Somerset Creamery

1931 G.A.R. Highway

Route 6

Somerset, MA 02726

(508) 672-5510

1268 North Falmouth Highway

Route 28A

Cataumet, MA 02534

(508) 563-3430

www.somersetcreamery.com

If you live in Fall River, Somerset, or the surrounding area, chances are you've been visiting Somerset Creamery since you were a child. With their many flavors of fresh ice cream made the old fashioned way since 1937, anybody who's anybody gets their cones at this Somerset institution. Mom and I often drive by on weekends - or any other summer day for that matter - and the place is always packed. Mom compared it to a 1950's car hop because of all the socializing and eating that goes on in the parking lot. We had only visited Somerset Creamery one time and found the ice cream to be a bit overpriced. Since that was many years ago (pre-New England Bites), we decided to give this place another shot. Mom kept dropping hints about how Somerset Creamery packs pints of their fresh ice cream, so naturally, I had to stop by and check it out. I pulled into the parking lot at around 5:20 p.m.

Since I had just gotten out of work, I figured that now was a good time to visit because many local residents are too busy eating dinner to think about dessert. I was right. The parking lot only had a few cars when I pulled in, which gave me plenty of opportunity to take pictures without being seen by everyone. When I stepped inside, I noticed two things: the overwhelming smell of the freshly baked waffle cones, and how clean everything was. You cannot eat inside Somerset Creamery because there are no tables, which is probably why the customers usually hang out in the parking lot. There is, however, a rope to keep the line of hungry people at bay while the scoopers make the ice cream treats. Luckily, when I entered, there was no one in line. I walked right up to the counter and ordered two pints - black raspberry for me, and frozen pudding for Mom. The total came to:

2 pints @ $4.45 each

Tax - .45

TOTAL = $9.35

I paid in cash, which is the only acceptable form of payment at Somerset Creamery. As I waited for the young girl to finish scooping my pints, I took some pictures of the inside.

Along with their large list of flavors, there are a bunch of little hanging signs that showcase each of their specialities. Everything seemed to be under $7 (with the exception of a quart of ice cream - $7.15), and each novelty seemed more delicious than the next. Of course they offer the typical sundaes, cones, banana splits, and milkshakes, but they also have the black cow, root beer floats, and Creamsicle frappes. Ice cream flavors include banana, black raspberry, blueberry pie, butter crunch, butter pecan, cherry chocolate chunk, chocolate, chocolate chip, chocolate chip cookie dough, chocolate coconut, chocolate mint, chocolate walnut, coconut, coconut Almond Joy, coffee, coffee chip, coffee Oreo, cranberry bog, French vanilla, frozen pudding, fudge ripple, ginger, Grape Nut, maple walnut, mint chip, mocha almond, mocha peanut butter, orange pineapple, Oreo, pistachio, rum raisin, strawberry, vanilla. They also offer sugar free coffee and maple walnut ice cream; orange, raspberry, and watermelon sherbet; and black raspberry chip, chocolate almond, coffee Heath, strawberry cheesecake, and cranberry frozen yogurt (although cranberry is only available at the Cape Cod store).

Speaking of the black raspberry chip yogurt, a co-worker of mine had complained to me that she did not get enough chips in her yogurt, while her husband ordered the pistachio ice cream which had plenty of nuts mixed in. "What's up with that," she asked me. I told her that I would have to check it out for myself, but when I got to Somerset Creamery, I found myself overwhelmed by all the ice cream flavors and shouted "black raspberry" without remembering to order the yogurt with chips. Oh well, maybe next time.

Once the girl had finished packing my ice cream, she put a sheet of wax paper over each pint before putting the covers on. Then she marked each cover with the correct flavor, put them in a brown bag, and sent me on my way. I was glad that she took the time to make sure that I was not handed a sloppy pint because I've had this happen at a few ice cream shops. God knows I hate ice cream on my hand (see: Sea Swirl). I drove the pints home in our handy freezer bag complete with ice sheets. When I got home, I put them in the freezer for an after dinner treat while Mom and I watched Project Runway later in the evening.

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(L) frozen pudding; (R) black raspberry

At 9 p.m., just as Project Runway began, Mom headed for the freezer. Before we devoured our pints, we made sure to take a spoonful of each other's flavor so that we could have a taste. I thought Mom's frozen pudding was delicious, and so did she! She said that the ice cream was better than that last time we had it, but to be fair, we had our ice cream in sundaes and the flavor was kind of lost in all of the toppings. However, she found this pint to have a deep buttery rum flavor with just enough pieces of candied fruit. She said that it was very tasty, and she can't wait to try another one of Somerset Creamery's flavors.

My black raspberry pint was fantastic. The flavor was not tart, but creamy and had a strong raspberry taste. I also did not remember the taste of Somerset Creamery's ice cream being this delicious, and I was pleasantly surprised and excited to try more.

Now that we're back on track with the rest of Southeastern Massachusetts, Mom and I will definitely be making many more stops to Somerset Creamery. The taste of the ice cream is fantastic, the price is average, and who knows who you are going to run into there? It could very well be New England Bites.

