Almeida's Vegetable Patch

110 G.A.R. Highway

Route 6

Swansea, MA 02777

(508) 676-6333

Mom hates fruits and vegetables, but she loves to buy them. She also loves farms, which is why we've been shopping on and off at Almeida's Vegetable Patch for a few years now. Located across the street from the Venus de Milo restaurant, Almeida's not only sells their own crops, but lots of other goods from various local area farms. Since Saturday is our weekly shopping day, we decided to stop in and check out what Almeida's had to offer. We pulled into the always-busy parking area at just about 3:30 p.m.

Frenzied is a word that I use when I describe Almeida's. Although it is a beautiful farm with an adorable little shop, the people that are buying the food are usually a) overcome by all the fresh produce, b) in a hurry to get home and eat the stuff, or c) think they're the only ones in the store and think nothing of walking right in front of you to pick out a basket of strawberries. Knowing this, Mom and I always go in and stick to walking the length of the back wall before attempting to browse at the center displays.

For your convenience, Almeida's has small hand baskets to carry as well as plastic bags to put the food in. They also sell their own reusable tote bags with the Almeida's logo. Considering that Almeida's serves a large volume of customers, Mom and I are always surprised at how neat and clean everything is, especially near the corn area. To control the mess, a gentleman is usually seen removing all the outer leaves off of the corn before putting them in bags of six or 12. The homegrown butter and sugar corn is very sweet and tasty, and so much larger and fresher than the corn sold at the supermarket. Almeida's has a wonderful selection of other vegetables and fruits such as tomatoes (which are huge), cherry tomatoes, large cucumbers (and the pickling variety), zucchini and summer squash, cabbage, lettuce, onions, potatoes, carrots, fresh and bagged radishes, scallions, all sorts of colored peppers, pea pods, green beans, peaches, plums, strawberries, several varieties of apples, oranges, melons, pears, red and green grapes, blueberries, bananas, and whole watermelons that can be cut to whatever size you want right there on the spot. Almeida's also has a bin of slightly bruised fruit at a reduced price, jars of local honey, and many fresh flowers including large sunflowers. The place is decorated with pictures of farm equipment, the Almeida family, and the many generations of farm activity that has taken place on the premises. In the fall, there is a large pumpkin and haystack display along with beautiful fall decorations and seasonal vegetables.

The prices at Almeida's vary, with some things costing more at the supermarket and some costing less. For example, the corn is more expensive here than at Stop & Shop, but is of a much higher quality. On today's visit, Mom grabbed a cucumber ($.69), bananas (two pounds for $1), three plums ($1.79 a pound), and a head of lettuce ($1.39). At the checkout counter, the clerk weighed the bananas and plums. Our total came to:

Produce (bananas) - $1.46

Produce (lettuce) - 1.39

Produce (cucumber) - .69

Produce (plums) - 1.29

TOTAL = $4.83

Mom thinks that at the supermarket, she would have paid more because the bananas are more expensive there than at Almeida's. After packing our fruits and vegetables into one of our many cooler bags, we happily drove away knowing that we did a very good thing by supporting our local farms. For us, it is always win/win because we know that the produce purchased is of the highest quality. We will definitely be visiting Almeida's Vegetable Patch right up until they shut down for the season. I wish that Mom would actually eat the fruits and veggies that she gets here, but she's happy just buying them for us - and I'm definitely not complaining about that.

Almeida's Vegetable Patch is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. within the appropriate seasonal period.

Bugaboo Creek Steak House

www.bugaboocreek.com

Date visited: August 2, 2008

Because I became violently ill on our last visit to the Bugaboo Creek in Seekonk, MA, Mom and I had decided that maybe this steak house wasn't for us. We avoided it like the plague, and even gave it the finger a few times when we drove by. When I say that I got sick, I mean sick. So sick that I wrote a complaint letter to the corporate office. Their idea of compensation? A $50 gift card so that I could return and possibly have the same thing happen twice. Not wanting to let the card go to waste, I invited two friends who I wasn't that crazy about and let them pig out while I stuck with something simple. Luckily, nothing happened to me. Since all this happened many years ago, and I was in an adventurous mood, Mom and I decided to visit this Bugaboo location again. With a steady rain pouring down on us, I dropped Mom off at the front door and pulled into a parking spot at just about 3:10 p.m.


The parking lot wasn't full, but when we got inside, we were told by the hostess that we would have to wait for a table. Wait? Anyone who knows me knows that I hate waiting to be seated. That's why Mom and I never go out to dinner during peak hours. "What are we waiting for," I said out loud, trying to get the attention of the hostess. "There's no one in here." Mom and I reluctantly took our seats on the beautiful wooden benches in Bugaboo's waiting area. We noticed that there were several people leaving, but no one had come over to bring us to a table yet. "What is going on," I said impatiently. Finally, a waitress came over and asked us if we would like a booth or a table. When Mom said table, the waitress said that she would clean one off for us, and that our wait would only be a few minutes longer. C'MON!!!!!!! Move it, already! After waiting for what seemed like forever (it was probably only 10 minutes), Mom and I were finally shown to a table - and guess what - there was NO ONE there. There were literally only a handful of people sitting in the booths and tables in the main dining area. Seeing the lack of customers only made me more mad because it seemed that we had been stuck waiting for absolutely nothing.


After we were seated and left with two colorful, plastic menus, we were greeted by John, our waiter. After rattling off the new lobster specials, he asked us what we would like to drink. We told him two Diet Pepsis. They quickly arrived in two glass mugs, but the soda was extremely watered down. Mom's cola was almost clear, and we both commented on how Bugaboo may be cutting costs. John also brought us a loaf of wheat bread with a cup of butter on a wooden cutting board. We cut into it right away, and it was very warm and tasty. We asked John for a few minutes because we were undecided as to what were going to get. When we finally narrowed it down, John returned to take our order. Mom chose the patty melt minus the grilled onions ($8.79), and I chose - at the last minute - the tilapia tacos ($7.99). After John retreated to the kitchen, I checked the time. Mom and I were on our way to see Journey to the Center of the Earth - in 3D! It started at 4:30 p.m., and since we had been left waiting earlier (for no reason), we were now playing beat the clock.

I believe John may have overheard me say, "We only have an hour," because it was soon after that he came over to our table, apologized for the wait, and told us that they were very short-staffed. Apparently Bugaboo had been very slow the past few Saturdays, so the waitstaff had been shortened. Unfortunately, business had picked up today and the team was trying to keep everything under control. I was just really hoping that this little mess wouldn't cause us to miss our movie. Mom and I decided to take our minds off the clock and take a look around at Bugaboo's adorable interior.


Bugaboo Creek is made up to look like a lodge. There is a large stone fireplace, beautiful wooden rafters, red and white checkered table cloths, stuffed animal heads on the walls, sleds, hunting equipment, jugs, fish, old photos, and various other outdoor-inspired decorations. I even commented on how I'd like to wear the snow shoes on the wall because they look like giant flip flops (my favorite). The main attraction for the kids is that some of the animal heads and fish move and flap. Unfortunately, nothing was moving or flapping today because we overheard a waitress tell another family - with two young children - that the animals had been electrocuted during the recent storm. Good thing they were already dead! Hope the kids weren't traumatized.

Bugaboo Creek really offers a lot of different things, but it is billed as a steak house. With several premium, USDA grain-fed Midwestern beef options such as the prime rib, Fireside sirloin skillet tips, lodge filet, Timber Creek t-bone steak, Bourbon flat iron steak, Portabella bleu cheese filet, black magic steak, Charlie Morgan ribeye, and the 12 oz. Mountain Man strip, meat lovers will be in heaven here. Also on the menu are smoked baby back ribs, home style BBQ meatloaf, grilled pork chops, burgers, chicken and fish dishes, soups, salads, and a long list of appetizers, specialty drinks and desserts. For those with gluten-restrictions, Bugaboo offers a menu just for you. The prices here are pretty average for a chain restaurant, and the portions are quite large. They even offer several kids' meals, all which come with an ice cream treat for dessert. I'm jealous! The only problem we have with the food is that Bugaboo seems to par-boil the chicken before they grill it, making it very soft and limp. Doesn't sound too appetizing, does it? Also, it's a toss up as to what I got sick on the last time - the smashed potato cake appetizer, or the chicken cubano sandwich. I saw neither on the menu this time around.

