Showing posts with label Food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Food. Show all posts

Monday, July 8, 2013

Whataburger's Pancakes. Yes, They're Good.





August 2020 UPDATE

Whataburger continues to produce their hamburgers more or less the old-fashioned way: on a grill, to order. And unlike McDonald's, their pancakes are the same, not pre-cooked and steamed but grilled to order. It takes longer, is more labor intensive, and is more expensive because of the prior two points. But in my opinion their breakfast is a much better buy than McDonald's, Wendy's, Chik-Fil-A or any other fast food franchise. They recently sold the company so that they would have the cash to expand. I hope they keep the original strategy.

For now, if you're going out for fast food pancakes, breakfast burritos, etc, in my opinion Whataburger is best.

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Original post:

Bear with me here.

I have now posted two fast food posts in a row, sorry, it just happened that way.

I took a few of my grandchildren to Whataburger for pancakes today. We usually go to McDonald's but we thought we'd try WB. I was shocked. Three large, fresh-poured on the skillet, served-hot pancakes with syrup, real butter and two slices of bacon: $4.00.

And this picture from the Whatburger website doesn't do them justice because they're not that pretty. They're imperfectly formed like the home-made kind the way they ought to be.

They tasted good, too.

.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Ryan's Fine Grocer and Delicatessan



Ryan's Fine Grocer and Delicatessan

If there is such a thing as hoping prayerfully for a new venture to succeed I'd add Ryan's to my list.

Why?

First, they're a young sister and brother team with plenty of culinary experience and who doesn't want this kind of family business to succeed, second they have invested themselves and their money into an area that is developing nicely but which needs a broader variety of stores and merchants, and finally because it reminds me of the corner markets in center city Philadelphia. Places I shopped in every day. Both Ryan's attended culinary school in Brooklyn so it makes sense. There are no super-hyper marts in the city, what cities have is what Ryan's is. And I like it.

What do they have? Take your local supermarket cut it down to corner market size, limit the selections to the higher quality products and you get it. Ryan's has a good selection of meats, cheese, fish, non-perishables, canned goods, vegetables, and fruits with a focus on quality. Also, attached to the market is a deli-style sandwich shop, coffee bar, and a seating area with wi-fi. In the proprietor's more professional words: “We're an urban grocery store with a Brooklyn-style deli ... we specialize in high-quality produce and dry-aged meats. We plan on dry-aging our meats in-house, curing our own salmon, and, hopefully, hanging our own prosciutto.”

The big question: can a local grocer make it on Magnolia? I sure hope so. They'll get my support.

Ryan’s Fine Grocer & Delicatessen
815 W. Magnolia Ave.
Fort Worth, TX 76104
Ph 817-945-2770


ryansfinegrocer.com

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Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Best Of Fort Worth. 2010 (updated to 2020)

It is 2020

We're all beaten down by the Covid and its effects
But  it did give me some time to update the Best of.

Food and Fort Worth's 

Best of Fort Worth(

(2020)






Best new retail and restaurant development: The West 7th and So7 (South 7th) developments have to be the biggest, and in my opinion the best, mixed-use development we have seen for many years. What the Target area south of Montgomery Plaza did wrong, West 7th has done right. The area south and west is developing now and adding to the whole cool vibe. Sundance Square, if I may say respectfully, feels a little touristy compared to what's going on at 7th Street.

I wrote that in 2010. In 2020, I would say that the hottest area of development is the near Southside and South Main. Restaurants, bars, coffee shops, apartments, etc. It's booming. Second to that in the "developing fast" is the number of young people moving to the Meadowbrook area on the eastside. Watch that. New start-ups like Coffee-Folk are doing very well.

Sundance Square is the realcenter of downtown since they made a formal square with fountains. It still tend to draw the corporate/tourist crowd but with the shopping, restaurants, entertainment, hotels, and bars are right there it is a great place to spend an evening
 
Best Mexican Restaurant / upscale:
2010: I still think Mi Cocina's downtown is the most enjoyable upscale Mexican restaurant, when you look at it from food quality, service, location and price. Their recent corporate problems notwithstanding, I like to go there. Cantina Laredo is a pretty close second, but doesn't have quite the buzz of Mi Cocina's. Chuy's is a step down in atmosphere, but I liked their sauces and will be returning.

