Giuseppe's Neighborhood Pizzeria- Covington, KY

Maybe the best thing I can say to review this restaurant, is that we devoured the pizza too quickly to take a photo of it. It was that good.

Our family has always enjoyed finding local restaurants, not only to support our neighbors and keep money in our local economy, but usually, the "hole-in-the-wall" places are the best. Giuseppe's Neighborhood Pizzeria is no exception.

The server taking our order was very friendly and made a superb recommendation for the men (aka meat eaters) in our family. The Mainstrasse Monster did not disappoint with a plethora of Italian sausage, pepperoni, ham, bacon and gyro meat. The girls and I "just" had a cheese pizza. I say "just" because it was one of the most delicious cheese pizzas I've ever had.

Leah and I stopped in and ordered take out at about 5 p.m. on a Saturday night. There weren't many dine-in folks, but there was a steady stream of phone calls and carryout pick ups. Still...I was prepared for a long wait and I was surprised when after about 15 minutes we were told it was ready.

Our family will be frequenting Giuseppes' again. The price range for pizza is more than Pizza Hut, but less than Dewey's or Mellow Mushroom. I also feel great about supporting a local entrepreneur who invests in their community.

The Hobbit Cafe'- Houston, Texas

On my trip to Houston to visit Abbey, the one place she'd mentioned that I really wanted to try was Hobbit Cafe'. It was just as fun and delicious as I'd hope it would be. 

Started in 1972, these are people dedicated to the Tolkien stories, not the presently popular movie versions. Their food, while mostly named for characters and places with which I'm familiar in the stories, still had us pulling out Abbey's iPhone to Google Valinor and a few other terms with which were weren't familiar in Hobbit-lore. That's how fun this place is.

Indoors, you're surrounded by a hefty collection of memorabilia and outside, you sit in the beer garden underneath the Party Tree. It was a beautiful day, so we sat outside. For a Kentuckian in February, just sitting outside for lunch made the entire experience delightful.

I had a delicious salmon burger (with no fun Hobbit name for it) and Abbey had a tasty portobello burger sans bun topped with jalapenos and alfalfa sprouts.  Our server was kind, prompt, attentive and helpful with suggestions. 

If I'm ever lucky enough to visit Houston again, I would definitely head back there for lunch or dinner. They have Sunday brunch items too. If you're in the area, check them out.

The Elusive Cow Cafe- Bellevue, KY

Quite by accident, the girls and I stumbled upon this little place in Bellevue, Kentucky. Having the menu in the window definitely sold us on giving them a chance to win us over...and they did.

According to their menu, "The Elusive Cow only uses the freshest of ingredients and organic whenever possible. Our meats come from local farmers in Brown and Adams County, Ohio and our Bison is from Oldham County, Kentucky"

The prices were a little higher than we usually pay, but supporting a local business that is trying to purchase fresh foods from local farmers is worthy of a few extra dollars to me. It was lunchtime and since we eat lighter for lunch, it was easy enough to by a few items to share.

We had the yummy Flat Bread Pizza appetizer (pictured above) and an order of loaded fries that were delectable. Being the family Vegan and not very hungry, Abbey had a side of kale slaw and thought it was pretty tasty.  

I don't eat beef very often, but given the quality of the food and knowing how the beef has been procured, I would probably get a burger next time we go. Everything we saw being served looked wonderful. We'll definitely be returning soon!

The Elusive Cow Cafe

519 Fairfield Ave

Bellevue, KY 41073

**Note- They ARE closed on Mondays!**

A Taste of Disney: Sanaa at Animal Kingdom Lodge (Allergy-Friendly Too!)

Banana Cheesecake with a Pistachio Crust and Sanaa somehow written in chocolate!

Even my husband, who by no stretch of the imagination is a Disney-phile, recently admitted that he has never had a bad meal at Disney. Sanaa at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge now ranks as his favorite Disney dining experience ever.

Just take a look at the view from our table.

This was our splurge. It was our big splurge. But if you have the Disney Dining Plan, you could easily save money with meals of this quality. We all agreed, this meal was worth every penny.

