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.

Wright's Dairy Farm and Bakery

200 Woonsocket Hill Road

North Smithfield, RI 02896

(401) 767-3014

www.wrightsdairyfarm.com

If there is one thing my mother loves, it's a good bakery. With all the sensational sights and smells to take in, she pretty much just stands in the center of a store and starts spinning as if she were Mary Tyler Moore throwing her hat up into the air with glee. Yes, she gets that excited. This excitement was taken to a whole new level when my aunt suggested that we pay a visit to Wright's Dairy Farm and Bakery, which is about 13 minutes down the road from Wright's Farm Restaurant. She raved about their fantastic pastries, so of course, this was something that Mom and I couldn't miss - but we missed it. Twice. It turns out that the tiny arrow pointing down toward the farm at the corner of Route 102 and Woonsocket Hill Road didn't catch our eyes. Perhaps we were overwhelmed with thoughts of pastry or stuffed from all the chicken we just ate. Nonetheless, we eventually spotted the arrow and drove down the winding street to the farm at around 5:30 p.m.

This farm was exactly what all farms should look like. There were large dairy cows roaming the fields, bales of hay stacked up in one of the barns, a milking station, various storage sheds, farm equipment, and oh, did I mention the huge gourmet bakery? We drove past a sea of large boxes with tiny calves inside (perhaps for protection from the larger cows) and into the bakery parking lot. The lot wasn't too big, but was practically full. People love this place! When we stepped inside through the sliding doors, Mom's jaw dropped. I thought she was going to spin, but she just stood there in awe of all the mouth-watering delights that were scattered throughout the beautiful country store. Right away we spotted a shelf with Wright's Dairy Farm T-shirts. I should have gotten one!

We didn't know where to look first, so we slowly made our way through the well-stocked shelves filled with cakes, cookies, pies, breakfast goodies, and other treats. Individual cream pastries include the small cream puffs, chocolate and strawberry boats (large and small), peaks, apple crisp, raspberry bismarks, comets, and assorted cake squares. Individual custard pastries include large and small éclairs, maple and vanilla napoleons, trifles, and zeppoles (seasonal). Other refrigerated goodies include rum teacake, cannollis, and apple dumplings (seasonal). Some of the many flavors of pie include chocolate, coconut, banana, apple cream, apple, pumpkin (10" only - seasonal), key lime pie (9" only), custard (10" only), and pecan pie (10" only - seasonal). There are also fruit square, cookies (such as chocolate chip, hermits, oatmeal raisin, peanut butter chip, Russian tea cookies, butter/shortbread, M&M, macaroons, Florentine, vanilla bisquits, pin wheels, and sugar), bars (brownies, M&M brownie, Mounds, radio, magic, and pecan diamonds), and their many varieties of cakes, such as strawberry shortcake, black forest, cow, three-layer, checkerboard, fresh fruit tiara (seasonal), killer (8”), cheesecake (10” plain or fruit), carrot, zuppa (8”), and tiramisu (8”). Other baked goods include muffins and scones, flaky pastries, bow ties, rogarts, angel wings (cinnamon discs), bear claws, eccles cakes (pretzels), almond crescents (pie pockets), baklava/choco-almond treasures, sugar-free pie pockets, sweet rolls and buns, danish, meltaways, pecan rolls, coffee rolls, and hot cross buns (seasonal). Everything was reasonably priced, fresh, and looked out of this world.

We also noticed the large refrigerated case at the end of the store. Wright's really prides themselves on their fresh milk products. According to their Web site, the milk never leaves the store and comes straight from their cows to our tables in less than 48 hours. Milk products include skim, 2%, whole, chocolate, and coffee milks. They also have mini milk containers for the kids. Wright's also carries both light and heavy cream, and egg nog (available only in November and December). Although Mom and I weren't interested in buying milk at that time, we were both dying to know how it tasted. Later on, we had a fan of ours tell us that all their milks, no matter what percent it is, have the flavor of whole. Sounds good, but we were more interested in the refrigerated pastry case. After taking a number (just like at the deli), a young worker asked us if we were ready to choose something. I had narrowed my choices down to two things. One looked like a key lime tart, and the other looked like a smaller key lime tart. Since one was large and green and the other small and white, yet they were both topped with limes, I asked the girl behind the counter to describe them. She told me that the white tart was called a key west, and had a more tart flavor than the key lime. Since it looked delicious - and easy to hold in the car - I decided to get one of those. Not wanting to be left out, Mom got one as well. The worker placed the tarts in a small box, printed out a receipt, taped it to the top of the box, and sent us on our way.

