Daniel B.

10/26/2022

Wow! It's not often that I leave a restaurant and cannot wait to return. The Floridian gets top marks for me across the board. Service, ambiance, food, drinks, everything was great. With over a thousand reviews proclaiming its excellence, this is far from a hidden treasure, but is sure feels like one.

Perhaps what I liked best about it all was how unassuming a place this is. In downtown St. Augustine with all of the hustle and bustle of a weekend evening, The Floridian was a calm, quiet oasis for adults who enjoy well made food from great ingredients, with deep flavors, and creative preparations.

Too often innovative cocktail menus are a mess. I don't think it makes too much sense to go into all the details of the drink that knocked my socks off, as I hear the menu is always changing. Let's just say that it was a riff off The Last Word and used Kafir Lime Leaves for a great herbal aromatic punch, in combination with local spirits. It was simply dynamite.

My dining companions and I had all agreed to try and eat as many Florida shrimp as we could, and I was glad to see The Floridian had many different preparations for us to try. Maybe too many, as we did not quite have room for the pickled pepper shrimp, which was a pity. Next time.

I also heard great things about the meatloaf sandwich, which will also have to wait. In fact, next visit to St. Augustine it may be hard to get me to eat anyplace else.

Seriously. Favorite meal of the trip. Probably my favorite meal this month. It's certainly in the running for my favorite meal of the year. More restaurants should take a page from The Floridian's book.

10/20/2022

Admittedly, I am more "cannabis curious" than I am any kind of connoisseur. In fact, I'm not terribly comfortable communicating about my consumption from my computer.

That said, Winewood Organics is such a great place I felt compelled to chime in about its charms.

The word on the flags outside of their rustic wooden and hand painted building are what originally brought me in. As someone who enjoys eating food that is locally grown, celebrates buying ingredients from farmers markets, and loves supporting small businesses, this is the recreational dispensary for me!

Winewood grows all of their own plants. On site. In soil. Using organic practices. They make all of their own gummies, now in multiple different formulations and flavors, but I am partial to the lemon ginger ones with a 1:1 ratio of THC to CBD. Winewood also produces their extracts and concentrates on site, using the flowers grown right here in Ann Arbor.

The staff is terrific. Everyone has been friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. Prices are in line with the market, which to me seem really quite reasonable. Actually, I'm always surprised at how little this stuff costs compared to other stuff like craft beer. I have bought two grams of flower for less than I have spent on a special four pack of beer. Granted, that was a hella expensive four pack of beer, but you get the gist.

Are there downsides? Maybe.

Other dispensaries carry strains of cannabis with silly high THC percentages. I've tried those, and while they can be fun, what Winewood grows is more than potent enough for my tastes and desires. Plus, where do those pumped up packs of pleasure come from? Who grows them? How are they cured? It can be hard to tell.

At Winewood you know what you are getting, and it's good stuff!

Winewood is also small. I totally dig that. But if you are looking for something specific, you may very well be out of luck. However, since they are small, they are also nimble. Winewood has been growing its selection based on customer demand and feedback, so if you want something let 'em know and they may just make it for you.

That's the story of Winewood's classic bubble hash, like the stuff old hippies used to enjoy. You can buy it there, although I haven't tried it. My journey through their inventory has been limited, as my use of cannabis is modest at best. I want to try as much as I can, but just a wee little bit takes me to where I want to go.

With my limited consumption and their modest prices, I can't give Winewood nearly enough money to make sure they are successful in the long haul. Because I love them, and I want Winewood to stick around for a thousand years, I have broken my Yelp silence on dispensaries so that others may find their new favorite local recreational dispensary as well.

Just please make sure to leave me a vial of their 1:1 THC/CBD super concentrated tincture, because that stuff is among the best I've found.

10/19/2022

• 1 check-in

Holy forking shirtballs!

Who was the maniac who had the inconceivable notion that a gas-station/convenience store/highway-rest-stop could be a Destination? Well, whoever it was really knocked their vision out of the park!

This place worked on me as it was clearly intended to do, and upon entering Buc-ee's I was compelled to go on a shopping binge... at a highway rest stop.

