Wandering Fork

If you are on your way to the San Juan Islands and are leaving out of the Anacortes, WA Ferry, you may want to stop in at what must have been an old A&W Rootbeer park-and-eat and what is currently the Fidalgo Drive-In. 

The menu is classic Americana: burgers and hot dogs with choices of fries (regular, curly, or waffle-cut), sweet potato fries, onion rings, tater tots, fried mushrooms, and cheddar cheese curds. It also boasts a Northwest flavor with halibut, prawns, oysters, and clam strips and both crab bisque and smoked salmon chowder.

Burgers come dressed and the Meal entitles you to your choice of fries, onion rings, or tater tots as well as a medium soda or rootbeer float.  I selected with the Cheeseburger Meal with onion rings and Mister chose the Crab Sandwich Meal with tater tots. 

Cheeseburger and Onion Rings

The sandwiches were good sized and the sides were plentiful.  My hamburger was average, cooked well done with mayo, lettuce, tomato, and pickle. I wouldn’t drive out of my way for it, but the sides hit all of the right fatty-fried notes of junk food that my taste buds were craving. Both the tater tots and onion rings were hot, crispy and definitely winners.  Also in the plus column were the rootbeer floats presented in old, glass mugs and foaming over with frosty goodness.  The “medium” is huge, and the “large” is gargantuan.  (I would suggest sharing or ordering a small.)

Rootbeer Float (Medium…I kid you not!)

While I stuck with a classic hamburger, there are also specialty burger options including mushroom and Swiss cheese, bacon and cheddar cheese, bleu cheese, Gardenburgers, turkey chipotle burgers, and chicken sandwiches. The pricing is very reasonable, especially if you are out with the family. Adult meals range from $6.69 - $9.79. Kid’s meals include a side and a drink and are priced between $5.69 - $5.99. 

Fidalgo Drive-In

2908 Commercial Ave.

Anacortes, WA 98221

360.293.3442

no website

June 25, 2010

Cheeseburger Meal                    $ 6.89

Crab Sandwich Meal                  $ 9.79

Total                                        $16.68

No Comments | In: Dessert, Dinner, Washington | tags: Anacortes, Fries, Hamburger, Ice Cream, Sandwich, Washington. | #

I was a Blue Bird for an abbreviated period of time.  I wore a second-hand red top/blue skirt uniform with a white blouse and a small bluebird pin — being prudent, I wore shorts under my skirt.  During the summer, I would spend a week at summer camp eating in the dining hall, making the occasional smore, singing quietly around a camp fire, and spending a lot of energy wishing I could just go home. (Cue Somewhere Over the Rainbow…) 

Blue Bird Bistro Signage

Back in Kansas City, I met a friend I’ve known forever, but hadn’t seen in a decade, for lunch. She suggested the Blue Bird Bistro which caters to the organic/local movement in a funky little neighborhood just southwest of downtown.  Over two hours we caught up and gossiped, drank several cups of coffee and (no I shouldn’t, but let’s go ahead) ate dessert.

My friend ordered the pizza special, while I looked at the menu.  While contemplating my order, I quickly asked the flavor of their house made preserves.  The server had said they were out because of Mother’s Day the previous Sunday…and you know how mother’s love jam.  Disappointed, I said that was too bad because I had been considering the PB&J (pecan butter with preserves on a wheat English muffin).  She looked at me conspiratorially and said that was one of her favorites and there may be a bit set aside.  I enjoyed the open-faced sandwich, but would have preferred the muffin toasted.  In addition, I found the apple-rhubarb jam non-descript and a different flavor would have been a better accompaniment.  The salad was fresh and the dressing was clean and added a nice finish without overpowering. For desert my friend had the lemon bread pudding and I had the vegan orange cake.  While gorgeous to look at and imparting big orange flavor, overall the cake was dry and required a cup of coffee to consume. The lemon bread pudding was moist and a reasonable sized portion. However, overall, I found $8.00 per dessert expensive for what was received.

