Amy T. Shuster

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Too Many Burgers?

I never thought I’d say such a phrase, but there IS such a thing as too many burgers. Last fall, I was invited to join a group of New York food experts in their search for the best burger in New York City.

New York isn’t typically the first place I’d think to do a burger crawl. I was skeptical and curious as to what we might find.

“Guys… are you sure you don’t want to do a PIZZA crawl instead?” I tried to reason with them. Alas, it was to no avail. Off I went to the Big Apple for five days with the task of finding the tastiest meat on buns.

They insisted that New York had the best burger. I was a bit doubtful, yet at the same time, I was eager to be proven wrong. We ate SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO many burgers, like, SOOOOOO many, that by the end of the crawl, my body wanted to punch me in the face.

If you ever find yourself in New York and want to get some of the tastiest burgers around, take a peak at this list for reference.

Here are just a few of the places where we ate:

Joe’s NYC

A little craft beer and cocktail bar in Manhattan’s upper west side. It’s classic yet retro and the place to begin our journey into Meatland.

What's good in your hood?

A classic simple burger to start us off right.

Raoul’s “The Burger Au Poivre”

Deliciously upscale. An old-school joint, not wanting the restaurant to be defined by its burger, the owner insists that they serve only twelve every night, plus you can only eat them at the bar. When they run out, they run out. For $19 bucks you get a sweet, brisket-heavy LaFrieda blend of meat, triple-cream St. Andre cheese, wilted watercress, cornichons, and a delicate challah bun. Yeah. Fancy.

Food is life. Live Deliciously.

Some of the gang argued that it IS the best burger in NYC.

Hard Times Sundaes “The Double Burger with Cheese”

My personal favorite of the bunch. This is the amazing little burger truck that could. The owner lost his restaurant after Hurricane Sandy, and has now rallied to get his cheesey, squishy, bacon-y, deliberately unfancy ground chuck patty-flavor bomb into Midtown. The flavor is all in the grill, which the chef never cleans. That’s the secret. I ate three of these in one afternoon.

Food is life. Live Deliciously.

It’s juicy and dirty and just how I like it.

Gramercy Tavern “Off Menu Burger”

An off-the-menu lunchtime burger. You can’t get it in the main dining room, but you CAN get it at the bar, and you should.

Food is life. Live Deliciously.

It’s the kind of burger you’d enjoy with a nice glass of red wine.

Peter Luger’s Steak House 

Known for their gigantic juicy steaks and yummy sundaes…

We couldn't JUST get the burger, so we ordered the USDA Chopped Steak too.

We couldn’t JUST get the burger, so we ordered the USDA Chopped Steak too.

But you should also know this place for it’s cute little burger. It’s cheesy, cooked medium rare and damn tasty.

Food is life. Live Deliciously.

Peter Luger Burger.

Food is life. Live Deliciously.

Peter Luger Burger.

At this point, we’ve been eating so many burgers, I couldn’t keep track anymore. I was getting FULL. We started to cut them in half and then eventually in fourths just to try every one.

Food is life. Live Deliciously.

“Mystery burger??” No idea where this was. Just a random picture I found on in my camera roll from the trip.

A much needed break from burgers, I skipped a meal with the gang who went to The Brindle Room. Instead I went to Brodo to get some bone broth for a mini-detox from eating all the meat!

Food is life. Live Deliciously.

Liquid lunch. Bone Broth!!

Later, we stopped over to the New York Food and Wine Festival and and ate about 15 more burgers at the Rachel Ray Burger Bash.

Food is life. Live Deliciously.

Couldn’t do a burger crawl without NY’s own Shake Shack. This was a special pork rind burger we tried at New York Food and Wine’s Burger Bash.

What's good in your hood?

Here’s what a plate full of Shake Shack burgers looks like

After 5 days of meat, I had to finish off my trip with the OPPOSITE of burgers.

Luckily Ramen Burger creator, Keizo Shimamoto’s Ramen Shack location at the Smogasburg was just what that doctor ordered.

