BBQ bacon-wrapped chicken bites

Out of this world BBQ bacon wrapped chicken bites!

Happy Friday great foodie friends,
I have been putting together a Superbowl menu list and this is a MUST!

What you need:
*6-8 boneless and skinless chicken thighs (you could use chicken breast but the thighs are much more flavorful)
(If you can’t find boneless, the bone is easy to take out!)
*At least 1 lb of bacon (I love and use Geldermans)
*House of Q -house rub
*House of Q – Slow smoke gold BBQ sauce
(You could substitute the rub and sauce if needed but I really suggest you try to get your hands on these two beauties)
*Tooth picks (as many as the bites you prepare)

What you will do:

*If the thigh still has the bone in it remove it (it’s quite easy, just work two fingers down the bone and pull the bone out and down. At this point you can either pull the bone out or cut it out)
*Cut the thigh into bite size pieces
*Cut the bacon in half
*Now put your chicken bite on to the bacon and basically wrap or roll the bacon around the chicken and secure with the tooth pick.

*Now sprinkle both (all) sides with the rub (the amount is up to you)
*Now your ready to grill- I use a Cookina pad (similar to silpat) on my BBQ but you can cook it directly on the BBQ grill.

*Grill until the chicken and bacon are nicely browned and almost caramelized (approx 15-20 mins)
*Now it’s time to brush on the BBQ sauce on both sides and continue to BBQ for another few minutes – look for a perfect color and glaze with an ice caramelized finish.

Now all that is left is to plate these delectable treat and enjoy!
These will sure to be a winner so make sure that you make enough for all to try but be careful, they are honestly addictive.

Thank you as always to Brian Misko (BBQ Brian) of House of Q for the recommendations and tips not to mention the great run and sauces that help create these BBQ treats!

You Gotta Try These!

Chicken Sorpresa (surprise)

Happy Monday great food lovers!

In my ever endeavor to keep creativity and experiment for new flavors……
My new Chicken Sorpresa (Italian word for Surprise)

This truly was a flavor explosion maybe will become part of a new E-Cookbook that I am currently thinking about?

game day food?

fun food?
all of the above

They tasted great and still are a work in progress as all great recipes need to keep being tweaked in initial stages.

What I always look for is that first bite and if it gets a smile! My son did and went right away for another bite!

I love creating a dish and making it your own. Of course there are many great recipes available at your finger tips but what I truly try and do is make it my own and expand the flavor, textures and profiles of the tasty and mouthwatering morsels.

Let me know what you think!?

These delectable bites are fresh chicken bites with a surprise in the middle. Sweet heat and Panko coated stuffed with proccuito and blue cheese.
The chicken is pre-seasoned in a blue cheese with ancho chili and sweet chipotle sauce/hot sauce.
I will be making them smaller to be bite sized in the coming days and trying mozzarella in place of gorgonzola.
The flavor profiles were great so the tweaks will be little as I will just try the milder cheese for those who aren’t crazy about blue cheese.
See in the picture with the bite on the left the cheese oozing out…. yum

Have a great day and let me know your feedback!
Is there something you want to see? If so, drop me an email and just ask!

Super Bowl – Game day food

Hi great foodie friends, can you just feel the excitement building for Super Bowl!? If you are one of the lucky ones to have tickets to see the big show live then this post will be for any other game day spread on another day!

Chicken Bites – click here for the recipe

ideas for a game day spread- click here

Pulled Pork Sliders

pulled pork sliders recipe – click here

Mozzarella Sticks courtesy of Giada from Food network.

Mozerella sticks – click here for the recipe

stuffed beef or Turkey sliders – click here for the recipe

Prabu Foods -Spinach Poppers I have tried these delectable bites and they are a perfect 1-2 bite flavour pow. Check out their Facebook page for where to buy these perfect treats. click here to go to Prabus facebook page

Any of these fantastic flavour filled Appies are sure to add to your game day party and as we all like to do eat great food, watch sports with great friends and cheer on our team!
You may also want to add some great veggies and dip and your favourite chips to the table to round out the spread. Salsa, guacamole and tortilla chips are always a fan favourite!