After Mom and I had narrowed down our other choices, it was time to head over to the register. Mom was quite excited because not only was she able to get a treat to eat right away, she got some breakfast goodies and buns to have the next day. We were greeted by a young cashier, who rang and bagged our order. The total came to:

Meltaways - $4.20

Chocolate Chip Scones - 3.60

Dozen snowflake rolls - 2

2x tarts (@ 1.99 each) - 3.98

Hermits - 4.28

TOTAL = $18.06

Before we left the bakery, Mom spotted some spoons in a jar by the register. We had both wondered how we were going to eat the tarts in the car, but thankfully Wright's provides both spoons and straws for your eating and drinking pleasure.

When we got to the car, we took the two tarts out of the box and grabbed the spoons. We rolled down the window, hoping to smell some fresh country air, but all we could smell was cow manure. Rolling the windows back up, we dug into our cool, fresh key wests. The key west lived up to its name. It was a bit more tart than the key lime, but absolutely delicious. The real cream that was on top really helped cut the tartness so there was a nice blend of flavors with every bite. The crust was flaky, the filling cool and creamy, and it was really a delight to eat.

Our other purchases included chocolate chip scones (which had a sweet icing and were filled with chocolate chips), a dozen rolls (the same fantastic rolls that are served at Wright's Farm Restaurant), meltaways (covered in cinnamon, syrup, and nuts - yummy), and a bag of hermits (which were deliciously spiced and available to order on their Web site):

Of course, Mom saw about 100 other things she wanted to buy, but I had to stop her. After all, how many baked goods can one family have? Wait ... maybe I shouldn't ask that question. Before leaving the farm, which has been servicing the Rhode Island community for over 100 years, we decided to take another spin around the parking lot to get a better look at the cows. A personal shout out goes to cow number 80, who posed for a picture for me!! Make sure you check out our slide show to see him, or her, in all his bovine glory.

Both Mom and I adore quaint little out-of-the-way places like Wright's Dairy Farm and Bakery. It is the perfect place to visit on a beautiful spring afternoon, and there's nothing better than freshly made pastries from a picturesque New England farm - no matter what season it is.

Wright's Dairy Farm and Bakery is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Wayside Olde Tyme Candy Store

Wayside Olde Tyme Candy Store

1015 Boston Post Road

Marlboro, MA 01752

(508) 481-3458

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After stuffing our faces with Esler's desserts, Mom and I decided to take a walk around the Wayside Country Store. As we walked through the door to the Olde Tyme Candy Shop, we saw that it had been visited by none other than the Phantom Gourmet! If the Phantom enjoyed himself, we were sure to have a good time.

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When we walked through the door at around 4 p.m., it was like we were stepping into Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. Although there were no Everlasting Gobstoppers and Wonka Bars wrapped with golden tickets, there were rows and rows of chocolate candies, jelly beans, nostalgic treats, and assorted novelty candies. The counter tops were lined with glass jars filled with candies, and every wall had some sort of display featuring various edible items. There was even a beautiful, old fashioned cash register. Mom and I didn't know where to start, so we followed the make-shift line that had formed in a square around the candy counter. There was quite a crowd in that area, so Mom and I decided to hang out in the back of the store until the cluster of wild-eyed people had lessened. In that area were handmade crafts, candles, and assorted country decor. Mom picked out a couple of spiced pumpkin Yankee Candle car jars for my sister and I ($2.99 each). There was also an area to purchase packaging supplies like gift bags and bows in case you were in a gift-giving mood.

