's Signature Homemade Barbecue Sauce. The real kicker is the skewer of Perry's Famous Pork Chop Bites and Luxardo cherries. This is a drink that could keep me rolling at a cocktail party into the wee hours. Think of it as a more manageable Bloody Mary with a meat straw.

The main event: Perry's Steakhouse famous Pork Chop

As much as the size is the draw; the chop is famously measured by being "seven fingers thick, the carving of the chop is a spectacle to behold. The server carves the enormous chop into three portions: The "lash", the "eye" and the ribs. Much like a ribeye, there are three textural experiences to be had. The Pork Chop has a long and complex cooking process that includes, curing, smoking, and roasting. This makes the exterior cut, known as the "lash" a focal point for the flavor. You might be fighting over last bites from that part of the cut. And please eat the ribs with your hands. In someways the experience of eating Perry's Steakhouse famous pork chop is an intersection of BBQ and steakhouse. Oh and speaking of steak . . .

Perry's Steakhouse Akaushi Wagyu flight

It would be a missed opportunity to come to a steakhouse and not try steak right? Well the team at Perry's Steakhouse, who did treat us to this experience, made sure we did try some of their beefy offerings. I'll be blunt: I can make good steak at home but this is worth going out for. As much as Perry's Steakhouse Famous Pork Chop is a deal at $49. The steak flight is worth it. Priced at $100, it is a splurge but you're getting a great balance of quality and quantity. As much as I love the idea of eating a huge steak, I'm usually well sated with a boneless 16 oz serving. Nine ounces is certainly less of course but this beef is finished in beef tallow. And there is something to be said about not stuffing yourself. And the rub they use will haunt your dreams. I took some home that night.

The big send off: The Chocolate Jubilee Cake

In true classic steakhouse fashion, Perry's Steakhouse offers an over the top sweet for a closer. The Chocolate Jubilee Cake has a flaming sauce made tableside and gets poured over an enormous slice of Chocolate Blackout cake. And I still have leftovers in my fridge. There is a Prime Rib deal I have my eye on as well. And a lunch version of the pork chop is a bang for buck deal on Fridays at only $19. But that steak flight was what won me over. It's a birthday steak dinner in my mind. But since I will have to wait a few months till then, I'll be drilling through the Perry's Steakhouse rub and making my own HEB steak flights till then.

Video

The Vitals: the spot: Raising Cane's locations throughout US the eats: Chicken  the bucks: $1.81 per chicken strip the full nelson: the sauce lives up to the hype but is Fast Food still worth it in 2025?

First Impressions on Raising Cane's

My son recently caught the bug for Raising Cane's. When it comes to food I like to think we have been raising him "right" meaning introducing him to diverse range of foods and emphasizing chef driven food, local sourcing . . . yada yada yada.

He is also a 13 year old boy.

And that means he is gonna get a taste for fast food. Enter Raising Cane's, the fast food chicken finger chain which started in Louisiana. Cane's is a relative newcomer to the fast food game. When it started in 1996, I was in college. Unlike my college career, Cane's took off and does like a $1 billion in revenue.

But is it any good?

In the moment I found it pleasant enough. In retrospect it's easier to analyze the Raising Cane's experience with a little more scrutiny. The chicken was juicy although noticeably underseasoned. The Cane's sauce is legit delicious. In fact I know two chefs who sought out to remake Cane's sauce for their popular burgers. But there is a drawback: the price.

Raising Cane's is expensive.

My kid's combo meal was like $12. That came with fries, bread, coleslaw, a drink and four Chicken fingers. It's chicken breast, I'll give you that but I'll bet money it's commodity poultry. The frozen crinkle cut fries were plentiful and not surprisingly overcooked. There was a large piece of bread too, which struck me as unnecessary, and a little coleslaw. The drink was almost too large. Overall this combo is loaded with carbs, light on protein and generous with sugary beverage. Suddenly the idea of RFK in charge of our nation's health doesn't seem so preposterous. This meal is exactly why we have a population struggling with type 2 diabetes. Look, I ain't gonna yuck your yum if this is your thing and no one said you need to eat this way every day. But the cost for this meal should raise an eyebrow. As a little family of three, the idea of forking over almost $40 for three Raising Cane's combos is silly to put it mildly. It really makes me pause and ask this question: is fast food worth it in 2025? I can think of a few fast food exceptions but I'll gladly begin my recipe hack experiments for making my own Raising Cane's sauce and making my own chicken fingers at home. I'm not a total savage though. If my kid wants it(and he is thin as a rail) I'll get him some Raising Cane's here and there. Still I would ask you all this: is fast food worth it in 2025?      

