State-by-State Guide to Good Food

The media seems to have an obsession with lists – top 10 ways to get flatter abs, 15 things you didn’t know you had to fix, and 20 ways to make better lists…. the list goes on (ha ha). So what better way to kick off the new year than with a list of yummy restaurants, state by state? Ok, I haven’t yet dined in all 50 states (even if you count forgettable roadside stops), so this list is incomplete. But I did want to share some list-worthy establishments I think you should try, and I’ve included dishes I’ve enjoyed at each place. I’ve included links to my reviews of some restaurants, and I’ll update this page for reviews I’ll add in the near future. Bon appetit, and happy travels!

State, Restaurant, City	Cuisine	What to Order
California Brenda’s French Soul Food, San Francisco	French Soul Food, obviously	Eggs Benedict, crawfish beignets
Connecticut Rein’s Deli, Vernon	New York style Jewish deli	Turkey, roast beef, mac ‘n cheese. Order a half pound of meat to take home with you!
Florida Bern’s Steakhouse, Tampa	Steak, desserts, and the largest private wine collection	Steak, obviously! (Exquisitely cooked to perfection every time) Grilled shrimp appetizer. Upstairs in the Dessert Room, Bern’s signature cappuccino, macadamia nut ice cream. Full review to come.
Iowa Iowa Machine Shed Restaurant, several locations	Midwestern comfort food	Huge cinnamon rolls (featured on the Food Network), the Cattleman’s Choice, baked sweet potato. Hearty food if you’re road-tripping through the MidWest! There’s a cute country store, and you can take photos next to farm vehicles outside.
Illinois Mercadito, Chicago	Mexican	Amazing margaritas, shrimp tacos
Massachusetts Atlantic Fish, Boston	Seafood	Calamari (ask for half-and-half grilled and fried), crab-crusted haddock, pan-seared sea bass
Maine Fore Street, Portland	American, local foods	Menu changes often. Order the tomato tart if it’s available!
Nevada Wicked Spoon, Las Vegas	Buffet	Kale and watermelon salads, poached pear…like any buffet, things can be hit and miss, but Wicked Spoon offers an awesome selection, beautifully presented. If you want to experience Vegas’ over-the-top buffets, this is the place to go.
New Hampshire Gypsy Cafe, Lincoln	International	Niçoise salad, enchiladas, sangria.
New York Porteño, New York City	Argentinian	Grilled octopus, empanadas, quinoa salad
North Carolina Curate, Asheville	Spanish Tapas	Butternut squash soup, grilled octopus, canelones de carne. Sit at the bar for a great view of the open kitchen.
Ohio Skillet, Columbus	Breakfast/Brunch	Menu varies daily.
Oregon Mother’s, Portland	Comfort food	Breakfast and brunch, French press coffee
Pennsylvania Tommy DiNic’s, Philadelphia	Sandwiches	Brisket sandwich
Rhode Island Nick’s on Broadway, Providence	American	Everything! Expect to wait an hour for brunch.
Texas Rudy’s BBQ, several locations	Barbecue	Meat! Order it by the pound. You’ll be served a whole loaf of bread to accompany it.
Vermont Farmhouse Tap and Grill, Burlington	Farm-to-table gastropub	Local beers and cheeses, giant onion rings (enough to share), burgers
Wisconsin Safe House, Milwaukee	Pub food	I didn’t actually dine here, but the experience getting into the restaurant was fun! Think secret doors and passwords…

Pretty Good Mexican: Perro Salado, Newport

Having been to Newport, Rhode Island a few times now, my boyfriend and I decided we would dine away from the touristy waterfront. We came to Perro Salado on a Saturday night. They were busy, and we were glad we had made a reservation. The restaurant is in and old house, divided into several small rooms. We were taken upstairs and seated in a comfortable corner.

Perro Salado’s drink menu includes some creative cocktails. My guy ordered the cilantro jalepeno margarita. It was deliciously yummy, with the freshness of cilantro balanced by the spiciness of the jalapeno. I had the namesake Perro Salado cocktail, made with grapefruit juice, grapefruit soda, and tequila. There are also pitchers of margaritas available, that would be perfect for enjoying outside on the small patio (It definitely looked like a party-it-up and knock-back-a-few drinks type of patio).

When we inquired about the avocado fries, our server enthusiastically told use that they are a popular appetizer. Large pieces of avocado are battered and fried, served nice and hot. I found the batter to be a bit on the thick side, however.

My boyfriend really enjoyed the seafood chowder – shrimp, mahi mahi and bits and pieces of scallops in a coconut broth. However, I was underwhelmed by the quality and amount of seafood in the soup, and the flavours didn’t seem to fit a Mexican restaurant.

Yes, there are two large, half-moon shaped empanadas hiding beneath the cilantro and salsa below. Filled with beans and cheese, they were tasty, but served not hot enough.