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When the crowd died down, Mom made her way over to the counter. There was chocolate as far as the eye could see. She became fascinated with one particular area of the counter because it had giant-sized truffles, peanut butter cups, and other chocolates. The truffles were $2.50 each, but they were definitely larger than any truffle I'd ever seen. Flavors include chocolate decadence, pumpkin, Irish creme, tiramisu, peanut butter, and many more. Also on display were their many trays of delicious-looking fudge - their feature flavor being the apple cinnamon walnut for $9.95 a pound. Other flavors include pumpkin, chocolate walnut, vanilla, mudslide, peanut butter, rocky road, and penuche ($8.95/lb.). Chocolate covered pretzels and bark (both white and dark) seemed to be quite popular, while the pre-boxed chocolates (1 lb. assorted for $15.95) were piled high and awaiting purchase. There was also a lot of activity around the nostalgic and novelty candy area. Children were having a sugar-fueled time choosing from the different flavors of Jelly Belly Jelly Beans, the different colors of M&Ms, and the many sour and gummi favorites that they love. Parents enjoyed reliving their childhood with old fashioned favorites such as Boston baked beans, candy cigarettes, Mary Janes, and root beer barrels. They also have something called Bubblegum Buddies ($2.25 each). These are actual pieces of gum molded into the most interesting and beautiful shapes. Mom and I saw Thanksgiving turkeys, brides and grooms, Halloween Draculas and cats, and various other animals. They are way too cute to actually eat, and whoever is making these has an extraordinary talent. They are the most unique pieces of gum I've ever seen! You can order any of their delicious treats, including the Bubblegum Buddies, via their Web site.

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Mom decided to purchase two of the giant truffles for Dad. After flagging down one of the busy cashiers, she chose the chocolate decadence and peanut butter, since he is a fan of both flavors. The total came to:

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Truffle - $2.50

Truffle - 2.50

Car jar - 2.99

Car jar - 2.99

Subtotal - $10.98

Tax - .30

TOTAL = $11.28

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Since the entrance to the Henry Ford General Store is connected to the candy shop, we took our newly purchased goods into the store and continued our shopping trip. The general store, established in 1929, features many New England crafts along with dry goods, old fashioned crackers, Christmas crafts, jellies, relishes, dog and cat treats, and much more. Mom found something called Microwave Corn on the Cob. It is a small cob of corn that comes with a bag that you place it in to be cooked in the microwave. She bought two of them ($1.59 each) to take home to Dad and Mallory.

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Both Mom and I had a fabulous time at the Wayside Country Store. It is an adorable place to visit, and Dad had nothing but good things to say about his truffles. Both he and Mallory also enjoyed their microwavable corn on the cob. Stepping into Wayside was like taking a step back to old New England, and I can definitely agree with the Phantom Gourmet - your mind will be boggled by all the selections at the Olde Tyme Candy Store.

King Richard's Faire

235 Main St.

Route 58

Carver, MA 02330

(508) 866-5391
www.kingrichardsfaire.net

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For my birthday gift, my sister Mallory decided to take me to one of our favorite seasonal places - King Richard's Faire in Carver, MA. We had visited for the first time one Sunday last year, and enjoyed ourselves so much that we went back one week later! Both Mallory and I scored some great T-shirts and jewelry, and even had a great meal. We couldn't wait to return.

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With free parking, I pulled into the large dirt lot at around 2:30 p.m. and found a space close to the entrance. I noticed that Mallory had worn flip flops, which was a little insane considering we'd be walking on dirt and rocks the entire time. Mal shelled out $50 for admission (adults - $25; kids 5-12 - $14; kids under 5 - FREE) and we walked through the entrance and handed our tickets to a waiting wench. Our strategy was to walk around once, pick out what we liked, and then walk around a second time to buy everything. Then, we were off to have lunch.

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King Richard's Faire has something for everyone. Although Mallory and I don't dress up, you can rent costumes or arrive in your own! There are games, joust tournaments, a royal zoo, jewelry shops, a few ancient-looking rides, and various artisans selling clothing, swords, walking sticks, leather goods, and assorted knives. There are also several psychics, tarot readers, face painters, shows, musical performances, and strolling musicians. It is a typical Renaissance faire with all the trimmings. It's quite a spectacle, and if you haven't been to a Renaissance faire yet - go! Everyone seems to enjoy themselves.