You Gotta Try This!

I hope you enjoy!
Go Team Go

The 21 Best Sandwich Shops in America

The 21 Best Sandwich Shops in America – brought to us from Thrillist.com and Adam Lapetina – thank you for compiling such a great list. How about compiling a Canadian list with a collaboration with me?

BY ADAM LAPETINA

THE PERFECT SANDWICH is hard to find. But when you do find it, you have to pay homage. From superior ingredients to the freshest-baked bread and sauces that make you say, “Dammit, I kind of want to drink that!”, the ideal sammie has to strike a delicate balance, and the people who make them have hit upon something way more important than just a portable meal.

So, without further ado, here are the 21 best sandwich shops in America. Prepare to get hungry:

ANDREW CEBULKA
CHARLESTON, SC BUTCHER & BEE
WHAT YOU’RE GETTING: Whatever’s available
The only BYOB joint in Charleston also makes its finest sandwiches, which you can knock back in a dining room that feels like a friend’s place. Their menu, scrawled on a chalkboard, is constantly changing depending on the region’s local offerings, but always features innovative creations such as the General Tso’s-chicken sandwich, with their crunchy version of the distinctly American-Chinese dish, replete with broccoli rabe, jalapeños, and carrot slaw on a crispy roll. Oh, and heads up — they’re also open late on weekends, meaning this is generally where the party will end up anyway.
EAST HAMPTON SANDWICH CO.
DALLAS, TX EAST HAMPTON SANDWICH CO.
WHAT YOU’RE GETTING: Fried chicken + jack
A relative newcomer to the sandwich scene, East Hampton was founded in 2012 by an aspiring lawyer who traded tort reform for torta reform (sorry) and assembled a team of sandwich-crazed artisans to help him advocate for YOU. What resulted is a sleekly minimalistic temple of farm-to-table goodness, with the likes of Southern fried chicken, avocado mash, pepper jack, greens, and cured bacon with a jalapeño cream sauce, where they have quite obviously plead guilty of being totally awesome.
ZINGERMAN’S
ANN ARBOR, MI ZINGERMAN’S
WHAT YOU’RE GETTING: Jon & Amy’s Double Dip
We already mentioned Zingerman’s in our college sandwich-shop roundup, but that didn’t mean that they didn’t warrant being mentioned again — and here we are! Zingerman’s isn’t just a sandwich shop; it’s an institution, with a creamery, a roadhouse, and a bakery, all rolled up into a package that also happens to sling some of the best deli meats, pickles, and sides in the entire country. It’s a little on the pricey side, but that’s a non-issue when you consider the fact that you’ll be getting piles of pastrami, corned beef, Swiss & Wisconsin muenster cheeses, and two types of deli mustards (when you order their famous Jon & Amy’s Double Dip), in addition to the hundreds of other combinations they have available for revelers.
DAN GENTILE
AUSTIN, TX NOBLE SANDWICHES
WHAT YOU’RE GETTING: The Noble Pig
Putting Northwest Austin on the foodie map, Noble Sandwiches took a gamble opening in the suburbs in late 2010 and quickly garnered a rep for sandwiches worth a half-hour drive. Everything’s made in-house from the bread to the bacon, which you can literally take home thanks to a deli case stuffed with meats and charcuterie. The signature ‘wich is the seared beef tongue (smoked green onions, red pepper relish, aioli) that’s a modern flip on Mexican lengua, but they’re also rocking more traditional fare like the eponymous Noble Pig, stacked with spicy ham, pulled pork, prov, and — of course — bacon.
LEE BRESLOUER
DENVER, CO MASTERPIECE DELICATESSEN
WHAT YOU’RE GETTING: The Braised Brisket
