Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, and a whole lot of Florida (really long post)

[MatthewDavid]

[Couldn't bear to break this post up, so I will post it on all the appropriate boards.]

Hiya Hounds!

Recently moved from Williamsport PA to Apollo Beach FL. As a friend of mine put it, I ate my way from PA to FL, but you be the judge. =)

PENNSYLVANIA

Saturday, April 25th (Williamsport PA)
Regrettably only my first time at Joanna's Italian Bakery on Market Street, I got a fresh loaf of hot chili and cheese bread. Apparently they serve soups and sandwiches during the week, wish I had tried them.

Sunday, April 26th (Hughesville PA)
Ate with friends at my favorite breakfast place in the area: Butler's Eatery on Main Street. I think I had steak and scrambled eggs with a blueberry pancake. Sara had an omelet I think, and Mike had pancakes with a side of scrapple. I usually detest scrapple, but theirs was not bad.

Monday, April 27th (Williamsport PA)
Lunch with friends at Jasmine Thai on Washington Blvd, which I prefer to Joy Thai, especially since they know how to create real heat when you want it. The last time I was there I had pad thai so spicy I was sweating and crying! =) This time we just ordered 3 different types of Thai dumplings (shrimp, pork, and sho mai) and steamed rice. Yum! That night stopped by Long Island Pizza---www.longislandpizza.net ---for a slice. This is my favorite pizza place in the area. Venice's pizza is slightly better, but LIP's owner Curt is a great guy with a huge personality, plus he has an upright piano he lets me play anytime I want. For you Cheesecake Factory fans, he does carry their cheesecake.

Tuesday, April 28th (Williamsport PA
)Supposed to get on the road to Philly at 6pm, but turn out to have last minute work stuff and packing stuff, so I take a dinner break and grab one last root beer at the Bullfrog---www.bullfrogbrewery.com ---they brew their own!---and then, I am ashamed to say, my first bison burger at Smokey Joe's on 3rd Street. Both were terrific! Left Williamsport the next morning with a jug of Bullfrog rootbeer (which they will sell you for $12, and you can refill for $6), and a loaf of challah from Wegmans:---https://www.wegmans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10052&productId=373873&catalogId=10002&krypto=QJrbAudPd0vzXUGByeatog%3D%3D&ddkey=http:ProductListView

Wednesday, April 29th (Philadelphia PA
)Stopped by Jim's Steaks---www.jimssteaks.com ---on South Streetn for cheese steak with whiz, which I prefer over Geno's/Pat's. It is not 24/7, but they are open late, I think until 3am most nights. Ate the steaks with my cousins and my buddy Colby who had flown in to drive me down, and washed it down with Fanta Raspberry birch beer, mmmm. I actually prefer Tony Luke's to Jims, but they do not do whiz.

MARYLAND

Wednesday, April 29th (Baltimore MD
)Colby and I made it to B'more and stopped by Hollins Market just as it was closing. He grabbed a crab cake, not amazing, but better than most of what he has had in Chicago. I got a beef polish burnt to hell by the Hot Dog King, decent meat but tasty grill. =) Then it was off to Isabella's---www.isabellasbrickoven.net ---where we picked up the best olives I have ever eaten. Red spanish, green, and spicy green, Yum!

VIRGINIA

Wednesday, April 29th (Richmond VA
)Stopped at a place called Nanking---www.nankingrestaurant.com ---I hoped was going to be Korean BBQ, but was Chinese. No worries, just ordered several appetizers, sort of a simulated late night dim sum. Had shrimp rolls, egg rolls, summer rolls, and steamed dumplings. Only bad thing was the steamed dumplings, not fresh. =( Finally made it to my cousins' place in Greensboro at 3am.

NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA

Thursday, April 29th (Greensboro NC
)No food, too full from the day before and the girl scout cookies my cousins had. We did however pick up a bottle of cherry coke and diet cherry coke, local NC brand called Cheerwine---www.cheerwinecorp.com . Diet tasted like cough syrup, but regular was great!