Before long, our food had arrived. Both dishes looked very tasty. Mom's patty melt - which was topped with Swiss cheese and horseradish sauce - was cooked medium well, which is exactly what she asked for. Accompanied by some fries, Mom said that the patty was tasty, the buttered panini bread was not greasy, and the Swiss was not overwhelming. Surprisingly, she found the horseradish sauce - which she was a bit nervous about - to be quite tangy and delicious. Mom also enjoyed the side of fries, which she said were hot and good.


My tilapia tacos were a last minute decision which I did not regret. Served on flatbread with a large wooden skewer through the three of them, the Cajun-roasted tilapia was very tasty. Each taco was stuffed with a mixture of shredded cabbage and cilantro ranch dressing, to which I added the accompanying tomato salsa. The flavors came together very well, giving the taco a fresh, clean taste. Also on the plate was a serving of fried onion strings and wild rice medley. Since I'm not a fan of rice, I only had a couple of forkfuls. It was good, but really not my thing. I did find the onion strings to be a little on the greasy side, but this is normal with this type of fried food.


At almost 4:15 p.m., Mom and I decided that we needed to get our check and go. John returned to clear away our empty plates and bring the check. The total came to:

Tilapia tacos - 7.99

Patty melt - 8.79

Subtotal - $16.78

Tax - .84

TOTAL = $17.62

Notice anything? John left off our sodas. I don't know if this was a mistake, or if this was something he did because he knew that we had been left waiting, but either way, I didn't have time to correct the error (sorry, John). We had a movie to catch! I left $21 on the table for John which included a 20% tip. Before leaving, Mom and I paid a quick visit to the ladies' room, which was most improved from our last visit. It was neat and clean, versus the gas station outhouse that we were subjected to the last time (which I also discussed in my now infamous letter).

Thankfully, Mom and I made it to the theater just in time to pick up our 3D glasses and watch the movie - which was a lot of fun. After the movie, we were talking about our meal at Bugaboo, and about our previous visits. We agreed that today's meal was good, but that - in general - Bugaboo could do a lot better. The service is not always that great, and sometimes the food isn't very inspired. We've bumped it up from two hearts to three only because a) I didn't become ill, and b) the food was tasty. However, we do feel that this adorable chain hasn't really lived up to its full potential.

The Bugaboo Creek Steak House in Seekonk is located at 1125 Fall River Avenue. For more information, visit their Web site or call (508) 336-2200.

Plaza Pizza II

544 Milford Road

Swansea, MA 02777

(508) 673-2626

289 Winthrop St.

Rehoboth, MA 02769

(508) 252-4307

When I was working part-time at a store in the Swansea Mall a few years back, sometimes the girls and I would order in from Plaza Pizza II, located just across the street from the mall. Since most of the girls had fallen in love with their pizza - and the guys who delivered it - I got to taste a few different pies and topping combinations. I hadn't been to Plaza in years, so when Mom mentioned that she had read good things about their pizzas on the Internet, it was almost certain that we would be stopping by some time in the week. Well some time came today when Mom asked me to pick up an order after I got out of work. She called in the order - a large cheese, large chourico, and large veggie pizza - and they told her that it would be ready in about 20 minutes and the total would be $33.08. At 6 p.m., I pulled into the parking area.

When I arrived, I noticed a young lady bolting out the door with a stack of pizzas that smelled amazing. Once inside the restaurant, the intoxicating smell of the cooked food was overwhelming. I gave my name to one of several young men behind the counter, who then retrieved my three pizzas from the top of the pizza oven (placed there presumably to keep them warm). He quoted me the same total that Mom heard over the phone:

Large plain - $9

Large chourico - 10.25

Large 4 way combo (veggie) - 12.25

Subtotal - $31.50

Tax - 1.58

TOTAL = $33.08

Before leaving, I asked the older gentleman behind the counter if he had a menu. He very politely handed me their list of available foods while I received my change from the younger worker. I managed to snap a photo of the soda coolers and few scattered booths (no tables) that were empty at the moment. Although Plaza Pizza II does have seating, there really isn't much of it. I'm guessing that they have a large take-out and delivery business versus customers that stop by to eat inside. The interior isn't very glamorous - wood paneling and a few Greek-inspired posters - but the restaurant was very clean and the service was great, both on the phone and in person.

Although the highway exit is located just ahead of the restaurant, I decided to drive down Route 6 since I spotted a huge traffic jam on I195 on the way up. I was home in about 10 minutes and was glad to see that all three pizzas were still piping hot. I brought them upstairs and Mom opened all the boxes to reveal the gorgeous pies inside. They looked and smelled amazing, and we couldn't wait to dig in. Mom and I let my father and sister choose what they wanted first because we know how impatient they can get (a.k.a, they're pigs and can't wait their turn, ha, ha). When we finally got a chance to get near the boxes, Mom grabbed a slice of cheese and a slice of chourico, and I grabbed the same plus a slice of veggie.

cheese

veggie

chourico

The pizzas were so good! You can tell that they were homemade, and that only the freshest ingredients were used. In all our experience with pizza-eating, Mom and I have come to realize that Greek people make a mean pie. The cheese was perfect - not stringy and gooey - and the guys at Plaza were quite generous with the toppings. The crust had a nice crunch to it, and all in all we were happy with the amount of food we got for our money.

Plaza Pizza II has a lot to offer. From grinders ($4.50-6.75) such as grilled chicken, roast beef, and chourico and chip, to pizzas ($6.26-14.25) like eggplant, BLT, and steak, everything on the menu sounds fantastic. They even have a Chicago-style stuffed pizza ($12.75-16.25) with cheese, mushrooms, olives, pepperoni, sausage, and sauce. I'd love to try their spinach pies ($3) and I've heard good things about their grilled chicken salads ($6.25). They also feature Greek items like cold Syrian pockets and gyros ($5.50). Seafood is also available, but only on Fridays. Mom read great things about their fish and chip platter ($7) and cannot wait to try it.

Stuffed from eating all that pizza, Mom wrapped up the leftovers and put them in the fridge for us to have later on. I am pleased to say that everyone in my family enjoyed our dinner from Plaza Pizza II, and the only downside is that we fall outside of their delivery area. Damn that Braga Bridge!

Plaza Pizza II is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 12-10 p.m. on Sunday.

Eskimo King

29 Market St.

Swansea, MA 02777

(508) 379-0202

www.eskimoking.com

UPDATE: Since Mom kept raving about her Only 8 ice cream that she had on Saturday, after her doctor appointment, I headed for Eskimo King around 8 p.m. so that I could try some as well. She got a small cup of coffee (what else is new) and I got a small cup of one of their new flavors - chai tea. The total came to $5.99 and our cups were served very quickly. Mom was right! This ice cream imposter tastes fantastic and almost exactly like the real thing. Both flavors were delicious, and we loved the fact that we were eating something that was good for us and it actually had flavor. Thank you, Eskimo King!

street view

(L) chai tea; (R) coffee

*********************
Date: 6/21/08

If you're a fan of New England Bites, you know by now that Mom and I love ice cream. It is our favorite dessert by far, and in the summer we always hit every local ice cream place to get a cup of creamy goodness. Since we hadn't visited Eskimo King since last year, we decided that today was the day. We pulled in to the always-busy parking area at just around 6:45 p.m.


Eskimo King is amazing. Where else can you get over 250 flavors of soft serve ice cream? They have everything from Fluffer Nutter and coconut cream cheesecake to cantaloupe and white chocolate apricot. Eskimo King also has a wide variety of hard and sugar free ice creams, non- and low-fat yogurts, sherbets, cakes, sorbets, cones, sundaes, Arctic Colattas (slush), smoothies, sodas, frappes, and many other ice cream novelties like banana splits and blizzards - complete with a long list of possible mix-ins. They even have a doggie dish available for your hungry pooch which is topped with a Milkbone. The prices are very reasonable - two ice creams are almost never over $7. Mom and I enjoy the look of Eskimo King. It looks as if the owner makes all of the signs herself, and they're always colorful and loaded with information. It also seems like Eskimo King is a nice place to work, because Mom and I have always had good service here - even when we've had to stand in line for quite some time. This is a very popular summertime hot spot. Mom even ordered an Eskimo King cake for my birthday one year just as they were about to close down for the season and it was superb.