The best food in Austin Texas: January 2025

The Vitals: the spot:1618 Asian Fusion 1618 E Riverside Dr, Austin, TX 78741 the eats: Beef Rib + Filet Mignon Pho the bucks: $26 the full nelson: go where no Pho has gone before 1618 Asian Fusion might not sound like the place to break barriers when it comes to Pho. First off they serve Dim Sum, Singaporean dishes and a slew of other pan Asian greatest hits that make one ponder the idea that 1618 Asian Fusion is a jack of all trades, master of none. Then the Beef Rib and Filet Mignon Pho hits your table. The broh is poured table side a metal kettle. The raw egg is dropped. Are we getting a tableside Caesar? No, but you are getting a giant beef rib plus filet mignon up in your pho. The grandest soup of the list is worthy any time of year but why not make your Dry January a little wet with a splash of splashy pho. The Vitals: the spot: Julie's Noodles 8557 Research Blvd #110 Austin TX 75758 the eats: Spicy Beef Stew the bucks: $15  the full nelson: a Father & Son tradition that's served in a bowl When I first took my son to Julie's Noodles I would have no idea it would become one of his all time favorite places. There are times where I wish he would get over the chopped pork noodle soup and explore the rest of the menu, let alone other restaurants, but I'm grateful that we have "our place". And it's a bonus that Julie's Noodles happens to serve some of the best food in Austin. Beyond his spare rib spiked noodle soup, yours truly is totally gaga for the Spicy Beef stew which could feed an army or at least two to three hungry adults. The slivers of soft potato and glass noodles really hit all the hearty stew on a cold day notes. The Vitals: the spot: Ramen Del Barrio 1700 W. Parmer Lane Austin TX 78727 the eats: Carnitas Tonkotsu the bucks: $16 the full nelson: Mexico meets Japan in a Ramen Bowl Tonkotsu, the milky pork ramen broth is perfect eating on a cold winter day. What could make it better? How about the feeling of a little extra heat. The charred chile toreado in Christopher Krisinky's Mexican take on Ramen shows that the fusion of Mexican and Japanese in ramen is something that was meant to be, in Austin at least. Don't skip the yakitori tacos but given the cold weather as of late, Carnitas Ramen could the ultimate best food in Austin, at least till the cold spell ends. The Vitals: the spot: Mum Foods 5811 Manor Rd. Austin TX 78723 the eats: Matzo Ball Soup  the bucks: $10 the full nelson: matzo ball soup that would stand tall in any delicatessen in the country Mum Foods has made waves since opening a brick and mortar in late 2022. A James Beard nomination and a Michelin Guide recommendation should tell you all you need to know: this Texas BBQ meets Jewish Delicatessen is a total gem and easily serves up some of the best food in Austin. While pastrami sandwiches and the Texas Trinity steal the spotlight, let's shed some light on the Matzo ball soup. First off, where else are you even getting Matzo Ball soup in Austin, let alone Texas? Exactly. Just like the BBQ, everything about this soup screams craft. Pros get a cup and half a pastrami sandwich but in the chilly months only a full bowl will do. The Vitals: the spot: Vic n Al's 2406 Manor Rd D, Austin, TX 78722 the eats: Gumbo the bucks: $8 the full nelson: a gumbo that should impress die hard Cajun foodies Super dark roux? Check. Perfectly cooked rice? Check. The right amount of heat and proper andouille sausage? Check. It's remarkable how good the gumbo is at Vic and Al's until you find out Chef Nick Patrizi is from east Texas which is, you know, like next to Louisiana. Across the board this restaurant has a great menu with reasonably priced dishes and reasonably priced excellent cocktails. Even if I wasn't so gung ho about the best food in Austin being in served in a bowl, Vic n Al's would make my list.    