Dale said his tandoori chicken is the best meal he's ever eaten at Disney. My salad Abbey's vegetarian sampler and Rebekah's pea and potato samosas were amply satisfying for all three of us. Noah enjoyed his tandoori chicken as well and it adequately filled the teenage boy. I even had most of his delicious rice that came with it. Like all Disney restaurants, Leah could choose from more traditional American kids meals. She opted for the cheese pizza on naan crust.

Speaking of naan. It's a family favorite, so we quickly ordered the traditional Indian breadservice appetizer and had naan, garlic-ginger naan and papadum (a gluten free option). It also came with three choices for spreads. We went with the red pepper hummus, mango chutney and cucumber raita (similar to a greek tzatziki sauce). All were delicious!

But if Disney could actually top itself when it comes to restaurants, they did. When making the online reservation, Abbey designated all of her sensitivities: gluten, egg, and dairy. Not only did they provide her with three separate menus for each of those, but when we told them she was actually just a vegan that eats no gluten, they quickly brought out a vegan menu and that was followed by a personal visit from one of the chefs to explain precisely which items were gluten free. Our server, who was great, even consistently pointed out what items were not gluten free for Rebekah and I since we were sort of compiling all three of our meals together to get a sampling of various dishes.

Throughout our meal, we witnessed the chefs repeatedly visiting table after table. I mentioned to the family that if anyone needs proof of our broken food system, they need only visit this restaurant...as we heard not only similar sensitivities to ours, but also nut and corn allergy-friendly items being discussed. In Abbey's research of which restaurant we could visit, she discovered that Sanaa and Restaurant Marrakesh at Epcot are known as the two most allergy-friendly dining options at Disney.

Right before we left for our vacation, I wrote a little post about me. In it, I mentioned my affinity for all things African. Everytime we discussed which resorts we wanted to tour, repeatedly...I said the Animal Kingdom Lodge. And while our food was a blend of Asian cuisine with an African influence, the Animal Kingdom Lodge did not disappoint. 

Not only is the small savannah replete with animals beautiful, the entire ambiance of the resort made me long to see Africa even more. I know this is the Disney version, but the music, the people and the native plants were precisely what I had hoped to see.

Reality Tuesday 2 Cafe': Hebron, Kentucky

My new favorite coffee shop not only serves Fair Trade coffee, delicious espresso drinks and yummy donuts and desserts...it is literally a five minute walk from my doorstep to theirs.

I am convinced this is the way we were meant to live (and how most everyone else in the world does, outside of the suburban U.S.). The ability to walk to the market or your local cafe' is something I greatly enjoy and Reality Tuesday 2 is worth the walk.

My commendation need go no further than to express that they have only been open a few months and I am already on my second frequent buyers' card. Yes...it is that good.

But more than the food and coffee, the staff are always friendly, knowledgeable and helpful in making selections. I've gotten to know more than one of the baristas on a first name basis and I know they like their "regulars".

Speaking of regulars, there's a group of ladies that I'm meeting with for Bible study this summer. Reality Tuesday 2 is graciously allowing us to meet there. For this, I am thankful.

I can't express adequately how much I really want this small business to succeed. I've even volunteered to take care of plants they should put on their patio to make it a wee bit more inviting. The owners are slowly adding to the facility (which is a shared space with the new Hebron campus for Lakeside Church) and it looks more welcoming every time I walk through the door. The reason I feel so strongly about their survival is because I've seen several businesses go in and out of these three strip malls closest to us, and with the exception of sports bars, most fail within a year or two. This little cafe' brings warmth, a relaxing environment and a place for non-liquor seeking folks to congregate and hang out with their friends...something very much needed on this four block area that houses 1 grocery, four take out pizza places, four family sit down restaurants, four fast food chains, two ice cream parlors, a take out wings joint, three sports bars and three liquor stores. Did you notice I said this was a four-block area?

If you're in the Hebron area and you're looking for some great coffee or just a nice place to hang out with a friend or to drink a cup of java and read a book for awhile...stop by and support a locally owned business that in turn supports Fair Trade. Trust me, you'll be glad you did...