2020:We still go to Mi Cocina but for the money Benito's is the best in town. Their pork verde asada is spicy and delicious. It's not in the upscale category but for good Mexican food it's our favorite. Also, Lucita's on 1st Streetat Beach is good.

Mexican Restaurant / small building.
2010: Salsa Fuego was selected 3 of 50 in the "Best Mexican" in Texas Monthly magazine and it too deserves the praise it gets. It's a long way from my house so I have been only twice. But it's good. Melis, on Vickery is good for a quick taco or burrito. And El Pollo Regio on Belnap is really good -- okay it's not going to win any restaurant design awards but I love the half-chicken with beans and rice.

2020: "Street tacos" like Fuzzy's" are everywhere. Personally, I think they're overpriced and I prefer to take my chances with the taco trucks that sell the same thing at half the price. Want good inexpensive Mexican food? Go to the grocery stores like Mi Tierra get in line with the locals and you'll get pretty good food at a great price.

Fajitas:
2010 and 2020:
The best fajitas in town, in my opinion, are at Pappasito's. Their Wednesday night two-for-one fajitas is a ridiculously good deal. Many of Pappa's dishes, including the cabrito and shrimp, are really good, as well. Uncle Julio's is a Pappasito's knock-off. It's good and well attended but it's just too noisy for me.
Still the best fajita meal in town.

Worst Mexican:
2010: Last year, I criticized the Yucatan Grill. They are, by all appearances, surviving well without me. This year we are giving the You call this Mexican food? award to Habenero's in south Arlington. It makes Yucatan Grill look good. God-awful food, with guacamole that I swear was made without an avocado. 

2020: Yucatan Grill is under new management. I'm not sure if it is being renamed.

Pizza:
2010: Cavalli's in Irving is the best in the DFW area. Il Cane Rosso, is a very close second. Patrizio's is good. Many of you like Rocco's. It's okay by me. The great thing about Cavalli's is that it is the least expensive and it is the best. Fireside Pies? Well, we won't go there for now. All of the above are southern-Italy style thin-crust pizza. The New York style pizza which I like is getting harder to find.

2020: We go to Picci Pacci. It's the best New York style pizza in town.

Bread:
Good luck. In my opinion there is not anywhere in Fort Worth that you can get an honest Artisan loaf of bread. So, I started making my own.

Burgers: 
2010: My current favorite is M&O Grill. Consistently good hamburgers. Five Guys on Hulen is new, and also one of my favorites, Smashburger is good, they are new, on University and in Arlington, and, drum roll please, In-N-Out Burger will be on 7th Street in 2011. I have not been to an In-N-Out, but everyone tells me they are good. Not new, but still good: Fred's, Kinkaids, Tommy's, Love's, Jakes. My least favorite "gourmet" burger is Dutch's and Pappas. Sorry, nothing personal, but that's the way I see it.

2020: When we want a good burger we go to Five Guys.

Coffee:
2010: Buon Giorno. New, with very good coffee. Buon Giorno roasts their coffee beans at their store in Grapevine. The Grapevine location has been operating for several years, in contrast to most independently owned coffee shops which have the lifespan of a tsetse fly. They must be doing something right. Avoca on Magnolia opens soon. Aduro Bean is a local roaster with excellent coffee for home brewing. Cafe Brazil will be coming to Fort Worth at TCU, soon. More on that as it develops. I still like McDonald's coffee in the morning. Starbucks: I have loved you, but please bring Sumatra back. Pike's Place is nasty.

2020: Coffee Folk and only Coffee Folk. The best cappuccino in DFW. I kid you not.

Italian Restaurant:
2010: My father and grandfather owned and operated an Italian restaurant. It's hard for me to get spaghetti and meatballs out even today, probably because I want to to taste my grand-pops sauce and never do. Nonna Tatta, La Piazza, Ruffino's (under new management) get good reviews. I have heard good things about Taverna, downtown.

2020: I don't even try to buy Italian food in Fort Worth.