Scroll down for recipe here

“A good burger is a messy burger”

-Arnie Tex

Ever notice how a burger grilled in your backyard satisfies a craving like no restaurant can? Something about the smell of the coals, a cooler of beer and the fact that you might get "seconds" on a burger make my mouth water. And it's way cheaper than going out for burgers these days. My pal ArnieTex, who is one of my favorite stars on YouTube, shared a burger recipe that's perfect for your next backyard burger fest. The award winning BBQ Pitmaster walked me through how to grind my own burger patty, smoke it and then load it up like a classic Texas style burger. Here is how you make it in pictures- (step by step recipe here)

Step 1: step up and grind your own beef.

You will need a meat grinder. ArnieTex recommends this one. I used a KitchenAid meat grinder that attaches to a KitchenAid Stand Mixer. If you already have a KitchenAid Stand Mixer, it's a reasonable investment. Be sure to place the grinder attachment in the freezer for a few hours to overnight. And you will want to chill the cubes of Beef Chuck Roast for 30 minutes before grinding to prevent sticking.

Cook that burger patty low n slow

I set up my grill for 250 degrees and smoked the patty till it hit a temp of 125 degrees. The flavor comes from the wood, specifically mesquite which is ArnieTex's preference. I used wood chips and mesquite charcoal. Seasoning wise, I used his Brisket rub which was perfect for a smoked burger or any backyard burger recipe.

Build the burger starting at the bottom.

Even with a big burger bun like Mrs Baird's which is 5" in diameter, you are gonna want to be smart when you build this burger. Shredded lettuce and salted tomato belong down low to prevent slippage. Use the yellow mustard on the top bun to keep the sauteed onion and jalapeños in place. I forgot the pickle but it belongs up top too. Oh and after you smoke the burger, sear it off in the same pan you toasted the bun and sauteed the jalapeño/onion. And let it rest on a wire rack. You could add cheese but this burger doesn't need it. The beef is the star of the show, as long as you step up and grind your own beef. It's the ArnieTex way!!

BBQ Burger Recipe by Arnie Tex

Ingredients:

• 1 Beef Chuck Roast(cut into 1.5"-2" cubes, placed in freezer for 30 minutes on baking sheet)
• ArnieTex BBQ Brisket Seasoning(click here to buy)
• Mrs. Baird Buns or a hamburger bun with a 5" diameter
• Iceberg lettuce(shredded aka shrettuce)
• Sliced Beefsteak tomato, salted for 15 minutes
• Best Maid Pickles
• Yellow mustard of your choice
• diced white onion(1/4 cup per burger)
• Sliced Jalapeno
• Salt and Pepper
• Cooking oil
• Mayonnaisse

Equipment:

• Grill
• Cast iron skillet(click to buy)
• Stand Mixer with meat grinder attachment or this meat grinder
• Digital food scale(I use this one)

Steps

• Place meat grinder attachment in freezer overnight or a couple hours in advance.
• Grind beef, forming a 7oz patty
• Prepare a grill to smoke at 250 degrees, salt the sliced tomato
• Place in in grill and cook till an internal temp of 115-125 degrees(125=Medium), while the burger patty smokes proceed to steps 4 & 5
• heat a cast iron pan with cooking oil over medium heat, add chopped onion and sliced jalapeño, season with S&P and saute till lightly caramelized
• Spread mayonnaise on hamburger bun and toast for a few minutes in the cast iron pan
• remove burger patty from grill and sear in cast iron pan, rest on wire rack while you add toppings to burger
• Layer bottom bun with shredded lettuce, tomato and the burger patty
• Spread yellow mustard on top bun, add sauteed onion and jalapenos, then pickles, place top bun on top of burger
• Keep some napkins handy and enjoy!

 

The Vitals: the spot: Larry's Chili Dog 3122 W Burbank Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505 the eats: Breakast Burrito the bucks: $9.85 the full nelson: The sleeper Breakfast Burrito spot in Burbank

Before we begin: some thoughts on LA and the rough start to 2025

Want to know something f*cked up? I was gonna start 2025 posting about New Orleans restaurants because A) I just went there in early December and B) the horrifying events of New Years made me want spend some time showing love to NOLA because its the greatest food city in America IMO. Then LA caught fire. As I type this I have at least half a dozen friends who have had to evacuate their homes. What a rough start to 2025. But LA will survive this and while they fight the fires, I will remind people but one of the many things that makes LA delicious: Breakfast Burritos.