And you just might see me there!

Mr. Sushi- Cincinnati, Ohio

Friday night before our volunteer gig at the Aronoff Theatre, Abbey took me out to dinner for Mother's Day. My one request for this year was that I be able to stay home...all day on Sunday...in my pajamas. I also included in the "deal" that if Abbey wanted to fix something healthy and delicious, she could but there was no obligation. I really am trying to break the stranglehold of "ideals" that this American culture has on me. So I chose to do what I want, not what society thinks is "normal".

But, since it was our last show together, Abbey wanted to treat me and I obliged. I'm glad I did.

Mr. Sushi was delicious...and at our early dining hour of 5 p.m....very quick too. Abbey had a combination plate of vegetable California roll and an AAC roll (asparagus, avocado and cucumber) and really enjoyed it all. I opted for some vegetable fried rice because I'm trying to eat healthier, didn't want fishy-smelling breath as an usher, and honestly, can't eat a plain vegetable sushi roll unless it has an adequate amount of spicy mayo on it. I know...I'm pathetic.

But our server enthusiastically assured me that the chef could leave out any meat and increase the amount of veggies in my meal. When she brought out the plate, I instantly knew there was probably enough for 2-3 meals on it. 

All meals also came with miso soup and ginger salad. The soup and salad were worth the trip by themselves. 

Everything was delicious and although dinners are pretty pricey, I look forward to taking my husband (and possibly the rest of the family) sometime for lunch in the future.

Carabello Coffee, Newport, Kentucky

This was my caramel latte'. Almost too pretty to drink! Almost.

Our first stop on our Fair Trade Field Trip today was Carabello Coffee in Newport. Carabello is the same company that supplies Velocity Bike and Bean in Florence. They've now opened their own shop.

I had a caramel latte', Noah and Rebekah both had hot chocolate and Leah had a gourmet apple cider popsicle. Everything was delicious, including the homemade salted caramel placed next to my latte'. Carabello has a great story about starting with a commitment to purchase directly from the farmers that grow the coffee.

To quote their Facebook page, they are a "philanthropic artisan coffee roasting company serving Greater Cincinnati. Our mission is to equitably source exceptional coffees, roast them to perfection and then use the profits as a way to fund works of compassion in Third World coffee producing nations like Nicaragua and Kenya. We give Cincinnati coffee lovers who want to shop their conscience a reason to celebrate."

Located at 107 East 9th Street, we discovered that they sit in the heart of a great "mom and pop" business district on Monmouth that we will explore further in the near future. Honestly, this is worth your trip down to Newport whether you're heading to the Levy or not. Stop in, by some coffee, sit and chat with your chums and know that your purchase is making a difference.

Guru India Restaurant- Crescent Springs, Kentucky

Last night, my oldest wanted to go out to eat and spend some time with me. I hesitated at first because I knew I shouldn't spend the money...but then I felt prompted to also remember that she turns 18 in less than a month and these moments are precious and few. I attempted to let her pick the place since she is adhering to a strict Vegan diet with very little grains too. She obviously also cares about not frying her food and limiting her sugar intake to almost non-existent. But she kept saying, "I can find something anywhere". 

In my desire to allow her to eat more than a plain, iceberg lettuce salad, I wanted to try a new place. One that is locally owned and offers vegetarian or vegan options would be a huge bonus too! 

I think we found it!

Guru India in Crescent Springs, just off of Buttermilk Pike had numerous vegetarian options. And while the meal prices were a little steeper than we like to pay for dinner ($11+), there are dozens of ala carte options too. I was considering ordering some dal soup and nan, both of which I already like...when Abbey found a Vegetarian Thal special that included an appetizer, aloo tikki, choley, mater paneer, dal, nan, raita, rice and a small dessert topped with papardamm. Do not ask me other, than the dal and nan, which item was which...but they were all delicious!

We shared the $15.99 meal and together were only able to eat about half of it. Granted, there was cream in some of the dishes, but Abbey was able to steer clear of those and still feel stuffed by the end of the meal. My favorite thing is that you get to pick the spice level from 1 to 5. We chose a 2 and I didn't notice any heat. We could probably bump it up one the next time if we wanted. I also had a glass of sweet mango juice that was very tasty.