Not many chefs open a great sandwich shop and then open a truly great restaurant, but Denver’s Justin Brunson did just that. Making his mark on the Denver scene with Masterpiece Deli (which just opened its second location in town), Brunson won the hearts and arteries of the Mile High sandwich-loving community with selections like a Cubano (slow-roasted mojo-brined pork, Black Forest ham, Swiss cheese, garlic aioli) and a 12hr-braised beef brisket sammie (with Tallegio fondue on a baguette). Be sure to top whatever sandwich you get with Denver Bacon Co. bacon — obviously, if you’re already going to open a great sandwich shop and a great restaurant, you should start your own bacon company, too.
MATT LYNCH
CHICAGO, IL CEMITAS PUEBLA
WHAT YOU’RE GETTING: The Atomica
Cemitas are essentially a variation of the torta native to the Mexican state of Puebla, differentiated primarily by the pillowy sesame seed roll, which Chicago landmark Cemitas Puebla gets custom-made at a local bakery. The milanesa (breaded-and-fried pork loin) is the most traditional, but if you’re looking to up your swine intake you can add guajillo-rubbed loin and ham to get the triple threat that is the Atomica. A huge pile of shredded, mozz-like Oaxacan cheese, a generous smear of creamy avocado, and sweet, smoky, spicy chipotle bring all kinds of added flavor and texture, but pros know to take it even further and add a few drops of their trio of addictive salsas to each bite.
MENDOCINO FARMS
LOS ANGELES, CA MENDOCINO FARMS
WHAT YOU’RE GETTING: Kurobuta Pork Belly Banh Mi
Mendocino Farms is an LA-based sandwich market that specializes in locally produced and raised vegetables and meats, meaning their stuff is fresher than a certain prince. Step into any of their woody, grass-adorned locations, and you’ll be struck by their natural aesthetic; one bite of any of their seasonal sandwiches or down-home favorites, and you’ll be struck by their pure deliciousness. Folks go especially crazy for their Kurobuta pork belly banh mi, served on ciabatta rather than the typical French roll, and filled with caramelized pork belly, pickled daikon & carrots, cilantro, cucumbers, jalapeños, and a chili aioli.
ANDY KRYZA
PORTLAND, OR LARDO
WHAT YOU’RE GETTING: Porchetta
It’s a special kind of awesome when a place is named after what people will call you after you’ve eaten too much of its wares, but Lardo is indeed a special kind of awesome. The cart-turned-three-restaurant-chain does everything right, from the spicy grilled mortadella to the incredibly flavorful porchetta, the meatball banh mi, and, perhaps, the best Cubano this side of Havana. The secret? Every bit of pork is made in-house, from the ham and mortadella to the pig skin sprinkled in hand-cut fries. When even the tuna melt is exceptional, you’re in trouble. Someday soon, Chef Rick Gencarelli will have enslaved all of Portland.
MELT BAR AND GRILLED
CLEVELAND, OH MELT BAR AND GRILLED
WHAT YOU’RE GETTING: The Parmageddon
Cleveland’s got its fair share of interesting people, but not all of them open tattoo-friendly, punk-rock-playing alternative grilled cheese joints, like Matt Fish did when he first founded Melt Bar & Grilled in 2006. Offering patrons who get a Melt tattoo 25% off for life is only the second of his selling points — the first is grilling up insane grilled cheese sandwiches that keep Ohioans coming back time and time again. The Parmageddon, for example, rocks potato & onion pierogi, sauerkraut, sharp cheddar, and sauteed onions and is every bit as face-melting as its name would suggest.
CHONA KASINGER
SEATTLE, WA PASEO
WHAT YOU’RE GETTING: The Caribbean Roast
This Caribbean snack shack with two locations in Seattle can be identified one of two ways (in lieu of a big, flashy sign, which they’re apparently not all about): 1) the intoxicating smell of caramelized onions and slow-roasted pork wafting out of it, and 2) the line going down the block and beyond. Sure, it’s cash-only and the wait for a sandwich might be up to an hour, but there’s a reason everyone swears by Paseo’s creations — they’re so goddamned delicious. Try the Caribbean Roast with marinated, fall-apart-tender pork shoulder, aioli, cilantro, and Romaine lettuce to get the best possible experience.
JACQUELINE DOLE
WELLESLEY, MA LINDEN STORE