Food is life. Live Deliciously.

Ramen Shack!

This is only a brief sampling of some of the burgers we ate.

The other bloggers continued on for a few months and ate over 100 different NY burgers!

Click here to view the list of the Top 10 Best New York Burgers as rated by Foodie Hub.

And here’s the one they voted the BEST in New York!:

Poke Mon (no relation to Pokémon) 1485 SE Hawthorne Blvd

I had been lamenting to a friend just a few days ago about how I longed for some good Hawaiian poke.

Save for a quick trip to Oahu this past Spring, I have been relatively poke-less since settling down in the Portland area. The popular Hawaiian dish was recently taking off in LA (this time last year) just as I was preparing to gather my stuff and move OUT of Los Angeles. Thus, no poke for me.

But then…

Food is life. Live Deliciously.

The first ever fancy pants poke shop, Poke Mon opened up this week in Portland!

Aside from a Japanese supermarket in Beaverton, I hadn’t found anywhere else in Portland to get this healthy, raw fish salad-type dish that I loved so much. I was excited to check it out. Minutes after my friend told me about the opening, I was THERE and apparently so was Pikachu…

Food is life. Live Deliciously.

Poke Mon. Not to be confused with Pokémon.

…and everyone, and their momma too…

Food is life. Live Deliciously.

The vibe of this SE shop (located just down the street from Cartopia and Lardo on Hawthorne) reminds me of the fresh local poke places that have recently sprung up in the LA, OC and SF areas. Yay! Yum!

In Hawaii, it’s typical to get poke on the cheap at a local supermarket like Foodland, a convenience store, gas station or even liquor store. 5-6 bucks. It’s so quick and easy. A perfect snack, appetizer or meal.

On the mainland, since it’s still a “newish” trend and sometimes hard to find fresh (not frozen) local fish, I find it’s usually more expensive, but when you think about it, you’re paying for quality and convenience, so it’s always worth it.

Food is life. Live Deliciously.

The decor at Poke Mon is really pretty. Tiny, with a modern-sleek, airy interior. They have six signature bowls; Hawaiian Ahi, Spizy Yuzu Albacore, Garlic Salmon, Tofu, Octopus, and a version with creamy spicy Ahi Tuna.

Food is life. Live Deliciously.

White rice, brown rice or salad will be your base. You can also “build your own.” When it comes to poke, like pizza toppings, less is more. There is a good balance of ingredients here.

Food is life. Live Deliciously.

Food is life. Live Deliciously.

Seaweed salad.

A selection of sake, and Japanese beers round out the offerings. It’s a basic menu.

But poke is meant to be uncomplicated.

Food is life. Live Deliciously.

I’ll be back again most likely when I’m in the mood for a quick and healthy lunch. Keep in mind, since they are the only Poke restaurant in Portland, and are super, duper new, there will likely be a long line. But when you’re a foodie in Portland, lines are to be expected.

If Squirtle likes it, so will you. You might even catch a Pokémon. You never know…

Food is life. Live Deliciously.

Hot fried dough smothered in sugar. Yes. Please.

 

Ever since I returned from The French Quarter Festival in NOLA this past Spring, I’ve been noticing beignets everywhere.

They are kind of my favorite thing.

It’s the official state donut of Louisiana. I find them to be pretty similar to the Hawaiian malasada.

I’m not much of a donut person, but if you can imagine a fluffy, square, croissant-like, pillowy-chewy donut with powdered sugar, then you are picturing pure bliss.

Of course,  I had to wait in the ridiculous long line at the infamous Cafe Du Monde — THE place for beignets in the Quarter. And take the obligatory picture.

Food is life. Live Deliciously.

And get a Café au lait while I’m there…

Food is life. Live Deliciously.

This 24-hour cafe is so crowed, you’d think they were giving the beignets away for free.

They practically ARE a steal, for $2.73 you get three of them.

Food is life. Live Deliciously.