Thursday, April 29th (Charleston SC
)Per my NC cousin's friend's recommendation, we went to Shem Creek Oyster Bar---www.shemcreekbarandgrill.com ---in Mount Pleasant. Food was decent and atmosphere very nice, right on a little inlet of water, and some friendly/hungry stray cats to keep us company. Had fried oysters as an appetizer, my first oysters ever! Glad I tried them? Yes. Try oysters again? Not likely. Just for good measure, I scraped off the fried breading off of one of them and tried it, not my fave. Then we hopped down the road to go to Mama Brown's BBQ on Ben Sawyer Blvd. Unfortunately no ribs, they only do ribs once per week. So we got some vinegar pulled pork to go. Would've gotten mustard too, but did not think I would have the appetite anytime soon.

GEORGIA

Thursday, April 29th (Savannah GA
)After checking into hotel (got the Hyatt Regency in historic Savannah through Priceline for $80 out-the-door!), we walked around and stumbled on Lulu's dessert cafe, which may have been the highlight of the trip---www.luluschocolatebar.net . Colby had some dessert wine and I had Strawberry suspension cake. It was a chocolate cake sporting a dark chocolate gnoche outer layer, and stuffed with fresh strawberries and mascarponi. Apparently, mascarponi is an Italian cream cheese, the same as what is used in tiramasu. I am not a fan of tiramasu, but loved this!

Friday, April 30th (Savanna GA
)Tired and hungry, I wrapped the still uneaten BBQ in its tinfoil and ran it under hot water in the hotel sink, which worked. We cracked open the Wegmans challah and improvised sandwiches, which were as good as I remember. I started regretting not also getting some mustard bbq. =)

FLORIDA

Friday, April 30th (Gainesville FL)
I am going to skip over the part where we stopped on the side of the road to get boiled peanuts because they were awful, though Colby did end up buying a walking stick for the guy. We drove out of our way a little to go to Gainesville: Steamers!---www.buddhabelly.us . Love places like this, eclectic, small, cheap, huge portions. Colby stated we are not allowed to "split" anything, only couples split; men "half" things. =) So we halfed a shrimp twister, medium spicy, and some pork fried rice. For you vegetarians, try the ??? They cook everything in big woks, and it is terrific, for sure one of my faves in Gainesville if not my favorite.

Friday, April 30th (Apollo Beach FL
)We were going to stop in Orlando to pick up key lime cake for my pregnant wife Toni, but my car was having trouble, so we went straight to Apollo Beach, only stopping to grab some chow from Christine's Carribean Cafe---www. christinescaribbeancuisine.com . Meat pies are always good, as was the steamed cabbage/carrots, rice and beans, and Colby liked the jerk chicken. Unfortunately she was out of Calypso punch which is to die for, but she makes it to order and they were about to close.

Saturday, May 1st (Sarasota FL)
We started the day at C'est La Vie on Main Street, my favorite breakfast place in this area. I forget what kind of sandwich I had, but I remember there were spanish olives and goat cheese, and it had a strong after taste. Delicious croissants and fruity baked goods as appetizers, and the others ordered omelets and crepes. Lunch was at D & R BBQ (2719 18th St, 941-951-0632), amazing ribs and finger-licking-good spicy BBQ sauce! They only do BBQ on Saturdays out of this parking lot stand. No trip to Sarasota would be complete without a trip to SweetBerries in Bradenton---www.sweetberries.com ---for sure in the top 5 of best ice cream I have ever had. I had a strawberry milkshake and my Toni had a "concrete" SweetBerries Sunset. (BTW, SweetBerries now has a location in Sarasota.

)

Sunday, May 2nd
My first day of teaching at Springfield College. Lunch was at Tijuana Flats---www.tijuanaflats.com ---a decent Mexican chain that I am happy to say now serves whole wheat tortillas. Dinner was at Jai Ho Indian Cuisine---www.jaihofoods.com . The nan was packed with a thin layer of potato was some kind of spicy that offers a little heat. Entree was a spicy beef and rice dish (lost the menu, can't remember the name). Just got off the phone with the place, they say their website will be up soon, maybe as early as this Monday. Also stay tuned, they are going to start offering breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays!

Monday, May 3rd (Tampa FL
)Just stopped for a quick lunch at Chipotle, which I only go to if there is no Tijuana Flats or Moe's around. It was okay, just had some Carnitas.

