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[fatkidnation]

Obrycki's a hidden gem

I was in the BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport in Baltimore taking advantage of the offer to stand by and get a free flight voucher from Southwest. Since I had some new found time I went looking for a place to eat. The first thing I do when I get to a terminal when I arrive is check out to see what my options are as for food, and if the time is appropriate a drink. I walked past Obryckis first thing in my search and my mind was pretty much made up. I wanted a crab cake since I got to Maryland a week earlier, but it was still early in the morning. While walking by Obryckis had a sign out front that answered all my problems, “Crab Cake Eggs Benedict for $19”. One glimpse of that sign and I was hooked in. The price was a bit high, when it comes to food in an airport I don’t mind paying for quality. While I’m not sure if it is always like this, but at breakfast they you can seat yourself. So I wandered right in a made myself comfy by the wall with a outlet to charge my phone. As soon as I sat down a very pleasant lady came over, gave me a menu and took my drink order. I love regular eggs benedict so the inclusion of these famous crab cakes, with a side of breakfast potatoes, seemed like a home run to me. After placing the order I received my meal in about 15 minutes, which was quite impressive. I dug right in to the meal as soon as I received it. My main concern was how the crab cake taste would be complimented with the hollandaise sauce. My worry was to much Old Bay would kill the Hollandaise taste, but my fears were for nothing. This blend of taste worked out perfectly. Mellowing out the old bay and the natural seafood taste a bit, but still left you knowing you were eating a true Maryland Crab cake. Before coming here I never heard of Obryckis before, but after eating here at the airport I did a little light research. I now wish during my trips to Baltimore as a child that my family that we went to the original. I am glad that this proud Maryland companies name and traditions are at least beigh carried on for future generations to enjoy just like I did. Everything from the quick service the to the great tasting meal makes Obryckis Fat Kid Tested Fat Kid Approved. Stay peckish my friends

[fatkidnation]

Rainforest Café at Disney Springs

I did have the pleasure of attending this meal with a Landry’s select club member. One of the biggest factors of this especially at the Disney locations is the priority seating. This locations can have up to an hour wait even with prior reservations. We were lead past the other customers with crying kids waiting for their tables, and sat in a pretty central location. Another perk of the card is you get preferential treatment by the staff. You get visited by managers to see how everything is. Bussers swoop on in to grab any empty plates right away. All the other needs are taken care of by the server who was close by to assist you. Rainforest Cafe has the same menu at each of it’s locations. I ordered the BBQ bacon burger medium rare, with bbq sauce on the side. This comes with your choice of sides, which I went with the safari fries. It’s the same meal I can get at the Rainforest café in Atlantic City NJ. When the food arrived the burger was Medium not medium rare. It was close enough for my liking, but still can be a issue for picky eaters. The Safari Fries are really just seasoned fries, heavy on the salt. The meal was forgettable to say the least, which is disappointing due to the price and its location at Disney. It is fair to say that without the Landry’s select member I will not probably be back. It is just not really worth the price or the wait time that is involved. You really are just paying for the atmosphere. The food is just okay, and with new places like Morimoto Asia and The Boathouse moving in. Rainforest Café needs to offer a better product to compete with the new and far superior food options becoming available. Is Rainforest Café Fat Kid tested Fat Kid approved? Sure if you’re a Landry’s member or you have kids. If not I would suggest another place with better food right down the walkway. Stay Peckish My friends

[fatkidnation]