The staff, while not overly friendly was definitely pleasant and helpful. The hesitancy may have been more of a language or cultural barrier, but regardless, they were much more welcoming than our most recent excursion in Hebron.

While we were sitting there soaking in the music (which I love!) and the pleasant atmosphere, I remarked to Abbey that just the smell of spices emanating through the restaurant was wonderful. I love all things Indian and this is somewhere I know we'll visit again.

Edwardo's Pizza and Subs- Hebron, Kentucky

I have hesitated to write this review...solely because I have had a strong desire to promote local businesses positively. And, admittedly, in the past, I have had positive experiences at Edwardo's. Last Friday night, was not one such experience.

We arrived at a normal time for dinner around 6:30 p.m. When my husband walked in, one server sounded perturbed and blurted out, "I was about to go home!" He apologized (for inconveniencing her I suppose) and she replied, "Oh, no...you're okay." [Pshew! I was afraid we'd done something wrong by expecting to be welcomed into a pizzeria at dinnertime on a Friday night.] Okay...I'll attempt to leave out the sarcasm from this point forward.

The server who did take our orders asked if we were ready...as she walked by our table about 20 feet to the next one. I said I had a question as she walked by and she yelled...from the other table..."Go ahead!" I (not wanting to also yell across the restaurant) waited for her to return to our table. You see, I have this thing about eating out being different from eating at home. One reason I love to eat out so much is because not only do I not have to prepare or clean up after the food, we just all act differently. Yelling from room to room?...I can do that at home.

She arrived back at our table with a disgruntled, "Go ahead...I can multi-task!...I have to."

Now...at this point...if I'd had my wits about me and known of Dale's greeting from the previous server (I wasn't in the building when it happened). I would have said something like, "You know what...it seems you are all a bit overwhelmed tonight...even though there is only us and your table of eight back there...so how about we just pay for our drinks we haven't drank yet and we'll get out of your hair?" My kids would have been mortified...but we would have saved $40 on a meal that honestly just wasn't that good.

We were minus one child and Dale plus the other three each ordered individual pizzas for $5 each. Sure, they were able to have the toppings they liked, but the crust, in Abbey's words, "tasted like pizza buffet crust". Honestly, I tasted her's and I have better memories of Chey Boyardee box mix. Dale's taco pizza was taco meat and cheese...no lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream or anything like other places have served on their versions.

I ordered the house salad for $5.49. Granted, this was not an $8-10 salad like you may order at a finer establishment, but, in my large bowl was about 1/4 cup wilted iceberg lettuce with about a heaping cup of toppings...most of which was bacon. I have had this salad at a previous visit and was looking forward to eating it again. It's precisely why I suggested this restaurant. You live and learn I guess. Given the mood of our server...who told me she was the one to prepare my salad...and that three more tables of patrons had arrived...I didn't complain for fear of upsetting the delicate balance of her equilibrium. She was not pleasant at anytime during our visit and actually bordered on being rude. My husband still tipped his usual 20%, because that's just who he is and from our demeanor, she may have thought we had a wonderful meal.

I did hesitate to review this restaurant because we have had better experiences there and I just don't want to cause harm in any way to someone that's trying to make an honest living. But as Abbey and I ate at a different establishment last night, had a wonderful meal and compared it to the cost of Edwardo's, she so wisely said, 'But sometimes you have to warn people not to waste their money.' So while I write this with a degree of heaviness for the criticism and negativity it contains, I will add that I am hopeful it was just a bad night and that others have enjoyed much better dining at all of the Northern Kentucky Edwardo's locations.

Every Article I've Read in the Last Six Months Regarding McDonalds...

...mentions Chipotle and Subway as their biggest competitors. Now, Subway still uses processed meats, full of nitrites and nitrates, but Chipotle has been attempting to prove (very successfully, I might add) that a chain restaurant does not have to use factory farming to feed people. I love that we are all waking up to healthier choices and that other fast food chains are no longer dominating the field.

