Today’s mid-day meal included a salad that was bigger than my face.
Cabbage Overload!
In the salad:
- Shredded cabbage
- Chopped carrot
- Chopped Granny Smith apple
- Chopped celery
- Chicken deli meat
- Annie’s Naturals lite honey mustard vinaigrette
The Dressing
All Dressed Up
So good!
I also served a quesadilla on the side, which I made by heating up a stick of string cheese on top of a whole wheat tortilla in the microwave for about 50 seconds until the cheese melted. I then spread the cheese around with a knife and folded the tortilla over, quesadilla-style! Yes you can make quesadillas in the break room my friends!
Put Me in the Middle of that Cheese!
Now for some sweet talk!
Best (Sweet) Thing I Ever Ate
Last night Ryan and I sat on the couch drooling all over the place as we watched The Best Thing I Ever Ate: Sweet Tooth on the Food Network. The stars of various Food Network shows detailed the best sweet treat they’ve ever enjoyed from random restaurants across the U.S.
After watching the stars eat delectable Nutella crepes (<– totally just spelled that like “craps” on accident and laughed at my desk), peanut butter and jelly doughnuts, chocolate mousse and meringue crème cake, we wiped up our drool and started talking about the best sweet thing we’ve ever had from a restaurant.
My mind immediately went to the Houston’s hot fudge sundae with roasted sugar pecans that Ryan and I order every time we visit the restaurant (which was recently renamed Hillstone) in Winter Park, Florida.
Houston's Hot Fudge Sundae
My heart also skips a beat for concrete (aka extremely thick frozen custard) from SweetBerries in Sarasota, Florida. Clearly I’m an ice cream lover!
After pining over delicious desserts, Ryan and I decided that once we’re retired, we’re going on a food tour of the United States and will stop at all of the restaurants mentioned on the show. I also plan to do some research into other highly-recommended restaurants… especially the hole-in-the-wall type joints that tend to be my favorite!
Please help me make my preemptive list of destinations and share details about the best sweet treat you’ve ever had from a restaurant: Where did you order it and what did you order?
If you’re not a fan of sweets, feel free to share the best meal you’ve ever experienced at a restaurant below!
P.S. The Fashion page was updated today! Be thankful that I didn’t update it yesterday because I looked like a wildebeest.
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There’s a restaurant in D.C. called Vidalia and I had a peanut butter and jelly bar there once… it was amazing! Seeing as how I absolutely love pb&j, it was definitely one of my favorite desserts!
Oh my this could become a sinful list! The best donut I ever ate came from voodoo donuts in Portland, Oregon. I’ve never actually gone to their bakery which is crazy cause it’s so close.
No lie….BEST DRESSING EVER is a 1:1 mixture of Annie’s (or Trader Joe’s Brand) Goddess Dressing and balsamic vinegar. So so so good! 🙂
oh man, i have no idea what the best is!!! i always love hot fudge sundaes, and i have to say that the sticky toffee pudding at colt & gray in denver is by far one of the best desserts i’ve ever had 🙂
My friend and her husband did a food tour as their honeymoon. They loved it! I think it’s such a good idea for people who love food and want to try fancy restaurants. I wouldn’t be able to trust myself on such a tour right now, I’d gain 20 pounds! But maybe when I get better at portion control 🙂
I live in Manhattan and make it a point to try the best restaurants.
My favorite meal was cod at wd~50 on the Lower East Side. It might sound pretty basic but it was amazingggg.
My favorite desert was at Lavagna which is small italian restaurant in Alphabet city. It was a peach crostini? crostata? basically it was the yummiest thing I’ve ever had!
I know that peanut butter and jelly donut must have been from DOUGHTUT PLANT in NYC. Seriously they have the best doughnuts! http://www.doughnutplant.com/
And the best macaroons are at Payard in Ceasar’s Las Vegas.
And the best frozen hot chocolate at SERENDIPITY in Vegas!
yes it was! i want to try one so badly!
I am a chocoholic so I have had many amazing desserts that I probably will remember after I post this. My two favorite is Linda’s fudge cake from The Cheesecake Factory (when my best friend and I need a girl’s night we always end up splitting this for dessert) and the chocolate brownie from Bonefish Grill.
Frozen custard is the best!! There is a place by me that is absolutely delicious!!