Cosmo Café in Washington DC

Cosmo Cafe was a gem in the National Mall in Washington D.C. that I found completely on accident. A  buddy of mine, who works in DC, told me he was getting married. I decided to make it a vacation. I decided to hitch a ride with him to the National Mall before he had to be at work. One would not know it by looking at me, but I am a big history nerd. I guess I got it from my Dad, who was a history teacher. When I was a tiny fat kid, I was begrudgingly  dragged to Washington DC.  Now as an adult, I can appreciate the Smithsonian Museums and the monuments. It's very different from the Walt Disney resorts that have become increasingly popular with families. I digress, his job started early in the morning and there was no hope for breakfast. This became my mission. I was determined to find somewhere to satiate my cravings for sausage, eggs, waffles, and other breakfast morsels. It only took a few blocks until I found what seemed to be my breakfast oasis: Cosmos Cafe. The setup was like a cafeteria, but nicer than the one in your local public school. The clientele is more of a business, government employees, and construction workers. Its far enough away from the National Mall area to keep the tourists away.   How Cosmos works is you take a container, fill it up, and bring everything to the register.  They charge you based on the weight of the container. Don't forget to grab the perfect breakfast beverage, which they had a decent selection to chose from. The breakfast fare provided was exactly what I wanted. Every and any kind of breakfast combination possible you can imagine. Want French toast with bacon? Pancakes with scramble eggs? A tub of breakfast meat combination? They had all of these options and more thanks to the buffet and grill area. The fare wasn't exactly world class but, needless to say, I left feeling stuffed enough for the whole day's historical adventure. The only down side to the entire experience is that the cost per pound is a little high. Other than that I find Cosmo Cafe is fat kid tested fat kid approved Stay Peckish My friends

[fatkidnation]

Wolfgang Pucks Express Disney Springs Orlando FL.

What is a trip to Downtown Disney with out a quick bite at one of the many "Quick Service" restaurants? Tucked between Disney's Days of Christmas and Disney's Pantry is Wolfgang Puck Express. I will be perfectly honest, I am quite familiar with the Downtown Disney area, and had a tough time finding the place. Overall, I would have to say I wasn't all that impressed with the food, but the service was on point. Never having had tried any of the other Wolfgang locations before, but recognizing the high profile name, I had high expectations going in, but what I received was rather normal fare. As the name applies it's an express service. You order like you would at any other Quick service in the Disney parks. This part is streamed lined very well. They take your order and give you a number card, and drink cup. However, as a warning, this drink cup is not a souvenir cup, or a to go paper cup, but has unlimited free refills while dining.   The restaurant is seat yourself, I decided to go out onto the sun porch area, a server greets you and brings over your place setting. Your food arrives quickly. This whole process I like quite a lot. It takes away the normal quick service feel, but still keeps the efficiency alive and well. I decided to start with something simple, a barbecue chicken brick oven pizza. My order, drink included, came out to around seventeen dollars. I was disappointed with my pizza because where as it was delicious it did not meet my expectations of the brand. I wasn't quiet sure if I got a good value for my dollar. In reality I was happy with the quality and all. Just I guess I was just looking for more robust flavors than what I got. I would come back to Wolfgang Puck Express and I would suggest it to my friends. However, I would not get the pizza again. The atmosphere is great, friendly and attentive employees, and lastly real quick service. I can definitely say Wolfgang Pucks Express is Fat Kid tested Fat Kid approved. As Always Stay peckish my friends.

[fatkidnation]

Johnnies Hideaway, Orlando Fl

My parents, a few of my friends, and I went to this restaurant for a relaxing meal. We have driven by it many times and wanted to give it a try. So when my parents came to town for a visit, I thought that it was a good as time as any. Now even though it is a nice place, dressy attire is not required. They understand they're in a tourist town so you can wear what you want. After you sit they serve you spicy pickles. This I found to be odd, but they're something original and definitely worth a try. Spicy pickles though are probably one of those foods you have to form your own opinion on though. I don’t like cucumbers all that much, which are relatives to pickles, but I tried one and wasn’t all that impressed. The menu is very diverse. They have the usual basics such as chicken, seafood, and steak. I’m a huge fan of bacon and right there staring at me on the menu was a strip of bacon for $3.50. I was picturing a nice fatty piece of fatty bacon. Not exactly what I got. It wasn’t all bad but it was more just like a skinny slice of ham. Next thing I got was a Cesar salad, and we got a garlicky, buttered piece of bread. Both were really good, and the bread wasn’t your normal garlic bread either. It was more like a monkey bread made with butter and garlic. It is a kind of messy and greasy bread, but it sure did taste good. By the way the bread comes with your meal. As for the Cesar it was made just the way I like it, with a nice even coating of dressing on every piece of lettuce and crouton. For my main course I went with their hand breaded jumbo shrimp. This I was disappointed in a bit. I know it was just breaded shrimp, but it just tasted like something I could get at Red Lobster. It had no pop to it, no flare at all that would make it stand out from anywhere else. Lastly for desert I went for the crème brulee. I have always been a fan of this dish and when it is done right it can be a thing of magic. This one was pretty good. Again like the breaded shrimp, it had nothing to make it great, but it wasn't bad. Over all I can say Johnnie’s Hideaway is fat kid tested and fat kid approved, but I probably won’t be making it a regular spot at all. It's just a little expensive to be just good. Stay peckish my friends