Pizza Special – Red Peppers, Mushrooms, Goat Cheese on Whole Wheat Crust

Pecan Butter and Apple-Rhubarb Jam on Toasted English Muffin with Mixed Greens in a Blueberry Vinaigrette

Lemon Bread Pudding

Vegan Orange Cake

I went back the next day with Mister to try their breakfast.  In an attempt to try a little bit of everything, I ordered a half order of their biscuits and gravy with an egg (over easy) and a half order of the French Toast.  Mister ordered an Omelet with Bison Sausage, Mushrooms, Onions and Cheese. 

The timing of our breakfast was disrupted because the first omelet was incorrect.  Our server, who kept my coffee cup filled, had mis-punched the order and selected spinach instead of sausage.  Mister likes raw spinach in salads, but doesn’t actively pursue spinach as a part of cooked fare. Therefore the omelet was returned for a do-over.  We started with the biscuits and gravy. The biscuit was a bit dry, but was a good accompaniment to the sausage gravy which was quite good.  For me, the French Toast was the winner of the meal and should be the top choice of any visitor’s breakfast or brunch list.  The half order consisted of two generous slices of ciabatta bread with a good custard consistency and topped with a bit of pecan butter.  If I hadn’t been full, I would have ordered more.  Mister’s second omelet was as ordered with potatoes and a biscuit.  We requested some of their home-made jam for the biscuit and I found the apple-rhubarb combination better when it was not competing against the pecan nut butter.

Omelet #1 – With Spinach Instead of Sausage

Biscuits and Gravy

French Toast and Egg

Omelet #2 – With Sausage

Blue Bird Bistro

1700 Summit

Kansas City, MO  64108

816.221.7559

www.bluebirdbistro.com

May 14, 2009

1 Pizza                                      $11.95

1 PBJ                                       $ 8.95

1 Bread Pudding                       $ 8.00

1 Vegan Orange Cake                $ 8.00

2 Coffees                                 $ 4.60

Total                                        $41.50

May 15, 2009

½ order Biscuits & Gravy           $ 5.70

½ order French Toast                $ 6.60

1 Egg                                       $ 1.25

1 Omelet                                   $10.15

1 Coffee                                   $ 2.30

1 Iced Tea                                 $ 2.25

Total                                        $28.25

No Comments | In: Breakfast, Dessert, Kansas, Lunch, Missouri | tags: Biscuits and Gravy, Blue Bird, Bread Pudding, Breakfast, Cake, French Toast, Kansas, Kansas City, Lunch, Missouri, Omelete, PB&J, Pizza. | #

Driving down State Line Road (between Kansas and Missouri), Mister spotted Culver’s, home of Butter Burgers and Frozen Custard.  I recall my first frozen custard in the early 1980s at a place on Niemen Road in Shawnee, KS in what used to be a fried chicken joint. Keeping with my walk (or drive) down memory lane, Mister pulled in so I could get a taste. 

The first Culver’s opened in July 1984 in an old A&W Root Beer location in Sauk Prairie, WI.  As bagels have spread from New York to the rest of the country, frozen custard seems to have originated in the Great Lakes Area and spread down the Mississippi River as franchises in most major cities.  This franchise location was clean with the traditional fast-food set up of counter and indoor and outdoor seating.  The service was a little unorganized.  There appeared to be lots of staff, but only one register was being used which left patrons waiting.

Looking over the menu, you can order basic frozen custard in vanilla, chocolate, or flavor of the day, add mix-ins, build your own sundae, or create a malt, shake, or root beer float.  Prices ranged from $1.99 to $4.59 and there is a neat widget on their website where you can find out the flavor of the day. In an attempt not to ruin my pending lunch, I ordered one scoop, vanilla. It was a generous portion which rapidly began to melt as soon as I sat down at an outside table.  Smooth, creamy, and with the full mouth egg-custard flavor I remembered, Mister and I finished it off while discussing the thunderstorms expected later that afternoon. 

Although we didn’t sample the Butter Burger, Mister inquired what made a burger a Butter Burger.  The gentleman behind the counter explained that the buns are grilled and they proudly serve a Wisconsin Swiss Melt, a nod to their roots.