On the drive to Eskimo King, Mom told me about one of the signs she had spotted on our last visit. It was something called Only 8, and it was supposed to be "America's Healthiest Frozen Yogurt." When we got out of the car and headed for the counter, I saw the sign describing the eight healthy rewards that Only 8 gives you:

1. No fat, no cholesterol.
2. Calcium fortified.
3. Low calories, low carbs.
4. All natural - no preservatives.
5. Sweetened with fructose.
6. Safe for most diabetics and lactose intolerants.
7. Four healthy yogurt cultures.
8. Great taste that won't go to your waist.

She was really anxious to try this yogurt, so when we placed our order she asked for a coffee flavored Only 8 milkshake. I went with a large wafer cone of pineapple nut cheesecake. The service was quick today because we had found a window on the side of the building that no one was standing at. Our total came to $7.19, and once we paid and got our ice creams, Mom and I headed back to my car.

Once inside, I made sure to take a picture of my cone because it was a little steamy outside and I didn't feel like wearing any of the ice cream. Like always, my cone was delicious. I could really taste the nut flavor, and it had the aftertaste of refreshing pineapple. Although sometimes you only get a hint of the actual flavor (they use a vanilla or chocolate base for all their ice creams), sometimes they hit the nail right on the head. Mom's experiment with the Only 8 frozen yogurt left her amazed! She said that she couldn't believe how much it tasted like real ice cream. It was very thick, creamy, and had a very strong coffee flavor - stronger than some of the real ice cream shakes. She was very impressed with it and would definitely get it again. She just hopes that it doesn't turn out to be like the "fat free" yogurt on that Seinfeld episode, ha, ha!


Happy and full of ice cream, Mom and I sped off into the sunset vowing to return to Eskimo King as soon as we can. Although it was our first trip of the year, it definitely won't be our last. From November to March, whenever we drive down Market Street and see that giant figure of a boy holding an ice cream cone, we just wish for the day when spring would arrive and that neon OPEN sign would turn on.

Eskimo King is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

New York Bagel Company

272 State Road

Dartmouth, MA 02747

(508) 990-3350

1572 President Ave.

Fall River, MA 02720

(508) 677-4767

www.newyorkbagel.com

My mother keeps reminding me that there are no Jewish delicatessens in the immediate area. Are we Jewish? Nope, but Mom insists that this city is in dire need for something new on the culinary scene. Since I've never really had any typical Jewish delicacies, I decided that one day I would take myself out to lunch at a local place that is known for carrying things like lox spreads and knishes - New York Bagel. Well, today was the day. I pulled into the parking lot of the Fall River store, which is located in a large plaza, at around 1 p.m.


Before I left the office, I placed a call to New York Bagel and asked a very friendly gal to prepare a lunch order so that I could just run in and pick up my food. With the online menu on my computer screen, I rehearsed what I was going to order with Mom, who was at home living vicariously through me because she was too chicken to try this on her own. I wanted to make sure that I ordered every Jewish thing on the menu, so I chose a rye bagel with plain cream cheese and lox slices, a side of whitefish salad, a Kosher dill, and a potato knish. Mom mentioned something about getting a Dr. Brown's soda, but I didn't see that on the online menu so I just assumed that New York Bagel didn't carry it. That was confirmed once I stepped inside and peeked inside the drink coolers. I stepped up to the register and gave my name to a girl behind the counter. My order was already prepared and bagged, so all she had to do was ring me out. After a few miscalculations, I received my total:

1 Lox slice - $7.79

1 Pickle - 1.09

1 Potato Knish - 1.75

1 Deli by LB - 1.99

Subtotal - $12.62

Tax - .53

TOTAL = $13.15

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A little expensive, but to me it's all about the experience. After paying, I headed back to the office where I laid everything out on my desk. I had to track down some silverware (they forgot to put some in the bag), but when you work in an office, there is always at least one file cabinet devoted strictly to ketchup packets, menus, and plastic ware. Once all the food was out in the open, I noticed a strong smell of smoked meat, which I assumed was coming from the lox. It wasn't a bad smell, but it was very potent. I decided to try the whitefish salad first. When I opened the plastic container, the salad inside reminded me of those weird cans of Underwood Deviled Ham or Chunky Chicken spreads - almost pasty. As I brought the fork up to my lips, I suddenly felt like I was Chef Anthony Bourdain on one of his many exotic excursions - only I wasn't about to eat monkey brains or seal eyeballs. The taste of the whitefish salad was OK, but I was completely overwhelmed by how salty it was. I kept having to take a bite of my Kosher dill between forkfuls just to clear my mouth of all the salt residue. Do Jewish people have high blood pressure? After eating this, I certainly did. I finished the entire container, but the salad did not impress me that much.


Next, I finished the rest of my pickle, which was cool, refreshing, and very cucumbery. Now, I've had a potato knish once before and it was quite good, so I was looking forward to this next part of my meal. However, the potato inside was very crumbly when I cut it in half. When I first called to place the order, the girl on the phone asked me if I wanted the knish heated. I doubt that heating it would have made the potato flake apart, but it still had a really good taste. It was basically a mashed potato pancake.

Finally, the time had come for me to try the lox slices on the rye bagel. I was scared to death. The smokey smell was making me a little nervous, but I stayed positive and took a bite. I did not have an immediate reaction, but once I had been chewing for a few seconds I felt the little piece of lox in my mouth. It had the consistency of sandwich meat and had a very fishy flavor. I asked Mom earlier why lox was orange, and she told me that it was salmon. I really had no idea. I've only really had salmon when it has been mixed in with other things. Straight salmon on a bagel was interesting, but not something I would probably eat again. The saltiness alone was really starting to get to me. I ate three quarters of my bagel before stopping. There was just no room left! I felt very full and extremely thirsty. I guarantee that my blood pressure was sky-high (like 200/200). I even started to feel lightheaded later on, as dramatic as that sounds. However, I drank lots of water, tea, and iced coffee and felt much better.

My family has been visiting New York Bagel for years because we think that these bagels are the best in the city. They have a large variety of different bagels such as spinach, Asiago cheese, chocolate chip, berry, poppy, and salt. Two big hits with my mom and sister are the rye and the cinnamon sugar. They also have a list of specialty cream cheeses like the walnut and raisin, scallion (low-fat available), sundried tomato, and blueberry. All bagels are made fresh on the premises, and cost under $3 depending on which spread you want (minus the lox slices). New York Bagel also makes fresh salads, sandwiches, and other breakfast pastries like muffins and croissants. They also have a list of beverages that includes everything from soda to French vanilla cappuccino. The pizza bagels ($1.40) seem to be very popular, so I'm going to have to try one of those very soon. My only complaint with the food is that they put too much cream cheese on your bagel! They put it on with an ice cream scoop, so be sure to ask them to go easy on the spread, unless you like that sort of thing. Also, sometimes the service isn't that spectacular. The workers seem like they are concentrating on everything but your order, which is a bit annoying, and often times we've seen the owner reprimand some of his waitstaff in front of customers - not really a fan of that. Mom and I have visited both New York Bagel locations and have always found the interior to be a little on the messy side, but perhaps that is because this restaurant always seems to draw a large crowd. Even the drive-thrus are always busy!

I love to eat different things, especially ethic foods, so I was very glad that New York Bagel gave me a taste of something I'd never had before. I wish this yenta-in-training enjoyed her meal more, but I still appreciated the opportunity to try something new. I will definitely be visiting New York Bagel again, but to all our Jewish peeps, or anyone else who has this type of food on a daily basis, make sure to get that blood pressure checked! Oy vey!

Both New York Bagel locations are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday. Drive-thru hours are extended until 10 p.m. on weekdays.

Baskin Robbins

www.baskinrobbins.com

My family has been frequenting Baskin Robbins ice cream parlors for over 30 years, and we always come to the same conclusion - the ice cream is first rate, while the service is not great. In fact, it's almost downright terrible at times. However, I am in love with their ice cream cakes - especially because of their awesome frosting - and since I am graduating from college tomorrow, Mom decided to get me one from the local Somerset, MA, branch to celebrate the occasion.