Hands-down the Espresso Milkshake with Hand-made warm doughnuts at Sociale in San Francisco. I literally dream about them. They took them off the menu for about a year, but due to the uproar from the diners, brought them back. I love them so much that I even call ahead just to make sure they still make them!
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/ZtFGuS4Z3rZ-J3Abw4V-oA?select=ioibJ2-6v24VhMjtL7BXsQ
I love Houston’s/Hillstone’s. It’s one of my favorite restaurant chains. The veggie burger is amazing!
I love chocolatey desserts with ice cream! Mmm…
One of my favorite summer treats is maple soft serve ice cream with real maple syrup. They’re all over VT because we make tons of maple syrup here!
Confession: I watch that show in the week leading up to any trip I take. I once watched an episode that featured The grilled Cheese Truck in LA. I am all over that business. Their most popular sandwich has mac n cheese, caramelized onions and pulled pork. HELLO.
http://www.thegrilledcheesetruck.com/
I am a huge dessert and sweets lover but I can’t think of where the best sweet thing I’ve ever eaten was from! Perhaps this is a sign I need to cut back? Nah…
holy delicious. that sounds unreal!
Love that show, it’s the ultimate food porno!
The pumpkin cookie from Cinnamon Works in Seattle’s Pike’s Market…must get it frosted, they’re the size of hubcaps, muffin-y and possibly vegan if I remember correctly!
I first heard about you on Spark People. I found this recipe there last night and when you mentioned Nutella I thought I’d pass it on to you. I haven’t tried it yet but am looking forward to it! I really enjoy your blog. You’ve given me some great, healthy meal ideas. 🙂
Directions
Roast almonds: Either bake at 350 degrees F for 5 minutes or microwave for 1 minute on high. (I recommend the oven.)
While still warm, place almonds in a food processor and process for five minutes, stopping occasionally to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Once the almonds have the consistency of almond butter, add the chocolate chips and process until thoroughly combined. The warm almonds melt the chips.
(This can be made with any sort of nut)
Each serving is 2 tablespoons.
Nutrition in 2 tablespoons:
Nutella: 190 calories, 11 g fat, 15 mg sodium, 22 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 21 g sugar, 3 g protein
SP version: 101 calories, 7.6 g fat, 1.2 mg sodium, 8.4 g carbs, 1.7 g fiber, 6.2 g sugar, 2.3 g protein
that sounds fantastic!!! thank you so much for sharing.
HAHA! Perhaps this would help! 😉
Ingredients
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup almonds
The mint chocolate sundae at Pure Food and Wine is literally the best dessert I’ve ever had. It’s HUGE and DELICIOUS and totally natural. My meat-loving boyfriend agrees that it’s the best dessert he’s ever tasted- even though it’s raw. Seriously, your mind will be blown.
I would die if I watched that show- I am a huge ice cream and fro yo freak 🙂 I would say to hit up Ted Drewes in St. Louis. It is legit, amazing, and FROZEN custard!! Best place on earth!
There’s a family-owned soft serve place in my hometown of Stevens Point, WI called Belt’s that has an amaaaazing smores sundae. It’s not on their menu anymore but they’ll still make it if you ask nicely.
One of my most favorite desserts- I’ll happily add an hour of driving to my trip between MN and WI if it means I can go there.
Love the cheese bread from Mastoris Diner in NJ. They actually serve it as an appetizer (the ‘bread’ with your meal) but they sell whole loaves out of their bakery section. It tastes like cheese danish inside sweet bread and it is amazing!
Another Jersey staple that I’ll bet you would really enjoy is Rita’s water ice. They’re an NJ/PA area chain that always gives away free water ice in the first day of spring! They have tons of flavors but the mango gelato with vanilla custard can’t be beat.
Rita’s has actually expanded to the south… there are locations in the Orlando area now!
There is a Ritas in Austin, TX now a couple blocks away from me. It will literally be right across the street from me when I move into my new apartment next school year…. I can tell it will be dangerous! Tried their pumpkin flavor the other day… delish!
Several years ago I ate at Lawry’s steakhouse in Chicago, and they had a special dessert that I have never forgotten. It was a chocolatemolded “brown paper bag” filled with white chocolate mousse and raspberries, and there was a big puddle of raspberry puree on the side. It was truly heaven on a plate. SO good.