Larry's Chili Dog of Burbank has an epic breakfast burrito

But you might not know that from the signage. It seems all signs point to Larry's Chili Dog of Burbank being a place for . . . chili dogs. Located just north of LA proper, Burbank has a reputation for chili(shoutout Chili John's) and for breakfast burritos. A simple search on Reddit or TikTok will confirm that. And while some places like Corner Cottage will draw in the crowds, there is a breakfast burrito sleeper in Burbank:

This place screams Cheap Eats

I used to live in Burbank back in the day and places like Larry's dot the map. Movie and TV studio lots like Warner Brothers and NBC fueled loads of cheap eateries like Larry's with hungry production staff looking for some bang for your buck breakfast and lunch options. The sheer amount of out of state transplants drawn to the industry meant iconic Midwest staples like Coney Dogs(Detroit style chili dogs) would land on menus. Soon, places like Larry's would evolve their offerings leading to what has become one of the most coveted foods in Los Angeles: The Breakfast Burrito. The breakfast burrito at Larry's Chili Dog comes with bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs and hashbrowns. Salsa is available too. Priced at just under $10 and a double dose of meat, the appeal is obvious. The love on reddit is there too. As someone that has fallen hard for the breakfast taco culture of Texas, a well constructed breakfast burrito is a magical food and a reason why LA is a magical food city. For everyone in LA right now: I pray for you and can't wait to come back and crush a breakfast burrito on the sunny streets of Burbank.  

The best bites of 2024

As 2024 fades in the rearview I marvel that my best bites of the year took me to New Orleans, Hawaii, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and of course Austin plus some extensive traveling in Texas. I kept the top bites to just nine selects and made geography and variety important elements in the list. I'd also add honorable mentions to Bambino in Austin, Andiron in Houston, Au Cheval in Chicago, Maragume Udon in Honolulu - hell I could go on but it's time to move into the best bites of 2024. The Vitals: the spot:Turkey and The Wolf 739 Jackson Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130 the eats: Collard Greens Melt, Wedge Salad the bucks: $$ the full nelson: the most dinner worthy sandwiches ever I've never had a sandwich  so worthy of dinner like Turkey and the Wolf. It's a magical combination of imagination and decadence that makes a Collard Greens Melt into a sandwich as decadent as a Pastrami Reuben or a Patty Melt. I had been hearing about this place since 2017 and boy did it live up to the hype. The Vitals: the spot: Hamura Saimin 2956 Kress St, Lihue, HI 96766 the eats: Specialty Saimin, chicken and beef skewers, fried dumplings the bucks: $ the full nelson: Cheap Eats Kauai staple The name of the game Hamura Saimin is Saimin: a Hawaiian noodle soup with serious ramen vibes. I got the special Saimin which adds, ham, egg, veggies, fish cake, wontons and roast pork into the mix. This place is equal parts classic Cheap Eats and legendary local restaurant(they have a James Beard Award for "America's Classics) and should be on every foodie's list. The Vitals: the spot: Poeta 1123 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702 the eats: Pork Chop, Goat Cheese Cheesecake, all the pastas, beet salad the bucks: $$$ the full nelson: all day Italian with New Orleans vibes in East Austin  In 2024, there might be a new G.O.A.T. and that would be the goat cheese cheesecake at Poeta. Of course the carnivore in me swoons about their epic pork chop or the lamb confit gnocchi but . . . that goat cheese cheesecake. I could make the G.O.A.T. joke again but the point has been made. The Vitals: the spot: Dizengoff  1625 Sansom St, Philadelphia, PA 19103 the eats: Turkish Hummus the bucks: $$$ the full nelson: Casual version of the iconic Zahav: ground breaking Israeli fine dining restaurant Zahav was the restaurant that made Michael Solomonov a pioneer in Israeli fine dining and his hummus dishes were part of how he solidified that position. But the best hummus I've had from Solomonov was in fact at Dizengoff, a more casual easier to get into sibling. This hummus made the roast chicken look like an average side dish. Butter as all get out, I'd put this dish on my menu for last meal on Earth. The Vitals: the spot: Cullum's Attaboy 111 Kings Ct, San Antonio, TX 78212 the eats: Attaboy Burger with Glacé the bucks: $16 + $5 for the glacé poured tableside  the full nelson: the most decadent burger I've had in 20 years It was the most decadent burger I've had in 20 years. 'Nuff said folks. Chris Cullum is many things, James Beard Finalist for best Chef Texas, a man who was born into the restaurant business and thrives in it and a guy who is a true burger freak. Don't think Cullum's Attaboy is a burger joint either, it's in fact a brunch spot. But if you don't get a burger for breakfast there, you did it all wrong.

