The Broke Baker

Category: American

  • B & B Butchers (A Review)

    B & B Butchers (A Review)

    On a recent visit to Houston to visit my sister, we agreed that I had to have a classic “Houston Steakhouse” experience.  After all, Texas is cattle country, and they sure do pride themselves on the quality of their beef.  B & B Butchers was not too far from where my sister lived at the time, so it was a good choice for us to try out.  Plus, the reviews were pretty high.  Can’t argue with that, right?

    The restaurant is located at the site of a former bakery.  In addition to the actual steakhouse restaurant, it also features a butcher shop and a deli on the side.  We didn’t visit either of those, and they are not visible from within where we were at the restaurant.

    Not long after you are seated, they bring you a nice basket of bread and a side of whipped butter.  That is pretty standard for a white-linen type of place.  The bread was good, although I don’t know what kind of bread it actually was.

    Their appetizer special was bacon wrapped jumbo shrimp.  While I wish that the bacon was a little more crisp, the dish overall was delicious.  It was served in a butter herb sauce that was subtle enough to keep your focus on the taste of the shrimp and the bacon.  My sister also ordered a crab cake, which was a solid crab cake.  It definitely tasted like a fancy steakhouse crab cake, but there was nothing particularly unique about it.

    For my entree, I got the ribeye club cut.  I had never had a “club cut” before, so I was expecting a long and marbled slab of fatty steak.  At first, I was shocked at getting what looked like a tiny filet.  When the shock wore off, I actually enjoyed my steak very much.  It wasn’t quite as tender as a filet, but it had full-bodied flavor.  It was also surprisingly filling, despite the size.  The steak was served with what I think was a house-made steak sauce and truffle “fries.”  To me, steak fries are more like potato wedges instead of fries, but they did taste a lot better than most potato wedges do.  I appreciated that the potato was soft all the way through, since steak fries have a tendency to taste raw in the middle.

    I enjoyed my meal at B & B Butchers and would definitely eat there again if my travels bring me to Houston.

    For more information on B & B Butchers, visit their web site at http://bbbutchers.com/

     

  • PizzaRev (A Review)

    PizzaRev (A Review)

    Good pizza has always been hard to come by in Miami.  And, even pizza places that are great when they first open start to decline after a while sometimes, so the hunt for a good pie is a perpetual one.  I don’t consider myself an expert on pizza, but I know what I like in my pies.  I like fresh cheese, a tomato sauce that is not overpowering, and meat that doesn’t taste like it came out of drug store bag.  On all of these counts, PizzaRev delivered.

    PizzaRev’s menu style is not a new concept.  I typically refer to these kinds of places as “Chipotles for Pizza,” which seems like an accurate estimation.  You’ve got an assembly line setup where you can build your perfect pie, then take it back to your table piping hot.  What really makes or breaks these types of pizza joints is the quality of their ingredients.

    You can pick from four different types of sauces and an assortment of cheeses, including vegan cheese.  They also have baskets of breadsticks, but I didn’t try those.  Their tomato sauce is made with organic tomato.

    The next section is where you add the “heavy” toppings like meats.

    The last section is where you add the “lighter” toppings, like sprinklings of herbs or vegetables.  I like my pizzas simple, so I got pepperoni, basil, and garlic on mine.

    The end-product was an absolute beauty.  The crust is thin enough to let the flavors of the toppings shine through, but not so thin that your pizza just collapses if you try to pick up a slice.  The cheese at PizzaRev had that stretch that comes with any good pizza, and the sauce didn’t overpower the rest of the toppings.

    The counter service was nice, and the place is kept very clean.  I would definitely go back!

    For more information on PizzaRev, visit their web site at https://pizzarev.com/

  • Corleone’s (A Review)

    Corleone’s (A Review)

    Not everyone knows this, but I actually lived in Philadelphia, PA for a while.  More specifically, I lived in Center City and then South Philly.  Back when I thought I could be an artist, I went to an art college in the area.  My life eventually took a different path, but not before I spent a year or two living there.  I don’t miss a whole lot about my broke college says in Philadelphia, but I DO miss those amazing cheesesteaks.  I have always wanted to go back for a visit to eat some of the grub from my college days, but I haven’t found a good reason to justify the cost of a plane ticket.  Still, I really miss a good Philly cheesesteak, and they are nearly impossible to come by unless you’re fortunate enough to have a native Philadelphian move into your town.  That’s where Corleone’s comes in.

    Corleone’s is actually in Phoenix, Arizona.  Thanks to Hurricane Irma barreling towards Florida, I made a hasty retreat to Arizona to stay with my sister and her family.  My brother-in-law was born and raised in Philadelphia, and mentioned this as a place to get an authentic cheesesteak.  Not only is the owner originally from Philadelphia, but my brother-in-law went to High School with the owner’s nephew.  It doesn’t get more Philadelphia than that!  Even better, the traditional Philly attitude is absent at Corleone’s.  Instead, you are greeted at the counter with a smile, and they will answer any questions patiently if you haven’t quite decided what you want when you get to the counter.