The kitchen’s timing was definitely off – though the appetizers came out at a reasonable pace, we waited quite some time for our entrees to arrive. When they did, results were mixed. Generous amounts of cilantro and sliced jalapenos was a theme, adorning my boyfriend’s three fish tacos, below. The mahi mahi was overcooked and not fork-tender. I’ve definitely had better. I had enchiladas – corn tortillas stuffed with beef short rib, topped with red sauce, large slices of jalapenos, and lots of cheese, served piping hot (finally, yay!)

We ordered several side dishes as well. The rice and beans were sadly at room temperature, while plantains were hot, crispy on the outside and slightly caramelized – yum!

Happily, our evening finished on a high note – the Mexican chocolate volcano cake was sooo good, with a slight spicy kick. Do not miss out on this!

The Final Word: Perro Salado has a great atmosphere and the menu has interesting options. Most of the food is a hit, though the temperature can be a miss.

Food: 4/5 | Atmosphere: 4/5 | Value: 3.7/5

Best Brunch Pick: Nick’s On Broadway, Providence

After reading some rave reviews, my guy and I decided to try Nick’s for brunch. We arrived at 12:30 pm on a Sunday, and waited about 40 minutes – just what the hostess had estimated. Nick’s accepts names until 3 pm. Unless you arrive after 2:30, expect to wait. In any case, the wait is well worth it!

The restaurant is divided into two. One side has the  impressively-stocked bar, with bar seating and high-tops each seating two people. It seems the thing to do while you’re waiting for a table is to order a Bloody Mary or the mimosa special.  The special that day was a Prosecco with apple puree. It looked yummy, though I didn’t try it. The other side of Nick’s has bar seating facing an open kitchen, and tables for larger parties.

Everything we had was amazing!  Nick’s uses locally-sourced meats, seafood, and vegetables so there is a whole list of specials, depending on what ingredients are plentiful.

The hash special was a beef and onion hash with mushroom gravy and poached eggs. My boyfriend ordered it on top of a Benedict, with house-made biscuits and Hollandaise sauce, served with home fries which included some sweet potatoes.

Other specials of the day (it was tough to remember  them all the details as our server recited them) included a very yummy-sounding burger, a cassoulet with lamb, pork sausage, and white beans, served with grilled bread, and a fish dish.

 

I had the creamy corn-butternut squash polenta topped with spinach, two poached eggs, pumpkin-seed pesto, and Parmesan cheese.

 

The full order of vanilla-battered French toast was two thick slices, he ordered it with warm berry compote (strawberry rhubarb today i think) and Vermont maple syrup. The house-made bread was very soft on the inside.

 

I had the maple-walnut bread pudding – a dense square topped with house-made cranberry ice cream, over a smear of gooey caramel.

Our waitress was super nice and attentive. Our coffee mugs and water glasses never went empty. Interestingly, coffee is not on the drink menu, though there is a plethora of teas. I would definitely return to Nick’s. Actually, I can’t wait to go back!

Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

Info: Nick’s On Broadway, 500 Broadway, Providence RI 02909

Great Chowder Cook-Off 2013

After attending Newport’s Great Chowder Cook-Off last year, I vowed to return. This year, the weather was more cooperative –  Saturday was a gorgeous, sunny day, and chowder fans turned up in droves to sample a plethora of soups. The trick is to buy your “Chowdahead” VIP tickets early, so you can enter the Cook-Off one hour earlier This is the main tent before it opened to regular ticket-holders:

Here are some yummy highlights, so you’ll know where to dine if you’re in search for some of the best chowder in America.

Some of the competitors were veterans from last year, including this year’s winner of the Clam Category,  Stefano’s Seafood (Long Beach Island, NJ). Stefano’s had the thickest, creamiest chowder again, though it was much too thick for my taste. Turner Fisheries Restaurant & Bar (Boston, MA) served a terrific gluten-free clam chowder, but my vote goes to Pike Place Chowder (Seattle, WA), for their well-balanced chowder with just the right texture and flavours.

In the Creative Category, The Mooring Seafood Kitchen & Bar (Newport, RI) served the same crab and brie chowder as the year before – it was absolutely delicious, and one of my favorites of the day. (Interestingly, you will find a traditional New England clam chowder on The Mooring’s dinner menu, but not the crab and brie chowder).  It was Octagon Restaurant (Groton, CT) that won this category, with its spicy chowder full of skate, lobster, and alligator in a brothy soup. The flavours reminded me of a hearty chilli with notes of cheddar cheese – definitely a very original and adventurous take on chowder.

In the Seafood Category, my favorite was the chowder by StoneRidge (Mystic, CT), with hints of wine that complemented, but did not overpower, the lobster and scallops.

To round out the day, Amstel Light reps served up beer and  “Vermonster” sliders, with apple, onion, bacon and feta – a delicious combo. Wine, beer, ice cream, and other desserts were plentiful. We watched hungry eaters chow down in a clam cake-eating competition, and snapped photos with mascots. The Chowder Cook-Off is one delicious day in the sun, and you’ll definitely get all the chowder you could possibly want!