The Vitals: the spot:Ben's Chili Bowl multiple locations in Washington D.C. the eats: A half smoke with chili the bucks:  $8.50 the full nelson: a Washington DC food icon ain't your average chili dog

The fact that Ben's Chili Bowl even happened, let alone make it on this list was dumb luck that turned into pure destiny. I've heard about the legendary chili dog place in Washington DC for years but well, assumed it was just a chili dog joint to be had in when moments of guilty pleasure take control. Here's the thing: it's much better than you might think. In nine years of living in Texas in the midst of a BBQ renaissance, I know what a good smoked sausage should taste like and Ben's is a solid offering. I snuck this bad boy in during a National's game and it may well have been the best ballpark meal of my life. The Vitals: the spot: Knuckle Sandwich 440 E St Elmo Rd, Austin, TX 78745 the eats: All the sandwiches the bucks: $17 the full nelson: best italian sandwich I've ever had I'm the first guy to say a $17 cold cut sandwich is freaking absurd. But considering what some joints charge in Austin, it is sadly a reality one faces in 2024. Being someone who get to the East Coast frequently, I know what a good cold cut sandwich should be and Knuckle Sandwich is . . . beyond. The bread and meats are impeccably sources and the sandwich is dressed in a custom housemade aioli with pickled mango. This all might sound obnoxious but it all works for a perfect bite. It's best cold cut sandwich I've ever had and worthy every penny of the $17 they charge. Also you can split it but you might not want to. The Vitals: the spot: Jim's South Street 400 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19147 the eats: Cheesesteak the bucks: $13.49 (cash only) the full nelson: a quintessential late night Philly cheesesteak experience Meanwhile in Philly you can get a reasonable priced sandwich though this one falls in different spectrum of deliciousness. Late night, cash only Jim's on South Street brings a different vibe to the Philly Cheesesteak experience. What really shook me was the combo of cheese whiz and American. Extra gooey with a added punch of salt, this is a true late night cheesesteak experience. It's perfect at midnight just make sure you have cash or be prepared for the fees from the ATM located inside.   The Vitals: the spot: Jimenez y Friends Barbecue and Taqueria  4606 34th St, Lubbock, TX 79410 the eats: Concha with sliced meats, Guisadas, Breakfast tacosm BBQ by the pound the bucks: $-$$ the full nelson: tacos + texas bbq= whats's not to love I went to Jimenez y Friends in Lubbock TX in early November as a part of my BBQ series for Pitmaster Collective(watch the videos here). Jimenez was one of six excellent stops but I keep thinking back to their unsual BBQ sandwich: A Concha with sliced meats. Chef and Pitmaster Michael Flores suggested I try his juicy sliced turkey and the subtle sweetness of the icing in the Concha(made in house) shocking worked well. I thought I was eating something for likes and clicks but in fact it was just creative and delicious.

Adios 2024 and happy new year!! See you in 2025 food world!!!

New Orleans Restaurant Round Up 2024

New Orleans might the best food city in America. It's an opinion I've held since 2017 after spending nearly two weeks there shooting Spring Baking Championship for Food Network. I've been back in 2023 and most recently 2024 where I spent five glorious days eating as much as I could. Here is my New Orleans Restaurant Round Up for 2024.

The Vitals: the spot: Alma Cafe 800 Louisa St, New Orleans, LA 70117 the eats: Pollo en Crema, Asado, Seared Duck the bucks: $$$ the full nelson: Honduran fine dining food in a cafe setting

Alma Cafe was my first experience eating Honduran food. While I can't say definitively if what I ate would resemble a trip to Honduras, my meal at Alma cafe was the best dinner of my New Orleans restaurant round up in 2024.