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After our second trip around the large faire, Mallory and I were ready to eat. We stopped at the ticket booth to purchase tickets (the food area does not take cash). Although a little pricey at $5 for a sheet of 10 tickets (there is a $5 minimum), both Mallory and I had to get two sheets of tickets each in order to get what we wanted. Since last year, Mallory had been talking about getting the famous roasted turkey leg. I was a little less adventurous, but went with another faire favorite - the King's Chowder Boule. We stood in line at the New Castlegate Grill, one of the many food sections, and placed our order. Mal's turkey leg was 14 tickets, while my boule was 13. We each ordered a "servant" sized Pepsi (five tickets), and took our seat at a nearby picnic table.

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I like the way the eating area is set up here. Everything is in a large circle, with the ticket booth right across from the tables. Each "window" has its own name - The Canterbury Kitchen, Potions, The Vinery, Witches' Kitchen, Hex Kitchen, Village Oven, Royale Sweet Shoppe, Ye Creamery, and Roaming Delights. Some of these areas are located between the many shops, but the majority are right in the center of the faire. Serving favorites like the dragon wings n' fryes, shepherd's pye, stuffed po-ta-toe, Lord's pigge sandwich, rack o' ribs feast, and the King's roasted nuts, you can really pig out here - but be careful. The food can really add up. For those ready for something more adult, there are several areas that serve large yards of beer, mead, and different wines and champagnes. Mal and I were tempted to try the mead, but wanted to save it for our next trip since our funds had steadily declined since stepping foot through the entrance.

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Mal's turkey leg was insane. It was a good size and smelled delicious. She peeled back the skin (she hates skin) and dove in. It actually had a strong flavor of pork. It was roasted and had a delicious smokey flavor. She thought it was amazing, and she definitely had a fun time using her hands to eat her lunch.

My chowder boule was delicious! The chowder tasted homemade, and the boule they used was soft and fresh. I was impressed at how hot everything was, considering that everything is outside and there were quite a lot of hungry kings and queens waiting to be served.

After nearly being scared to death by a passing monster, Mallory and I started to plan ahead for our next visit to King Richard's Faire. We're going to order the chicken, fryes, and the King's Towering Chocolate Cake, which seems to be quite a hit with patrons. We also can't wait to revisit our favorite shops - The Silver Lady, The Remembrance Shoppe, and Uncommon Adornments. All in all, we had a great time and can't wait to go back. However, I definitely suggest bringing a lot of cash if you go with your family. Although there are ATMs available, only some of the merchants accept credit cards.

King Richard's Faire is open this year until October 21 from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Discount coupons are available on the Web Site, along with a list of merchants, games, food, and a map of the park. You'll definitely have a royal good time!

B.F. Clyde's Cider Mill

129 North Stonington Road
Mystic, CT 06355

(860) 536-3354

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Visiting Clyde's is the perfect way to kick off the start of the fall season, even though Mom and I made the trip a day early. At only an hour and 15 minutes away from Fall River, and only a few miles up the road from Mystic Village, driving to Clyde's was a breeze. We pulled into the gravel covered parking area at around 3:15 p.m.

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There are three separate buildings at Clyde's. One building is a knickknack shop that sells Clyde's T-shirts and assorted country crafts. The second building is a general store type market that sells all of the homemade goodies that Clyde's is known for. The third, and most interesting building, is the apple mill. Inside the small white barn is a working apple press, and the best time to catch the press in action would be to visit in the October and November months. With free admission, curious customers can watch firsthand how Clyde's famous apple cider is made, along with their apple jams, jellies, and butters.

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Since Clyde's was not pressing on this day, Mom and I got a chance to check out the inside of the mill without the stress of a large crowd. We saw all the old fashioned jugs hanging on hooks across the ceiling, an old cashier's desk complete with an telephone from the early 20th century, and the various tools and mechanisms used to keep the press running. The dark wood of the mill made it extra authentic, and the smell of previously pressed apples was pleasantly intoxicating.