Since you can order any cake via their Web site, Mom went online to set up what she wanted. I chose to have rocky road ice cream on top of white cake, and Mom chose a graduation design for the 1/3 sheet cake (feeds 6-8 people). The cake would read "Congratulations" in the center and "Laura" and "2008" in each top corner. After printing out the page, on Saturday Mom and I went to the Somerset Baskin Robbins, which is on County Street. It is in the same building as a Dunkin Donuts. When we walked inside, it took us a few minutes to get noticed, meaning that the employees were all standing around chatting and not paying attention. When we were finally spotted, a girl came over to ask us what we wanted. Mom told her she wanted to order a cake, so the girl retreated to the back room and came out with what looked like an order sheet. As Mom whipped out her printed page from the Internet and began giving instructions, the girl checked her cell phone to see if she had missed a call between getting the order booklet and walking back to the counter. A little rude, don't you think? Anyway, after this girl and Mom synchronized my cake instructions, we were on our way. She did give us a receipt, but it did not have a price on it (and we forgot to ask what it was going to cost). The cake was to be ready by 5 p.m. on Friday. We drove away hoping that the girl did not take a cell phone call right after we left because she might forget to put the order in. Oh well. We had our fingers crossed.


Fast forward to Thursday night, when Mom decided to call the Somerset Baskin Robbins to see how much the cake was going to cost. The first thing she did was try to find out the phone number. Not only are they not listed in the phone book, but they are also not listed with directory assistance. Who doesn't put their business in the phone book/411? Seeing that they were attached to a Dunkin Donuts, Mom decided to call there to see if they could connect her with the Baskin Robbins staff - in the same building - two feet away. The Dunkin Donuts girl gave Mom the phone number so that she could call over there herself. She called the number repeatedly, but no one picked up. Mom decided to call Dunkin Donuts back and ended up getting the same girl. She asked the girl if there was anyone over at the Baskin Robbins counter, and she replied, "Yes, ma'am. I can see them from here." Mom, still not knowing why they weren't answering their phone, tried calling again to no avail. Exasperated, Mom gave up on the Somerset location and decided to try the Dartmouth Baskin Robbins (yes, they're listed in the book) to see if the phone number she had for the Somerset location was indeed correct. They quickly informed her that they were not associated with the Somerset Baskin Robbins because each store is independently owned. Frustrated, Mom decided that it was virtually impossible to reach the Baskin Robbins where she ordered my cake. Good thing we didn't have to make any last minute changes.

Finally, Friday arrived. At about 5:35 p.m., I walked into the Somerset Baskin Robbins to pick up my cake (yes, I had to pick up my own cake). I was greeted right away (rare) and told the girl behind the counter that I was there for a cake. She disappeared into the freezer area for 15 MINUTES! Honestly, I thought that she had died back there, but I was more worried about my cake. What was going on? All I knew was that I was waiting for something that we had ordered a week ago. Why wasn't it ready? Did they lose it? I was about to. Finally, at almost 6 p.m., the girl reappeared. I said, "I thought you got lost back there," and she just smiled and handed me my cake. Mom had a $3 off coupon, so the total came to $12.99 ($15.99 without the discount). I handed her my money and then raced home so that my beautiful cake wouldn't melt on the ride back to Fall River.


After dinner, we cut into the cake (well Mom did; I have weak hands). I was dying to reacquaint myself with that lovely frosting. IT DIDN'T HAPPEN! Apparently, Baskin Robbins changed the frosting on me. It may just be because this was a specialty cake, but I was looking forward to that ice creamy type frosting that I've been eating for almost 30 years. I was almost heartbroken, except for the fact that the rest of the cake tasted great. The rocky road ice cream was filled with nuts and marshmallows, while the white cake was somehow still soft and tasty. The frosting was pretty good, it just wasn't my frosting.

I really do love my cake, and everything else I've ever gotten at Baskin Robbins. When I was younger, I used to get the clown sundae all the time, and I really enjoyed eating all of their 31 flavors. They also have fantastic milkshakes and smoothies, along with tasty sundaes and ice cream novelties (found in their freezer section). We also love the fact that this is one of the only ice cream parlors that uses real cake instead of "cake crunchies." Baskin Robbins is a little more expensive than a roadside ice cream stand, but the taste is quite good. Our only complaint is about the service, which is usually the same at every location we've ever visited. The staff is usually made up of a bunch of teens, and there never seems to be a manager present. As a result, there is a lot of goofing off, and they think nothing of finishing their conversations with each other when there is a line of customers waiting. This makes for very slow service. For something as simple as an ice cream drink, be prepared to wait about 20 minutes. Again, this is at every location. It's very frustrating to be standing at the counter and watching four or five kids laughing and acting silly while you're waiting for your order. The worst part of it is that they look at you, and then look away! What's up with that?

Hands down, the service is the worst part of the Baskin Robbins experience. If we were just rating on taste and quality alone, we would give it four hearts (very good). However, since the service is barely even two hearts (so-so), we've averaged it out at three. Don't make us go any lower, Baskin.

The Baskin Robbins in Somerset is located at 978 County St. For more information, call (508) 673-4809. Let's hope someone answers the phone!

Cracker Barrel

www.crackerbarrel.com

After a failed attempt at going to Iggy's Doughboys and Chowder House in Warwick, RI, Mom and I turned the tables and decided on comfort food instead of seafood. Last month, we had visited the Cracker Barrel restaurant in Wrentham, MA, but forgot to bring the camera. Now that the camera was safely in my pocketbook, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to drive up three more exits and visit the Cracker Barrel on New England Boulevard in Coventry, RI. We arrived at just about 4 p.m.

After walking through the row of rocking chairs that were placed out on Cracker Barrel's "front porch," we entered through the main door and arrived in the gift shop. Cracker Barrel cleverly places its restaurant behind the gift shop so that patrons are tempted to shop both before and after their dining experience. Trying not to look at anything too distracting, Mom and I passed by all the adorable chachkis and headed toward the hostess station. We told a uniformed waitress that we wanted a table for two, and she quickly showed us to one. Left with two sets of paper menus - one for breakfast and one for lunch/dinner - Mom and I started to browse through all the delicious options. We were soon greeted by our waiter, Brian, who took our drink order. Both Mom and I always go for the Diet Stewart's root beer, so we ordered two of those. They quickly arrived in glass bottles and were accompanied by two frozen mugs. After telling Brian that we still hadn't made up our minds, he left us alone so that we could narrow down our choices. Finally, we were ready. Mom ordered the meatloaf dinner ($7.99) which came with three sides. She chose applesauce, mashed potatoes (without gravy), and corn. I went with the half-pound bacon cheeseburger ($7.69) which came with lettuce, tomato, pickles, mayonnaise, and a side of fries. I asked for my burger to be cooked medium well. Brian took away all of our menus while Mom and I took a look around at this chain restaurant's crazy interior.

What's not on the walls here? Seriously, if it's kitschy and old-fashioned, it's probably nailed to the wall inside Cracker Barrel. From where I was sitting I could see washboards, checker sets, lunchboxes, guitars, irons, Singer sewing machines (not hanging on a wall, obviously), old advertisements, fishing and farming equipment, horseshoes, mounted fish, jugs, pans, hunting tools, and much more. I love this place! It's like a trip back to the old days, and the large fireplace and bluegrass music playing in the background only helps with the time travel. There aren't any booths at Cracker Barrel, and all of the wooden tables are topped with old-fashioned oil lamps. There is also this little game on every table. It is a wooden triangle with several holes filled with pegs - all except one. The object of the game is to jump each peg to see how many you are left with. If you're left with just one - you're a genius! I've never been able to do it, but apparently today was my lucky day because on the last game I committed myself to, I won! I knew I was a smart cookie.

Just as Mom and I were marveling at the fact that there were actually tables available (Cracker Barrel is ALWAYS crowded), a gentleman and his wife came in and sat at the back by the windows. As he placed his order, he made sure to ask the waiter if his steak would be a good size, or if he would have to look for it on his plate. Mom and I just laughed.

I spotted Brian bringing over our dishes. Both platters looked fabulous. Mom's meatloaf plate also came with a biscuit and a corn muffin, which she said were great. As she dug in, I asked Mom how everything else was. She said that her meatloaf was thick and nicely spiced with onions and peppers. It was quite a substantial piece! The sides were great as well. Although the mashed potatoes came with gravy when she asked for none, she did not make a fuss and said that everything tasted just fine. The corn nibblets were good, and the applesauce was nicely chilled and tangy. Her whole meal was very filling and delicious.

