The Golden Grill

I think that grilled cheese will always be one of my favorite foods. It was one of my all time favorite meals growing up and there is something about how content a grilled cheese makes me feel. When I was looking at the participants in Haute Wheels Houston Food Truck Festival, I can't begin to describe my excitement when I found out there was a grilled cheese food truck! Of course it was on my list of trucks not to miss at the festival. So after waiting in a very, very long line it was my turn to order. I decided to go for a turkey, American cheese, and pickled onion grilled cheese. I know it seems simple, but sometimes those things are the best. Plus, I have never had pickled onions before, so I was trying something new at the same time. Once you order, you have to wait and that is that hardest part when you see everyone else's sandwiches. Alas, my name was called it is was my turn to bite into my grilled cheese. It was toasty on the outside and melty on the inside, They cheese held everything together and the onions added a nice crunch. Though I didn't actually taste the buffalo chicken grilled cheese, it looked delicious. If you are in any way a fan of grilled cheese, this is a food truck you don't want to miss. I know that I will be on the hunt for it so that I can try the s'more dessert grilled cheese! 

Just a Little 'Taste'

 

 Houston Restaurant Weeks is one of the most awesome things that takes place in Houston. When a friend called me and wanted to do an impromptu dinner, of course we wanted to go somewhere for Houston Restaurant Weeks. This time took us to The Tasting Room in City Center. This was my first time out to City Center and boy was I missing out. There are tons of shops and restaurants.... it is a place to see and be seen. Their cozy atmosphere and impressive wine list compliment an absolutely delicious menu. I started off with some mini grilled cheese sandwiches and some parmesan truffle french fries. The fries were served with a garlic butter dipping sauce. (So unhealthy, but so good!) The grilled cheese was made with goat cheese and topped with a tomato jam. The jam helped balance out the saltiness of the cheese. It was melted and gooey, like a grilled cheese should be. 

Next came a chicken tortilla soup. It was served in more of a puree style in that there was a slight bit of texture to it. It was topped with a pinch of cheese, a drizzle of avocado cream, and a few tortilla strips for crunch. It wasn't too terribly spicy, but would be perfect for a cold fall evening. (I know, I know. Keep dreaming.) Up next was a garlic and sage chicken served with cippolini onions, spinach, and potatoes. The sauce was a pan gravy so it had all the flavors of the dish soaked into it. The onions were a bit sweet, the spinach wasn't too terribly soggy, and the potatoes still had their shape. This dish was earthy and comforting, moist and full of a ridiculous amount of flavor. I have to be honest though. By this point, I was getting pretty full, however, I have never turned down a dessert. I know that there is a first time for everything, but this was not going to be that time. 

 Finally, it was time for dessert. Since I was with a friend, I had the opportunity to actually taste two desserts. I ordered a pistachio pound cake and she ordered zeppoles with raspberry and chocolate dipping sauces. Zeppoles are sort of like doughnuts holes, but have a slightly different texture. They weren't all that flavorful plain, but add the sauces and it was a whole new world. The pistachio pound cake was a Bon Apetit editor favorite and it was probably one of my new favorite desserts. It wasn't too sweet, there was crunch from the pistachios, and sweetness from the honey and cream it was topped with. The pound cake was delicious the cream was whipped to perfection. It was like eating a cloud (though I haven't actually done that). The Tasting Room was an amazing choice and I will put it on my list of places to go back to! I am so glad that I was able to try it out and definitely enjoyed what I ate. Be sure to let me know where you go for Houston Restaurant Weeks!

Adult Grilled Cheese

The small state of Delaware seems to pride itself on having small restaurants instead of chain restaurants. Though sometimes this can mean having a meal that isn't all that awesome, you can find some really great places to eat. This time the journey took us to Tyler Fitzgerald's Bar and Grille. I love grilled cheese and so it always peaks my interest when I see them on a menu somewhere. I thought why not try the "adult grilled cheese" because a) I like the name and b) I usually can't turn down a grilled cheese. I tried to be a little healthy and ordered mine with carrots and celery. The grilled cheese was served with a tomato soup that was fairly good, but it wasn't my favorite. I did like that there was some texture and that it didn't have an overwhelming tomato flavor. The grilled cheese itself had three or four different kinds of cheese it in with a nice crispy outside and a melted, gooey cheese center. The bread to cheese ratio was pretty good, so that it didn't feel like you were just eating bread. Overall, this was a decent version of my childhood favorite and I am glad that I gave it a try. If you are in the Wilmington area, be sure to stop by for some good food and if it's nice, sit outside on their large patio.