Of course it helps to advertise the place for miles. By the time you approach the property, you are well acquainted with the smiling face of the beaver mascot. You may even have some sense of the products you want to buy. That beaver's face is just about on everything. Heck, I almost bought a full plush onesie for my teenager so they could look like Buc-ee when tucked into bed at night.

Madness.

What I did end up getting was a sliced brisket sandwich, a fried chicken sandwich, some freshly fried potato chips, and some beaver nuggets. Of these, the only one I might buy again is the sliced brisket sandwich. We're in an era when there are so many great fried chicken sandwiches, even at fast food places, that one with a less than crispy crust need not apply. The chips were fine, but I'd rather save my calories for fatty meats instead of fried potatoes.

If you like BBQ sauce, the chopped brisket sandwich might be more your speed. However, if you are going to eat in the car, I thought sliced would give me a better shot arriving at my destination in a clean shirt. It did. It was also nicely tender and smokey. There were some juicy tender bits of brisket fat, which I love, but it would have been even better had the brisket been trimmed less. The sauce was tasty, and it did not overwhelm the meat, which I appreciated.

As for the "Beaver Nuggets"... it's kind of a love hate thing there. They are definitely worth trying once. The classic version is kind of like a cross between kettle corn and corn puffs. Think cheesy poofs, but with the cheese replaced with a sweet, salty, and crispy glaze. On one hand they are a brilliant feat of food engineering playing off our human desire for fat, sugar, and salt. On the other hand, they are a grotesque indulgence full of fat, sugar, and salt... but not quite really food.

I can imagine trying to feed one to an animal, and watching the animal sniff at the nugget and turn away in search of something nutritious and life sustaining. But hey, if you love them, go for it. You only live once. And we have all kinds of great medicine which can mitigate the harm you might be doing to your body.

So, while I may not love Buc-ee's to pieces, I certainly appreciate this place. You can also rest assured that if I start seeing signs with that smiling beaver on the highway, I'll be stopping in again. Maybe next time I'll try some jerky or find another treasure that will turn my appreciation into a complete and abiding love.

10/3/2022

I've been visiting Altoona at least once a year for over two decades, but it's only been in the last couple of years that "Altoona Style Pizza" popped up on my radar.

This is odd, since I've long been a fan of regional pizza styles. Now some may question if "Altoona Style Pizza" actually exists, of if it's just one of those ideas conceived for the Internet thanks to the "Instagramification" of our food culture.

If one were to try and troll the pizza snobs of New York, suggesting a thick crusted, rectangular pie, covered with slices of yellow American cheese... well, it seems just a little too on the nose. Not to mention, the one place in town that seems to be the darling of web write ups, only sells this style of pizza in limited rotation. I mean, if you cannot get this style of pizza every day of the week, does it even exist?

The short answer is an emphatic yes!

At Al's you will not find anything called "Altoona Style Pizza" but it is there on the menu as "Nonna's Pizza". It only comes in one size, but it is available every day.

Personally, I think this form gets even more legitimacy from Al's treatment of it, attributing this unusual combination to someone's Italian grandmother. Although I have to imagine this matriarch from the old country must have been crestfallen that the only cheese available for this dish bore such little resemblance to what was available in Italy.

But how does it taste?

You know, for comfort food it's pretty good. American cheese slices do have a way of overpowering everything with their aggressive creaminess. And this is the case here. If you've ever toasted a slice of American cheese over bread in the oven, you'll be familiar with the flavor profile of the pie. Amazingly the salami and green pepper don't stand out more.

Would I get this again? Well, I am curious to taste how other Altoona joints make this pie, but I am eager to return to Al's and try something else. The wings look promising, and based on the strength of the crust, I'd be curious to try more traditional pizza pies.

The staff at Al's was great on the phone and during the pickup. The time estimate was right on the money, and street parking was readily available. The building itself felt a little imposing, but once I walked through the doors, the vibe was quite welcoming.

Thanks to Al's for being a standard bearer of a regional delight! I hope this pizza stays on the menu for a thousand years and that Al's gets a little more press for its version.

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  Al's front door may not look super inviting, but inside it's warm and friendly.

  Al's front door may not look super inviting, but inside it's warm and friendly.
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  A closer angle to better appreciate the pepper rings and salami of Nonna's Pizza.