Best Dish at Alma Cafe: Pollo en Crema

I loved the mixed grill platter at Alma Cafe but it was a small fortune for essentially what I cook at home often. The Duck was excellent but man this Pollo en crema was just so comforting. It might seem pedestrian but chicken in cream sauce is good. You will have zero regrets ordering this dish. The Vitals: the spot: Central Grocery 923 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70116 the eats: Muffuletta  the bucks: $$ the full nelson: An Iconic New Orleans sandwich from an Iconic New Orleans Deli On my way home I stopped off at Central Grocery to bring a couple Muffulettas home. The iconic sandwich composed of a large round roll, assorted cured meats, cheese and a signature olive spread isn't just as delicious as it sounds but it travels well. After a three year hiatus, Central Grocery reopened just in time for me to bring a few sandwiches home. Here's the thing though: I think it is overpriced. Yes, the large sandwich for $30 feeds four but the sandwich is so good, I could easily eat half. My kid nearly did. Something about the place feels like they took a look at what people pay on Goldbelly and adjusted accordingly. It's good but I think there are better bang for you buck sandwiches out there for your New Orleans Restaurant round up. The Vitals: the spot:Peche 800 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130 the eats: Steak Tartare, Seafood Gumbo, Shrimp Toast, Baked Drum, a few specials the bucks: $$$ the full nelson: A New Orleans restaurant whose appeal alludes me I went to Peche back in 2017 and found myself back there seven years later in 2024. In both instances I left kind of shrugging my shoulders at the overall experience. It's a popping restaurant which means they must be doing something right. I just don't find a stride in the menu. It feels all over the place and nothing strike me as memorable with one exception. The Steak Tartare. Grab a Sazerac and the steak tartare and that just might be the best way to enjoy Peche. The Vitals: the spot:The Yakamein Lady pop up only the eats: Yakamein the bucks: $ the full nelson: One of the best bites of 2024 Chef Linda Green makes Yakamein which is one of the most unique dishes I have ever had. NOLA locals know but if you are like me, you are not. Picture an Asian Noodle soup with just enough soul food to be placed in it's own category. In this bowl you will find spaghetti noodles, tender braised beef, green onions, boiled egg, soy sauce and hot sauce. It is called "Old Sober" as it is billed as a hangover remedy. I wasn't hungover, just hungry and it slapped, as the kids say. Reminded me of Saimin in Hawaii. Available only at popups, if you can find the Yakamein lady, try it. Trust me. The Vitals: the spot:Hermes Bar 725 St Louis St, New Orleans, LA 70130 the eats: Oysters Rockefeller, Sazerac the bucks: $$-$$$ the full nelson: Legendary New Orleans restaurant coasting on reputation It is not often that I write a negative review but in the case of Hermes Bar, I make an exception. And I do so out of respect for the rest of the establishments in this New Orleans Restaurant Round Up. Located at Antoine's one of the oldest restaurant in America, Hermes Bar is just that: a bar at Antoine's. If you can't snag a table in the elegant dining room, you can snag a stool here. The sazerac was good enough. As were the Oysters Rockeller but at $18, it should be. The shrimp remoulade was abysmal, mostly because of the shrimp. I've been told by a well informed local that many a restaurant are using cheap imported shrimp and passing them off as from the gulf. This seems to explain what happened here. Come for a drink and maybe the oysters rockefeller and then get out of dodge. The Vitals: the spot:Jewel of the South 1026 St Louis St, New Orleans, LA 70112 the eats: Anchovies on toast, Potatoes and Pimento Cheese, Foie Gras Parfait the bucks: $$-$$$ the full nelson: my favorite restaurant of the New Orleans Restaurant round up  Alma may have been my favorite dinner but Jewel of the South was my fav restaurant of this New Orleans Restaurant Round up. Though I only went from drinks and a few bites, it was here that I had the perfect Sazerac, and one of the best bites of 2024: the Anchovy toasts. They tasted like brioche but they might have been corn flour. Either way I was blown away by what was the best carb I ate this year. The potatoes with pimento cheese might not seem too sophisticated(it's not) but it was one thousand percent irresistible. The foie gras parfait sound more exciting that it was. I'll take seared over mousse anyday. The Vitals: the spot:Turkey and The Wolf 739 Jackson Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130 the eats: Collard Greens Melt, Wedge Salad the bucks: $$ the full nelson: the most dinner worthy sandwiches ever As much as I think of Philadelphia as a sandwich town, they don't have a sandwich spot that is so worthy of dinner like Turkey and the Wolf. It's a magical combination of imagination and decadence that makes a Collard Greens Melt into a sandwich as decadent as a Pastrami Reuben or a Patty Melt. Then there is the Wedge salad which was the best I've ever had and it was delivered to my hotel. I didn't try the double cheeseburger pictured but I did have the fried chicken. Yes, that was good too. Had I dined at Turkey and The Wolf, I might say that was the best of this New Orleans restaurant round up. But I also didn't have dinner Jewel of the South either. Alma was a great dinner but Jewel of the South is topping my list of places to go back to along with Turkey and The Wolf. As I look back at it all, it's easy to stay on track with my initial thought: New Orleans is the best food city in America.