One thing I appreciate deeply about Chipotle is that when their supplies are low on naturally raised pork, chicken or beef, they will post a sign at their restaurants sharing that information with you up front, where you order your food. Then, you, the consumer are allowed to make an informed decision about what you are putting into your body. What other company does that?

Over the last eight years since we first began our Chipotle addiction, I have read from various sources that Chipotle always attempts to use as much locally grown and organic produce, beans and sour cream as possible. When it is not, they are honest about that too. Most recently, I noticed they have taken the pork out of their pinto beans so vegans and vegetarians who have very few affordable options in the restaurant-dining-world can have yet another one to choose from. On my recent trip with Rebekah to Florida, I intentionally planned a Chipotle stop during our driving. I'm learning to take these extra measures because I enjoy reaping the benefits of eating healthier foods when I'm away from home too.

My timing for sharing this though was this link that a Facebook friend shared.(Thanks Deanna!) It is an amazing animated short that shows the future of our food chain. But if you really do your research, you'll realize that this is not too much of a gross exaggeration as to what our food sources already look like. Watch the clip, support Chipotle and start making changes today that will benefit you...your health...and this one planet that we all share.

[If you're a little confused at the end, apparently, there is an app game you can download as well.]

Chuy's, Florence KY, (A Tale of Three Restaurants, part 3)

I have been trying to catch up on some restaurant reviews that I've missed. I have already shared my reviews of two Mexican restaurants, including El Rio Grande of Florence and El Mariachi of Hebron. But I have since learned that the third, Chuy's of Florence, is in fact a chain restaurant. Not that I'm opposed to those who review them, but in an effort to promote locally owned businesses that will support our local economy, I have chosen to not give free advertising to those that do not fall in the category of "locally owned". Sure, it may have local investors or be a franchise, but odds are there is someone still far removed from our local area that is making decisions for the restaurant and sending money elsewhere. Worse case scenarios include large mega-chains that encourage factory farming.

I will just say this. While Chuy's has beautifully distracting decor that is not typical of most Mexican restaurants, I did not see what all of the hype was about. I've seen lots of photos posted on Facebook from people dining here and honestly, I thought at best it was a mediocre meal. Nothing stood out to me as worth the near 20 minute drive for us. Also, with no lunch menu even on a weekday, the cost was far and above what I would normally pay for myself and two of our children to have lunch.

So while I apologize to the die-hard Chuy's fans if I've offended you...I also challenge you to find a place that supports your local community because it is locally owned. Once you do (if you're in the Cincy/Northern KY area), send me a comment about how you like it. If I have a chance to check it out and give it a review, proper credit will be given to you for the recommendation.

El Rio Grande, Florence, KY (A Tale of Three Restaurants, part 2)

My birthday was almost three weeks ago and for my birthday dinner, I really wanted to go to a Japanese steakhouse. But alas  my big day fell on a Sunday and opting for lunch was the plan...hoping a more affordable lunch menu would be available. It wasn't. Our favorite Chinese restaurant is no longer open on Sundays, my parents were in town just a few days before and taken the kids and I to one of my favorite chain restaurants (Abuelos), the two younger girls and I had eaten at another local Mexican place just a week before, so I really didn't have my heart set on Mexican food. But it was conveniently located next to the Japanese steakhouse we were choosing not to frequent in order to save money and we had eaten there a few times before and thought that it would be doable for our family.

To summarize, it wasn't the best birthday meal I've ever had.

Now I know people are loyal to their favorite Mexican food, but out of the three restaurants I'm rating here, I would place this one at the bottom (but it's a close call with second place). They do offer a lunch menu but for our family, it was still too expensive, averaging $10 per person (including tip). It's been a few weeks, but to the best of my memory, we had two teens ordering nachos (as usual), I had a chicken chimichanga (which was just okay), Abbey ordered veggie fajitas (pricey and were doused in corn oil and she barely touched because of it), don't remember what Dale had, but he did like it and one kids meal of chicken fingers and rice that she really didn't care for. The water here is also tap and not very tasty. 