I have the same dream to tour the country visiting the best hole in the wall restaurants known for something! My dad and I want to take a year off to live out this dream. No lie!
Portillo’s chocolate cake. So simple, yet so delicious! Tell me you had that in Illinois.
oh my gosh, PORTILLO’S! this just made me miss illinois and their hot dogs, milkshakes and beef sandwiches SO much!
Anything from La Maison du Chocolate. Just, anything.
the best sweet thing i have ever ate is from a restaurant in philadelphia called Barbuzzo. The dessert is the Salted Caramel Budino. I successfully recreated it at home. It is seriously heaven in a mason jar. you haveeeeee to try it. best dessert ever.
http://www.sistersrunningthekitchen.com/2011/02/barbuzzos-salted-caramel-budino/
Chocolate peanut butter pie from Ocean Prime in Tampa. I looked it up and there is one in Orlando 🙂 I love the ambiance at Ocean Prime – and it’s awesome for drinks and dessert, although a little pricey for dinner. The Berries and Bubbles (Belvedere Citrus Vodka, Marinated blackberries, Housemade Sour, Domaine Chandon Brut) is served on dry ice so it smokes. You seriously need to go 🙂
I found the ‘almost’ recipe here: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/orl-livheatherrecipe15_fdrc041509apr15,0,2894127.story
Let us know if you attempt it!
The best dessert ever has to be these chocolate chip cookies that are half baked (or so they seem) served with cool, light whipped cream. The cookies are so soft and gooey! We had this dessert at a pizza place in Atlanta called Shorty’s Pizza. Weird that a random restaurant had the best dessert ever, but hey, that’s why you should never dismiss small, hole in the wall places! 🙂
Scoops Ice cream in St. Pete! 🙂 All homemade & extremely yummy!
I had a banana dessert at MK in Chicago a few weeks ago. The banana ice cream was incredibly creamy and delicious! I’m going to Tru with my bf for valentine’s day and it is supposed to be amazing. Gale Gand is the pastry chef! I’m working out like crazy in preparation for consuming a ton of calories…
I’m Canadian and I have to say the best sweet thing I have eaten is a Beaver Tail. (don’t laugh, it’s not literally a beaver tail but more of a flat doughnut topped with yummy toppings like nutella, or maple cream)
Tres Leches cake at Churrasco’s…..A-MA-ZING
If you ever come to LA you HAVE to go to Yogurt Stop. It’s the same concept as Menchies and other self-serve frozen yogurt, but SO MUCH BETTER.
For instance, among the toppings they offer are huuuuge homemade peanut butter cups, actual red velvet cake crumbs, real cookie dough and cookie crumbs and all of the holiday-themed candy you could ever want.
Another great dessert I’ve had was at McCormick & Schmicks in NYC. The head chef’s wife has a special recipe for the best peanut butter pie I’ve ever tasted!
If you come to DC, eat at Carlyles or Mike’s American Grill (they’re sister restaurants) and order the bread pudding… melt in your mouth delicious and warm. with ice cream of course! I KNOW you’d like that =)
One if by Land, Two if by Sea in Greenwich Village. I think the Gianduja Mousse is the best thing I ever ate.
Sorry for the late comment…. but if you like dives and are ever in the New Orleans area ya have to stop by Harbor Seafood! There’s a cajun style plate called eggplant pirogue that is oh-SO-delicious!!! It’s fried eggplant topped with some sort of creamy crawfish-laden sauce… absolute delish! (and fatty so maybe just eat half? haha)
Found out about it on yelp…it received rave reviews. check it out here…. http://www.yelp.com/biz/harbor-seafood-and-oyster-bar-kenner 🙂
Hmmm off hand frozen hot chocolate at serendipity in NYC. I’m sure there were others but that’s such a good classic one!
Best meal = pumpkin ravioli with a burnt butter sauce. At the most perfect little open-air restaurant in Rome!
Best sweet = in Australia a company called Dello Mano makes THE BEST brownies I’ve ever had. They’re so fudgey. That, or Dufflet’s butter tarts here in Canada!
I’m going to Houston’s in Atlanta tonight for the first time and I can’t wait to eat this sundae!!!!