It is time to close out this list of Top Ten blog posts. This time of year, food is a central theme. So I figured a good way to go out would be to look at some of my favorite places to eat.
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Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar—I discovered this regional chain on a trip to Greenville, SC, earlier this year. Since that trip, my wife and I have visited the Columbia, SC, location. So far, everything I have tried from there has been top-notch. The burgers are generously sized and absolutely delicious. I cannot wait to get back there again!
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Boudin Bakery—Many years ago, I went on a business trip to San Francisco. Around the corner from where we were staying was this bakery. They used to have a fruit tart that became my go-to breakfast. But before I left, I had to try their famous sourdough bread, and it did not disappoint. To this day, I still love fresh sourdough; the only difference is that my wife now bakes it in our kitchen. (Yum!)
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BuffaLouie’s—I discovered this Bloomington, IN, landmark freshman year at IU, thanks to my roommate, Brian, who took time to introduce me to what the city had to offer. Although he preferred the hot sauces, my stomach did not. So I stuck with the “tamer” sauces and frequently ordered wings for delivery from there. To this day, it is my go-to place when I can get to Bloomington.
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Giordano’s—I don’t know what’s wrong with folks from New York and Detroit. The king of all pizzas is Chicago’s deep-dish. And my favorite is Giordano’s. Yes, I’ve eaten at other places, but I keep coming back here. Since moving south, I have placed a few orders for their overnight shipping of frozen pizzas to bake at home. In fact, there are several in my freezer right now; I may have to reduce my inventory by one tonight…
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Long’s Bakery—I have yet to find a bakery with a more delicious yeast donut than the Indianapolis icon, Long’s. They are best fresh, but are just as good after a day or two. I don’t recall ever having a pastry from here that I didn’t like.
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MACS (Macaroni and Cheese Shop)—Laura introduced me to this place during her brief stint in enemy territory, er, Green Bay, WI. I don’t even remember all of the ways they serve mac and cheese. It was one of her favorite places to eat, and after going there, I totally understand why.
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Railroad BBQ—We stumbled across this Columbia, SC, BBQ joint thanks to their online reviews. Since then, we’ve been back to the restaurant several times. Our go-to is The Tubman: all four meats, three sides, and bread. Plenty of leftovers to take home and enjoy for the next two days!
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Round the Clock—This restaurant in northwest Indiana was a favorite of my mom’s, so we tended to go there fairly often. It’s been years since I was there, but I remember getting the Monte Cristo sandwich regularly, while my mom would get the chicken lemon rice soup.
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Squealer’s—Unlike South Carolina, central Indiana is not known for its BBQ. But Squealers? This Mooresville establishment consistently wins awards at competitions, and I am not surprised. When we lived in the area, we never had a bad meal there.
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Willie Sue’s—A well-known restaurant in town, Willie Sue’s consistently provides good food, good service, and good bourbon (I’ve been told). Most of our visits here start with the appetizer combination of Gator Tail nuggets and Catfish Bites. From there, it just depends on what we are in the mood for: meatloaf, seafood grits, steaks…it’s all fantastic!
PHOTO CREDIT: Display of healthy foods on a table. (by National Institutes of Health via Wikimedia)