WHAT YOU’RE GETTING: Hot BBQ Roast Beef with American cheese (only available on Wednesdays)
If you grew up in a Western suburb of Boston, the name “Linden” rings out. As in, “I’m getting a Linden,” and “You want to go to Linden?,” and “Who just ate my Linden, because now I have to kill them?” Open since 1933 and owned by the LeBrun brothers — Greg and Mark — the vibe is old-school town deli: stools, communal tables, and a line that often snakes close to the front door during lunch hours. All of the sandwiches are good (try the Hot Italian or the Ryan, and add extra “hots”), but on Wednesdays, they do a hot sub special that usually sells out by noon featuring slow-simmered BBQ roast beef and onions with melty American cheese that will change your life, or at least the notch you use on your belt.
WHITE HOUSE
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ WHITE HOUSE
WHAT YOU’RE GETTING: Cheesesteak
With a history that spans 60yrs and a line that often spans 60 people, White House is a veritable Atlantic City institution whose authentic Italian subs were apparently frequently craved by Mr. Sinatra himself, who would send a lucky lackey down from NYC just to pick some up for him. The original sub shop’s still standing, but you now have the option of going to the Trump Taj Mahal to pick up your fix of capicola, provolone, salami, and chili peppers. Or be a little unorthodox and give their cheesesteak a try. Just go in armed with the knowledge of what you’re getting into — their “half” sandwich is bigger than just about any whole sandwiches you’ve ever eaten. So, you know… get the whole sandwich.
LOCAL FOODS
HOUSTON, TX LOCAL FOODS
WHAT YOU’RE GETTING: The Crunchy Chicken
At this sandwich marketplace in Houston, everything is the sum of its parts — and the parts are insanely awesome. The wide-open, retro aesthetic sets the stage for sandwiches crafted with the same care and love that Texans have been accustomed to for generations. Each sandwich purchase nets you two sides, which they swap out based on what’s available/in-season (think crispy slaw with lemongrass vinaigrette), and you’ve pretty much gotta try their Crunchy Chicken sandwich with nut “crumble”, provolone, buttermilk ranch, and pickles on a chewy pretzel bun to truly know Southern comfort.
JOE STARKEY
SAN FRANCISCO, CA DARWIN CAFE
WHAT YOU’RE GETTING: Roast Beef
Hidden away in a pint-sized hole-in-the-wall in San Francisco, Darwin’s small interior belies the huge sandwiches within. Committed to bringing you the best in seasonal ingredients and fresh-baked breads, Darwin’s an intimate backdrop to some of the best sandwiches this side of the Mississippi. In addition to being tender and supremely thin-cut, their legendary roast beef, is also piled high with the complementary veggie du jour, which in some cases is arugula and tomato jam and in others is caramelized onions, peppers, and mushrooms.
ANDREW ZIMMER
NEW YORK, NY ANIMALS AT THE WAYLAND
WHAT YOU’RE GETTING: The Pulled Bacon
In a city with more than its fair share of secrets, tucked-away restaurants, and almost-inaccessible eateries, Animals at The Wayland just might be the most clandestine of them all. Sitting inside The Wayland, an unassuming, cutting-edge Alphabet City cocktailery, Pink Floyd-homaging Animals is only open from 11am-5pm, and only on weekdays, plus to get there you’ve gotta trek over to Avenue C, which is, like, far. But when you do, a pulled bacon sandwich with red slaw, avocado, pickled jalapeños, refried beans, and chili mayo will be waiting to reward you for taking the afternoon off work strictly for a sandwich. Or maybe the Pernil “Don’t Call Me George” Romero, whose pork shoulder is slow-cooked in garlic, fennel & rosemary. The pig on the wing shall be you.
PRIMANTI BROS.
PITTSBURGH, PA PRIMANTI BROS.
WHAT YOU’RE GETTING: Pastrami & Cheese