[fatkidnation]

Oblivion Taproom, Orlando Fl.

I went here on Tuesday night with two friends. It was my first time, but not theirs. They suggested the place as they know I love a great burger, wings and beer. Well, I'm glad they suggested this place. It’s a little bit of a hike from the Disney area, but well worth the drive. We were greeted at the door by a nice host covered in tats. She welcomed us right away and asked if we wanted a table or booth. I love this detail; being big, I don't really like booths, and this attention is nice. It’s like recognizing that I'm big and accommodating it without pointing it out at the same time. The place itself seems kind of like a biker bar, but it’s a very nice, clean one. Once seated, you see that it isn't that at all. In fact, all kinds are welcome here. The night I went, they had some sort of Cosplay group there. To add to that, there were people sitting there drawing as well as a table of obvious beer snobs. All seem to be having a lot of fun in a pretty much judgment free zone. One of the best things is they have an actual dart board. I have not seen one of these since I moved to the area. Plus, they have pool tables to enjoy. As for the food and beverage part, their menu mostly consists of burgers and appetizers. They did, however, have an awesome special that night of gourmet hot dogs. I wanted to try everything they had so we divided the menu up. I ordered an order of the special, which were double Wild bill dogs, a hot frank covered with cole slaw, french fries, bacon, cheese and BBQ sauce. For an app I got an order of BBQ wings. My buddy got a Wild Bill Burger, which is the same as the dog, but instead of bacon you get pork belly. He also ordered pork belly sliders. We pretty much split up all the food between us. Everything tasted great, but my favorite was by far the sliders. The pulled pork just melted in my mouth. I can't say enough good things about this dish. Now, if you’re a beer, fan Oblivion is the place for you to visit. The menu they have isn't for food - the food menu is just one page. The beer/cider menu consists of at least four pages. Now, I have been to beer clubs before, but I'm use to just picking a number and giving it a try. Here they go into great detail of each beer so there isn't much of a guess here. You should know or at least have an idea what your drinking. I will warn you about one thing. If you’re just going out for a Budweiser or a Miller Lite, you may want to look elsewhere. Sure, they probably have it, but this really isn't the place for it. I have to say all things considered, I really do like this place. Yes, the food is great, and the meal portions are humongous, but that's not why I like it so much. I like that anyone can come and feel like they’re at home. You can sit here and be in a judgment free zone. So come on in, grab a pint, a meal, and relax. Because Oblivion Taproom is definitely fat kid tested, fat kid approved. Stay peckish my friends.