Also, while in New Orleans, I met Loretta, the Queen of Pralines (pronounced Praaaa-leen) who taught me how to make praline beignets.

Food is life. Live Deliciously.

Here’s what I thought of them.

Food is life. Live Deliciously.

Now, I’m told there is a new NOLA style Beignet shop opening up in Beverly Hills.

Wut.

I had to send a foodie designer friend to do some reconnaissance work, which she happily obliged and snapped some photos for me.

Food is life. Live Deliciously.

Original with Dark Chocolate Dipping Sauce

Food is life. Live Deliciously.

Not bad, Beverly Hills. Lookin’ good.

Food is life. Live Deliciously.

Roasted Artichoke with Harissa Aioli

She says the new cafe is cute, very “french”, and she compared it to Cafe Du Monde but “less messy — light and fluffy”.

If you’re in LA check out Beverly Hills Beignet, which just opened up. Here’s their menu.

And of course if you’re ever in NOLA… Cafe Du Monde is a must.

 

*Update: As of 2017 Beverly Hills Beignet has reported closed.

This healthy morning drink will make you say, “coffee who??”

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I love discovering new dishes and then trying to recreate them at home. This was the case with a particular smoothie drink that I discovered at a neighborhood vegan restaurant, Blossoming Lotus in Portland, Oregon.

When I’m in between my marathon food eating film shoots and various travels, I’ve been trying to be more health conscious with my food choices. On this particular day, I hadn’t yet had my morning coffee, so the waiter recommended that I try a diary-free, nutrient rich shake made with Maca and raw cacao, suitably named, “Maca Mocha.” I didn’t know what Maca was, but the drink sounded good so I decided, why not? It wasn’t until I did a little research after I got home that I learned all about the healing benefits of Maca.

Visually, Maca root looks a bit like a turnip and it belongs to the radish, broccoli and cauliflower family. It’s an adaptogen herb and cruciferous vegetable which has been cultivated as a vegetable crop in Peru in the high plateaus of the Andes mountains for at least 3000 years.  It is considered one of nature’s superfoods as it contains phytonutrients, amino acids, vitamins trace minerals and phytohormones and it actually smells a bit like butterscotch or nutmeg.

Maca also contains omega-3 fatty acids which makes it great for your boosting energy and mood, alleviating anxiety and depression, arousing sexual desire and libido. It helps boost immune system functions, aids in menopausal or menstrual problems, ups testosterone in men and is also used for people who have weak bones. Osteoporosis anyone?

I’ve been doing a lot of swimming lately, so I was also happy to learn that the essential fatty acids and proteins can aid in muscle recovery and alleviate stress on the body and mind.

Basically, it’s an all around awesome superfood that can help for a bunch of different things, AND it just so happens to taste good too.

Maca Powder

Ways to try it: Mix it in your oatmeal or cereal, cook with it or add it to liquid to make a drink. Putting it in a smoothie is an easy way to get started incorporating it into your diet.

My experience: I purchased some in powder form (note: It’s a bit pricey. If you can get over the sticker shock, it’s worth it. I paid about $17 for 4 oz., which I assume will last me about a month) and also bought some Cacao Powder from a local health food store. I was surprised at how rich and nutty the flavor of the Maca was. I noticed I had a lot of sustained energy and my alertness didn’t drop (unlike the way it would with a simple morning coffee). It also filled me up pretty well, so I didn’t feel very hungry afterwards.

I played around with a couple of ingredients adding different things until I found this particular recipe that I liked the best. The possibilities are endless. You can add fruit like frozen bananas or blueberries, you can add chia seeds or play around with various nut butters or milk options. The recipe at Blossoming Lotus called for agave but I swapped it out for pure Maple Syrup which is another healthy and great way to sweeten. You can try Cacao nibs, Cocoa powder or even use vanilla powder if you want to round out the taste.

Here’s the recipe so you can try it at home. Let me know if you like it!

What's good in your hood?