Yet another holdover from our college sandwich-shops list is Primanti Bros., one of the few joints on this list that boasts a profile of its signature sandwich-making style on its Wikipedia page. Founded in 1933 by a few brothers named Primanti, the innovative sandwich shop skews toward the behemoth, opting to add a helping of hand-cut French fries to each one of its already-prime deli sandwiches (such as pastrami, salami & cheese, and even knockwurst). This, as you can imagine, made them pretty popular, and they now boast 16 Pittsburgh-area locations, with a few popping up in far-away Florida, and then… THE WORLD?!
CASSIE HEPLER
PHILADELPHIA, PA JOHN’S ROAST PORK
WHAT YOU’RE GETTING: Roast Pork
With arguably one of the best cheesesteaks in the city of Philadelphia, John’s Roast Pork stands above the rest for its other sandwiches, which are pretty much all outstanding. It may be in a different camp than some other Philly cheesesteak joints, which use neon-orange Cheez Whiz instead of the sharp provolone of John’s, and it’s their authentic ingredients that allow them to also make an impeccably juicy roast pork sandwich (duh) with spinach, as well as an awesome steak Milano with grilled tomatoes, all on fresh-baked sesame seed rolls. It’s so good you won’t even miss the Whiz, and that’s saying something.
MICHAEL BUNCH
NASHVILLE, TN MITCHELL DELI
WHAT YOU’RE GETTING: The Asian Flank Steak
Totally reviving the East Nashville food scene (and possibly setting the bar for full-service delicatessens all over the US), Mitchell Deli was founded in 2008 with the goal of providing customers with all-natural, all-delicious ingredients made into beautiful sandwiches, and on their first day of service, they ran out of food. If that isn’t enough of an indicator of Mitchell Deli’s greatness, check out their legendary Asian flank steak sandwich (once offered only on Mondays, but now available throughout the week due to high demand), which has been featured on Adam Richman’s Best Sandwich in America and is served on locally made, fluffy ciabatta bread.
COCHON BUTCHER
NEW ORLEANS, LA COCHON BUTCHER
WHAT YOU’RE GETTING: The Cochon Muffuletta
Everyone knows that New Orleans’ muffuletta is the king of sandwiches. That fact is indisputable. What is up for debate, however, is which place in New Orleans serves the finest specimen of this gargantuan stack of olive tapenade, mortadella, salami, mozzarella, ham, and provolone — and the top dog is most certainly Cochon Butcher, a wine bar-butcher counter combo that’s got the city’s best sandwich menu (“bacon melt”, anyone?). Central Grocery may be the original, but it can’t compare to the freshness of CB’s house-cured meats, melty cheese, spicy olives, and soft, gloriously chewy bread.
MATT MELTZER
MIAMI, FL ENRIQUETA’S SANDWICH SHOP
WHAT YOU’RE GETTING: The Cuban
In addition to being one of the best authentic Cuban restaurants in all of Miami, Enriqueta’s also makes a hell of a Cuban sandwich — but not just the pressed ham, roast pork, cheese, and pickle panini that we’re all used to. They also whip up a Cuban chicken sandwich, stacked with lettuce, tomato, shoestring potatoes, and grilled onions that’s out-of-this-world good. The place is a little hole-in-the-wall where lines can get pretty long, so be sure to venture out and grab your fix before they close at 4pm.
ANDREW ZIMMER
BROOKLYN, NY SALTIE
WHAT YOU’RE GETTING: The Scuttlebutt
Saltie may look like an ultra-hip temple of Brooklyn coolness from the outside, and that’s because it is. But here’s the rub: they make some of the biggest, best, and messiest sandwiches in the entire world, and they do it all in a tiny space using mostly — GASP — vegetables. Granted, there are a few meaty bites on the menu (mortadella, chicken liver paté, ham, even sardines), but the real move here is to go with one of their funky vegetarian sandwiches, like the Scuttlebutt, a seemingly unholy amalgam of eggs, feta, capers, olives, pickled veggies, and spicy pimentón aioli on perfectly fluffy foccacia, which — if it doesn’t convert you into a believer — will at least preach you the gospel.