[fatkidnation]

Hey all you E cigarette smokers out there.  My friend is the owner of a company that sells the E smoke products. So in the spirit of the shop local Saturday coming up.  Show them some love and buy your products through them.  Use the NJVAPE promo code to get free shipping and 5% off.  Even if you don't use these products they can be great gifts to people who do.  Check out the site.  www.vapesource.us

[fatkidnation]

Columbus Cupcakery, Columbus, NJ

Got out of work early and while driving by I thought of this place. It has very little road presence.  The only reason I knew it was here at all. Is because I saw it when I visited Toots awhile back.  So I popped in and took a look around.  It looks like your nice basic bakery just with a few tables and chairs for people to enjoy their cup cakes.  I walked up to the display case where I see about 8 to 12 options in front of me.  The ladies in the back come out and have a nice conversation with me.  Giving me there opinions on the cup cakes that I asked about. I am a chocolate fan so I settled on the " Totally Chocolate". The cost did throw me off a bit. it was $2.50 for a single cupcake.  Its does seem a little high for a cup cake, but I do understand it.  These are the place's main products. Its not like I can go in and order a  steak sandwich here as well.  They sell cupcakes and that's mainly it.  I did read that they also have cookies and brownies which I don't doubt at all, but since I didn't see I can't confirm this.  After paying for it, my cupcake was placed in it's own little carrying case, and given to me.  I went to my car to eat it, since I feel awkward eating by myself here.  Plus I knew it would be a messy experience, and I wasn't wrong at all. My usual cupcake eating way is to eat the bottom first. I do this to make the cupcake fit in my mouth easier, and not make a big mess.  Well this didn't work this time. Not known to me was the fact that they fill all their cupcakes with some sort of yummy filling.  I bit in to find this out, and at the same time getting crumbs all over the place. Despite the mess that is now in my car.  The cupcake was quite good.  Not as excellent as the ones from seven deadly sweets I had at a show in the city, but  still pretty good.  Good enough to bring me back for another round on my next drive through.

Lastly the Columbus Cupcakery is Fat Kid Tested, and Fat Kid Approved.

As always stay peckish my friends. 

[fatkidnation]

Atlantic Club, Atlantic City, NJ.

During a three day trip down to Atlantic City I heard tales about these low minimum bet tables down at the Atlantic Club. These stories really were not that unbelievable since it's known as Atlantic City’s only locals casino. This fact alone was enough to get me nervous enough about the place. I lived and worked in this city for 2 years and know how rough the locals can be. Plus the location of the casino is at the very end of the boardwalk pretty much by itself. Now I have stopped by there before when it was The Hilton Casino which at the time was slowly dying away and all the once star drawing power had long ago left. During the time of my last visit the only visitors the old girl had was the elderly hoping to relive some of their memories.

The building itself was built in 1980 as the Golden Nugget by the future casino magnate Steve Wynn and venture capitalist, soon to be convicted of racketeering Michael Milken. Unfortunately soon after the casino control commission in New Jersey and Mr. Wynn had some high profile battles and he left to go back to transform Las Vegas to what it is today. Bally’s purchase the building and changed the name to Bally’s Grand Casino/Hotel in 1987. When Hilton purchased Bally’s, the build changed to its most famous name so far, The AC Hilton. During this time the experience was drawing in the biggest names of the entertainment industry and was doing great business, but business slowly started to decline. The initial reason for this decline was the opening of newer and hipper casinos on the other end of the boardwalk in addition to in the marina. This left the Hilton sitting with the also struggling Tropicana to slowly slip away. Then to put the final nail in the coffin was the general decline of the city attendance in the 2000s, which was due to the legalization of casino gambling in surrounding Pennsylvania and New York. Lastly the casino went on sale in March of 2011, but with its bad location and a very much outdated building there was no interested buyers in site. So the state came and instead of closing the property redeemed it to what it is today.

