Giordano's - Chicago, IL

Historically I have LIKED pizza, but after spending the last couple of months in Illinois I have come to LOVE it.  There is absolutely nothing like Chicago Stuffed Pizza.  I have been trying various places and this weekend had the opportunity to try Giordano's on Rush Street. 

I let my friend pick the toppings and she decided on Sausage, Pepperoni and Mushrooms.  After a 40 minute wait, we were greeted to an amazing steaming masterpiece. Its not until you remove the first slice that you can really come to appreciate what you have before your eyes.  

We left stuffed beyond measure as it was so hard to stop eating...but that is a risk you take when you choose to Eat Bright!!

Lucca Restaurant - Sacramento, CA

It has been a while, the past couple of months were busy.  Preparing for the PMP exam totally consumed me and after PASSING decided to just take a month to breathe.  Then on Tuesday as I took my first bite at dinner, the urge hit me to Begin Again!

Lucca Restaurant lists itself as California-Mediterranean.  A coworked recommended Lucca a few weeks ago and as I drove down J street I decided to stop in.  I started with a simple chopped salad to keep with my resolution to have a salad a day.  It was nothing special and could have used a bit more dressing.

My entree, however, was to die for.  The Crispy Duck Confit, served on a butter bean ragout with Spanish chorizo and smoked bacon, herb bread crumbs, arugula & sherry vinaigrette.  My waiter warned me that the dish was rich and he was so right.  Each bit was an experience.  The skin was crisp as the meat was cooked to absolute perfection, falling off the bone.  The dish is a bit salty due to the chorizo and bacon, but by building your bite with the beans and meat together you could really appreciate the dish in its totality. 

Crispy Duck Confit

 All and all it was a great meal at a great price. Will definitely visit again.

 Distractions happen, Eat Bright!!

Indulging at home...

At home for the first time in months and fighting a bout with bronchitis, so decided I deserve to indulge.  Now as you know I do not go in my kitchen and actually turn on the stove often, but hey, miracles happen.

Fried Garlic Bologna Sandwich

How might I do that? With nothing better than a Fried Bologna Sandwich on steroids.  In case you want to recreate my beloved treat, here are the steps.

Begin by frying up the Garlic Bologna lightly on med-high heat.  As the garlic begins to permeate air, you can begin assembling your masterpiece...Starting with thinly sliced multigrain bread, slather each slide with a mix of mayo and minced garlic (yes, I love garlic!), then layer on a a few slices of Smoked Gruyere cheese and your fried bolonga.  But your not done yet, you then need to butter each side of your sandwich and fry it up again in order to get that beautiful golden color and warm the cheese.   

 Must give thanks to family friend for planting the thought of garlic bologna in my head over the Christmas holidays.

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Chops Steakhouse - Sacramento, CA

Its Dine Downtown week in Sacramento and tonight I am here at Chops Steak and Seafood. Tucked away on threw alley sits the beautiful atmosphere full of life in the bar where I am seated trying to study with an Old Fashion at my side.

Three courses for 30 dollars is the feature.  The mixed greens salad was fresh and had a nice house vinegarette dressing.  Next up was the 6oz filet with mashed potatoes.  The steak was cooked perfectly based on my request and the potatoes had amazing flavor.

For the finale, a simple slice of cheese cake worth raspberry sauce.

Loving Dine Downtown Sacramento 2012, Eat Bright!

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Greek Village Inn - Sacramento, CA

Finally getting my Skordalia fix (happy dance!!!!). The wonderfully smooth garlic dip that makes me smile.

I found the Greek Village Inn during a very specific search for Skordalia or skordhalia/skorthalia. Upon walking in I was greeted to another great surprise as they had the spicy feta as featured special today. Individually each dip is great, but together they will blow your mind. The feta had just the right amount of fire to meet the garlicy goodness that is a star of the Skordalia.

Skordalia and Spicy Feta Dips

  Next was the house Avgolemono, lemon and rice soup. Very flavorful, but with all the other dishes I ordered I only had a small taste.

Avgolemono Soup

For my main I went with an old faithful Gyro plate...Greek lemon potatoes, tzatziki, olives, and feta cheese. The gyro meat was thick cut, well seasoned and tasty, while the potatoes had mild lemon bite compared to others I've had.

Gyro Platter

Overall it was a great meal and the service was great. Looking forward to my next visit.

Garlic is your friend...Eat Bright!

Sprig - Atlanta, GA

I am STARVING... as waiting for the credits to role on 'Anonymous', which was fabulous by the way, to signal that its time to go.  Immediately AP and I make a dash for the door knowing that Sprig closes at 10.  

