December 2011

A “Thank You” to Denny's

Your food may not be the best, but you are open 24/7/365

Denny's is a restaurant that probably holds a place in the hearts of many Americans. Okay, maybe not, but it holds a place in mine. Denny's is always there for me no matter what time of day or night it is, and no matter what day of the year it is. I had not eaten there in quite a while until Christmas Eve night arrived. Yes, I had my share of Christmas Eve gathering food -- cookies and a few little tidbits of holiday goodness, but had not had a real meal the entire day. My boyfriend and I decided to go out for a late dinner, since we rarely have more than a couple of snacks in our apartment at any given time. Grocery stores were closed; even the 24/7 Wal-Mart around the corner from us closed early on Christmas Eve. Dine-in and fast food restaurants alike were all closed in our area. What were we going to do for dinner?

Ronald McDonald Gives Gifts

Two Indiana hospitals received a special visitor on December 15^th. The McDonald’s Joy of Giving Campaign has been taking place as some of you already know. Ronald McDonald decided to stop by two of the hospitals in Indiana to bring some cheer to the patient’s lives.

Seattle Restaurants of 2011

I’ve had the opportunity to eat at quite a few restaurants while living in Seattle and these are some of my favorites from 2011.

Food Network's "Chef Hunter"

A look behind the scenes at a hidden process.

Food Network’s Chef Hunter is an interesting look into an aspect of the restaurant business that is rarely seen: interviewing for the head chef position. As the chef who speaks for the restaurant and acts as the driving force behind the creative process, the head chef is probably the single most important part of keeping a restaurant in business. Read more about Food Network's "Chef Hunter"

Happy Holidays Eat in Style Without Cooking at Fire Mountain

Everybody likes to have those delicious prepared meals that might the eyes light up and the tummy say howdy. When it comes to great holiday food, we often think of home and grandma or mother is good cooking. The turkey and ham with stuffing, mashed potatoes, and all the rest will be found when you dine at Fire Mountain. Times have changed because mother works and grandma just is too tired to cook for a large crew. Ah-- no holiday meal? Yes, there can be a great holiday meal when you find your local Fire Mountain Restaurant and make your holiday reservations.

Automats: a part of Philly and NYC's culinary history

The great food levelers.

Automats are one of those old-school inventions that are totally obsolete today, but still cooler than anything that replaced them. Where are the steampunkers to pick up on these puppies? Automats were food dispensaries that didn't require a waiter; you simply put your money into the machine and would turn a knob to receive your food from a heated slot. Read more about Automats: a part of Philly and NYC's culinary history

Omaha's Grey Plume

"The restaurant has only been open a year in Omaha’s Midtown Crossing"

I’ve been spending some time recently in Omaha and since my arrival I’ve heard lots about the local restaurant Grey Plume. I finally got my chance last night to enjoy this dining experience.

Read more about Omaha's Grey Plume

Subway: Customer Service is Not Their Specialty

I try to keep rants to a minimum, because I believe that life is too short to obsess over bad experiences. However, I was so disillusioned by my friend’s experience today at Subway, that I thought that I would post it to see if others have had similar experiences. It is the busy holiday season, so I am sure retail and fast food workers are very stressed out over the longer business hours and the busier workdays. Accidents happen with restaurant orders, and a simple apology is all that is needed to make it right in my book.

My friend’s "sandwich artist" made a small mistake when making his sandwich, which would usually be no big deal. I used to work in the restaurant industry, and when a mistake was made or if there was a misunderstanding, I would quickly fix the mistake and apologize profusely. I rarely had a customer that was anything but pleased with this response. The Subway worker that my friend had an encounter with today obviously learned her customer service skills elsewhere. Here is what happened:
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Carnivore Restaurant

"Located in a bush setting, the restaurant is thoroughly African"

If you are looking for a unique restaurant experience, and you happen to be in South Africa, then Carnivore is the restaurant for you. It combines outstanding service, a friendly atmosphere, and some of the most exotic food you can imagine. Not the faint of heart, this really is a unique restaurant, and one that deserves your attention, and respect.

Don't Bash Seattle Seafood

I’m curious. When did baby bibs, mallets used to club crabs and clams, and tables covered in butcher paper piled high with seafood more well known for its Louisiana origins than the Pacific Northwest (corn on the cob and crawdads) become synonymous with Seattle food culture? I don’t know either, but one thing I do know is that “authentic northwest tastes” cannot be found at “The Crab Pot”.

Omaha's Best Ethnic Restaurants

A surprising array of cuisines.

Omaha is certainly portrayed as a steak-and-potatoes town. It is a steak-and-potatoes town, to be sure. Its major industry used to beef, and citing Omaha Steaks usually provides a welcome reprieve from the blank stares of outsiders when you tell them that you're from Omaha.

But most outsiders would probably be surprised to know that Omaha has a thriving ethnic food scene. It's heartening to know that you can eat at some of the restaurants that your grandparents ate at when you visit the city, but also to realize that newer immigrant minorities can move to Omaha and open thriving businesses, as well. Let's take a look at some of the best ethnic restaurants that Omaha has to offer: Read more about Omaha's Best Ethnic Restaurants

Tips for Getting Great Deals at Your Favorite Restaurants

Everyone loves to eat out. Eating out at a restaurant means that you do not have to slave over a hot stove, oven (or microwave, for that matter!). You do not have to plan out a meal and buy every little ingredient and spice that you need to make your planned dishes a reality. Unfortunately, let's face it; eating out a lot can get expensive. Especially with the holiday season here, budgets in this country are tight. Holiday shopping is draining most of our extra funds, and eating out can put an extra strain on your wallets this season. Even so, there is nothing better than hitting a great restaurant for an easy dinner after a long day of Christmas shopping. Here are some tips to finding some great deals on your favorite restaurants, so that you can eat out more often:
Read more about Tips for Getting Great Deals at Your Favorite Restaurants

Best Restaurants 2011

Hampton Roads Area

The year 2011 is coming to an end so I thought it would be pretty cool to see what some of the best restaurants in 2011 would be. Some of them you may be familiar with while others you may not be so familiar with. However, this list will give you a chance to get out and explore some different options than your everyday norms.

Restaurant Talk

New restaurants, coupons, reviews, and new menu items across the country

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