Now on this visited I expected to walk into much of the same. Just slightly polished up a bit and a bunch of new signs. Instead we stepped out of the cab into a very vibrant and happening front lobby. They were having a million dollar drawing, which had brought in the crowd. We made our way to the tables, which is the whole reason we came. They are rumored to be the cheapest in town and some have great bonus options. Well the rumors were true, the table limits were as low as $5 min bet, and this was a Friday night. The usual table limits higher up on the boardwalk or in the marina the limits start at $10 and go up on a Friday night. So my two buddies sat down at a 5x bonus craps table. And I left to explore the old casino. Cosmetically nothing had really changed. They have obviously changed all the signs, brought the technology where it should be, and cleaned up a hell of a lot. As for the building itself nothing has been added as in new hotel towers or floor space. Which means they have to draw guest with what they have. Since I was there late I didn’t try any of the food, but I did take a look at all the establishments and their menus. Every one of them looked good and the prices seemed to be quite fair. There are 2 bars, but one is a beach bar, which is obviously closed during the winter. All of the staff was very up beat and friendly with the exception of one cocktail waitress. She was greatly stressed out due to the business of the place. At the tables themselves the staff interacts great with the guest making it a fun experience all around. I stayed there till about 2 am and when I finally left it was still jam packed and pumping. I don’t know if this was a isolated experience or if it’s like this every night. If it is maybe the Atlantic Club isn't going to die out just yet. Like I said I didn’t get to try any of the food, but I have to say this fat kid was happy and I definitely approve.

As always stay peckish my friends

[fatkidnation]

Bagel Bistro, Millstone NJ

 A friend told me about this place while we were driving to the Cheese Cake Factory in Freehold. He said it was phenomenal and I should stop by and try it one day. Well, I finally found myself in the area during the morning-ish hours, and it actually happened twice. I figured I should stop on in and give it a try.

Inside it looks just like any other bagel joint you have ever been to, nothing much to say there. They are more than just a bagel shop. They offer a lunch menu as well which includes hamburgers, salads, and both hot and cold sandwiches. All their breads and bagels are made fresh, and you can really taste it.

On my two times there I ordered two separate things. First off was a basic plain bagel with plain cream cheese. I know it's not really all that creative or daring, but the way I see it, if a bagel place can’t make a good plain bagel then it's not worth coming back another time. Here they didn’t disappoint. Like I previously stated, the bagel was nice and fresh, and at 11:45 in the morning. Hey I said morning-ish, didn’t I? So another visit was owed and this time I went with bacon, egg, and American cheese on a plain bagel with a splash of ketchup. Again they didn’t disappoint. The bagel was still nice and fresh, with fluffy scrambled eggs. You add that with the perfectly cooked crunchy bacon, and the melted cheese, you end up with a perfect breakfast sandwich. So what did this perfectly created sandwich cost me you ask. Well total cost is a whole $3.50. So not all that bad of a hit on the wallet. So if you find yourself riding on by stop on in and grab a bite. Because Bagel Bistro is Fat kid tested and Fat kid approved.

As Always stay peckish my friends.

[fatkidnation]

Delaware River Tubing Company, Frenchtown,NJ

 After spending days upon days working out in the 95-100 degree heat for the past month, I was looking forward to spending the day floating down the Delaware.  My grandparents lived along this very same river when I was kid, and I’ve watched thousands of people pass by through the years.  That being said, the first chance I had to go back, I decided to jump on it.  I talked my friend Ash into taking the journey up north with me.  Out of all the days enduring the heat wave, we managed to pick the one with a temperature of a balmy 75 degrees.  Needless to say, the water was a bit on the chilly side, but overall it was a fun trip. There are a few things to note, however, so you are not taken by surprise like we were. When you arrive, you have to pay $7 for parking. Not a huge deal, but it would have been nice to know.  This might have been on the website, but if so, I didn’t see it.  Also, while looking at the website for prices, they list the group pricing first instead of individual. This caused a bit of sticker shock when paying for the tubes. Once again, it certainly wouldn’t ruin a trip, just make sure you look at the correct price. Finally, when you rent the tubes, it is definitely worth paying for the upgrade with the head rest, and make sure you bring water shoes. You will be happy you did in the long run.   Once on the river, I suggest staying in your tube.  I decided to get out and swim. I found out the hard way that it is not a wise idea.  First off, it is impossible to get back into the tube while in the current, and secondly, the only consistency the river floor has is that it is covered with big boulders.  If you are out of the tube, you get beat up by said boulders.  About half way through you have the option of stopping at the The Famous River Hot Dog Man (it’s included in your ticket price so stop by), but it is really easy to float past, so watch out for it.   As for the food itself, it is exactly as you would expect; nothing really spectacular aside from the fact that the stand is floating on the water.  The hot dogs were definitely a welcome snack, and they give you enough to eat.  Plus, if you want more, they do have the option but you need to pay extra. That is only, of course, if you managed to not have lost your money to the river.   The second half of the river goes a lot faster.  We chose not to follow the suggested route and went the wrong way around the island. It was indeed slower than the suggested path, but we found a small cut-through which contained the fastest water we hit all day.  At the end of the day, the process was quite simple. Get out on the left side of the river, walk up a slight hill, and wait for the bus back. The whole trip took about 4.5 hours and was a very fun experience, and I plan on making a return visit next summer.                                                                   

