Gadsby’s Tavern (Alexandria)

It's not every day that you get to have dinner at a place that has been in business since 1770. The chance to go back in time and dine just like former prominent customers John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, James Madison, and the Marquis de Lafayette to name just a few was simply irresistible to me and my crew. We were a little skeptical going to a place that trades on it's historic significance so our … [Read more...]

Captain Zack’s Seafood (Chincoteague Island)

Chincoteague Island has tons of rustic beach charm but is a little light on really good eats. Choices are kind of limited and none of the local restaurants stay open too late with many of them closing by 8pm. Tough in the summer when the sun goes down late and you lose track of time on the beach.  That's exactly the predicament we found ourselves in when we were lucky enough to find Captain Zach's … [Read more...]

Buz and Ned’s Real BBQ (Richmond)

  So we were in Richmond on the 4th of July looking for some all American chow before heading to the minor league baseball stadium to take in a game and the only fireworks show for miles around. When you think all American cuisine, in my mind there is only one thing that comes to mind and that is BBQ. After doing the obligatory Yelp search, and checking out the reviews we decided Buz and Ned's Real BBQ … [Read more...]

Holiday Travel: Is It Worth The Hassle?

Holiday Travel

I’ve been pretty successful at putting off traveling during the holidays for the last couple of years much to the dismay of my three children who did not waste a moment in letting me know they were bored out of their skulls. Even with local activities planned it was hard to make the most of their time off, so for the second time I am relenting and planning another winter ski trip to rendezvous with friends in Park … [Read more...]

Oh The Temptation! The Importance Of Eating Healthy Out On The Road

If you've been reading my posts, you know one of my passions is exploring and learning through foods. If there is something unique to a state (and it lacks a gross factor) we'll give it a try to make a cultural connection wherever we're visiting. We've tried southern fried chicken, biscuits, grits, sopapillas, all kinds of cheese, and a plethora of tasty desserts to name just a few of our hyper caloric … [Read more...]

Juliana’s -Shhhh it’s the original Grimaldi’s (New York City-Brooklyn)

Everybody loves to know an awesome secret when it comes to food and our family is no different.  When we hit the ground running for our tour of Brooklyn with our pal Larry, Grimaldi's was on the list of must try Pizza's. Grimaldi's is famous in every guidebook for it's coal burning oven with it's flagship location right under the Brooklyn Bridge. When we told Larry we were ready for the Grimaldi's experience, he … [Read more...]

L & B Spumoni Gardens (New York City-Brooklyn)

A true Brooklyn original and a local favorite, this is a pizza you just go to try. Like anywhere in Brooklyn, parking may be a bit of a challenge but don't be discouraged, it's all totally worth it. Beyond the deliciousness of the pizza and adding to the whole experience, the local ambiance is straight out of a movie. This place has been around since 1939 so they must be doing something right! For the uninitiated, … [Read more...]

Peter Luger Steak House (New York City-Brooklyn)

  If my kids had to pick the one place they'd eat at for their last meal, my guess would be this would be it. If steak is your thing, then this is a must try on your bucket list...just make sure you book your reservation a month or two in advance and bring a wad of cash. No credit cards accepted. Peter Luger's has consistently won the top prize for best steak house in the country, but in spite of that, … [Read more...]

Gray’s Papaya (New York City-Manhattan)

In the big apple you can get hot dogs on just about any street corner but for a unique experience, you can do what we did and head on over to Gray’s Papaya-an interesting combination of hot doggery and tropical juice stand. Weird I know, but hugely poplar. There’s always a line here so queue up and place your order. We ordered some basic dogs which you can get with or without onions. From there add your … [Read more...]

Katz’s Deli (New York City-Manhattan)

There are a few foods that scream iconic New York and one of those is the pastrami sandwich. While there are numerous deli's on the island of Manhattan, none are more famous than Katz's Deli. And so of course it was on our list of must try's. Located on the lower east side, the bastion of deli cuisine is always packed. You can't make a reservation, you just walk in, get a ticket and either wait for a table to sit … [Read more...]