Gas Knob Pub - Jacksonville, Florida

We got tickets to the Jacksonville/Steelers game in Jacksonville, Florida...so we got in the car and drove down! Tom (my husband) has been a die hard Steelers fan since he was born and I became one after we met!
We left Atlanta around 10am and got to Jacksonville around 4:30, just in time to check in our hotel, change and get downtown to find parking. We got lucky and found parking just 2 blocks from the stadium and right next to the parking was a little hole in the wall place to eat named the Gas Knob Pub! I just loved the name...how different!
So from the looks of the place inside and out, you think it is just going to be good ol' pub food...well it was, but taken to another level! I have to tell you, I get Fish & Chips just about every time I see it on a menu, but this was the best I have had! Instead of offering you Malt Vinegar like you normally get, they serve it with a Lime Cilantro Butter! Yes, it seems like it would be strange...but it was INCREDIBLE! I will be doing this at home! And the "chips" are fresh! We were surprised at how fresh everything was.
(Sorry...I had already eaten half the fish before I took the picture! And the butter was so incredible with the fish, that I asked for more!)
The Gas Knob Pub is a very creative twist on "pub" food! If you are ever in Jacksonville, you must seek this place out! (http://gasknobpub.com/menu.htm)

Koi - Las Vegas, Nevada (Planet Hollywood)

Oh what a treat! We went to Koi in Las Vegas for dinner and it was more than I expected! From the decor to the service, it was wonderful from beginning to end! The servers were very attentive and knew what they were talking about when you asked a question.

The room we were in overlooks the Belagio and the famous fountains

We had such great food - we started with some Edamame, then had Shrimp Miso Soup with Clams, Shrimp and Bay Scallops, Warm Baby Spinach and Mushrooms with Ponzu Dressing, Spicy Seared Albacore with Crispy Red Onions, California Roll Sushi, Baked Crab Roll Sushi, Kobe Beef Carpaccio with Fried Shitake and Yuzu Vinaigrette (first time trying it and it was incredible! If you ever get a chance to try it...you must!), Pan Seared Organic Chicken Breast with Potatoes, Asparagus and Mustard Cilantro Sauce, Miso Bronzed Black Cod with Seasonal Vegetables (pictured below) and a dessert plate that had Coconut Rice Pudding Brulee, Molten Chocolate Cake, Chocolate Almond Fondue, Cappuccino Mochi, Mixed Berry Mochi, Koi's Signature Cheesecake and a Passion Fruit Mousse (pictured below)

Me and my husband after 8 courses!

Mon Ami Gabi - Las Vegas, Nevada (Paris)

We had a ladies lunch today at Mon Ami Gabi at Paris - Las Vegas. It is a cute little bistro that sits facing the strip of Las Vegas, with a beautiful view of the Belagio and the famous fountains!

The inside is black and white and what you might expect in a French Bistro

Me with the ladies in a little room they set up for us

They had a special menu set up for us too - the Soup du Jour was a Cold Potato and Leek Soup, Shrimp Cocktail and a Salad

I had the Roast Chicken Salad Sandwich with a Honeycrisp Apple and Currant Salad and Pommes Gaufrettes (which are basically just like waffle cut chips!) served in little cones

Last was the dessert! Profiteroles! You just can't go wrong with Vanilla Ice Cream filled Pastry with a Fudge Sauce!

Mesa Grill - Las Vegas, Nevada (Caesar's Palace)

I am so excited! I got to eat at Mesa Grill in Las Vegas today! I have been wanting to eat here for a while and now I finally did! When you walk in you see the birghtly colored glass lining the wall at the bar. The kitchen is open to the restaurant, especially the grill area. The dining room decor was perfect...there were bright colored chairs and even some cow print mixed in! We had a great table! My husband and I were with our friends Dustin and Leizel.

Dustin, Leizel, Me and Tom

We started with Goat Cheese "Queso Fundido" Rajas and Blue Corn Tortilla Strips I had the New Mexican Spiced Pork Tenderloin Sandwich with Grilled Red Onion, arugula, Ancho-Chile Mayonnaise and Southwestern Fries and it was AMAZING!!! If you have ever heard someone talk about "layering flavors" this was it! When you took a bite, you tasted one thing and as you chewed you picked up more flavors and then when you were done you got another! Tom had the Barbecued Lamb Cobb Salad with Avocado, Tomato, Cabrales Blue Cheese and Buttermilk Dressing Leizel had the Ancho Chile-Honey Glazed Salmon with Spicy Black Bean Sauce and Roasted Jalapeno Crema

After we finished lunch, our server offered to give me a tour of the kitchen!

Great experience overall from the service to the food to my tour of the kitchens!

Trader Vic's - Las Vegas, Nevada (Planet Hollywood)

Trader Vic's is a Polynesian fusion restaurant located in the Planet Hollywood hotel.
When we got to Las Vegas, it was the first place we ate at as a group. We had the entire upstairs to ourselves. The place is beautiful and the view was even more incredible! The Belagio fountains were going off right in front of us and we had the beautiful lights coming from Paris Las Vegas!
They had passed hors d'oeuvres that were Kalua Pork Sliders (plum braised pork on a Hawaiian roll, Crab Rangoons and Fried Asparagus. Then there was a buffet set up with Trader Vic's Salad and a Caesar Salad, 3 different Potstickers - Shrimp, Crab and Lobster, and Pork and Chicken, Steamed Rice, Trader Vic's Fried Rice, Teryiaki Mahi Mahi, Mango Chili Beef (Filet of beef with chilies, ginger and mango) and several yummy desserts like Cheesecake and a White Chocolate and Chocolate Mouse Tart!
The Pork Sliders, Crab Rangoons and the Potstickers were delicious, but I wasn't to crazy about the meal itself. My favorite was the Chocolate Mousse tart!