[fatkidnation]

Bubba's Dog House, Seaside Heights, NJ

What memories are brought back walking the boardwalk of Seaside NJ, a place where my family would go to take day trips when I was growing up. A lot of things have changed since those days on the boards. Back then seaside was not as popular as it is today. Sure it had its beach that was always packed with people. The rides on the piers were pleasing kids of all sizes just as they are today. Since those days, MTV brought the shore houses in the 90's and The Jersey Shore show is in town now, which has brought a whole lot of changes to the small beach resort. Depending on who you ask those changes can be considered good or bad. Upon my resent visit to Seaside I saw a mixture of both old and new. One thing is for sure though, the town is definitely striving in a time where traveling and entertainment budgets are tight. One of those that are new to the area and making great food is Bubba's Dog House. Located on the boardwalk's north end right next to the world famous Jersey Shore house, it gets plenty of foot traffic from the tourist trying to get a picture of Snooki or J-wow. I actually had no idea the place existed before I happened to stumble by it on my way back down the boardwalk to my car. I have been craving a specialty hot dog since the last time I was in Providence and had one of Spike's. After studying the menu for awhile I finally settled upon what is called a Big Blue Dog. It is a simple foot long hot dog topped with bacon, blue cheese, and BBQ sauce. I really don't know how to describe how good this dog tasted. I being the lover of sauce that I requested extra to satisfy my craving. The blue cheese is an acquired taste and can make or break anything you use it with. If too much is present then you overpower the taste of just about everything else. On the other hand, too little just teases you with the taste. Bubba has seemed to find just the right amount that he needs. It blends perfectly with the sauce and bacon to complete this great dog. I love finding places that are willing to go out of the norm when it comes to hotdogs. Don't get me wrong, the classic with mustard, ketchup, relish or kraut is great, but a little adventure never hurt anyone. Bubba, please keep up the good work and come up with some other creations for those who are brave enough to try. So if you find yourself fighting to walk down the boardwalk in Seaside this summer. Know that there is a hot dog Mecca at the end of it, and Bubba's is definitely fat kid tested fat kid approved. As always Stay peckish my friends

[fatkidnation]