I don’t know if I would seek Culver’s out if I was looking for a sweet frozen treat. More likely, I would stop by during a road trip for a quick sugar fix and clean bathrooms. 

One Scoop, Vanilla

Culver’s

7953 State Line Rd.

Kansas City, MO 64114

816.444.4700

www.culvers.com

May 15, 2009

One Scoop Frozen Custard        $ 1.99

Total                                        $ 1.99

No Comments | In: Dessert, Kansas, Missouri, Snacks | tags: Culver's, Custard, Ice Cream, Kansas, Kansas City, Missouri. | #

Standing by the bakery case at Zupans, I spy the largest cinnamon roll I’ve ever seen outside Camp 18.  Created by Sara’s Bakery, it sits there in dough-y, gooey splendor, and temps me into an impulse purchase.  As the sales associate tries to ring me up, she looks for the correct bar code.  It wasn’t under “C” for cinnamon roll.  It wasn’t under “P” for pastry. It wasn’t under “R” for roll.  It wasn’t under “S” for Sarah’s Bakery.  When asking a co-worker where it could be found, her co-worker replied “L” for large. (Seriously?)

I admit it lived up to it’s category.  It is enough for two, possibly up to four people to split.  Cinnamon dough-y goodness topped with cream-cheese icing.  Kept me going on a sugar high throughout the afternoon.

“L” for Large…Sarah’s Bakery Cream Cheese Iced Cinnamon Roll

Zupan’s Market

2340 W Burnside St
Portland, OR 97210
503.497.1088

www.zupans.com

May 2, 2009

Cinnamon Roll                           $  3.00

Total                                        $  3.00

No Comments | In: Dessert, Oregon, Snacks | tags: Camp 18, Cinnamon Roll, Oregon, Pastry, Portland, Sarah's Bakery, Zupan's. | #

At the end of a really tough week at work, I was sure chocolate could cure my mood.  Stopping by Coffeehouse Northwest on West Burnside, I ordered a hot chocolate.  The gent behind the counter looked at me and asked if I wanted their “special” hot chocolate, clasped his hands together in prayer, and quickly bowed his head.  I replied “Yes,” and his eyes lit up. 

Made with a single-origin chocolate (Michel Cluizel’s Conception – Venezuela, 66% cacao), a little Portuguese salt, milk, and cream, this iteration of a childhood favorite is transcendent.  It is not cloyingly sweet and has that full mouth taste.  Do you remember blowing up balloons as a child and blowing so hard that the back part of your cheeks popped out?  You can taste the chocolate all the way back there.  And as you lovingly drain the cup, melted chocolate can be found in the bottom.  (Spoon anyone?)

The only drawback to regularly indulging in this type of emotional drinking is parking.  (I made Mister pull into a red zone while I ran in.) 

Toasting Coffeehouse Northwest

Coffeehouse Northwest

1951 W. Burnside

Portland, OR 97209

503 . 248 . 2133

www.coffeehousenorthwest.com

May 1, 2009

Hot Chocolate                           $  5.00

Total                                        $  5.00

No Comments | In: Dessert, Oregon, Snacks | tags: Cacao, Coffeehouse Northwest, Hot Chocolate, Michel Cluizel, Oregon, Portland. | #

In 1979, Ben & Jerry’s held it first Free Cone Day to celebrate the one year anniversary of their ice cream store’s opening. Since then, they have continued the tradition with each of their shops handing out scoops.

On April 21, 2009, Mister and I headed to the Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop located in the Uptown Shopping Center.  (We had considered going to the Pearl location. Although the lines were shorter, the parking was more problematic.)  This year, they had “monitors” to limit the number of customers in the shop at a time and to insure no one was exceeding the one-per-customer limit.  Whether it was timing, or a decrease in promotion, the line was shorter than in 2008 and only snaked down the stairs and partially up the sidewalk. 