Stoney River - Atlanta, Georgia

For my birthday we were in the mood for a good steak, so we chose to go to Stoney River. The average check is around $50 per person. Stoney River's food has been described as "comfort food dressed up in a sports jacket." It is white table cloth dining at its best. The service is exceptional. They are fully attentive and you don't have to ask for a thing, they have already brought it by the time you think to ask! But the service isn't too much, meaning it is stuffy!
When you sit down, you get a basked of their signature warm Stone Puppies and honey butter.
I usually get the Lodge Filet that is seasoned with Stoney River seasoning and garlic mashed potatoes. But my other favorite is to get the Filet Oscar or the Prime Rib! You just can't go wrong! Their steaks are premium, grain-fed Midwestern beef, that is aged in their own lockers and trimmed by hand.
As I said, it was mine and my brother's birthday (we're twins) and my dad's birthday was the day before....so our server surprised us with a piece of cake each! And it was amazing! It was this 7 layer vanilla cake and it alternated from chocolate to a toffee caramel filling in between each layer! Oh...it was good!

My husband Tom, Me, Dad, Erin and Dustin (my twin)

Noodles - Indianapolis, Indiana

I love noodles! I think I could eat noodles with every meal and never get tired of them! Noodles & Co. has become my new favorite place to eat at...I think I am addicted to the Japanese Pan Noodle dish they serve there! It is Udon noodles that have been caramelized in a sweet and spicy soy sauce, with veggies and your choice of protein. I always get the chicken and I leave out the veggies! It has just a right kick of spice to it so that it is not to hot. It is a perfect balance of sweet and spicy in this sauce.

Japanese Pan Noodles

Me enjoying my noodles!

Oakley's Bistro - Indianapolis, Indiana

This is a must visit! If you are ever in Indianapolis, this is one of the best (if not the best) place to eat! Oakley's Bistro (http://www.oakleysbistro.com/) is tucked in a shopping center and you wouldn't expect to see a fine dining place like this hidden in with the other stores! But, that doesn't matter, it stays busy!

I love the openness to the restaurant. Right when you walk in the door, you can see right into the kitchen. The kitchen is fully open to the restaurant and you can see everything they do. I had the privilege of sitting at the "kitchen table", which is a large round booth and overlooks the line where the food is prepared.

And the food is both eye appealing and delicious!

Chef Steven J. Oakley is the chef and owner of Oakley's. He is a young, talented chef with a brilliant restaurant! It was awarded the "2005 Restaurant of the Year" and 2006 "Superstar" from the Indianapolis Monthly Magazine and "one of the hottest restaurants from coast to coast in Bon Appetit's 2004 Restaurant Issue.

Carla, Kim and Me eating at Oakley's Bistro at the "kitchen table"

McCormick & Schmick's - Indianapolis, Indiana

We went crab-crazy tonight at an invitation-only tasting at McCormick & Schmick's!Chef Marc (the Chef Director at our school the International Culinary School at the Art Institute of Indianapolis) approached me and asked if I was free tonight to represent the school at an event he couldn't attend. And of course I was all in! I got my friends Carla and Kim to go with me.

The chef at McCormick & Schmick's created a special menu, just for our select group, in celebration of the arrival of Dungeness crab season. We sampled seven courses and each of them contained crab!

We had Petite King Crab "Corn Dogs", Crab Bruschetta - blue crab and tomato piled on a toasted crostini, a Dungeness Crab Fondue served with bread and fruit for dipping (surprisingly delicious with the fruit!), Blue Crab-Stuffed Flounder, an Apple and Crab Tart (it actually was good!) and the last dish was a surprise...King Crab Ice Cream Profiteroles (it was King Crab mixed in Vanilla Ice Cream sandwiched in between puff pastry and it was amazing!)

Barcelona Tapas - Indianapolis, Indiana

Back in September, we participated in a culinary event in Indianapolis, called Taste of Mass Ave, and we met some crazy chefs from Barcelona Tapas. They were hilarious and told us to come out and eat with them and they would take good care of us! So we finally got around to eating there and I am so mad we didn't make it out there sooner!

We got a big group together for my friend Carla's birthday to go out there

We all ordered several items and either ate it all ourselves or shared with each other! We had Bacalao (Crispy Codfish and Potato Cakes with Lemon Garlic Alioli), Patatas Bravas (Roasted Potatoes in a Spicy Tomato Sauce), Gambas al Alioli (Garlic Shrimp with Chili Oil and Fresh Lemon), Albondigas (Spanish Meatballs in Tomato Sauce with Manchego Cheese), Queso de Cabra al Horno (Baked Goat Cheese in Tomato Sauce with Garlic Bread) and much more!

Here I am with my 2 favorite dishes there...Gambas al Alioli and Bacalao...and I ate every bit of it! If you haven't tried Bacalao (dried, salted codfish) you must!

The atmosphere is bright, colorful and much like you would expect in a Spanish restaurant

Johnny Carino's - Athens, Georgia

Oh Johnny is after my heart!!! I love Italian food and love it when I find a place that is just off the charts good! I have been to Johnny Carino's several times and it just gets better every time I go! It is the old Italian favorites with a twist of super fresh ingredients.

I usually get the Grilled New York Strip which is premium aged center cut, served with red pepper green beans and side of pasta with the best, spicy marinara sauce I have had anywhere! I have asked them if I can buy the sauce by the gallon?! lol

When I don't get the steak, I'll get the Carino's Combo which is a combination of Lasagna, Chicken Parmigiana and Spaghetti and I always get (no matter what dish I eat) the spicy marinara!

Goofing around with my friend Lauren at the bar after enjoying another wonderful dinner!