Maca Mocha Latte

Makes 1 (12oz) serving

1/2 tsp Maca root power

1 heaping tbsp Cacao Powder (or raw cacao or cocoa nibs)

pinch of Cinnamon

1 tbsp Pure Maple Syrup

1 cup Almond Milk

1 tsp of Almond Butter

1 shot of Espresso (Note: Maca is already pretty energizing, but since I love the taste of coffee, I add in in there for the flavor and the added boost.)

1 cup ice for blending (Make sure you use a high powered blender that can crush ice!)

How to Make It

Add all ingredients to a high powered blender and blend for 15-20 seconds. The consistency should be almost like a chocolate slushy. Serve with a straw if you want to be fancy. It’s so yummy, you’d think it was desert.

Enjoy!

 

*Note: It’s always a good idea to check with your doctor or nutritionist before adding any supplements to your diet.

Donut Farm · 2609 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA

I recently sent a foodie pal to investigate Donut Farmnow officially open in Silver Lake, CA. My friend did not think twice about a chance to try some tasty new treats near her neck of the woods. Located in a no-frills strip mall near Sunset Junction, Donut Farm is bringing to LA it’s version of gourmet, vegan organic donuts.

These guys don’t use a commercial mix, instead they have a proprietary flour blend which is mixed with 100% organic ingredients. The donuts are then hand-dipped in artisanal, original glazes which are made on-site.

What's good in your hood?

Look, people. It’s hard to make a vegan donut! After all, you have to take out all the delicious stuff that makes the donut taste good! It’s also hard when you want to eat healthier, but there are few options that won’t upset your belly or go against your moral fiber. Enter Donut Farm, a chance to cheat… and not feel so guilty. My friend bit the bullet for me (since I’m in PDX for the moment), and paid them a visit.

Her report: She said she thought the donuts were “light and fluffy.” Her favorite was the fresh blueberry because it had bits of fresh blueberries in the frosting. Other seasonally changing flavors are Whiskey Tangerine Fig, Matcha Green Tea, Salted Caramel, and Mexican Hot Chocolate. They also have a vegan coffee bar which serves cold brew and lemonade along with fresh hisbiscus tea which she found to be “tart and tasty.”

Originating in the Bay Area as Pepples Donuts (aka Pepples Donut Farm), Donut Farm should be well received amongst the health conscious in Silver Lake.

If you try them, let me know what you think!

Like New York, the city of London is a bustling central mecca where many cultures end up co-mingling. A perfect melting pot of cultures and most importantly, food. There is an incredibly large population of Indian and Pakistani people in London and luckily, the local restaurant scene is a delicious reflection of their efforts.

backyardbite-lahore-1

On recent trip to London, I got to return to one Pakistani restaurant that rocked my world and changed my perception of what Indian and Pakistani food could be. Years prior, I was a relative newbie to the cuisine and my friend pretty much ordered the whole menu for us so we could try as much as possible. I was immediately hooked.

Full of intoxicating spices and bold flavors, I knew I had to return to see if it was just as good as I remembered. Here, chicken on the skewers are transformed into tender loving curry flavored bites and lamb chop (hands down my favorite) is delicately roasted until it is soft, juicy and dripping with flavor.

Lahore Kebab House is known for their affordable Pakistani staple food as well as being a gathering place for local families and visitors alike. Naan is cooked in their traditional Tandoori oven where the dough is smoked and cooked all at once.

Don’t forget to order a Mango Lassi to soothe the spicy flavors that will lovingly numb your mouth.

In this episode of Bite Into London, watch as I dig in with with pal Anton from the Manilla based blog, www.ourawesomeplanet.com.

 

3829 Main Street. Culver City, CA

Eating Korean BBQ can be a tad confusing. Not to mention, it’s tricky to navigate the multitude of restaurants in Koreatown. Which are the best? How do I order? How much meat can I stuff in my face without needing to unbutton my pants? Uh oh. Did the waiter just see me unbutton my pants!?

You see? It’s a tricky thing.