My burger was great. I almost never order a burger when we go out to eat, but today I was just in the mood for one. The layers of Colby cheese melted nicely over the pattie, which was cooked just to my liking. The bun was soft, the veggies were fresh, and even the cole slaw was very tasty. The bacon gave the burger an extra jolt of smokey flavor, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I've had this burger once before on my first trip to Cracker Barrel, and this one was just as good.

Since we've been to Cracker Barrel a few different times, we've had the opportunity to have both breakfast and lunch here. Unfortunately, I forgot to grab a take-out menu on the way in/out, so I won't be able to list the prices. However, I will be able to recommend a few things. For breakfast I've had the biscuits and gravy and Montmorency cherry pancakes which were out of this world, while Mom's had the pecan pancakes that were heavenly as well. I've also been lucky enough to try the strawberry lemonade which was cool and tasty. For lunch, we've both tried the chicken salads which were served with a boiled egg (yuck for me, yum for Mom) and wedges of Colby cheese. It was fresh, crisp, and quite tasty for a salad. For dessert, we've tried the chocolate cobbler. It was sooo delicious. Topped with hot fudge, pecans, and whipped cream, the cobbler was served in a little mug. How quaint! Enough about us. If you're in the mood for something hearty, then Cracker Barrel is the place to be. Daily features start at 4 p.m. and include fried pork chop Mondays, butter baked chicken Tuesdays, broccoli cheddar chicken Wednesdays, turkey n' dressing Thursdays, fish fry Fridays, chicken n' rice Saturdays, and homestyle chicken Sundays. Other comfort foods include country fried steak, roast beef, farm-raised catfish, ribeye, and chicken tenderloin.

Brian, having popped in during our meal to ask how everything was, came over to clear away our plates when we had finished. After deciding against dessert (there was no room!), Brian brought us the check and reminded us that we were to pay at the gift shop. That's right! We had forgotten the last time. We just left the money on the table and took off. Since I didn't have enough change to leave Brian's tip on the table, I left Mom alone and went to the cashier area in the gift shop. The total came to:

1 Stewart's diet - $2.29

1 Stewart's diet - 2.29

1 meatloaf - 7.99

1 Bacon CB plate - 7.69

Subtotal - $20.26

Tax - 1.62

TOTAL = $21.88

After getting some change, I returned to the table to get Mom and to leave $5 on the table for Brian for his great service. Before leaving, Mom and I checked out the ladies' room. Normally filled with frantic people, the restroom was clean and quiet. Both Mom and I enjoy the fact that the bathroom always has hand lotion available. As we exited the restrooms, we took a look around the gift shop. There were several T-shirts, sweaters, knitted blankets, old-fashioned candies and chips, toys, games, DVDs, candles, and lawn decorations that were overpriced, but adorable. I'm not sure if they've had a problem with shoplifters in the past, but the two most recent visits to Cracker Barrel kept Mom and I under the watchful eyes of the gift shop staff. I hate people who steal from gift shops. That's why everything has to cost so much. Leave things alone!

We first visited a Cracker Barrel on an old-lady bus trip to Yankee Candle/Holyoke Mall some years back, and ever since then each time we visit one, we feel like we're on a trip. Maybe it's because the gift shop sells so many travel items (games, books on tape, etc.), or maybe it's because so many tourists stop here to grab a quick bite before getting back on the road. Either way, Cracker Barrel is a great place to eat and reminisce about days gone by.

Cracker Barrel in Coventry (401-827-8015) is located at 825 Centre of New England Blvd. General hours of operation are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For a location nearest you, please visit www.crackerbarrel.com.

Simcock Farm

361 Marvel St.

Swansea, MA 02777
(508) 673-5721

www.simcockfarm.com

Date visited: 4/26/08

After our long drive home from Hyannis, Mom and I were in the mood for some ice cream. Since we were heading up to do some errands in Swansea, we decided to go to Simcock Farm. We read on a sign last week that the ice cream stand was opening soon, and we wanted to be one of the first to get a taste of Simcock's flavorful treats. We pulled into the crowded gravel parking area at around 6 p.m.

Simcock Farm is adorable. Not only is there an ice cream stand, it is also a working farm complete with fresh vegetables, dairy products, fresh cut flowers, candles, crafts, and seasonal specialties including hay rides and school tours. If you're lucky and live within a five mile radius, you can have fresh veggies and ice cream delivered to your door! There is even a bevy of friendly pets and farm animals that have become used to all of the attention they get from passers by. Simcock Farm also has a great Web site where you can learn the names of the critters, the history of the farm, and take a look at their family album.

Since there were already people at the window, Mom and I stood at the wooden milk bottle that lists all of the ice cream flavors, including pistachio, cotton candy, peanut butter cup, pumpkin, chocolate, strawberry, frozen pudding, vanilla, coffee, cookies and cream, sherbet, and some sugar-free flavors as well. When it was finally our turn to decide what we wanted, I went with a kiddie cup of banana ($2.95) while Mom chose a kiddie cup of Snickers ($2.95). Why a kiddie cup, you ask? Well, we've had the small cup at Simcock before and it is HUGE. It's almost like an entire pint of ice cream. We usually stick with the kiddie cups because it really gives us just enough. Simcock Farm DEFINITELY does not skimp on portions. I'm afraid to see what the large cup looks like! The girl at the window scooped our ice creams and handed them over to me. The total came to *$6.20 (*I forgot to write the correct total down, but I'm assuming there is tax). Mom and I headed back to the car so that we could dig into our cups.

Simcock Farm offers other ice cream treats such as sundaes ($3.50-4.95), cones ($2.95-4.25), frappes ($3.50-3.75), malts ($3.75), milkshakes ($1.25), ice cream sodas ($3.25), Holstein floats ($3.25), freezes ($3.25), banana splits ($6.25), and even a Frosty Paw treat - with cookie - for your dog ($1.25). Oh, and if anyone knows what a Holstein float is, let us know. Mom thinks it is a black and white float, possibly made with Coke or root beer and vanilla ice cream. Is she right?

It's weird how sometimes two people are thinking the exact same thing, but it never gets mentioned because they each think that the other one would not agree with their statement. Although both Mom and I loved the taste of our ice creams (mine tasted like fresh bananas and Mom's tasted like an actual Snickers bar complete with caramel and fudge), we both agreed that the ice cream flavor is sometimes taken away by an aftertaste of freezer burn. There always seems to be tiny ice crystals in the dense ice cream, which takes away from the texture. You'd expect the homemade ice cream to be creamy, however, because of the ice crystals, it comes across as grainy, and has the mouthfeel of an ice milk more than a premium ice cream. We're thinking that - because it's an ice cream stand - they may have to run their freezers very high. Other than that, we enjoy visiting this stand very much.

As we left Simcock Farm, both Mom and I agreed that this is the kind of place that you'd want to end up after a long Sunday drive around New England, and that's exactly how it's advertised on their Web site. Mom and I are going to have to stop into the store and check out some of their other goods, but for now, we're glad that the ice cream stand is open and we look forward to going back and trying one of their other treats. Where else can you get a cup of ice cream that size for only $2.95?

The Simcock Farm ice cream stand is open from 3-9 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Barbyann's

120 Airport Road

Hyannis, MA 02601

(508) 775-9795

www.barbyanns.com

Date visited: 4/26/08

In the past, my aunt has mentioned Barbyann's restaurant to my mother as a "must visit" when we're in Hyannis because of their delicious food and nautical atmosphere. Because we don't really know Hyannis well (other than the main drag - Route 132), Mom printed out directions from MapQuest and we were on our way. When we found the place, we were shocked to learn that it is basically one street behind our favorite Mexican restaurant, Sam Diego's! We pulled into the parking lot, which was empty, at around 4 p.m.


