Restaurants - - Page 6

by ES Guest

Top 10 Strategies for Opening a Restaurant With Your Spouse

These days, it seems every young couple from Brooklyn to Bolivia dreams of quitting their day job and opening at cute little restaurant with their significant o. But as anyone who has done so will tell you, it can end up feeling less like a culinary honeymoon than a fast-track to divorce court. Guest blogger Megan Sullivan joins ES to share these top 10 tips for opening a restaurant with your spouse and not driving each other insane.

It’s common knowledge that a partnership is a lot like a marriage, but what if it is a marriage? Your business partner can be your other half, but there are some things you may want to consider. If you’re dreaming of running a restaurant with your spouse, follow this handy guide to make sure you meet your goals without destroying your relationship.

1. Put your partnership in writing. Just because you’re in love, doesn’t mean you’re going to love working with your significant other. Draft a very clear partnership agreement.

by snebbu

It’s All a Matter of Principle…or Quarters

CATASTROPHE. WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN. MADNESS! That’s right folks…I’ve been challenged yet again by the man. It’s almost as if I’m looking for him…Anyway, I made a decision based on principle last night to fight the man while out to dinner with some friends. However, the decision sparked a high level of discussion. Which is why I pose these two questions to you:

(a) is 50 cents too much for Ranch dressing at a restaurant? and

(b) is saying “does that make sense” to a waitress demeaning?

Here’s the evidence (from the only side—the RIGHT side). May it please the court of public opinion…

Myself and four other co-workers/friends appear at a well-known brew-pub in our area for a hand-crafted meal and hand-crafted beers. I order a “Smokey BBQ Chicken” wrap. The food comes in a timely manner as we’re enjoying our craft brews and everything looks great. I take a bite into my wrap and it is tasty. And a little spicy, which was expected, but spicier than I thought. I decided to ask for a small cup of ranch dressing to balance out the spice (about 2 oz. is what the table determined was served to me).

in Rants & Raves / Restaurants 5 comments

by Miss K

Guacamole That Beats the Heat

I am not a sucker for gimmicks. Some years ago, I paid big bucks to go to a certain very fancy restaurant, wherein I was served a dish that was “a play on chicken Parmesan.” It consisted of a one-inch piece of pressed chicken, some Parmesan noodles, and a handful of little frozen tomato sauce balls, a la Dippin” Dots. And after consuming the one bite that was this dish, I remember thinking, “I wish I had a plate of chicken Parmesan.” Because I am hungry, and five Dippin” dots do not a meal make.

So, when I was invited to for a preview of their summer ice cream festival, where one of the featured items was a tableside preparation of “guacamole ice cream.” I was skeptical. Not one to resist the charms of frozen desserts, though, I tried to go in with an open mind.

For this particular concoction, avocado ice cream was hand-blended with raspberries, mint, white chocolate and something crunchy. It was done in a frozen stone bowl (think upscale Coldstone). The result looked like guacamole and tasted, well, delicioso. Cinnamon-coated fried tortillas were the perfect thing for dipping into the “guacamole.” The presentation was cool (heh) but it was the end result that really delivered. It was enough to at least partially obliterate my memories of those tiny frozen tomato balls.

in Desserts / Restaurants / Trends / Veggie 0 comments

by Russell Warnick

Zaatari, a Refugees Restaurant

Last year I told you about a friend living in South Sudan and her Pringles quandary. Well, now that same friend has moved onto Jordan and is working in Zaatari, the world’s second largest refugee camp. Kathryn continues to post some amazing images to her Instagram and Tumblr, and of course I pick up on her food-related posts. Introducing the world’s most interesting restaurant, brought to you by Adu Muhammed.

in Food Travel / Restaurants 0 comments

by snebbu

Los Doritos Locos Part 1: The Tacos

It’s about time we discuss the Taco Bell’s Doritos Locos Tacos. First, we were introduced to the Nacho Cheese Doritos Locos Taco. Then, we were told there would be a Cool Ranch Doritos Locos Taco, which was delayed. Outrage, betrayal, and nearly full riots occurred with the news. Finally, our friends at Taco Bell released the Cool Ranch tortilla pocket. Great…but now we have to choose between the two.

The battle begins…

in Cheese / Contests / Restaurants 0 comments

by snebbu

Bender Enders and 50-50’s…OH MY

Go ahead and stare, it’s okay. In fact, it is totally justifiable. Having trouble finding words? Let me help: BACON grilled cheese, juicy burger, cheese, fried egg, BACON grilled cheese. Drooling? You should be. And guess what? I did not find this place through”Diners, Drive Ins and Dives”, or online, or through some tourist trap. This was found through word of mouth and in fact, in Bethlehem, PA, which is near the boonies (where I live).

The place: “The Wooden Match.” Their slogan: “Beer. Meat. Cigars.” Yes, it is a cigar bar. When first told about this, I figured I’d get a good beer, cigar, and have some wings. While the CRAFT BEER and cigars did not disappoint, the food far exceeded expectations. Even the plain burger was good. Bringing other friends to experience this greatness, we finally mustered up the courage for the “bender-ender.” Just read the description again…I really don’t think I need to say more.

in Bacon / Red Meat / Restaurants / Sandwich 2 comments

by BS

Hot Dogs Go Haute

Where else? Porklandia. The city that brought the world the maple-bacon donut returns with its latest feat: a seriously gourmet hot dog trend. Here are five ways Portlandians are eating their wienies right now.

1. The Pretty Dog

First up, Olympic Provisions takes your basic hot dog structure and makes it, well, beautiful. Their hand-linked Applewood and hickory smoked footlong pork frankfurter comes with artful drizzles of ketchup, dijon, onions, and house-made relish.

2. The Everything Dog

Fine dining Mexican restaurant Xico offers their own take on an Arizona favorite: the Sonoran hot dog: Grilled Nathan’s All Beef Frank, bacon, salsa verde, eye-of-the-goat beans, cotija, crema, and pico de gallo.

3. The Chili Cheese Dog

Portland Penny Diner, the new restaurant from James Beard Award winning chef Vitaly Paley offers up the Stanimal, which saves the exciting stuff for inside the wiener. A footlong hot dog is packed with oozing cheese and green chile, topped with sauerkraut and grilled onions.

in Food Travel / Red Meat / Restaurants / Trends 0 comments

« Previous