Muse was closed a couple of days ago. Randomly, I met the owner of Muse in the parking lot and they offered some alternate suggestions. I made it to one..

Got a bar seat at FIG on a Wednesday. I was told this was the best food in Charleston when I walked in. It might be!! Nothing was left on a plate. The menu changes daily with only a couple regular plates.

I can’t rave enough about this place. Trust the chef and try everything! Cheers!

Off the beaten path in North Charleston is a small mexican street taco joint. Food truck is parked outside and you know you are there by the nacho puppy logo all over the place.

You order at the bar and can sit inside or outside. On a Wednesday afternoon there were a handful of people here eating, drinking and having a good time.

I had home made fried nacho chips and fresh queso and salsa to start. In addition I had the fried fish and the beefy crunch taco. Food was flavorful despite being fried. It was not greasy and had lots of crunch. This place reminds me of a good food truck, just in a bar setting. It was very good worth a try if in town.

Papi’s is open again in Fell’s Point. I was super excited to have the opportunity to visit. I’m glad I did.

Papi’s never disappoints. I always have the street tacos. They have a ton of flavor. They were a little messy for my style, but that didn’t take away from the taste.

R. asked the bartender to whip up a super tart skinny margarita. It was delicious and refreshing.

There is a back patio that is fun. The vibe of this place is just as good as the food.

Welcome back Papi’s! I’m happy to see you again.

Spanish Tapas is a flavor profile and food I love! This is a newish place in Capitol Hill. So of course we dined here. Also, if I’m leaving a review, it’s a good spot.

Tapas in the US is traditionally big and usually meat-centric. Tapas for us means perfect bites of food (2-3 pieces). This place (like Jaleo) is very traditional in that way (small bites). The flavors here are on point with Barcelona style tapas.

Pan con tomate is a must at a proper tapas location or we are disappointed. It is a simple preparation of Catalonian bread and tomato puree. When done correctly it is the perfect starter. This place has one of the best preparations we’ve had outside of Barcelona.

Our primary dishes, while a little larger then traditional tapas, were excellent. The chefs here have a positive message.

After a few days at the Mouse’s House we headed north towards the shop. We were hungry and we stopped in north Orlando, Winter Garden. We picked this spot based on the pictures online.

Started with the queso (of course). Super vegetarian friendly and not just cheese soup. The chips were not home made but definitely very good. Thick and flavorful.

Rebe had enchiladas. I went steak Mexican tacos. Both of our meals were spectacular.

This place is a gem with very authentic Mexican food. Everything was slightly crunchy but not over done. The chips and soft taco shells were all perfectly prepared.

It’s hard for Rebe or I to give a good review to a Mexican restaurant. We are spoiled and like what we like. This place is a good find and should be visited again.

A local Balkan Restaurant. Obviously very meat centric but there are vegetarian options. Lots of smoky flavors in everything. Not a bad dish on the menu. The brunch is reasonably priced and a good choice for newbies to the food genre. The staff is 75% eastern European and the service is as great as the food.

You will not be disappointed if you try this place.

This place is called a food hall. It reminds me of a modern version of the Reading Market in Philadelphia and Lexington Market in Baltimore.

The place consists of a number of small restaurants, a brewery, a few bars, and coffee shop. The seating is open and you can order from any location using their QR code process.

The service is organized and a group effort. Each server was different, friendly, and professional. Since any table can order from any food stand, the servers pick up tickets and deliver food and drinks all over the hall as well as busing tables and answering questions. Impressive.

Of course the sushi was our first choice of food to try here.

The place has a good vibe with a mix of families and groups of friends. The place was energetic for a Friday night but not obnoxiously so.

The food is very good. The sashimi melts in your mouth as it should. The rolls are creative with emphasis on the fish. The rolls are tuna based (fatty and lean) with various tempura, scallion, and spicy options. Every ingredient of the rolls was carefully chosen and the proportions made for a delicious bite each time.

This place has become a mission of mine to review all of the food locations. Especially since it’s walking distance.

I might have just had the best Blue Burger I have ever had. Found this place on the way to the airport. I will definitely be returning giving a more in-depth review.

The place offers fresh prepared bowls, sandwiches, burgers, etc. It also offers a large array or gluten free food choices and substitutions. The restaurant doesn’t look like much when you approach it, but what a surprise. Check it out!

www.theguiltfreeglutton.com

Its been a while since Ive posted. Travel has not stopped. Covid never stopped travel for me and my team. Its been an interesting experience watching the world restart.. thats a topic for a book.

This is a food blog, and all I can say is food is back.

The good ones survived Covid as expected. There are a tons of new great places now.

Found a great pho place in Grand Rapids.. A bit of a hole in the wall but solid and very good. Its called Monsoon.. its become a staple for our road crew.

More soon.. cheers!

I had the opportunity to visit Fort Collins, CO for a new work project. I had visited here in 2003. The place has changed. This place is now a foodie place with awesome craft breweries and live music.

Food Highlights:

Blue Agave – Upscale Mexican food. Very modern. Good food. Great margaritas. You must make reservations.

Coopersmith’s Pub & Brewing – Very traditional English pub style food. Place has been here for ever and is a bit of an institution. I had a decent enough burger. However the English style ales are what made this place special. There was a wait mid-day for lunch.

JAWS Sushi – Recommendation from some locals. Off the touristy area of Ft Collins. The fish was fresh and interesting. I went for sushi without rice (they don’t offer sashimi portions of all their fish choices). The fish was fresh and decent. The baby octopus was very interesting. I had a roll called ATF which was good.

Brewery Highlights:

New Belgium – Big guys in town. Some local offerings. Great outdoor space and vibe.

Odell – Large production with a cool spa like vibe. Tons of selections not offered anywhere but there. Tons of outdoor space.

Equinox Brewing – Small craft brewery located near Old Town. Decent IPAs.

Funkwerks – Interesting small craft brewery. They have a small outdoor space but were extremely popular. The beers were varied and interesting. Surprisingly they offered table service.