Three things that will have me think twice before I go back are these: 

• The teen who ordered beef nachos ate very few because he said "they smell like poo". They apparently didn't taste like poo, but he couldn't get past the smell. 
• The cost, even for lunch was too much for the quality of food, compared to El Mariachi.
• And lastly, I went along with the big sombrero on my head and everyone singing to me for my kids laughs, but when you bring out the free fried ice cream in honor of my special day, please be certain that it is not wrapped in stale corn flakes and laying on a stale tortilla and definitely don't stick your finger into the dessert you just brought me and proceed to put whip cream on my nose. Not cool, dude...not cool. (Note: I did not complain and we all sort of nervously chuckled in shock that he would brazenly do that. In our family Noah and I are probably the only two that could somewhat laugh that off. If it had happened to the others, not so much.)

So there you have it. I don't really like to pan a place and we have eaten there a few other times with better experiences, but never as a whole family. I don't think it will be high on our list of priorities to return, especially with a much better alternative that we have closer to home.

El Mariachi, Hebron, Kentucky (A Tale of Three Restaurants)

Our daughter, Rebekah, and I were heading out to Florida on her birthday (see post here), so the night before we left, the whole family went to a restaurant of her choosing. El Mariachi was an obvious choice for our Mexican food-loving girl.

As we were dining, I realized I'd eaten at three different locally owned Mexican restaurants in the previous month and had neglected to review them. I guess I just sort of take them for granted. But, I shouldn't. They are not all the same, although their similarities may sometimes prevent me from thinking there are any stand outs.

El Mariachi is the closest Mexican restaurant to us and yet, we have often chosen to drive to others much further away. I'm uncertain why. I think one reason was that only within the last year have they disallowed smoking. Yes, this is Kentucky! And although smoking was limited to the bar, it pervaded the whole store. Well, not anymore.

One other reason for not going there as often has been the expense. It costs Dale and I at least $20 to eat there, but I usually have leftover beans or rice for someone else to enjoy. At that rate of expense though, it would cost our family over $60 for a meal...which is just ridiculous. But...I have two kids that order nachos no matter what Mexican restaurant we go to and at El Mariachi, from 3-7 p.m. all appetizers are half off...including nachos.

So the rundown for our family was this: chicken nachos, bean nachos and a large queso bowl (all half price), a kid's meal of chicken fingers and rice (including drink), Dale's Santa Fe burrito, and Abbey and I shared veggie fajitas with rice (and didn't finish it all), two drinks and tip for $45. I know, still quite a bit of money, but much cheaper than any other birthday dinners we've had in the last year. In fact, when I post the reviews of the other two Mexican restaurants, I think you'll appreciate the cost difference.

I should add quickly that all of the food was delicious too. Sometimes veggie fajitas are covered in corn oil at other restaurants, but not here. I have only two "complaints" and both are more than tolerable...our server was a bit overwhelmed and didn't seem to have a lot of assistance delivering food, with refills, etc. Other visits have been better. And when I ask for water, as I should...in an attempt to avoid pop, it is tap...and not tasty tap either. I've noticed a similar taste in their pop in the past, so I am assuming they do not use a filter. This is easily remedied by bringing my own water from home.

Overall, I have to rate this my favorite locally owned Mexican restaurant in Northern Kentucky right now. I do still love Abuelos (but cost-prohibitive for our family and not locally owned) and On the Border will always be our family favorite, but there are none currently in the Tri-State area.

Next time you're in the mood for a little more authentic Mexican food (Americanized as they all are) come up to Hebron and try El Mariachi. I think you'll like it.

**Two more Mexican restaurant reviews to follow soon**

Cathay Kitchen, Florence, Kentucky

Our favorite Chinese restaurant...hands down...is Cathay Kitchen. It's located at 8049 Connector Drive, Florence, KY. We have eaten there several times and I have negligently never reviewed it. When I worked at Jackson Hewitt for the 2012 tax season, I was just about five doors down from this place. Actually, I was about half-way between Cathay Kitchen and Acapulco Mexican. Not once, did I eat Mexican for lunch though.