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Photo Courtesy of Rick Poon

Should you be brave and head out on your own, you’ll likely be perplexed by the varying little side dishes or banchan which arrive without fanfare. You might even be overwhelmed and wondering how to order from the mostly meat dense menu. If you’ve managed to decipher how and how much to order, you are rewarded with specialty cuts of raw meat which are cooked table-side (by you or your waiter) on built-in table grills. Also, Korean BBQ is best with a gang of pals for maximum sampling, so if you are rolling solo or with just one other friend, you’re likely kicking yourself. Too much food, not enough belly space. Indeed a problem.

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Photo Courtesy of Rick Poon

But wait, there’s a Korean BBQ that is different… It’s elevated, yet too complicated. The menu is simple, straightforward and uncluttered. The pictures actually look like the food that comes out to your table – so you know exactly what you are getting, and the portions are just right.

You’re not in Koreatown – you’re in Culver City now.

Hanjip is the first partnership between chef Chris Oh (Seoul Sausage) and restauranteurs Stephane Bombet (Faith and Flower, Terrine, Viviane) and François Renaud (Terrine, Viviane). It seeks to bridge the gap between foodies and (curious) casual diners. It’s accessible and hip, it’s modern and elevated. It’s new. It brings Korean BBQ to the west side in a classy-cool way.

What's good in your hood?

Photo by Backyardbite

Taking over the former “Lunch” location, Hanjip’s decor is modern and airy – the latter, an important detail since people be grilling up in here! An investment in quality vents ensures that diners don’t leave smelling like a chimney (my afro thanks you!). Co-owner Bombet explained to me they also have custom Korean-made, gold plated grills designed just for the restaurant. This special grill allows the meat to cook at a high heat without burning. Plus it looks fancy.

Photo from chef Chris Oh's Instagram. Follow @ seoulsausage_aka_chris

Photo from chef Chris Oh’s Instagram. Follow @ seoulsausage_aka_chris

Their focus is on bringing in high quality cuts of meat, seafood, great banchan, and making Korean BBQ accessible for all. While Oh brings his authenticity, you’ll find dishes with glimmers of Bombet’s touch. Quality soju and sake are provided to help you chase your chew. Of course, only the best.

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Photo Courtesy of Rick Poon

In addition to kurobuta pork and prime beef cuts, you’ll find some dolled up side dishes; Bone Marrow Corn Cheese, Uni Steamed Egg, Kimchi Fried Rice, and Carabineros Prawns. And if your wallet allows, try the $120 sous vide Tomahawk Steak with foie gras butter. It’s big enough to feed a family of four.

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Uni Steamed Egg. An egg on egg on egg tender-salty-briney mouth-plosion. Photo Courtesy of Rick Poon

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Bone Marrow Corn Cheese. Photo Courtesy of Rick Poon

Oh is most excited about a dish not typically found in American-Korean restaurants, a dry rub Cumin Roasted Spiced Lamb which was inspired directly from his travels throughout Korea. A flavor bomb of Mediterranean spices, I enjoyed this dish, the bulgogi and the seafood pancake best.

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Photo Courtesy of Rick Poon

What's good in your hood?

Seafood Pancake. Rock Shrimp and Bay Scallops. Photo by Backyard Bite

If you’ve ever wanted to try Korean BBQ but were scared, or simply unsure how to go about it, pay Hanjip a visit and get your feet wet. Come for lunch even and get some bibimbap or soon tofu. I’m sure your first visit won’t be your last.

What's good in your hood?

Photo by Backyardbite

What's good in your hood?

Photo by Backyardbite

Thank you for inviting me try out your restaurant in your opening week. I look forward to seeing how you guys grow (and trying out your “secret menu!”)

So you’re visiting London and you want to do it up right. Right?

Food speaking, London is so much more than fish and chips. While you should most definitely hit up the classics, you’d be surprised at how much culinary variety the city of London has to offer.