Monday, May 3rd (Jacksonville FL)
Went to Jax for a concert. Playing? Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer!
http://www.floridatheatre.com/DesktopModules/EventsCalendar/Popup.aspx?ItemID=124&Mid=512&PortalID=0&TabID=62&selecteddate=20090504&culture=en-US
Beforehand, Toni and I met up with some family to Picasso's Pizzeria---www.picassospizzeria.net ---which was not bad. Started with Bruschetta and Mac & Cheese Fry. Pizza was one meat pie and one white pizza white spinach. Not worth a special trip, but great if you live in the area.

Wednesday, May 5th (Orlando FL
)At the Florida Library Association conference. For lunch went to the Millers/Kirman Ale House---www.millersalehouse.com ---it was that or TGIF). Got the "Pasta Orleans," quite forgettable.. That evening grabbed quiche (cheddar/spinach) and a slice of amazingly good key lime cake from the Dessert Lady---www.dessertlady.com . Okay, the cake was for Toni, but she let me have a bite. =

)

Thursday, May 6th (Orlando FL)
Conference day two. Went to Mama Nems---www.mamanemssoulfood.com ---a decent soul food restaurant. Spicy sausage, corn bread, baked beans, fried green tomatoes, and apple cobbler. Sounds good I know, and it was okay, especially the FGT. Cobbler too sugary, only could eat a couple of bites.

Friday, May 7th (Orlando/Windermere FL
)On my way out of town, I went out of my way to go to Yellow Dog Eats---www.yellowdogeats.com . The owner, Fish Morgan, is a riot, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, and has put together a tasty cafe. I had the Retriever's Roast which "is a beef sandwich layered with Creole mustard and greens on herb onion bread." It was a fun lunch with excellent service, despite how busy they were.

Sunday, May 9th (Tampa FL
)Went to the new Star Trek movie with Toni (awesome). Beforehand, we dined at Morae's Cafe---www.moraescafe.com . Our first time at a self-described Persian restaurant. We started with some of the best hummus we have ever had! My entree was Gormeh Sabzi, terrific! Toni had Chelo Kabob Koobideh. I will probably try the lamb next time. Washed it down with two really refreshing bottles of mango juice, not quite as thick as an Indian lassi, but close.

Monday, May 10th (Tampa FL
)Friends visiting from PA, and I took them to Queen of Sheeba Ethiopian---www.ethiopianrestauranttampa.com . We started with Vegetarian Sambussa and a choice of two dipping sauces. Then we ordered a platter for 3---should have ordered for two! There was lamb (really tender), chopped beef, sauteed beef, yellow split peas, collard greens, potatoes, lentils, and my favorite steamed cabbage. Check their website for "A Taste of Ethiopia" on May 23rd. For those of you who eat here, in case you do not know, they do a buffet from 11am to 2pm M-F.

Tuesday, May 11th (Tampa FL
)Took my friends to have dim sum (their first time) at TC Choys---www.tcchoysbistro.com . This place is almost as good as what I have had in Canada and NYC. We scarfed up lots of dumplings (shrimp, pork, ginger pork, spinach), some egg rolls, and steamed pork buns. Afterwards we stopped at a chocolate shop I think called Schakolad---http://www.schakolad.com/... . They got various milk chocolate and said was quite good.

After all of this I am quite fat, and quite broke, with lots of leftovers in my freezer, so I may not be going out for a while, but will try to post when I do. =

)

Cheers,
~Matthew
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[MatthewDavid]

PS---My other PA favorites:

Smiley's
www.smileysdowntownexpress.com

Amato's Pizza
(for a good cheesesteak in Central PA
)10 Linda Ln, Selinsgrove - [phone]

Clem's BBQ
www.clemsfire.com

Yocco's "The Hot Dog King"
www.yoccos.com

Barrel 135 (for salads
)www.billtownlive.com/barrel135

Tony Luke's
www.tonylukes.com

Frank's
www.franksspaghetti.com

Franklin Fountain
www.franklinfountain.com

Ariana Restaurant
www.restaurantariana.com

Primanti Brothers
www.primantibrothers.com
(just found out there are two Florida locations, yeah!

)

Wilson's Bar-BQ
700 N Taylor Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15212 [phone]