    In true Philly fashion, the cheesesteaks are made with thinly sliced ribeye.  And, also in true Philly fashion, they offer CHEEZ WHIZ for their sandwiches.  The bread was soft, but did not get mushy or soggy and held together very well against the moistness of the meat and cheese.  The fries were golden, crispy, and well-seasoned.  The next time I visit my family in Arizona, I would like to try getting one of these to-go and see if it holds up to traveling as well as the cheesesteaks from Philadelphia do.  And yes, I will definitely be asking my family to take me back to Corleone’s during my next family visit.

    For more information on Corleone’s, visit their web site at http://www.corleones.net/

  • Homecomin’ (A Review)

    Homecomin’ (A Review)

    The best part about having a job that requires occasional travel is that you get to try new places to eat in different areas.  I make a big show out of it, too.  I scour the web for what’s around the area where I will be staying with good reviews and a menu that piques my interest.  My trip to Orlando for a conference was no different.

    The main challenge of dining in Orlando is that it’s a very “touristy” city, with the theme parks and all.  So, lots of the restaurants cater to tourists or don’t really bother making great food because they don’t expect return customers anyway.  I can’t tell you how many times I felt like I overpaid for my meals during weekends in Orlando.  I was hesitant to even consider eating at any restaurants in Disney Springs, the themed outdoor mall that was formerly Downtown Disney.  But, my hotel was only a few minutes away and I am lazy about driving in unfamiliar cities.  I found Chef Art Smith’s restaurant, Homecomin’, on the list of restaurants in Disney Springs and knew that I had to go there.  I mean, Southern food by the guy that was formerly Oprah Winfrey’s personal chef!?  Who would say no to that?

    I was able to snag a seat at the bar by hovering by some bar patrons that were settling their tab.  It’s worth pointing out that the restaurant was jam packed in the early evening on a Sunday, and I assume it only gets worse as the evening wears on.  The bar serves the same menu as the dining area, and I opted for an appetizer.  The Thigh High Chicken Biscuits sounded like a winner to me.  The chicken is brined for 24 hours before it is fried, drizzled with hot honey, and sandwiched between two halves of a cheddar biscuit.  The sandwiches also had butter pickles, which I picked off.  The chicken had a crisp, flavorful crust that yielded with little trouble to reveal impeccably juicy meat underneath.  The hot honey added a subtle sweetness and a touch of heat.  The biscuits were of the drop variety, but they were tender and flaky.  Did I mention that they have sweet tea?  Do you really need anything else besides a glass of sweet tea and some fried chicken after a flight?  I didn’t think so.

    The service was also great.  I sat at the bar, which often lends itself to getting ignored in favor of patrons that are drinking heavily.  Instead, each bartender checked on me several times and made sure that I had everything that I needed.  They were also very knowledgeable on the menu, which is GREAT when you’re that annoying diner that asks a million questions about menu items.

    I strongly recommend reservations, or be prepared to wait a while.

    For more information about Homecomin’, please visit the web site at http://www.homecominkitchen.com/

  • The Parlor Pizzeria (A Review)

    The Parlor Pizzeria (A Review)

    I must admit that it came as a shock to me to find out that Phoenix, Arizona is kind of “on the map” as one of the go-to cities in the US for pizza lovers.  I expected it to shine in Southwestern food, but my few visits to my sister over there have left me a little underwhelmed in that regard.  So, when a pizza place in Phoenix made it on a Food Network list, I used the next visit to my sister and her family as an excuse to give them a try.  We made our way to The Parlor Pizzeria in a caravan of half adults and half kids.

    The walkway towards the entrance is decorated with a small garden.  According to the hostess, they try to get as much of their pizza ingredients from their outdoor garden.  That is one thing that stood out about this place.

    We started with a fritto misto (fried calamari and shrimp) and an order of arancini (fried saffron risotto balls).  We enjoyed both.  The fritto misto had a very light batter and was tender, not rubbery.  None of us were fans of romesco sauce, but discovered that it was fanastic when dipped in the pomodoro sauce that arancini were served with.  I expected the arancini to be cheesier, but it was a little bit dry and crumbly on the inside.  This probably helped the saffron stand out, but I’m used to risotto being creamy and cheesy.

    Unlike most pizza joints, The Parlor Pizzeria doesn’t have a “build your own pizza” option where you pick your size and toppings.  Instead, they have a fixed menu of available pizzas with pre-selected toppings.  I played it safe and ordered a Pepperoni.  It came with giant slices of pepperoni, house-made mozzarella cheese, and basil.  I can’t begin to describe how amazing it smelled when it was brought to the table.  Then I tasted it.  I think I finally understand why restaurants boast about local ingredients on their menus.  This pizza was unlike any mass-produced pie that I have ever eaten in my life.  Even the grease pooling up on top of the pizza was flavorful.  It tasted of all of the love and passion that was used to make every single ingredient.  It tasted like heaven.  Cheesy, greasy heaven.