After walking up the ramp and entering the lobby, Mom and I realized that we were the only two in the place. A hostess came over to greet us while I noticed some take-out menus sitting on a shelf and grabbed one. The hostess/waitress named Lisa asked Mom and I if we were OK to sit in the pub area, and we agreed. She showed us to a small table at the back of the pub facing their large bar and left us with two large menus. When Lisa returned to take our drink order, Mom and I requested two Diet Cokes, which promptly arrived in real glasses. Mom and I still needed a minute to decide what we wanted, so Lisa left us alone to choose our meal. When she returned, Mom ordered the fresh fish sandwich ($8.99) with steak fries and I ordered the tuna melt ($7.99) with spicy fries. Because we were only getting sandwiches, we also ordered an appetizers of crab cakes ($8.99). After all, we were in Hyannis. Why not keep the seafood theme going? Lisa took away our menus and left us to check out the interior.

Barbyann's is very "Cape Cod." With gold fish, boat, and compass decorations hung throughout the largely wooden space, you almost feel like your dining at some quaint seaside barroom than a family restaurant. Television sets hung in the corners of the room while oil lamps sat atop every table. The green and gold bar lamps went well with the magenta place mats, and the floral print on the plush banquette and oriental rug popped when placed against the rust print wallpaper. Very old-fashioned, but very cozy. There were no booths in the bar area, but there were plenty of windows scattered around so that customers could smell the fresh air. On a nicer day (it was a little cold), Mom and I would have gladly had lunch in their outdoor dining area. There were even string lights wrapped around the large wooden rafters on the ceiling. So cute!


Other menu items at Barbyann's include the grilled sashimi tuna salad ($11.99), the Commander's surf and turf (priced daily), baked stuffed shrimp ($17.99), fresh swordfish steak ($17.99), Admiral Snarky's surf and turf ($21.99), Fisherman's platter ($19.99), baked stuffed scrod ($17.99), grilled tuna ($17.99), fried scallop roll ($10.99), and the lobster salad roll ($17.99). For something other than seafood, Barbyann's has a list of burgers, Mexican foods, soups, appetizers, and entrees including the New York sirloin ($19.99-21.99), Bubba's best babyback ribs ($17.99), and grilled chicken teriyaki ($13.99). They also make all their salad dressings on site, and offer a Sunday brunch available from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. which features eggs Benedict, omelets, and Sunday roast dinners.

Before our appetizer arrived, some other patrons had come inside and were also seated in the pub area. We noticed that they were served bread, which we were not. I assume it was because we had ordered sandwiches. Still ... I really like bread. Oh well, maybe next time. Lisa returned to the table with our order of three lump meat blue crab cakes accompanied by a cup of Old Bay dijonnaise sauce. They looked, smelled, and tasted fantastic! They were nice and crispy on the outside, but very soft and tender on the inside which isn't always the case with crab cakes. Some of the others that we've had were very bready and dry, but these were very moist and delicious. Even the sauce wasn't bad - not too sweet; not too tangy.


After spotting that both Mom and I had chugged away our Diet Cokes, Lisa returned to our table with a pitcher of soda to refill our glasses. Before long, our topped off Cokes were joined by our sandwiches. Both looked great, and we couldn't wait to dig in. Mom's fish fillet was a good sized piece with a crispy outside and a tender, flaky inside. She loved it. It was served hot on a large, fresh bulky roll and topped with Mom's choice of American cheese. The plate came with tarter sauce and a pickle, which she handed over to me. Her fries were very hot, crisp, and potatoey. Mom usually orders fish and chips, but today she was brave enough to try the fish sandwich and was not disappointed. She would definitely order this again.


My tuna melt was also fabulous, but the fries weren't that great. Accompanied by a pickle, the tuna melt was served on fresh marble rye (yum) and was very tasty. The white meat tuna with melted Swiss was a great flavor combination. The real name for this sandwich is "Lisa's Tuna Melt." I wonder if we were actually being waited on by Lisa herself? Either way, it was a great sandwich. However, the fries had no middles! In other words, the fries were so overcooked that the potato inside had disappeared, leaving only the shells. Since I'm not really a fry kind of person, it wasn't a big deal. However, Mom's tasted 100% better than mine. I will definitely order the plain steak fries next time.

After coming over during our meal to see how everything was, Lisa returned to our table to clear away the dishes and bring the bill. The total came to:

2 soda - $4.50

1 crab cakes - 8.99

1 tuna melt - 7.99

1 fish sandwich - 8.99

Subtotal - $30.47

Tax - 1.52

TOTAL = $31.99

We left $37.50 on the table for Lisa which included a 20% tip for her great service. Before our long car ride back to Fall River, Mom and I used the restroom. Because it was located off of the main dining room, we got to sneak a peek of what that looked like, and it was quite nice! The restroom was actually very clean and adorable. It must have been the entrance of swinging wooden doors like in an old time saloon that won me over.

Stuffed, Mom and I walked out of Barbyann's and headed back to my car. We noticed that the restaurant parking lot was starting to fill up, and we definitely knew why. My aunt was right - if you're ever in Hyannis, stop at Barbyann's for some great tasting food. We can't wait to go back and try one of their delicious-sounding entrees.

Barbyann's is open from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.

Dairy Queen

www.dairyqueen.com

Even before visiting Flo's Clam Shack for lunch, Mom had decided that we should get an ice cream dessert at the Dairy Queen located at 7 East Grove St. in Middleboro, MA. I know it seems a little crazy to drive from Portsmouth, RI, to Middleboro just to have an ice cream, but Mom and I love this place and since it was a beautiful day, we sat back and enjoyed the ride to one of our favorite warm weather spots. We hit DQ at about 5:30 p.m.

Not surprisingly, Dairy Queen was mobbed. This chain is a definite favorite among New England residents, and I still can't believe that there was once one in Fall River - and it closed! It just doesn't seem possible. Although some Dairy Queens have indoor seating, this particular one does not. The only way to place an order is by walking up to the front window or by heading around back and going through the drive-thru. Since we were already sitting, Mom and I figured that the drive-thru was our best best. Actually, we've never been to the walk-up window. We always get turned off by the fact that we a) have to stand, and b) have to wait in the long lines. When we pulled up to the drive-thru menu, a female voice came over the loud speaker and asked us what we wanted. I already knew what I was going to get - a small Cappuccino Heath Blizzard. I've been getting the Cappuccino Heath Blizzard on nearly every Dairy Queen visit. After a few minutes, Mom decided on a medium twist (vanilla/chocolate) ice cream cone. Our total came to $5.15 and we were told to drive forward to the next window. When we got to the pickup window, we were greeted by a friendly girl who cashed us out. She also asked if I would like a cover for my Blizzard. I said yes, and was handed my covered Blizzard and Mom's cone. Unlike other drive-thrus, this particular Dairy Queen always provides excellent customer service. I believe she even threw in some napkins as well. What a gal!

With ice cream in hand (and in cup holder), I drove us to our favorite Middleboro eating spot - the Middleboro Crossing parking lot. The reason this is our favorite spot is because a) it's close to DQ so our ice cream never has a chance to melt, and b) there is usually a lot going on it that plaza, so we're never bored. Mom adores this ice cream. In her opinion, it is probably the smoothest ice cream she has ever come across. She loves the great flavor and mouthfeel (ick, I hate that word). Her favorite thing to get is just a plain cone. She absolutely loves the way they make their ice cream with a little swirl on top (like a figure eight). The ice cream is thick and always neat, even in the cone. Whatever they do to keep the ice cream in the cone, keep doing it! As for me, I'm in love with the Blizzards. I've had a few different flavors, but my current (and maybe all-time) favorite is the Cappuccino Heath. My suggestion to you is to definitely get the small. Dairy Queen does not skimp on the portions. I believe I got the large once and almost burst my spleen trying to finish it. The ice cream is cappuccino flavored and blended with an appropriate amount of finely chopped Heath Bar pieces. I appreciate this because, although I love big pieces, it's nice to not have to worry about breaking your teeth on a bit of cold candy. I would definitely recommend this treat to any coffee lover. Mom has had this Blizzard a few times and agrees with me. We love it!