I chose the new Goodbye Yellow Brickle Road, a riff on Elton John’s song, which was chocolate ice cream, peanut butter cookie dough, butter brickle, and white chocolate chunks.  I’m a big supporter of all things dark chocolate, and found peanut butter cookie dough a much softer and better balanced taste than Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate and Peanut Butter Swirl (milk chocolate ice cream with peanut butter swirl). I could probably do without the brickle and chocolate chunks.

Mister chose Chocolate Therapy, an old favorite with chocolate and chocolate pudding ice creams and chocolate cookies.  It melted quicker than Yellow Brickle Road requiring three, four, possibly five napkins.

Beginning of Line for Free Cone Day 2009…it snaked down the stairs and around the corner.

Goodbye Yellow Brickle Road

Chocolate Therapy

As we sat outside on park benches, I spied a card for Ben & Jerry’s latest promotion: Do the World a Flavor.  The premise is that you go to the website, choose from pre-selected ingredients for ice cream, chunks, and swirls, and submit a flavor creation. Of course, I couldn’t resist and submitted Sha-MOO-gie Swirl: dark chocolate ice cream, chocolate coffee chunks, and salted caramel and marshmallow swirls.  I don’t expect to be a winner in the contest…but if I did, I would get a trip to the Dominican Republic to visit a Fair Trade cocoa farm.  (This in my world, would be the equivalent of experiencing the Chocolatier game in person….the only online computer game I’ve ever paid for.)  

Sha-MOO-gie Swirl, The Prototype

Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop

39 NW 23^rd Place

Portland, OR 97210

503 . 295 . 3033

www.benjerry.com

April 21, 2009

Chocolate Therapy                    $  0.00

Goodbye Yellow Brickle Road    $  0.00

Total                                        $  0.00

No Comments | In: Dessert, Oregon, Snacks | tags: Ben & Jerry, Dessert, icecream, Oregon, Portland. | #

A soulful photo of Mardi Gras King Cake at Screen Door courtesy of E. Dziedzic.  It looks gorgeous…and tasted even better.

No Comments | In: Breakfast, Dessert, Oregon, Snacks | tags: King Cake, Oregon, Pastry, Portland, Screen Door. | #

While in Philadelphia, PA last week for a multi-day meeting, I was presented the bounty from a Philadelphia food-themed care package. Inside were Peanut Chews, a candy I had never heard of or tasted.

The small individually-wrapped candies are filled with roasted peanuts and topped with dark chocolate.  The taste is not unlike the confections from another Pennsylvania-based candy maker, but with a little twist. It has a savory, almost coffee like flavor, which I later identified as molasses.  

Peanut Chews were created more than 85 years ago and were used as a ration bar by the U.S. Military during World War I.  Four generations of the Goldenberg Candy Company kept these popular nibbles on the shelves and in the hands of Philadelphia fans as well as throughout the eastern seaboard including New England and Florida.  They also have a large following in Korea and Hong Kong.  

There have been a few changes over the years, but not to the product. The Goldenberg Candy Company had a fire at the factory on July 6, 1988.  Fortunately no one was hurt and they had been shut down for the July 4^th holiday, but it did quite a bit of damage to the manufacturing plant.  Fortunately, the owners saw the opportunity to rebuild and create a more modern and automated production line. Fifteen years later in 2003, Just Born acquired Goldenberg Candy Company and continues the Peanut Chews tradition today.

www.justborn.com/peanut-chews 

No Comments | In: Dessert, Pennsylvania, Snacks | tags: Candy, Peanut Chews, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. | #

In the last year, we started to see a renaissance in frozen yogurt (froyo).  In the downtown Portland area, there are several places to try including Skinnidip, Bleuet, and Pop Culture.

Skinnidip’s yogurt is very similar to what many remember from the mid-80s and early 90s, sweet with just a hint of tang/tartness.  They offer four flavors: Original (plain), Chocolate, Raspberry, and Mango.  I prefer the Original flavor with active cultures, although all are creamy without the ice crystals you may find in other froyos. The fruit toppings may be fresh or frozen, but none seem to have any added sugar. There are also the usual candy, cookie, and cereal toppings offered as well.  The price is a higher than most other sweet indulgences, running about $5.00.