This past summer, I had the chance to spend a week in one of my favorite cities sampling the best local favorites from food stalls to trucks, ethnic eats and gourmet restaurants.

Here’s a teaser of my up and coming mini series Bite Into London which premieres on November 18th on the FoodieHub Channel. Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode.

We’ve got seven days and seven restaurants. Let’s get to work.

What's good in your hood?

I’ve only been here for 60 days, but I have accumulated a few favorite restaurants already. Since day one, I have been chatting up locals, asking around, reading blogs and compiling a list of my own must-try restaurants around town. I’m on a mission to eat my way through Portland, one restaurant at a time and I think I’m making pretty good headway.

This list will no doubt grow and change in the coming months, but for now… here are some favorite food discoveries.

Screen Door

One of those places that get mocked on Portlandia for having a ridiculously long brunch line on weekends.

You’d assume a place with this kind of popularity would have a pompous air about it (typical of LA or NY) and would charge a whole lot more. Surprisingly, the staff was friendly and helpful with suggestions and the prices were super reasonable. Went on a weekday and while it was full, there was no line.

Chicken and waffles. My waffle had a sweet potato base, so kind of healthy, eh? The batter for the fried chicken was light and not greasy or oily at all. The gumbo was hearty and had a great mix of flavors and spices without being too spicy. Also… praline bacon. Boom.

What's good in your hood?

What's good in your hood?

Wolf and Bear

A local’s favorite, Wolf and Bear is the healthiest, tastiest little falafel wrap to ever come out of a restaurant on wheels. They’ve got a couple locations scattered around the city, but the cart I first tried was located off Mississippi Ave., a hip and trendy little block filled with various bars, burgers and boutique shops. The falafel was light and fresh, organic and locally sourced (of course). Though it’s prepared in a cart, this is not fast food. You’d just as easily be presented with an equally beautiful and tasty lunch in a sit down restaurant.

What's good in your hood?

Güero Torterilla

The best sandwich in Portland? Well, that’s what my beau seems to think. He’s tried the popular Bunk and Lardo and a few non-notables and so far, this one from Güero has rocked his world. The pollo pibil is a Mexican sandwich, a torta, The top of the bread is soft (almost soggy even) yet underneath, it’s toasted on the grill for a crispy crunch. Inside, the seasoned chicken, chipotle-lime aioli, refried beans and shredded lettuce make for a pretty little bite. It’s a sandwich that’s not too messy and it doesn’t try too hard. The flavors combine to give you a light and tasty bite that’ll make you say “Damnnnnnn!”

What's good in your hood?

Olympia Provisions

Known for their charcuterie, this place delivered. We ordered a terrine and a few salamis a la carte and had a very enjoyable date night. Trendy and casual. Very good dishes.

I told a story to the waiter about when I was in college years ago, how I smuggled salami back from the cafeteria in my pants pockets. My future husband was smitten. The waiter was too apparently, as we were then brought a dessert of chocolate salami – on the house.

What's good in your hood?

Nong’s Khao Man Gai

Sometimes you just want something simple and good. I’ve been eating quite a bit of heavy and weird dishes lately for my job and today I just wanted to eat something that would satisfy my hunger, soothe my soul and not give me a stomachache afterwards. Simple and good.

When two people in the same day recommend a spot, you know you must check it out asap. I went to Nong’s Khao Man Gai’s brick and mortar location just off Burnside. I ordered their special —the only thing there really is to order, the chicken and rice. It’s amazing how your body can crave something so basic. It’s boiled chicken over jasmine rice with a “soup” side of chicken broth to sip on along side a few crunchy cucumbers slices meant to cleanse your palate. They also have their own special ginger-soy sauce which is made to compliment the dish. Get this dish when it’s cold and rainy. Get it when you’re sick. Get it just because.

Just get it.

What's good in your hood?