Meat BBQ Co, Forked River, NJ

This place has been hyped up to me for the past few months by a friend of mine. Before I go any further, you have to understand that all my friends and family say that I have to “go here” or “try this place out.” Usually I do, eventually, get to the places they recommend, but it does take me some time. Especially when it comes to places like this one, which was unfortunately located nowhere near me. These usually require some unusual circumstances for me to get to it. Well, eventually, the untimely passing of a family member brought me to a funeral home right across the street in this circumstance. After attending the somber event, I decided I could use a little pick me up. Nothing is a better pick-me-up for a fat kid than BBQ. Would it meet the hype my friend has been saying for months, or would it fall short of my standards like so many of my friends’ suggestions have in the past? I am happy to say my buddy was right. The food was fantastic and the service was beyond friendly. When I walked in, it was about twenty minutes before closing. I know what it’s like to be the server seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and wanting to go home. I said I would be putting an order for take-out since they were closing soon. The hostess/counter person responded with a smile and said it would be no problem if I wanted to stay and eat. I really appreciated this, but was extremely tired and really just wanted to get home. So I went about placing my order, which consisted of an appetizer of BBQ skins and the main dish of Pig on Pig. Plus the biggest Pepsi they had, and a refill before I left. Now, here is what made the place for me: as I stood there waiting for my food to come out (I could have had a seat but probably would have fallen asleep), the nice young lady who took my order conversed with me the whole time, making the ten to fifteen minute wait feel like mere seconds. It took me awhile to get home and the intoxicating smells in my car didn’t help make it faster at all. So once I got home, I quickly dove right in. First I pulled out the BBQ skins. I ordered these based on the description which got my attention, and I really didn’t know what to expect. I have to say, it was a good choice. First off, feel free to share these. The natural starch of the potatoes fills you up quickly. Two is the perfect amount for one person, but they give you more than that. The mix of the succulent meat with the crunchiness of the potatoes went perfect together. Next up was the main dish. Out came the Pig on Pig sandwich. I picked this sandwich simply because I couldn’t make up my mind on what I wanted. This sandwich is a blend of different cooking methods and cuts of pork. In its basic form it was a pulled pork sandwich topped with bacon, but this sandwich was so much more. First off, the bacon is so thick, crisp and flavorful, it could have been alone on a sandwich and it would fall off the grill. (They do have it so you can just order the bacon by itself.) I do have to say though, the sauce is what did it for me. It has a nice, sweet and tangy spice to it. I fell in love with it instantly. After the meal, I wished three things were different. The first is that I had the opportunity to eat this succulent meal as soon as it came out of the smoker. Second is that I had actually gotten a dessert as well (not as if I had room anyway). And third is that The Meat Co. was closer than it is to me so I could actually remedy the first two wishes and go by more often. I will tell you that The Meat Co. is fat kid tested and fat kid approved. Stay peckish my friends.

[lukecrayonz-deactivated20120120]

Reblog if you honestly think you will be single all of 2012.

[loo-see]

[fatkidnation]

Penns Queen Diner in Pensauken NJ

For us, this was a rare lunch break since we usually work through them, but we ended early that day and decided to treat ourselves for a day well done. We arrived a little after the main lunch crowd had left but before the dinner crowd would be arriving so the place was relatively quiet with the exception of a few early birds. Inside it looks just like any other diner in New Jersey. It does have a bar, but appears not to have beer on tap. I could be wrong about that though. Plus, in every room they have nice flat screen TV's so a weary traveler can catch up on the news and daily events. The hostess took us to the room in the back section of the establishment where everyone else seemed to be seated. It looked as if there was only one server on at this time a day, but you couldn't tell due to the attention of the service. As soon as we were seated she came by to say hi and to take our drink order, and to ask if we were ready. As usual we weren't so she gave us our time to see what we wanted. They have the normal diner foods like your traditional breakfasts, that one can get all day. They also serve both cold and hot sandwiches, which includes your burger selections, plus their dinner sections, which features seafood, steaks, poultry, and pasta dishes. My buddy got a meatball sub, which I'm guessing he liked since it disappeared fast. I decided on a tuna club, but I don't like lettuce and tomatoes. All I really wanted was the tuna, cheese, and, most importantly, the bacon. Usually I just put the veggies to the side, put the bacon and cheese between two pieces of bread, and then add the tuna between the other piece. Knowing times are kinda tough and every restaurant is looking for ways to save money, believe me every piece of lettuce adds up, I tell the waitress to hold those items. She does one better. She suggests that I got what's called a shorty. Basically it's what I wanted minus the third piece of bread. She also informed me that this saves me a little money to. I found this to be a particularly awesome trait in a server, who most of the time is trying to raise the check to get a bigger tip. I know they are told to upsell certain items but in this case it saved both me and probably the diner some cash. Both dishes were served with a side of fries and I believe cole slaw, not sure though about the slaw. I really can't comment on my friend's meat ball sandwich. All he said was that it was good. I know, very descriptive, huh? Mine, on the other hand, was a perfect sandwich. I enjoyed not having the extra stuff I didn't want cluttering up my plate, plus the fries were nice and crunchy, which is just the way I like them. We finished up, paid the bill and went on our way. I can definitely say Penns Queen Diner is fat kid tested fat kid approved.