    For the kids, they also had plain cheese pizza, as well as pepperoni pizza without the fancy cheese and basil.  The kids, picky as they are, all loved their pizza and were excited to come back when their aunt from Miami asked if there was time for a quick lunch before dropping her off at the airport on the day that she was scheduled to leave.  And, I definitely plan on visiting them again the next time that I’m in Phoenix.

    For more information on The Parlor Pizzeria, visit their web site at https://theparlor.us/

  • Da Burger Shack (A Review)

    Da Burger Shack (A Review)

    Ah, burgers.  Like most “All-American” foods, burgers are basically a balanced meal.  You’ve got all of the primary food groups: meat, dairy, vegetables, fruit (yes, tomato is a fruit), and grain.  It’s the balanced meal that you can hold in your hand!  What more could you possibly ask for?  Okay, maybe a delicious burger that’s zero calories is a bit much, but one can dream.  A good burger is not necessarily difficult to come by in Miami, but it might require making a drive.  And, sometimes you just don’t feel like doing all of that.  So, it’s always nice to try and find new places that serve good burgers around Miami.  That way, no matter where you are, there’s a good burger somewhere nearby.

    Da Burger Shack is one of those food truck success stories where a food truck business did well enough to open an actual storefront.  They serve Chicago-inspired burgers, although I’m not exactly sure what that means.  Given the amount of praise that is heaped onto this place, I’m surprised that it took me this long to discover them.

    20161105_135826
    In case you forget where you’re eating while you’re waiting for your food.

    The restaurant is probably about the size of a fast food chain restaurant.  However, while you do order at a counter, your food is made-to-order.  The person at the counter was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu, although I already had an idea of what I wanted.

    20161105_141102I ordered the BBQ, Bacon, and Cheddar burger (otherwise known as my Burger Holy Trinity).  As the name implies, it’s a burger with BBQ sauce, bacon, and cheddar cheese.  It was also topped with sauteed onions and a fried onion ring.  The burger was cooked exactly how I asked (medium).  It was juicy, tender, and flavorful.  The bacon had the right amount of chewiness.  The fries I found to be kind of average, but they are included with the burger so I won’t complain much.  They were just fine with ketchup.

    Da Burger Shack has not replaced my favorite burger place in Miami, but it is definitely worth a return trip.

    For more information on Da Burger Shack, visit their web site at http://www.daburgershack.com/105089/home

     

  • Pizza Johny’s (A Review)

    Pizza Johny’s (A Review)

    Pizza is one of those foods that I am pretty much always in the mood for.  Unless I am writhing in agony, then chances are that I won’t turn down the offer of a good slice of pizza.  Unfortunately, good pizza is hard to come by in Miami, especially if you’re looking for a traditional NY Style pie.  Your standard delivery chains are okay for when a sudden craving hits when you’re pressed for money or time, but sometimes you need more.  Sometimes, “decent” is just not enough.  You can’t settle.  You WON’T settle.

    That’s where Pizza Johny’s comes in… (more…)

  • Taurus – A Review

    Taurus – A Review

    In a city like Miami, restaurants come and go a LOT.  Oftentimes, they close without warning.  On this particular day, that is exactly what happened.  I took a drive to Coconut Grove with a friend of mine to use a voucher for an Italian joint that we both really like, only to find that it was no longer there.  Hungry, broke, and too lazy to drive anywhere else, we scoured Groupon for any other deals nearby.  That is how we came to find Taurus. (more…)

  • Brimstone (A Review)

    Brimstone (A Review)

    I have a confession to make.  I am a lazy, lazy woman.  That, and I hate driving.  In fact, I hate it so much that it gets factored into a lot of decisions that I make.  Driving time and distance both influenced my choice of employers, residence, and recreation.  I am the worst road trip companion ever.

    So, when someone recommended Brimstone Woodfire Grill in Pembroke Pines as a restaurant to try, I put it on the shelf for well over a year.  I figured I would get around to it if I ever had to take a trip to Broward County for any other purposes, which never happened.  Then, one day, someone offered to make the drive and bring me along.  The stars aligned, all signs pointed to Kay and Brimstone, and there I was! (more…)

  • Cafe Maxx (A Review)

    Cafe Maxx (A Review)

    Normally, I am allergic to driving long distances.  However, Cafe Maxx was recommended to me by a reliable source, and I am not one to shy away from a commute if there is a good meal to be had at the destination.  With that in mind, I made the trip to Cafe Maxx in Pompano Beach to see if they would live up to the recommendation.

    (more…)