Michelle, the owner, was always gracious even when I would get delayed from picking up my food by an unexpected customer, the food is always delicious and she even gave me a discount when I worked in the same strip mall. We don't visit there as often now, but usually someone in the family will pick it for a holiday or birthday option. Such was the case today when my parents were in town for Leah's birthday.

The kids love the orange chicken and pork lo mein. I have tried the General Tso's, cashew chicken and the lite and healthy pick your own veggie meal...all to great satisfaction. Only once did someone have something they didn't like and it was the chicken curry. It wasn't that it was bad, it just had a different flavor than what was expected.

I also like that you can get vegetarian or vegan options and they offer steamed brown rice. The ginger dressing on their house salad is homemade and the best I've ever had from any Japanese or Chinese restaurant or store bought option. 

If you're not looking to eat healthy though, the egg rolls and crab rangoon are the best of any other Chinese restaurant we've tried. And they make their own sweet and sour sauce. That's Leah's go-to meal from any Chinese place and Cathay Kitchen is the only one that doesn't have that bottled bright red sauce. Again, it's chicken, covered in homemade sauce (not chicken pieces to dip) with large pieces of onions, pineapple and green peppers, just like I used to make at home.

Cathay Kitchen usually has coupons in the home mailers or coupon magazines that come in the mail. They offer dine in or carry out and have a full bar too. They sell desserts also, but we have always been too full to try them.

This is a family owned and operated business and supports our local economy. We will drive past about four to five different Chinese places to go here. It's about 15 minutes away from us and there is a Chinese restaurant in Hebron we could walk to...it's that good.

Next time you're craving Chinese...try Cathay Kitchen...I know you'll like it just as much as we do!

Blue & Gray Bar & Grill, Gettysburg, PA

We asked our battlefield tour guide for a local restaurant recommendation and this is what we chose from his suggestions. We had seen it on our drive through the town square area and it looked pretty good.

It was.

We were greeted by a very friendly waitress, but for a family of six, there was really only three places to sit...either at the bar or one of the two tables that were already occupied. A couple of our kids were uncomfortable eating at the bar, so we waited for one of the tables to open up. 

There was a lot of variety to the menu. There are 12 different Battlefield Burger choices alone. Plus, for the Man vs. Food set, a Pickett's Charge Challenge that's free if you finish it. Dale's flag, shows that he stuck with the Union army and chose the General John Fulton Reynolds burger which came on a soft pretzel roll with a corn fritter and warm bacon dressing on top. He thoroughly enjoyed it.

His is the only photo we took, but Noah and Leah had hand-breaded chicken fingers that were yummy, while I had an Ahi Tuna wrap, but the Crab Cakes were very tempting. Abbey chose the Chicken Apple Salad sandwich and Rebekah opted for a Philly Cheesesteak with American cheese instead of Cheeze Whiz as indicated on the menu. A few of us chose waffle sweet potato fries instead of traditional and both blew away any Chick-fil-A competition without a doubt.

Overall, if I had to rate the food, hostess, cleanliness and atmosphere, I'd give this restaurant a solid A. Sadly, our server just wasn't that friendly. I always attempt to be chatty and pleasant because I know servers have a tough job. I can usually get someone to come around and perk up a little. My children have even accused me of being flirtatious when I feel that I'm just being nice. But after about 20 minutes or so with this guy, I gave up trying. This was a pretty pricey place for us, so it annoys me a little when the person we'll be tipping/paying for serving us can't even crack a smile. Oh well!

We still said our requisite pleases and thank yous and we still tipped well, like we always do because we know from personal experience that waiting on a family of six is tough...but it really took until almost the end of the meal before he ever even said, "You're welcome". I just kept telling myself he was probably having a bad day. I'd still only take the experience down to an A- though. If you're in the area, for the food alone, it's definitely worth a try.  

Playwright Tavern, New York City

Our New York City lunch took place in the Playwright Tavern at 202 West 49th Street. This Celtic pub had great traditional food, like the shepherd's pie that Abbey and Noah shared, but also had other delicious options...

like Dale's mahi-mahi, and...

my vegan panini that never had cheese to begin with! The salad was a free option instead of fries and both it and the sandwich were delectable. Needless to say, I couldn't finish the whole thing.