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As Mom and I made our way to the store, we saw a wine tasting seminar that was taking place on the porch. We also stopped and checked out the large crates of apples waiting to be purchased, along with several rows of brightly colored floral arrangements and pumpkins. Inside the store, although we had to push our way through the crowd, we checked out all of the homemade jams, jellies, preserves, butters, spreads, and other condiments. Clyde's also has homemade infused oils, wines, and sweet and hard ciders, along with a appetizing list of freshly baked goodies such as pumpkin bread, apple cider cinnamon sugar donuts, cookies, and apple turnovers and tarts. Free samples of the different spreads and biscotti were available for people to try. Clyde's also carries pies from Connecticut's famous Stott Brothers. The pies were $16 each, but each pie was humongous and seemed to be well worth the price. We purchased:

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Quart of sweet cider - $2.50

2 apple turnovers - 3.00

6 apple cider cinnamon sugar donuts - 2.50

pumpkin bread - 4.00

sweet Vidalia onion relish - 3.98

pumpkin butter - 3.98

TOTAL = $19.96

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Although there was a slight mishap with our bag of donuts (the girl forgot to put them in our bag), it was quickly corrected. Mom and I also took a quick peek around the knickknack shop. Here we spotted the adorable T-shirts that read "I got my apples at Clyde's." They also sell custom shot glasses and a variety of New England specialty crafts. On our way out, we caught a glimpse of some customers eating their delicious baked goods at tables on the porch of the general store.

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This was the second time that Mom and I had visited Clyde's, and on both occasions the apple press was not running. If you definitely want to check that out, make sure you call ahead to see if they are pressing. Either way, everyone should definitely stop by Clyde's and get a sample of their tasty treats. It is places like these that make New England a special place to visit, and to live.

Trader Joe's

www.traderjoes.com

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Trader Joe's Grocery Store is one of our favorite stops when visiting Hyannis, MA. Although they have several locations, Mom and I have only visited this location nestled inside the Christmas Tree Shop plaza. It is always crowded with busy shoppers and tourists looking to find some eclectic and unusual organic and imported foods.

<When we first walked in at around 4 p.m., we were greeted with a large assortment of beautiful flowers and plants, some which we had never seen before. They all looked healthy and fresh. We then found ourselves in Trader Joe's large produce section. Everything was clean and bright, and all the colors of the produce stood out against the wood shelving.

Trader Joe's has a wide assortment of organic and imported items that you don't see in your everyday grocery store. The prices are very reasonable for these sort of foods, and one could really take advantage and do their weekly grocery shopping here. The store itself is not very big, but it does have a small selection of everything including meats, dairy, seafood, produce, frozen foods, and other grocery items. They have a large selection of bottled waters and a vitamin section with a lot of supplements and energy bars. Their frozen section has a lot of Asian entrees as well as some gourmet pizzas that Mom read were delicious. Our particular favorites have always been the chocolate croissants, and the white corn tortilla chips with the roasted garlic salsa. Free samples of various items are given away at a back counter. We often see people walking around the store with tiny cups of coffee or small snacks.

The checkout system here is different. You roll your cart up to where the cashier stands. He empties your items onto the checkout platform while ringing them up, and then takes your cart and pushes it to the end of the counter. Then he/she bags your order in these pretty paper reusable bags with very hearty handles. Mom loves these! We always end up coming out with a bag full. Here is a rundown of what we purchased yesterday:

Pirate's Booty - $1.69

Restaurant-style white chips - 1.69

Shortbread chocolate filled butter cookies - 3.99

Roasted garlic salsa - 1.99

TJ's chocolate croissants 3 pk - 2.99

TJ's chocolate croissants 3 pk - 2.99

Peanuts, raw/unsalted - 1.89

TOTAL = $17.23

You won't find prices like this at Stop & Shop. It was a great visit, as always, and we can't wait to go back. Nothing beats those chocolate croissants!