As always

Stay peckish my friends

[fatkidnation]

Woody's BBQ, Lawrenceville, NJ

To start off I have to say I was glad to see BBQ finally coming to Mercer county. I first saw it doing last minute Christmas shopping with a friend. That night (Christmas Eve, of course), we were in too much of a rush to stop by, but the scents were calling my name. So a few days after the holiday season passed, I brought a fellow BBQ lover, Big Rig, with me to try it out. The service was good, not that knowledgeable on the product, but she was cheery, perky, and nice, so she held up her end of the bargain well enough. The food runner seemed a bit out there and brought me the wrong meal at first, but eventually I got the right stuff. Now here is where our trip began to take a nose dive. I ordered the BBQ combo that consisted of 2 meats ( I picked BBQ beef and Carolina pulled pork) and a piece of garlic Texas toast, plus 2 sides (sweet potato fries and mashed potatoes with gravy. Big Rig got a half roasted chicken with the same sides. When my meal came out it was apparent that it spent some time under the heat lamp, and the meat had a grayish tint to it, not to mention it was on the dry side. Big Rig's chicken was the same way. That being said they do have some good sauces in squirt bottles on your table. And it was these sauces that saved the meal for us. The sides were okay but nothing really stood out to either of us. Overall the experience was nice one, even though my food got lost. The place has a nice decor to it. Now if they can only get their food to not come out dry it would be great. So even though the people are nice and the place looks pretty, due to their food being subpar, I have to say that Woody's BBQ is fat kid test but not fat kid approved. As always stay peckish my friends.

[fatkidnation]

Local Smokes BBQ, Cookstown, NJ

Let me start off by saying I love barbeque. Unfortunately, until now it didn't have a presence near me in New Jersey. That all changed with the opening of Local Smokes. Granted, it's not really all that close to Trenton, but it is close enough for me to be able to get it once a month. So far I have visited twice, and both times I have been impressed. They are located right by the Fort Dix and McGuire Air Force bases, which is a great from a business stand point with all the walk-in business from the bases. You have a choice of either walking in and placing your order to-go at the counter or sit down to eat in. Their BBQ has won various awards from all over the country. So many decorate their walls that it's hard to count. So I agree with their already plenty awards that their BBQ is very good. I tried both the Pulled Pork Sandwich and the Texas Brisket Sandwich. On the side both times I got freshly cut sweet potato fries. Often BBQ suffers from dried out meat. Here both of the meats are drenched in their succulent sauces, Carolina for the pulled pork, and BBQ for the brisket, making the perfectly juicy sandwich. The best for me came on my second trip when I decided to get the Slow-Smoked Jalapeno Popper as a appetizer. On the menu they are described as award winning, and you receive 4 for $6. Now, for that price you would say these things better be the best poppers you ever had. After trying them I am prepared to sign over my soul for one of these heaven-sent culinary masterpieces. Just writing this is making my mouth water for one right now. They are stuffed with a blend of cream cheese (always a plus) and pulled pork filling. Then they are wrapped in dry rubbed bacon, and as the name implies they are slow cooked, not deep fried. Now they are ready to be served with a BBQ ranch dipping sauce. If you do visit, please don't make the same mistake I did and wait till you second trip to try them. You will be hating yourself for quite awhile if you do. Now on my next trip I plan on trying their much praised potato salad instead of my traditional sweet potato fries.

I know the location isn't really close to any major area of New Jersey besides the bases but I suggest going a little out of your way to come by and give it a try. Once you do you will be hooked just like me. Local Smokes BBQ is definitely Fat Kid tested Fat Kid Approved As always stay peckish my friends.