  A closer angle to better appreciate the pepper rings and salami of Nonna's Pizza.
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  Behold! Altoona's very own pizza style, here sold as "Nonna's Pizza".

  Behold! Altoona's very own pizza style, here sold as "Nonna's Pizza".
• See all photos from Daniel B. for Al's Tavern

10/2/2022

I'm the first one to admit when I was wrong.

For years, I felt like Rocket Fizz was a novelty store for those folks who were interested in trying novelty sodas that surely sounded better on paper than they tasted on one's palate.

That store is not for me. Nor do I particularly want to buy pricey novelty candies.

However, today I discovered something delightful that is going to keep me returning to Rocket Fizz again and again. I hesitate to even mention it lest you all run down and clear out their limited supply. But Rocket Fizz also happens to stock sodas from small American producers that are almost never seen outside of their limited geographic footprint.

No longer does one have to travel to Virginia for Cheerwine. Cancel the road trip to Vermont for your Moxie. Save gas on the drive to South Carolina for Blenheim Ginger Ale. They are all here in Ann Arbor on Main Street.

Yes, you will have to find them amidst the peanut butter and jelly soda bottles, and something peculiar I saw called wizard's tears. But they are there, and they are worth the trip and the premium. Have you seen the price of gas?

But wait. There's more!

Rocket Fizz has real sugar versions of more mass market sodas that I haven't been able to find anywhere else for a long time. Today, I picked up a bottle of Dr. Pepper made without any High Fructose Corn Syrup. It's probably been about a decade since I've been able to purchase this anywhere. Now, not all of their special bottles are made with real sugar. I had hopes they would have a HFCS free version of my beloved Dr. Brown's Cel-Ray, but alas the bottle has the same formulation as the cans one can buy elsewhere.

That's the way the cookie crumbles.

But speaking of crumbles, Rocket Fizz also does have a respectable selection of international candies, like Flake and Lion bars and their ilk. Plus, do not miss out on all the cute fun trinkets which it turns out my youngest child simply adores. From novelty pens, to packs of stick on mustaches, to lunchboxes which might seem kid-appropriate on their face (but have a much less kid friendly backstory).

So yeah. I'll be back. Just please save me a bottle of the Blenheim.

7/30/2022

My past experience with phone repair places has been, shall we say, sketchy at best.

A2 Phone Repair was great. My kid had cracked the screen of their Motorola phone. Clear tape held the thing together and made it usable. But this was not a long term solution.

While I found A2 Phone Repair with some glowing reviews on Yelp, it was the recommendation from a fellow at the AT&T Store on Washtenaw which sealed the deal.

A quick phone call confirmed the screen was in stock, and produced an estimate for the price of the job and how long it would take. Drop off was a breeze. The shop was clean and professional looking. As was the fellow behind the desk.

The repair took just a little longer than promised, about three hours versus two, but that was no biggie. $140 for the whole thing was worth it for my kiddo to have a phone that looked as good as new... without the hassle of setting up a new phone.

6/30/2022

Thank you Yelp... again... for pointing me in the direction of a great local business.

I love my auto mechanic, and in upstate New York I would regularly bring my car to the mechanic for its regularly scheduled oil changes. But sometimes, especially here in Ann Arbor, the good mechanics can get awfully busy. Every now and again the car just needs a quick and simple oil change.

In those instances, I have found myself at Choice Quick Lube and each time has been surprisingly quick and painless. Yes, on my first visit, the tech told me I needed some kind of filter thing. But because I had read on Yelp first that CQL rarely engages in add-on shenanigans, I was comforted by the notion that perhaps I really needed one. On my second visit, there were no solicitations of any kind. Woo hoo!

The location can be a little bit tricky to get into with the roundabout and the median cut outs, but once you've successfully made it on to the lot subsequent visits are a piece of cake.

It really is amazing how fast and friendly the team at CQL have been at each oil change. Plus their location on the south side of town gives me an excuse to pop into Zingerman's Bakehouse for some après oil change snacks. Sitting in the car can be exhausting.

6/18/2022

One has to be careful when looking at reviews from vacation destinations. It's a scientific fact that food tastes better when on vacation. Google it.