Thrill list link to the full list of the 21 Best Sandwich Shops in America

You Gotta Try These!

The Eater California Wine country Heat Map- Where to eat right now- brought to us by Eater National

Happy Monday happy foodie friends……

This post caught my eye as this rich bountiful wine region has so many great eateries…..which one or how many can we try?
Please read this article on Eater National to see where the current hot spotsare.
Eater National – click here for the list

CINDY PAWLCYN’S WOOD GRILL AND WINE BAR Third time’s a charm for celebrity chef Cindy Pawlcyn, who has reinvented this St. Helena restaurant from sushi bar to Mediterranean grill, finally settling on what she does best: California-fusion comfort foods that include Chinese chicken barbecue duck breast, crab rolls, vegetarian enchiladas, baby back ribs and buttermilk biscuits, wood-fired pizzas, and burgers. Locals just call it CP’s, and know that the eggplant fries (kept from a previous menu) are the best way to start the meal.
[Photo]
SAINT HELENA, CA 94574
707-963-0700

GOOSE & GANDER Seasonal cocktails are the biggest draw at St. Helena’s former Martini House restaurant. Bay Area mixologist Scott Beattie’s cocktails are kitchen-sink affairs with shiso, galangal, pickled veggies, and artisanal boozes that become drinkable works of art. Duck fat fries, polenta cakes and grilled burgers, and roasted bone marrow set a solid base for continued sipping. [Photo]
1245 SPRING ST, SAINT HELENA, CA 94574
(707) 967-8779

THE THOMAS AT FAGIANI’S A downtown Napa bar that stood empty for decades got a multi-million dollar facelift to become one of the town’s hippest hangouts. NY’s AvroKo group (Public, Saxon + Parole) brings serious chef power with Brad Farmerie, who created a locally sourced, casual menu of burgers, roast chicken, and grilled Montery Bay squid along with a stand-out cocktail program. [Photo]
813 MAIN STREET, NAPA, CA 94559
707-226-7821

SPEAKEASY A favorite of industry folks, late-night revelers and anyone with serious munchies after midnight, this tiny bar and patio proffers calories-be-damned comfort food until 2 a.m. Best bets include lobster and bacon mac, Croque Madame, pork belly tacos and jalapeno poppers that come with a warning and a glass of milk.
139B PETALUMA BLVD N, PETALUMA, CA 94952
(707) 776-4631

SPINSTER SISTERS A little bit of NYC in Sonoma County, chef Liza Hinman heads up the kitchen with wine guru Giovanni Cerrone and Eric Anderson (a local who’s involved with Prune NYC) working behind the scenes. The menu is broken into a series of sections: Bites ($2-$4) are exactly that; Charcuterie and Cheese Plates ($6-$16); Veggies ($5-$7); Small Plates ($7-$14) and Large Plates ($14-16). Each works beautifully as a single sonnet, or together as an epic poem. [Photo]
401 SOUTH A ST., SANTA ROSA, CA 95401
707-528-7100

PIZZANDO More than a pizzeria and less than a white-tablecloth experience, Pizzando hits the sweet spot in between with impressive appetizers like oil-poached albacore; slow-braised pork shoulder with pickled plums, and caraway roasted squash draped with lardo (all $9). [Photo]
HEALDSBURG AVE, HEALDSBURG, CA 95448
707-922-5233

BRAVAS BAR DE TAPAS The Spanish-inspired menu is with brassy, bold flavors that leave no question that you’ll need a breath mint or two before getting familiar with friends or co-workers. Dishes include small plates of sardines, Iberico ham, calamari, quail with lavender, and heartier dishes grilled on a plancha. A new outdoor patio and bar beg for summer sangria sipping. [Photo]
420 CENTER ST, HEALDSBURG, CA 95448
(707) 433-7700