Ox

I’m still raving about this Argentinian inspired restaurant months after dining here. Although it can be on the pricer side, I can see myself dining here often. It’s one of those hipster places you come with friends and order a bunch of tiny “shared plates” to load up on too small tables. We went for a special occasion (birthday) and tried many of these little dishes which we passive-aggressively fought each other for last bites; the Dungeness crab and avocado bruschetta, the spiced beef and raisin empanadas, the sautéed mushroom and foie gras were just a few stand outs.

But the star of the night was the beef skirt steak which like  their other meat is cooked on their wood-fired oven which really imparts a killer flavor. I really can’t wait to go again. Who’s got a birthday??

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Pips Original Doughnuts

I’m not typically a donut person, yet I’ve gone to Pips three times already. It’s cute, it’s comfortable, it’s a great location for conversation (think coffee shop), and there’s something fantastically freeing about being able to eat six donuts and not feel dreadfully guilty afterwards. They are bite-sized and crispy, yet delicately soft inside. Somehow the maple-bacon donut remind me of eating chicken McNuggets as a kid. Not in a gross way… but for their crunchiness and perhaps finger-food size. Maybe it could simply be because of the giddy way eating these little donuts make me feel.  Pips also has their Chai Tea game on lock. Some favors have lavender or ginger infused, others are smokey or you can order it “dirty” and spike it with a shot of espresso. You can sample (which I do before ordering) or just spazz-out and order the flight to drink them all.

What's good in your hood?

Blue Star

Yes! Another donut place on my list! This one is more traditional, normal sized, with a locally sourced, super-fresh artisanal twist. Bourbon Basil Blueberry Brioche. Need I say more? Yes? well then, Mexican Hot Chocolate Donut. There, I said it.

What's good in your hood?

Kukai Ramen  & Izakaya (Beaverton)

There are not very many good restaurants in Beaverton. There are not very many good places to get good ramen in Portland. The fact that there is a solid Japanese owned ramen restaurant that just to happens to be located in the Beaverton suburb is a magical thing. People flock to this place like Californians are flocking to Portland. You can come, just don’t tell anyone else about it. The wait time for lunch is already horrendous. Shhhhhhh!

What's good in your hood?

It’s cookie time! Being a food and travel writer definitely has its perks.

I often get to try a variety of amazing foods and travel to exotic and unique cities; Hawaii, Tokyo, Nashville, London and Mexico City are just a few of the places I’ve gotten to travel to this year! (posts coming soon)

How do I decide if I go to a place? Well, for me, it’s usually based on a few criteria:

1) have I been there before? 2) what experiences and knowledge I will obtain on the trip? 3) will the information me useful to my readers?

Backyard Bite working very hard in this picture...

Backyard Bite working very hard in this picture…

My most recent trip was a visit to Nestlé Baking Headquarters in Solon, Ohio.  I sure hadn’t been to Ohio before, and I was eager to check out what the baking HQ of the largest food producer in the world looked like! I was totally stoked about the opportunity!

So, on the 75th Anniversary of the chocolate chip cookie, (yep! it’s 75 years old!) Nestlé invited me and a handful of YouTube influencers and Vloggers (justeatlife, lovelyladycakes, feast of fiction, food beast, honeysuckle to name a few) to work with renowned chefs from across the country to try to create the next great recipe! We first discussed current trends and culinary fads (cronut, Nutella, gourmet salts, etc.) talked about food fusions (ramen burger!?) and the concept of scratch baking (semi-homemade).

I love to bake. But I don’t consider myself a “baker” per se, so this trip for me was about taking notes and leaning from the best.

…we were tasked with coming up with a recipe that would inspire home baker and cooks.

Somebody ate the cookies... uh oh!

Somebody ate the cookies… uh oh! I swear it wasn’t me…

Our teams worked together for a full day to learn some tricks in the kitchen, and by the end of the 2-day Hackathon, we ended up with a bunch of great recipes and an invaluable education on making quick simple, delicious desserts anyone can make.

Click through for pictures from the event and check back for the recipes!

All the cookies I ate on this trip were sponsored by Nestlé Toll House. Thank you for the invitation! All opinions are my own.