Although Dairy Queen makes food like burgers and fries, I am not sure if this location serves anything other than ice cream. Since we've only been to the drive-thru, we've become acquainted with what can be handed out of a tiny window. Treats include the Blizzard ($3.10-4.25) which is an ice cream blended with your choice of mix-ins such as Oreo, Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, Butterfinger, M&M, Snickers, Kit Kat, turtle pecan cluster, and mint Oreo pieces. If you want extra stuff in your Blizzard, it is an additional $.50. The Blizzard of the Month is the Tin Roof Brownie, which is very well advertised both on the Web site and at the drive-thru. Other treats include the peanut butter parfait, banana split, Oreo Brownie Earthquake ($3.65), shakes and malts, cones and dipped cones (vanilla, chocolate, and twist), waffle bowl sundaes, waffle cones, sundaes, strawberry shortcake ($3.70), and floats and freezes ($2.50-3.75). You can also order a box of take home treats like the DQ sandwich and the Buster bar. For drinks, you can order your basic soft drink and/or bottled water, but for something extra, try their Moolatte ($2.75-4), which is basically a frozen coffee drink - and it's delicious! If you're not feeling a coffee drink, you can order an Arctic Rush - kind of like their take on slush. It comes in several different flavors. Please note that these prices may vary.

Full and satisfied, Mom and I drove away from our eating spot and headed toward home. We both look forward to going back and having another ice cream. I'd also like to find out if this location serves food because I'm dying to try some of their famous burgers. Another plus is that an Orange Julius is going to be sharing space with the DQ, so that gives us one more reason to take the drive to Middleboro. Who knows? Maybe you'll even see us eating in the parking lot. It's a small world.

The Dairy Queen in Middleboro is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. For other locations and hours of operation, visit their Web site at www.dairyqueen.com.

Flo's Clam Shack

4 Wave Ave.
Middletown, RI 02842

(401) 847-8141

Park Avenue
Portsmouth, RI 02871
(401) 847-8141

www.flosclamshack.com

Today was a beautiful, yet annoying day. At first, Mom and I had no idea where to go for lunch. Since she had been sick with a cold all week and wasn’t feeling 100%, I told Mom that she could choose where we would chow. She picked Flo’s Clam Shack on Island Park in Portsmouth so that we could sit outside in the fresh air and have a relaxing, delicious lunch. Did we sit outside? Yes. Was our lunch delicious? Yes. Were we relaxed? Well …

We arrived at Flo’s at just around 3:30 p.m. As usual, there were no parking spots in the gravel lot that surrounds the building, so I made my own. There was a small crowd gathered around the main window, so Mom and I quickly stood in the ordering line to – what else – place our order. Mom had already decided on what she wanted – an order of fish and chips with some clam cakes. I was also going to have some clam cakes (we were going to order a half dozen) and, believe it or not, a burger. Flo’s has always made a great burger. When it was finally our turn to place an order, the cashier at the window informed us that they did not have any fish available. No fish at a seafood restaurant? Uh oh. I panicked and turned to Mom, who instead ordered a burger and changed our half dozen clam cakes to one dozen. We also ordered two cans of diet root beer. The female cashier handed me a white rock with a number painted on it, and also gave me the two cans of soda. The rock is how Flo’s keeps track of your order. They hand you a rock, you wait in line until your rock's number is called, and then return said rock. Our number was 56, and our total was $13.99. Mom and I slowly backed away from the ordering window (there were all kinds of people crowding in on us), grabbed some straws, napkins, and some vinegar for me, and took a seat at one of the outdoor picnic tables at the side of the building. I later moved my car so that I could be parked in an actual parking spot, not like the fake one I created out of pure laziness.

While sitting and waiting for our food, we talked about how Flo’s has never changed. Even when my parents used to visit Flo’s before my sister and I existed, this cozy wooden shack has pretty much stayed the same. There is a giant white buoy by the main window that all kids love to sit on, lots of ropes and nautical knickknacks decorating the building, and a side lot filled with blue picnic benches where diners can sit and take in all of the fresh ocean air. Be careful, though. If you look up, you’ll often see a gang of seagulls hovering over you. I wouldn’t suggest feeding them as the other patrons eating would probably frown upon a bird turd ending up in their clam chowder. However, if there are leftovers, there is a small beach right across the street where people often let the birdies have a nosh. There is even a sign letting customers know that Flo's is closed during hurricanes. Good to know!

It felt like a lot of time had gone by since we placed our order. I told Mom that our food should be ready “any minute,” and that I would wait over by the pickup window. Meanwhile, the cashier kept calling two numbers over and over – two and 90. After about 10 minutes, number two mysteriously appeared, but 90 still had not. The cashier continued to call number 90 again and again. By this time, I had been standing in line for 15-20 minutes, not including the time I was waiting on the bench with Mom. A 90-year-old man that I think was hitting on me kept asking me if he was number 90, but he was number 17. The man to the left of me who was wearing a green shirt was not number 90, and neither was anyone else. I started to panic. Was I number 90? I looked at my rock again and saw the number 56. Phew. I was not imagining things. About another 10 minutes went by before I noticed that everyone that I had been waiting with was long gone, and there was a new batch of customers standing around the windows. I finally walked over to the pickup window and asked the cashier if there was anything wrong with the order for number 56. She took my rock, flipped it over, and said, “Um … this is number 90. I’ve been calling this number for a while.” I said, “Um … no. This is number 56.” Apparently, the number was in fact 90. Let me show you:

I’m sure you could see how my mother and I were mistaken. Apparently the barely-there line at the bottom was put there to prevent morons (oops) from thinking that it was the number 06, but to us, it looked like 56. Maybe if they hadn’t painted the number with hot pink nail polish we would have been able to read it a better. Nevertheless, I took the food from the cashier, felt the bags to see if the food was still hot, and took my seat with Mom. When I did, Mom was frenzied because she didn’t know what was taking me so long. What I didn’t know was that she had gotten up off the bench a few times to see if I was still in line, or if I had taken off. Where was I going to go? I was hungry! Jokingly, she said, “You weren’t number 90, were you?” Since we were seated right next to the guy with the green shirt who I was talking to about how number 90 better get their act together and get their food, I told Mom what happened in a low voice. She was shocked. She said, “But it was number 56!” I had to explain about how we had apparently been holding the rock upside down the entire time. “Ohhhhhhhh,” said Mom. “I guess so.” She then told me that a man had come up to her because she had been sitting alone for a while to ask her if she was number 90. Little did she know, she was!

I feel a little rotten that I wasn't able to get a full price list, however, Flo's is very inexpensive. For only $13.99, Mom and I had two sodas, two burgers, and a dozen clam cakes. That's a lot of food, and not a lot of cash. With all the drama going on with my rock number, I tried to get a picture of the menu, but it didn't come out clear. The bright side is that you don't really need a menu at Flo's. If you want seafood, they have it. That's the bottom line. I tried asking for a take-out menu, but they don't exist. Here is what I was able to find out: chowder combo ($4.95), and I believe this consists of a bowl of chowder and a handful of clam cakes; clam cakes ($2.95 for 1/2 doz., $4.95 for doz.); stuffed quahog ($2); fish and chips ($6.95); fish only ($4.95); lobster roll ($10.75); fish sandwich ($4.25); plain or creamy chowda (and yes, they spell it like that - $2.95/$3.95); fried clams (starting at $11+); clam strips (starting at $7+); and other stuff like scallops, onion rings, chicken fingers, fried calamari, and any other kind of fried seafood you can think of.

Finally, after what seemed like hours, we were finally able to dig into our food. Both burgers were juicy and delicious. I’m not sure what kind of meat Flo’s uses, but I’ve never found a chewy piece of fat nor an uncooked section. Neither has Mom. Our bag of clam cakes were still steaming hot (I’m surprised) with a crispy coating and soft interior. There weren’t too many clams in the cakes, but this is fine with me because I enjoy the clam taste, and not necessarily the clam feel. Mom feels the same way. We ate in seconds because we were so famished and annoyed. When we had finished, there were still about four clam cakes left in the bag. Mom and I got in the car and parked on the other side of the street so Mom could chuck the clam cakes out the window for the birds. After we realized that the cakes wouldn’t get very far, Mom got out of the car and hurled the food onto the beach. Seagulls were flying in every direction. I even spotted one flying off with an entire clam cake in its beak! I hope he, or she, enjoyed it as much as we did.

Flo’s Clam Shack on Island Park has been famous for clams since 1936 and is a staple, especially around this area. It’s often the first outdoor restaurant that Southern New Englanders visit when spring starts, and just before Flo's closes for the year, those same people visit for a last hurrah before the fall weather rolls in. Although illegible rocks could pose a problem, it has been run this way for years and I wouldn’t change a thing. Just make sure you aren’t holding your rock upside down.