RAVENOUS CAFE & LOUNGE This hobbit-hole of a restaurant has only a handful of tables and barely a galley kitchen, but somehow manages to turn out rustic-luxe, farm-to-table eats including roasted tomatoes with fresh balls of mozzarella, basil pesto and pine nuts, crab cakes with cilantro aioli and roasted eggplant, fresh fish tacos, and mascarpone cheesecake with swirls of lemon curd. [Photo]
117 NORTH ST, HEALDSBURG, CA 95448
(707) 431-1302

PARISH CAFE With all of the easy of The Big Easy, Rob Lippincott’s New Orleans cafe draws you in with homey charm, Southern comfort and a menu that’s pure French Quarter. Open for breakfast and lunch Wednesday through Sunday, you’ll be hard-pressed to find more authentic Louisiana cooking this side of the mighty Miss. [Photo]
60A MILL ST., HEALDSBURG, CA 95448
(707) 431-8474

CAFE LUCIA Tucked well back from the street, brother and sister team Manuel and Lucia Azevedo have brought the “Nova Cozinha Portuguesa” – or new Portuguese cuisine – of Manuel’s highly acclaimed La Salette restaurant in Sonoma to their northern neighbors. Many of the dishes will be familiar to La Salette regulars, including richly flavored Portuguese nose-to-tail “task” or tasting plates of tripe stew, blood sausage, pig’s feet terrine and sardine pate. [Photo]
235 HEALDSBURG AVE, HEALDSBURG, CA 95448
707-431-1113

BACKYARD This restaurant sources, literally, from chef-owner Daniel Kedan’s own backyard culinary gardens and those of his ranch and farming neighbors. The Ad Hoc alum opened his small community-focused restaurant with a relatively simple menu that relies on seasonal produce, foragers and whole-animal butchery as its foundation. [Photo]
6566 FRONT ST, FORESTVILLE, CA 95436
(707) 820-8445

THREE SQUARES CAFÉ Josh Silvers transformed the former Syrah Bistro once again into Three Squares, re-envisioning it as a casual breakfast, lunch and dinner spot with a mix of homey comfort classics and a few “healthier” options after the chef-owner lost more than 30 pounds in 2012. [Photo]
205 5TH ST. SUITE B, SANTA ROSA, CA 95401
707-545-4300

GLEN ELLEN STAR With just eight dining tables and a handful of seats around the open kitchen, every inch of Glen Ellen Star is prime real estate. At the glowing heart of the restaurant: Chef Ari Weiswasser’s 650-degree custom-built wood oven that perfumes the entire block with its smoke. Combining classic French techniques, razor-focused attention to detail, and exotic Mediterranean and Middle Eastern spices in every dish, Glen Ellen Star hasn’t wasted any time getting up to speed. [Photo]
13648 ARNOLD DR, GLEN ELLEN, CA 95442
(707) 343-1384

SOCIAL CLUB RESTAURANT & BAR This Petaluma gathering spot lives up to its name. Executive Chef Steven Levine Bob Simontacchi creates a rustic American menu around a wood-fired oven and grill with smoked short ribs, grilled Angus hangar steak, Prather Ranch burgers and Sonoma fried chicken. [Photo]
132 KELLER STREET, PETALUMA, CA 94952
(707) 238-0158

CAMPO FINA This casual wood-fired oven spot includes a large outdoor space with bocce and critically-acclaimed small plates such as octopus stew and crispy quail. For most of Healdsburg, it was love at first bite. Open for dinner daily, beginning at 5:30pm. [Photo]
330 HEALDSBURG AVENUE, HEALDSBURG, CA 95448
(707) 395-4640

Thank you Eater.com… Visit their web page for the full article posting.

Have a great day….
You Gotta Try This!

House of Q

Hi great foodie friends….

I first met Brian Misko at the West Coast Christmas show and am I glad I did! One show and cooking demonstration and then a great conversation with Brian and his wife and I was inspired immediately.