Perusing the menu, there are a number items to catch the eye.  The waitress confirmed our ideas when asked for recommendations. We originally ordered the Kale & Shiitake Mushroom Grits...Yep, you felt it too.. absolute excitement!  That is until moments later they return to say they don't have them.  So we decided to try the Butternut squash Risotto. Sounded very interesting until it came out looking pretty plain and uninteresting. Then we tasted it and it was blah, something was missing.

Before Sage

When we brought it to their attention our waitress pointed out that they left off the fried Sage and parmesean cheese.   Unfortunately, even with the correct toppings, there was nothing stand up about the dish.

After Sage

As everyone who has read by blog knows, I'm always on the hunt for a good burger.  And after hearing that the Sprig Burger might make it into my top 4 for Atlanta, I was stoked.

That is until again, after the manager comes back to inform us that they are out of Holeman & Fitch Bread Co. buns.  So instead we order one on a gluten free bun and one they put on a H& F Hoagie bun. Then as we are sizing up our burger, we notice a key missing piece of color, tomato red.  And again they have to come back to our table to explain that they are no longer in season which we totally respect but the menu, which was listed as just redone for fall, still said burger included tomato.  That seems small, but think about how the words on the menu are all you have to go on as you build up your expectations of what you hope will be a dish that live up to them.

 
Now back to the burger...alternate bun choices were a total mistake, it of course totally took away from our BURGER experience.  Half of the experience is dependent on the taste the other is the feeling you get when you prep your burger then pick it up and take that first bite.  The gluten free bun was good for gluten free, but as expected it was crumbly and unable to really stand up to the weight of the patty.  The hoagie bun, was just funny to look at and so it sat untouched.  Now let me know forget to say that the quality of the meat and the flavor was great.  It was not bad at all, just requires me to go back again in order to better assess the burger. 

With hopes of closing this meal off on a good note we decide to try the Gooey Butter Cake, Pumpkin flavored due to season.  I know, what in the world.  It was to be a cake and cheese cake combo thing with lots and lots of butter baked in.  Which in my mind along with the word gooey in the title makes me expect moisture beyond all.  And that my friends was my mistake and that was exactly what it lacked.  You can even see it in the picture, they cake bottom is dry.  I think they had it in the fridge at too low of a temperature so it was drying out, it looked frost bitten. So after just a bite, we had to push it away.  It has so much promise just based on the title, but unfortunately the execution here left a lot to be desired.

Not going to take it off my list, but may not be rushing back next week... Eat Bright!!

Cafeteria 15L and Scotts's Seafood - Sacramento, CA

So here I am again...back at Cafeteria 15L. As I was eating my grilled cheese last time I herd the bartender say their burger is one of the best in Sac town. And as you know, I'm always hunting a good burger. I found one is Columbus, OH, Johnnies Tavern, that I visited weekly to have a Hot-fries (burger with pepper jack and side of Fries).

But I digress, I'm back now to try their Cafeteria Burger. I'm thinking goat cheese and bacon... As happy hour prepares to end, I decide to try their mac n' cheese. Served piping hot in cast iron pot, its perfectly golden on top. The flavors are mild and each bite accented with the crunchy texture from the bread crumbs.

Mac n' Cheese

OMG, this smells amazing. Of course I got the garlic fries again... and the goat cheese and special sauce are calling my name... and after I take the time to cut it and prepare for first bite...Its still quite pink. I ordered medium well + minute.

Burger with Goat Cheese and Bacon

I was sooo excited, it looked soooo good!!!

So here I am... Waiting again, hope I get the same feeling again... It doesn't, maybe it just me, but I hate when they mess up then put the same buyer back on the grill fully dressed... It like opening a present, I can't have the same excitement about what I will find perfectly wrapped gift... Plus they took my fries so their not piping hot anymore either... What had the promise of being joyful beyond all is not a disappointment.

Burger is good. But now I don't have a taste for it anymore...

Pray it comes out right the first time... Eat Bright... :-(

Take 2

So as I am still hungry, I don't know what to eat... then it comes to me just get some seafood.  Something that's the total opposite of the burger, as not to be comparing them.  So I remember something i saw online, Scott's Seafood.  Its not really in my direction, but hey I'm hungry. The manager and I have a nice chat and she recommends a mix of the Boston Clam Chowder and Spicy Crab Bisque.  Its sooo warm on a cool night like tonight...she recommended the mix as to soften the bite of the bisque yet still have the creaminess greatness of the chowder.  After a bit more discussion we decided that in the future a 3:1 bisque to chowder ratio might be better so more of the spice comes through.

Boston Clam Chowder and Spicy Crab Bisque

I also had one of each of the featured oysters listed below, with the Cortes island and Eld island being my favorite.

Favorites at 12 and 3

Sometimes it takes two... Eat Bright...

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