It's Been a While. And Voodoo Doughnuts.

It's been too long since I updated the blog so I'm just making myself put something out there.

Recently got back from an awesome road trip with the GF and her mom. We went to Seattle to see Paul freakin' McCartney! It was such a sweet show, that man is getting up there in years but still ROCKS and throws off this boyish vibe. About 1/3 of the way through the show I proposed to my lady and she said yes! I'm pretty damn stoked to be engaged to the coolest chick I've ever met. You could say I'm winning at life.

We stayed with some family of hers and they were cool peeps. One of the most exciting things (besides getting engaged and seeing a goose-bump producing concert) was that we stopped in Portland, OR and got Voodoo Doughnuts!

OMFG, Voodoo Doughnuts! I got a maple bacon doughnut that sounds iffy but was the best damn doughnut I've ever experienced. So flippin' good! We got an assortment of delicious treats from a "Cock and Balls" to a "Dirty Ol' Bastard" and they were all very good, but man I wish I had got dozens of the maple bacon ones.

If you're ever within 100 miles of Voodoo, I'd say its worth the trip. Now that I'm back home I'm just gonna have to improvise my own maple bacon bar. Mmmm the experimenting should be delightful as experimenting often is...

Cheesecake Factory

My girl and I were recently sick and stuck in bed for a week. Besides the fact that we got a lot of rest, it was pretty bad. When we were finally able to leave the bed, we went out to eat at The Cheesecake Factory. Every time I've dined there has been a pleasure. This time was no different except for the fact that I wasn't 100% better yet.

Ordered the Pasta Carbonara which is: Spaghettini with Smoked Bacon, Green Peas, and a Garlic-Parmesan Cream Sauce. Available with Chicken.
Just mmm! I'd recommend this dish to just about anyone. I mean, bacon and garlic-parmesan cream sauce?! You can't go wrong there!

I love the coffee cups at The Cheesecake Factory, they are clear and it is fun to watch the cream mix in. The coffee itself is pretty good as well.

How could one write about The Cheesecake Factory without mentioning the cheesecake? Where to begin? Every variety of their cheesecake I've tried has been amazing. I think the Red Velvet Cake might be my favorite so far but it is so difficult to choose! 

Mizithra Cheese

In a previous post about The Old Spaghetti Factory, I mentioned that one of my favorite meals there is the Mizithra and Browned Butter over pasta. I have been in love with this dish for years and used to try to recreate it at home, but I couldn't find actual Mizithra anywhere but OSF. (You can buy it in small bags from them but from what I remember it was a bit expensive.) Recently my lady found it at Whole Foods and brought some home.
 I've been eating one of the best pasta dishes around at home! It tastes just like at Old Spaghetti Factory, maybe even a little bit better because I can put even more delicious Mizithra if I want.

Mizithra is a traditional cheese made in Greece. It may also become the name of my first child...

Pasta with browned butter and a pile of Mizithra Cheese.

Dinner,Featuring: Delice De Bourgogne Triple Cream

A delicious dinner, built around cheese, just the way I like it! A light and crisp mixed green salad, (as previously mentioned, I'm not the biggest salad fan but if it's got a lot of spinach like this one I will chow it down like a vegan) with a light ranch dressing. A fresh, aromatic Parisian loaf that was perfectly crispy on the outside and super soft on the inside. Thinly sliced prosciutto. ( I love pigs and hope to have one as a pet someday but damn, they just taste so good!) Ripened, sweet strawberries. All of these wonderful flavors plus the main attraction: Delice De Bourgiogne Triple Cream Brie. Oh my God, my mouth just watered. This is some of the CREAMIEST cheese I've ever had, which is wonderful because I'm really into the texture of food. I could spread it on a piece of bread like butter, spreadable butter. 

All of this excellent meal was acquired from Whole Foods. And one of the best parts is that no cooking was necessary. 

Christys' Hats

I love hats! I have been a fan of lids for as long as I can remember. I own all kinds of styles and colors and continue building my collection.  Christys' of London is a hat maker that has been making some of the best hats for over two hundred years!

One of my favorite hats in my collection in a Christys' fedora, it has a very classic look. Here is a picture:

I plan on adding many more Christys' Hats to my collection.

Tintero Moscato d'Asti

This stuff is so good I want to drink it everyday, and it's affordable enough that I could!  Tintero Moscato d'Asti is light, sweet, and refreshing. It has light bubbles and peachy undertones. By far my favorite affordable sparkling wine. Grab a couple bottles and enjoy with one of your favorite people. Ladies love this stuff! 

Keeping My Staking Streak Alive!

I've been a little broke lately so when a friend asked if I was playing in last night's poker game I had to decline.  Luckily for me, said friend offered to stake me in the game and I got to play.  This game is a home game that I have been going to for the last  6 months or so. It is well organized and a pretty good group of people. It has a good combination of good and bad players and win or lose, everyone has a good time. Well almost everyone, I can think of a couple of sore losers... which works for me when they go on tilt and donk off their stacks.

I had a couple drinks, quite a few laughs and made a profit for me and my backer. Gotta love making something outta nothing! I made enough for a buy in to tonight's game, so I'm hoping to kick some ass and make some cash playing poker tonight as well.

The Old Spaghetti Factory

My favorite go-to restaurant  for the oft asked question, "I don't know, where do you want to go?": The Old Spaghetti Factory.  It is just so dang tasty! Granted, it is hard to go wrong with pasta, butter and cheese, but OSF consistently wows my taste buds while being easy on my wallet.

Their "Complete Meal" comes with your chosen dish, bread, soup or salad (get the pesto dressing!) a drink, and ice cream for dessert (mmm spumoni).  I'm not much of a salad person but their house pesto dressing is so good I actually look forward to their salad.  Same goes for their spumoni ice cream.  I've had it a few other places and didn't care for it much, but here it is creamy and delicious.  If you're lucky enough to live near an Old Spaghetti Factory and haven't tried it yet, you're missing out! If not, you may want to plan a vacation around getting to one... It's that freakin' good.

While everything I've tried at OSF is good, I have three favorite dishes that I have the hardest time choosing between:

Mizithra Cheese & Browned Butter 

White Clam Sauce 

(with some Mizithra cheese on it, mmm)

Spinach Tortellini with Alfredo Sauce