Flo’s Clam Shack in Portsmouth is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Flo’s also has an indoor restaurant on Wave Avenue in Middletown, RI.

Texas Roadhouse

www.texasroadhouse.com

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My friend Scott and I have been friends for over three years, and in that time, we have never gone out for dinner together. Sure we've eaten Quizno's subs at our desks at work, and even shared a Paparoni pizza from Papa Gino's in the break room, but we've never actually gone to a restaurant, sat down, and ordered a meal together. Since we're both big fans of Texas Roadhouse, and we both magically had some cash on hand at the very same time, we decided to have dinner at the Roadhouse at 124 Westgate Drive in Brockton, MA. Although Mom likes the food here, she's not a fan of the noise (and there is a lot of noise), so today was the perfect time to do a review of the restaurant. I met Scott at his office (my old job - *sigh*) and drove to the Roadhouse. We arrived at about 6:30 p.m.
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By the fullness of the parking lot, we both knew that the restaurant was quite crowded. Luckily, Scott scored an awesome parking spot and was pretty happy with himself because of it (apparently he always has a long walk to the front door). Once inside, Scott and I had to wait in a small line that had formed around the hostess station. I noticed that there were also people sitting in the waiting area, which consists of a small TV, large barrels of peanuts, and two wall-length benches. A few minutes went by before Scott and I finally had a chance to tell the hostess that we wanted a table for two. Thinking that we were going to wait a while for a table, I was pleasantly surprised when a waiter came over, grabbed a basket of buns from the warming shelf by the kitchen, and started walking us to our table ... and walking ... and walking. He walked so damn slow that I was basically stepping on the back of Scott's sneakers. Even Scott turned around and whispered, "Are we ever going to get there?" I guess the waiter was trying to make small talk by asking, "Have you ever been here before?" When Scott said yes, the waiter turned around and said, "Welcome back." Doesn't seem like much, but apparently Texas Roadhouse teaches the wait staff to really drag this part out. This is not the first time I've encountered the slow walkers. Mom, who normally walks very slowly, was pretty much walking up the waitress's back on our last visit to the Dartmouth, MA, Roadhouse. Nonetheless, we finally arrived at our booth. He put down our basket of buns and told us that our waitress we be over in a minute. I reached over and handed Scott one of the plastic-covered menus that were already on our table. Although we already knew what we wanted, it's always fun to look at the menu.




A few minutes went by before our waitress came to the table. Her name was Tina Marie and she seemed to be in a bit of a rush. Although friendly, she talked very quickly. She may have had a lot of people to serve that night, so I don't blame her for speeding things up. I'm the same way. She took our drink order - two Diet Cokes - and since she noticed that we already knew what we wanted, she took that order as well. Scott and I were going to start with the Rattlesnake Bites ($4.99) as our appetizer, and Chicken Critter Salads ($9.29) as our entrees, both with honey mustard dressing. He ordered his with egg, and I (of course) requested that the egg not be there. Tina went away to put in our order, but quickly came back to bring us our sodas, which were served in real glasses. In the meantime, Scott and I stuffed our faces with the delicious soft buns with flavored butter and the nearby peanuts, which are placed at every table in a silver bucket (with an extra bucket for the empty shells).

Texas Roadhouse is a really well-decorated restaurant chain. As soon as you step through the door, you are transported into a world of cowboy hats, rodeos, and line dancing - and yes, there is actual line dancing. Whenever you hear the country music that is piped in through a large jukebox get turned up louder than normal, be sure to turn toward the middle of the restaurant where you will see the waitstaff busting a move. A cute touch, but not so cute if you're waiting for your food to arrive and your waitress is in the middle of the Boot Scootin' Boogie. The restaurant is also on the loud side. I often find myself screaming across the table at my dining companion even though they are only about two feet away. Also, it is always crowded, so it really doesn't matter when you visit - there is a pretty good chance you'll have to wait to be seated. Once seated at your table or booth (there is a mix of both, but the booths can be a little tight), you'll be able to check out all the crazy knickknacks scattered around the restaurant. There are several caricature drawings of country stars hung up around the top of the bar, cacti, cowboy boots, saddles, and any other stereotypical southern trinket. I'm also pretty sure that you can request your margarita to be served in a cowboy boot that you can keep as a souvenir! If you're on the shy side, I wouldn't suggest coming here on your birthday. If one of your "friends" decides to tell the staff that today is your special day, not only will a group of waiters flock to your table to embarrass you, they'll shine one of the overhead lights right on you, scream "Yee Haw" in your face and get the rest of the diners to do the same. Oh, and they'll tell everyone your age. "Doris is turning 58 today ... yeeeeeee haaaaaaaaaaw!" No thank you. I'd kill myself, and take everyone with me.

Since this is a chain restaurant, the menu could vary depending on where you're located. Appetizers include the Cactus Blossom ($5.99), grilled shrimp ($6.99), and the cheese fries ($4.99). There are also several salad options that you can get served with homemade dressing. Mom especially likes the chicken Caesar salad ($9.29). Burgers and sandwiches include the pulled pork sandwich ($7.29), and the Smokehouse burger ($7.79) which is a half pound of fresh ground chuck with sauteed mushrooms, onions, BBQ sauce, and jack and cheddar cheeses. There is a kids' menu, a dessert menu (featuring a Big Ol' Brownie for $4.99), and a long list of side dishes, but the main attraction here are the steaks. Each plate is served with two sides, and you can choose to smother any steak with mushroom, onions, gravy, or cheese for $1.99 extra. Steaks include the USDA Choice Sirloin ($8.99-17.99), Ft. Worth Ribeye ($13.99-18.99), Texas T-Bone ($19.99), New York Strip ($16.29-18.99), Dallas Filet ($14.99-18.49), and the Prime Rib ($14.29-18.99). Another favorite is the Texas Roadhouse ribs ($12.99 half slab; $16.99 full slab) that are "blue ribbon" winners and slow cooked with a blend of seasonings and their signature BBQ sauce. You can also order a Texas Size Combo platter of steak, chicken, or ribs for $15.29-18.99. For those non-red meat eaters, there are a variety of chicken and fish options available. Fish dishes include the fried catfish ($10.99) and grilled salmon ($13.29), which the chicken dishes include grilled BBQ chicken ($9.99) and country fried chicken ($10.29). I need to start leaving my Chicken Critter Salad obsession behind so that I can try some of Texas Roadhouse's other delicious entrees.

It didn't take long for our appetizer to arrive. Scott had never had the Rattlesnake Bites before. We were both a fan of the Iguana Eggs that they used to serve (kind of like their version of a jalapeno popper), but of course, they took them off the menu. The Bites were served with a cup of Cajun horseradish sauce and were really tasty. The little bits of diced jalapenos and jack cheese were spicy and the batter was nice and light. Delish!

After we polished off our Bites, our salads arrived. Thankfully they remembered to keep the egg out of mine. Both salads looked and tasted amazing. The greens were fresh, the cheese was tasty, the bacon was crisp, and the chicken was juicy and well cooked. I adore this salad because you really do get a lot of flavor with every mouthful. Of course, Scott had some extra flavor going on in his because of the egg, which he really enjoys. We both finished every bite of our huge salads, and I found out something about Scott - he eats slowly!!! I was finished with my salad long before he was. Maybe I eat too fast? Could it be? Either way, we were both glad to be having one of our favorite salads together. While Scott was still eating, I decided to check out the ladies' room, which is almost always disgusting (well, the one in Dartmouth is, at least). It actually wasn't bad today. A little disheveled, but Texas Roadhouse does get a lot of bathroom traffic. Not sure if that is a good thing.

Egg

No egg

Tina returned to the table clear my plate and to see if all was well. Just before she came over, Scott and I were talking about this alcoholic drink that he likes - Malibu Rum with Diet Coke. He told me how good it was, and I was mad that I had forgotten to order one. After some pressure from Scott ("Will ya just get it already!"), I had Tina bring me one. YUM. It totally tasted like coconut soda. Scott says that mixing it with regular Coke takes out some of the coconut taste, so he uses Diet. When he had finishe