It seemed a little pricey at first, but when the final bill came in, it was only about $5 more than The Pub in Crestview Hills, Kentucky, where we dined for Mother's Day this year. Dale remarked later that the prices at all of the shopping and restaurants we went to weren't that much more than what we typically pay around here.

So this is one more that I'd recommend. If you're ever in midtown Manhattan...it's worth seeking it out for lunch.

Revolution House, Philadelphia PA

We found another great place to eat in Philadelphia called Revolution House. It's also located in the Old City area where we'd had lunch the same day. We had walked miles on that day of sightseeing and just wanted someplace to sit, cool off and eat. Sadly, because I answered that we'd like to eat inside in the air conditioning, we apparently missed a beautiful view on their deck. I found all of the photos in this post on their Facebook page.

The food was delicious but was a little high-priced for us. It was dinner, so I'm not certain what their lunch prices were. Abbey, Leah and I ordered their guacamole appetizer which is served with malanga (aka eddoe) chips, which was a nice twist from the usual tortilla chips. Dale ordered an "small plate" meal of Meatloaf bites for his main course. It was $9 for three large meatball sized pieces with no sides, but he said they were good. 

I ate the Caesar salad with parmesan tuile which was delicious and satisfied my need for a thirst-quenching meal. Abbey also had a salad wedge which was far bigger than any I've seen before. It was actually more than she could eat. The two youngest were able to share a "small plate" macaroni and cheese that was homemade, ooey, gooey, cheesy goodness. It was fairly small, but was so rich they were both full with only half. Noah was the big eater of the day. He ordered the 1/2 pound American Burger with fries. It was on what appeared to be a homemede bun that wasn't very thick. Because it wasn't mostly bun, he was almost able to finish the whole sandwich. Of course, we all had a sample of his yummy fries.

The food was good, it was a nice quiet place (at least while we were there), but for our family of six, the prices were a little higher than we would normally like to pay. All in all though, for a locally owned restaurant with delicious food, it was worth the extra walking to get there.

Soho Pizza, Philadelphia PA

The smell of these is what drew us helplessly into the hole-in-the-wall, incredible lunch place we found in the Old City district of Philadelphia. Yes, those are New York Style slices baked in a brick oven and loaded with lots of different combinations that I'm certain are all delicious...even though I didn't taste any of them. My husband and two youngest daughters said they more than lived up to their appearance and aroma and that one piece each was enough to fill up the girls. Each slice was cheaper than a Happy Meal...so it's a win/win as far as I'm concerned.

In my ongoing effort to keep "Writing a Better Story", buying local and supporting local businesses is becoming more and more important to me. Of course, we had our fair share of fast food and Starbucks visits on this trip, but when we wanted a good meal...at least once daily...we intentionally chose a non-chain, non-corporate, local establishment. Soho Pizza was a great introduction into the delicious options found in Philly. And actually, the cost was about what we would have paid at a Chipotle or something comparable. I probably tipped a little more than I normally would in a place where I have to place my order at the bar...but the guy who took our order was very friendly and gave me a lot of grief for ordering "pop" instead of the East Coast "soda". 

Prior to my juice fast, I kept telling the kids I was definitely going to have a Philly Cheesesteak while in the city that gave it the name, but the further I got into my juice fast, I didn't think I wanted one. Once I walked into Soho Pizza and saw what they looked like, I couldn't resist sharing a sandwich with Noah. The sandwich on the plate is my half and the sandwich in the foreground is Abbey's Mama's Chicken sandwich of which she also could only eat half. They both were huge, could easily be split and were delicious. At about $8 per sandwich, when sharing...that means about the same price as the chain version of Subway...only infinitely better tasting!. 

So, I'd had my Philly Cheesesteak and had no more. As Mary Poppins once said, "Enough is as good as a feast!" If you're ever in Philly, I hope Soho Pizza is still there...try it and you'll be glad you did!