Roger Williams Park Zoo's Hungry Bear Cafe

In the Roger Williams Park Zoo

1000 Elmwood Ave.

Providence, RI 02907

(401) 785-3510

www.rwpzoo.org

Mal and I visited this little stand after we decided to take a break from animal watching. This place is pricey! For two hamburgers, fries, and drinks, I think I paid almost $20. The food was very good, though. It's just a stand in the middle of the zoo with ordering and pick-up windows. They had a lot of picnic tables strewn about in front of the stand. Our lunch here satisfied mine and Mallory's hunger and gave us enough energy to tackle the nearby gift shop.

Harry and David

www.harryanddavid.com

I've heard about this place for years, but I'd never had the opportunity to visit a store. On a trip a couple of years ago to Maine, Laura and I finally got to go to a Harry and David store. I love this place! It's full of gourmet snacks and treats and the ones we chose were absolutely delicious. We picked out some chocolate-covered blueberries, chocolate-covered macadamia nuts, and three different varieties of their famous Moose Munch. In case you don't know what Moose Munch is, it's kind of like a popcorn/nuts/chocolate confection that is sometimes drizzled with other flavors, like peanut butter, and is outstanding. They're also famous for their fruit baskets and their cheesecakes, but we didn't want to lug any of those back to Massachusetts. We liked the place so much that I signed up to get their catalog. Whenever I run across a store that sells Harry and David products, I always pick up some Moose Munch.

Pepperidge Farm, Inc.

www.pepperidgefarm.com

I finally got to go to a Pepperidge Farm store when Laura and I visited Kittery, ME. I thought it was great! The prices are amazingly lower than at their retail stores, or in the market. I ended up buying a huge box of cookies, that were actually three boxes in one, for only about $7. I know, individually, each of the boxes would have cost about $5 in the market. So I saved about $8. They had a lot of specialty assortments and flavors that I don't normally see in my local store. They also had these great birthday cards with a Godiva chocolate bar in the middle, so I picked up a couple of those for gifts. They also had some candies, chocolates, and tons of Goldfish crackers, which were $1/pack. We had a nice little spree for ourselves and I definitely enjoyed going in.

Orange Julius

www.orangejulius.com

Every time I went to Dartmouth Mall, I had to get an Orange Julius. I don't know why I loved them so much, but it was like a big glass of fresh orange juice with just a little bit extra. It has crunchy ice pieces, cream, and foam on top (which I loved). They're delicious!! Laura loved the Strawberry Julius, but for me, it was the original orange. I haven't had one in years, since it left Dartmouth Mall, but Laura's had some recently at the Silver City Galleria in Taunton, MA. She said they're just as good as I remembered!

Del's Frozen Lemonade

www.dels.com

There's nothing better than an ice cold Del's Frozen Lemonade on a hot summer day. They have several independent stores, one of which is on North Main Street in Fall River. They also have their trucks which go around and park at local parks, baseball fields, outdoor events, etc. I think they have the nicest tasting frozen lemonade around. It's not too sweet, it's not too tangy, and the ice has a nice crushed consistency. They come in different sizes and the price is reasonable for the size that you get. So if you want to cool off after a hot game or a walk around the park, stop in at Del's ... or run and catch a truck. You won't be sorry.

Down to Earth Natural Foods

751 Kempton St.

New Bedford, MA 02740

(508) 996-1995
www.downtoearthnaturalfoods.com

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I love going to this little health food shop on Kempton Street in New Bedford. Actually, I call it the "bizarro" store. That's because carry lots of items that I'm unfamiliar with. It's a small store, but it's jam packed with quite a variety of different grocery items, fresh foods, health and beauty products, vitamins, and pet foods. I love to walk around and look at all the weird names and see all the healthy items that I should be eating. When I'm here, I often pick up some whole wheat pasta, which I've learned to love; some Pirate's Booty, a nice healthy snack; and I always get Pine Tar soap, which is a favorite in my family. I've also gotten some vitamin supplements and a variety of health teas and some cookies. I love looking at the health food names like Not Dogs, Tofurkey, Rice Dream, Smooth Move Tea (for bowels, ha, ha), Tofutti, and many more. They have something that I find very unusual here, which is raw meat for dogs. It's supposed to be very healthy for them, but I can't stand looking at it. You'd be surprised at the number of people that do the majority of their shopping here. It's really a nice little store, neat and clean, and the people that work there are very helpful and informative. I love my bizarro store!