So I understand both the rave reviews of Watercolor Cafe, and those who are perplexed after trying the food because it didn't knock their socks off. Still, I am very thankful for Yelp to pointing me towards Watercolor Cafe on my recent trip to Mackinac Island, because it was just about the perfect spot for me and the family!

We have a set of difficult criteria. The missus is avoiding gluten. We're still not eating indoors. And I can't stand over priced touristy food traps. Plus there are the kids, who are great, but maybe not super adventurous.

Watercolor Cafe was a breath of fresh air from the tourist packed mobs on the main drag. Not like this was far away from the ferry landing. It was surprisingly close. But it is a little tucked away. Just being able to get a simple sandwich, with the option of having it on GF bread, was such a blessing.

It doesn't hurt that the surroundings are beautiful.

The sandwiches themselves? They were fine. I could pick nits about the quality of the bacon on the turkey chipotle sandwich. But ultimately, I was very happy with this cafe, and I am convinced it was the best choice for my family.

Everything on the island is more expensive. That makes sense. It's an island. Ingredients and supplies all need to be brought there by ship. The same is true at Watercolor Cafe. But it felt nice to be able to enjoy a simple lunch without feeling like I was being robbed blind.

6/15/2022

Yes. Yes. A thousand times yes!

After dinner I was feeling a bit heavy and I told my family, "What I really want is one scoop of a passionfruit sorbet, maybe I can find it in Petoskey." They kind of rolled their eyes in my general direction.

Sure Dad.

I had forgotten that since I was last up in these parts that American Spoon had opened a Gelato Cafe. I am a long time fan of their fruit preserves, but wasn't even sure if we had made it in time before the shop closed for the night.

Not only was the place open, but right there in the cooler was a pan of mango passionfruit sorbet! What good fortune! But with a small cup ($4.95) you can choose two flavors, so I snuck in a little Michigan Blueberry Gelato. The combination was vibrant, fun, and just what the doctor ordered.

My wife went with half ginger and half pineapple. My oldest went with half pineapple and half lemon sorbet. My youngest went with half chocolate gelato and half raspberry sorbet.

The American Spoon folks are geniuses when it comes to fruit. I've known this forever. But they are also marvelous with pretty much anything they touch. The chocolate and raspberry combination was my favorite. I am very fortunate to have a family of great sharers. However, I was blown away by the warmth and depth of the ginger gelato in my wife's cup! Dang. Great stuff. And also well paired with the pineapple.

This is a must stop destination if you are in Petoskey, and I would drive well out of my way just to try some more of their offerings.

Is it more expensive than classic old time ice cream places? Sure. But it's worth every penny. The flavors and colors might make you suspect there is dark magic at play, but what you are experiencing is simply mastery of craft.

A rare treat indeed!

6/14/2022

There is a lot to like about Turkey Roost, and I am really glad I had the chance to try out this regional institution.

-The turkey meat, both white and dark, is remarkably moist and tender.
-The turkey gravy is blessedly a natural light color.
-Food is prepared at an incredibly fast pace.
-Service is friendly and responsive.
-Prices are quite reasonable.

But I can't get away from feeling like this is also institutional food. The turkey plate is carbs on top of carbs on top of carbs, with carbs on the side. There is plenty of fat and salt to keep it tasty, with a little shot of sugary cranberry sauce to try and bring some balance.

Certainly, there is a time and a place for this. Thanksgiving is the obvious one. However, anytime one desires deep levels of comfort, Turkey Roost will more than fill the bill. But while more than filling, the lunch left me feeling the need to get some more nutrition in me. At dinner time, I was famished for something sustaining.

There is also a little trick done in the plating, as the thin slices of turkey are layered upon a mountain of stuffing. It looks like a ton of meat, but its mostly bread.

Perhaps I will return and try and order a half plate with double meat? And on that half plate, I may still ask for lighter helpings of stuffing and potatoes. Because while there are more carbs than I would like, even on the half plate, I'm not going to let food go to waste.

Ultimately, this was a three star meal, with a bonus star added for the x-factor of nostalgia, comfort, and value.

• 

  Biscuits!

  Biscuits!