Skinnidip has two locations, one on West Burnside near NW 23^rd Street and a second in the Pearl District.  Although in what I consider an awkward location sandwiched between a Chevron gas station and a dentist’s office, the location on Burnside is frequently busy, especially in the evenings. I do like the interior with its bright green and pink color scheme and hanging lanterns.  Skinnidip has a website, but it has been under construction for a while, so locations, phone numbers, and hours can be found on their My Space page.  (I don’t think they realize that social networking has moved on and My Space is passé.)

Menu

Interior

Plain Yogurt with Raspberries and Mangos

Mango Yogurt with Kiwis

Skinnidip Yogurt

2230 W Burnside

Portland, OR 97210

503 . 222 . 5230

Medium Plain with 2 toppings    $ 4.95

Medium Mango with 1 topping   $ 5.50

Total                                        $10.45 

No Comments | In: Dessert, Oregon | tags: FroYo, Frozen Yogurt, Oregon, Portland. | #

When I visit Houston, TX, my cravings follow nostalgia.  Returning to my old stomping grounds in the Montrose, it is amazing to see a few old favorites surviving the ongoing gentrification.  On the north side of Westheimer Blvd. among the antique and second-hand furniture dealers, rises a genie from a coffee cup.  It’s Monday which means Half Price Cake Night at Empire Café.

Like a favorite college sweatshirt, not much has changed at this coffee shop in over a decade since I first started dining here.  It is filled with university students, professionals, and artists, actors, and the rest of the creative class.  The tables and décor may be a little more worn, but the dim lighting lends a soft glow to the charms of the pinup girls on the walls.  Outside, couples and groups enjoy the warm evenings, talking and laughing in the candlelight.

Ordering at the counter, I chose the pasta special with shrimp which includes a salad and a slice of chocolate cake.  Taking a number and my cake, I sit at a corner table inside.  A few minutes later, my salad is delivered.  I contemplate eating the cake first, a practice my grandfather encouraged in my youth.  But, I resist and start with the salad.  The salad is filled with greens that are green, no iceberg here, and the dressing is tossed in, lightly covering each leaf.  A couple of tomato slices and a piece of bread, almost a large crouton, are added as garnish. When the entrée is delivered, I discover the portions are larger than I remembered. Spinach linguini is tossed with shrimp, artichoke hearts, and portabella mushrooms and then covered by a cream sauce. The shrimp were large, the mushrooms sautéed.  The pasta did not have the heavy taste or texture you usually find in wheat or vegetable-based noodles.  Although very good, the downfall for the dish had more to do with my personal preference than the kitchen’s execution. My preference for bowl-served pasta is not to have a lot of liquid sauce gathering at the bottom. It creates an opaque pool from which the diner has to fish out their meal. (If I was in the mood for this type of activity, I’d eat fondue, not pasta.) Between the portion size and the excess sauce in the dish, I did not finish the entrée.

As noted earlier, it is the dessert that brings me to Empire Café. Each Monday, you can get a slice of cake including Toll House Cookie Crunch (mmmmm!), German Chocolate, Carrot, Hummingbird, Lemmon Poppy Seed, Chocolate Peanut Butter, and Berry White, among others. Usually there are about six different types from which to choose, however your favorite may not always be available.  Unfortunately, my two favorites, Toll House Cookie and German Chocolate, were unavailable, so I chose the reliable combination of chocolate cake with chocolate icing accompanied by a glass of milk.  It was as good as I remembered, moist and sweet, with enough sugar to keep me going for a couple more hours after a long day of travel.  

While I won’t drink the coffee which I find over roasted and poorly prepared for espresso drinks, it is still a good place to meet friends over a simple meal, dessert, or drinks.

Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing

Linguini with Shrimp and Artichoke Hearts

Chocolate Cake - View 1

Chocolate Cake - View 2

Empire Café

1732 Westheimer Rd
Houston, TX 77098

No Comments | In: Dessert, Dinner, Texas | tags: Cake, Empire Cafe, Houston, Pasta, Salad, Texas. | #