Philadelphia Food Round up 2024

As 2024 begins to wind down, I'm on a bit of a frenzy to catch up on a year's worth of eating out. With Covid-19 firmly in the rearview, dining out didn't just include exploring Texas for Burgers or showcasing the best food in Austin. I went to Hawaii for a dream vacation and dream food vacation. I explored the booming food scene in Washington D.C. And just came back from a week in New Orleans. But today I'm recapping Philadelphia. Specifically three restaurants that deserve stand alone posts let alone inclusion into a Philadelphia food round up. But for now check out these three distinctive restaurants that showcase Philadelphia food.

The Vitals: the spot: Pizzeria Salvy 1800 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19103 the eats: Salad and a Slice, whole pizzas, Salzones: calzone sandwiches the bucks: $$-$$$ the full nelson: Big time Philadelphia Chef slinging pizza and more in a fancy office building

Chef Marc Vetri is an indelible name when it comes to the Philadelphia food scene. His restaurants focus on Italian and land more often than not in the upscale category. If you can afford it, his pastas are incredible. The Pizza at Pizzeria Salvy ain't to shabby either. They are pricey though. Prepare for 12" pizzas to cost $20+. But I found them to be shareable. I tried the "salzone" which is a calzone meets sandwich. The  oversized pizza turnovers swap out classic fillings like pepperoni, cheese and sauce for cheesesteak or in my case a cold cut combo that comes out warm. It was fine but I can't say I would ever get it again.

Order this at Pizzeria Salvy

The move here: a salad and a slice of pizza. I can't recall the price but it was very solid deal. The Vitals: the spot: Dizengoff  1625 Sansom St, Philadelphia, PA 19103 the eats: Turkish Hummus the bucks: $$$ the full nelson: Casual version of the iconic Zahav: ground breaking Israeli fine dining restaurant Years ago I first encountered Chef Michael Solomonov's cooking at Zahav: his groundbreaking Israeli fine dining restaurant. Since then, I've gotten his cookbook and continued to dream about his exquisite house made pita breads and the hummus flight. Much like Israeli culture, hummus is much more than what it seems. The flights of hummus at Zahav reflect diversity which in turn is a reflection of the Jewish Diaspora and how they bring culinary traditions from other countries to Israeli kitchens. The brown butter hummus aka Turkish is just that. Please order it and if you ignore the entrees or the fact that the pita bread isn't as fresh as it is at Zahav, I will understand. It ain't cheap though. For something that seems more casual than Zahav, I spent close to $100 on food and bev all by myself. Dizengoff was walking to distance to my hotel and not needing a reservation was a plus. So consider the easy access if you are debating between a visit to the flagship Zahav or Dizengoff the outlier. The Vitals: the spot:Royal Sushi & Izakaya 780 S 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19147 the eats: Anything from the Izakaya menu the bucks: $$-$$$ more affordable with a group the full nelson: Cheap eats hack into one of the best sushi restaurants in America I've long held the opinion that Los Angeles is the capital of sushi dining in America. While the number of sushi eateries can suggest that may still be the case, the sheer popularity of the cuisine suggests instances of greatness can be found coast to coast. Philadelphia food writer Craig LaBan has long held Chef Jesse Ito a top chef when it comes to sushi. And after eating the tuna sashimi at Royal Izakaya, he can't be too far off the mark. The Omakase at Royal is a fortune. But if I didn't make trips to Japan every other year, I would consider the $300 price per person(before tax, tip and alcohol) worth it. But then there is also the matter of actually snagging a seat. With only two seatings a night, getting a table is near impossible. Believe me I looked. Here is my solution: go to the Izakaya. The bar food/tapas style offerings allow you a glimmer of what Chef Ito can do, certainly when you order the sashimi. After eating tuna in Japan from the world famous Toyoso market, I can tell you with confidence that the fish quality at Royal Izakaya is on the level of Japan.