7-Eleven Convenience Stores

www.7-eleven.com

7-Eleven, surprisingly, has some really good lunch choices. I used to work there, so of course I was privy to a lot of the free sandwich samples that were brought to the office. My favorite, however, was not a free sandwich. It was, and still is, the jalapeno and cream cheese taquito. It is a thin taquito stuffed with juicy jalapenos and fresh cream cheese. HEAVEN! I used to get them all the time when I was in training at the Cranston, RI, store. Their banana Slurpees are also to die for. Their sandwiches are made fresh daily by the On A Roll bakery, and they have lots of different choices. They also have hot dogs, nachos, chili, and of course, various convenience store staples. Do yourself a favor and pay them a visit!

Yankee Candle's The Candlewick Cafe

In Yankee Candle Flagship Store

25 Greenfield Road

South Deerfield, MA 01373

(413) 665-2929
www.yankeecandle.com

This little cafe is situated right in the center of the Yankee Candle Flagship Store in South Deerfield, MA. Because this Yankee Candle store is such a tourist destination, you can just imagine how busy this little cafe was at lunchtime. Surprisingly, the long line went quite quickly. They had an assortment of lunchtime sandwiches, salads, and desserts, but they're featured item seemed to be the hot dogs. Going along with the (German) theme that seems to permeate throughout Yankee Candle, the hot dogs were of the really thick and heavy-skinned German variety. Laura and I, who had gotten separated from Mallory and then-boyfriend Wayne, accidentally met up at the cafe at lunchtime. After saying our hellos, Laura and I sat down with our hot dogs, fries, and sodas at one of the small tables that are set up around the perimeter of the cafe. The hot dogs really had a nice taste, but were a little snappy. This is where Laura almost choked. Not used to such a snappy dog, she took a big bite and was not prepared to have to chew so much. After she recovered from turning blue, she slowed down and did better with the rest of the dog, ha, ha. They really tasted good, and the fries were also really good. It was a nice little retreat from a really busy day of shopping. If you've never taken a trip to the Yankee Candle Flagship Store, give it a try. There's a lot of fun shopping and things to do there, and definitely go visit the cafe, but don't choke!

PS - Laura took a digger when she left the store and was running for the bus, lol!!! What a day!

Auntie Anne's Soft Pretzels

www.auntieannes.com

Oooh, these pretzels are so big, buttery, warm, and delicious! You'll usually find an Auntie Anne's in your local mall, and there is usually quite a line around it. The pretzels come in a variety of flavors like the plain, cinnamon sugar, sour cream & onion, cheddar, etc. They're all really delicious. What's fun is that they come with an assortment of dipping sauces like chocolate, cheddar cheese, and marinara sauce. You can buy them one at a time, or in a handy six-pack to go. They also have an assortment of frozen juice drinks (slushes) that are cool and tasty. After a long day of shopping and you want to stop for a little treat, you won't be sorry if you stop at Auntie Anne's. I can't see anyone not loving this pretzel!

Foxwoods Festival Buffet

In Foxwoods Resort Casino
39 Norwich-Westerly Road
Ledyard, CT 06339

www.foxwoods.com

I love this buffet! It's huge. You can get Chinese, Italian, Mexican, German, American, BBQ, etc., etc. Surprisingly, for a buffet this big that handles many people, everything is usually hot and delicious. We've gone here when we went to gamble our money away at Foxwoods, and we'd go even more if it wasn't so outrageously busy all the time. Sometimes that line is so long that it really stops us from going in. The price is a little steeper than most buffets (they're assuming you've won at the slots), but it's also a much bigger buffet than most. If you manage to get in on a day when the line is not too bad, go, and I think you'll enjoy yourself.

Edible Arrangements