Brian and his lovely wife are actually
an award winning competitive BBQ team and have competed since 2007.

Through their success they have created some award winning a flavor wow sauces and a signature rub!

They launched their first sauce Apple Butter and haven’t looked back since.
Brian has continued to refine his line of sauces to offer different kicks to your meats, pork or chicken.
I have heard Brian say “I want to bring the outdoor flavors inside”
“BBQ isn’t just for summer!”

Now……

It`s official… House of Q has one of the world`s best BBQ sauces after winning second place at the 33rd Annual American Royal World Series of BBQ in Kansas City. They have won many awards for our sauces but this one is huge!

Slow Smoke Gold BBQ Sauce and Slather is one of the world`s best.
It won second place in the International tournament, counting it 2nd best in the world! What an accomplishment.

I picked up one of each sauce and a bottle of rub and couldn’t wait to jump in to action with them right away!

I started with using the rub on my pork ribs and then using their latest award winning sauce – Slow Smoke Gold BBQ Sauce and Slather! After letting that sit for 15 minutes, I then added the old favorite – Apple Butter.

Then I mixed 2 tablespoons of apple butter with 1/4 cup of pure apple juice and 1/4 cup of orange juice to the bottom of the pan for liquid.

Now they were ready…. Cover with foil and into a 250 oven for 3 hours.

Once out of the oven I finished them on the BBQ and seared the flavors in for our magical first bites!

On to the plate!

pure flavor heaven!

The ribs were fall off the bone tender and the complex layers of flavor wow blended just right for the perfect bite!

Thanks to the out of this world rub and sauces… And of course the cook! These were truly the best ribs I have ever made.

Check out Brian’s The House of Q website and click on the recipe link for some great ideas and tips!

Also look for Brian on Global tv for his BBQ tips….

You Gotta Try This!

Street Meet – Vancouver Food Truck

Street Meet Food Truck- European flavors

Happy Sunny Thursday great foodie friends.

What better to do than continue to enjoy the dog days of summer downtown and stop at a new food truck for some delectable treats along the way?

Street Meet
Street Meet
The smiling faces of this food truck are busy serving European inspired flavors with fine dining techniques.
Go see Chefs Alessandro and Mike and ask them what they recommend today….
Maybe a risotto ball or pork belly bites
The pork belly bites are served with either fresh greens or the trucks handmade potato chips…. Both able to please the taste buds depending on your preference.

The great Mediterranean flavors that these smiling chefs create all from local fresh and sustainable ingredients are truly mouthwatering.

A clip from Street Meet on their Sustainability
Sustainability is a main focus and is at the forefront of Street Meet’s day to day business. We not only provide the appropriate receptacles for recycling and compost, but take the extra steps necessary to reduce our carbon footprint as much as possible. The truck and all its equipment are powered by propane which stated by the US Environmental Protection Agency, “Properly tuned propane engines produce up to 90% less carbon monoxide and 50% fewer toxins and smog producing emissions than gasoline”…not to mention, it’s less than half the price of gasoline, woot woot!! Street Meet will always refuse to sell such products as; farmed salmon, shark fin, non free range chicken, manatee, dolphin, baby seal, the rare white unicorn(due to excessive cost) and none of the human looking parts of a Centaur, cause that’s just weird. We will however serve; Sloping Hill Farms Pork, Pollderside Farms Chicken and Duck, Peace River Natural Organic Beef, Finest at Sea’s Oceanwise Seafood and the best local produce that BC has to offer, and occasionally, Grey Unicorn (when seasonally available).
A warm saying from the Street Meet friendlies….

Always Remember to Meet…Eat….Repeat…

If neither of the 2 choices above fit your fancy, look over the menu board or ask if they have any specials this week.

Now assuming that you aren’t full yet, save some room for some delectable Cannoli made fresh daily….

Look for the Street Meet truck on the corner of Burrard and Pender in Vancouver…..
And say hi to the smiling crew….

You Gotta Try This!