Somerset Creamery is open from 12-10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 12-10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. They also have a second location in Cataumet, MA, which is on scenic Cape Cod.

Marguerite's Restaurant

778 Main Road

Westport, MA 02790

(508) 636-3040

www.margueritesrestaurant.com

Date visited: 7/26/08

Mom and I were completely undecided about where we wanted to have lunch. When this happens, we usually grab "the list." "The list" is made up of reader requests, places we've been but haven't reviewed, and interesting restaurants that Mom found on the Internet. After some discussion about what kind of food we wanted, and after a failed attempt at visiting another Westport restaurant, we decided to revisit a place that we enjoyed tremendously - Marguerite's. Located in the Village Commons Plaza (down the road from the popular Lees Market), we pulled into the parking area at 4:30 p.m.

Mom and I were a little concerned that we wouldn't be able to get a table here, as there were only 12 of them the last time we visited. However, once we walked through the door, a waitress told us that we could pick any table we wanted - and there were at least four available. Mom wanted to sit near the window, but I wanted to sit at a table that would allow me to get a good picture of the adorable dining area. Looking back, this was a mistake. The table we ended up choosing was directly under the chalkboard, which had the list of daily specials. So much for being discreet. I figured that I would be able to work around it, but it was going to be hard to dodge the roaming eyes of hungry customers trying to decide what to order - and looking right above our heads. An older waitress came over and handed Mom and I two plastic-covered menus and two lists of the specials that were listed on the chalkboard. There were two specials that had been crossed out, so we assumed that they were no longer available. The waitress also took our drink order - two Diet Cokes - which quickly arrived in tall, thin glasses.

Marguerite's doesn't have a large menu because their focus is on the quality of each dish offered. Appetizers include stuffed quahogs with linguica stuffing ($4.59), steamed mussels ($6.49), fried calamari ($6.49), New England clam chowder ($2.59-3.59), lobster bisque ($3.29-4.29), French onion soup ($3.99), and something called Billi Bi, which are shucked mussels in an herb cream broth ($3.59). You can also order a Caesar salad ($4.59) with your choice of grilled shrimp ($12.99) or grilled chicken ($7.99). With none of the regular menu entrees reaching the $16 mark, options include the seafood Provencale ($15.59), broiled scallops ($15.99), chicken Marsala ($11.99), liver and onions ($8.49), fish and chips ($10.79), baked stuffed chicken breast ($10.99), fried scallops ($15.99), chicken Parmesan ($11.99), and the steak of the day ($13.99). All entrees are served with your choice of starch and fresh vegetable. If you're looking for something more on the sandwich side, check out the chicken Monterey ($7.99), tuna melt ($7.99), Reuben ($7.99), hot pastrami ($7.99), vegetarian garden burger ($6.99), grilled chicken ($7.99), traditional club ($7.99), and specialty burger ($7.99) with your choice of toppings. If you have children in your party, Marguerite's offers a hamburger ($3.59), cheeseburger ($3.79), hot dog ($2.29), and a grilled cheese sandwich ($2.29). Daily specials can be viewed on their Web site, and an extensive wine list is available for those looking for a more adult beverage. Also, we applaud the fact that Marguerite's uses fresh, local ingredients, and changes their specials seasonally.


Once we had finally narrowed down our choices, a young waitress appeared to take our order. Mom chose the all meat chicken pie ($7.99) off of the menu, but unfortunately it was not available. She settled on another choice - the broiled scrod ($11.99). I went with the baked stuffed sole with seafood stuffing ($12.99). For her starch and vegetable, Mom chose fries and cole slaw. Since I know that Mom doesn't eat cole slaw, I knew to choose something different so that I could get two veggies out of the deal. What a pig! I chose fries and marinated cucumbers, which I was really excited to try. Although we don't often get an appetizer, the Maryland crab cakes with remoulade sauce ($7.99) caught our eye and we both felt the overwhelming need to try them. Once the waitress had finished taking our order, she walked away from the table giving me plenty of room to take a picture of the interior ... or so I thought.


This is all I got:




Yep. It was just too damn crowded for me to get a clear shot, and I didn't want to be the pink elephant in the room standing there pointing a camera in people's direction while they were stuffing their faces. I tried my best to do the "I'm not taking a picture, I'm just holding my camera over my shoulder" routine, but each photo came out worse than the next. Plus, because we were seated under the chalkboard, we were the main attraction. Oh well, I'll try and describe it to the best of my abilities. As I mentioned before, there are only 12 tables available (no booths). There is also a counter area with about six stools. This makes for a very cozy environment, but it can get a little cramped, especially with the large amount of uniformed waitstaff wandering between tables. I will say this - the waitstaff was very attentive. I could barely get a shot of the food without one of them peering over to see if I needed anything. The decor is a nice mix of both country and modern design. The hanging silver lights over the counter area have spoons attached, making them almost look like a crazy art project. Very cute. I also liked the old fashioned fruit plaques and hanging foliage. What we did not notice about Marguerite's is that there is an outside eating area. Mom and I only spotted this little section on our way out. We were so mad! This would have been the perfect day to have a meal outdoors. With only about four or five tables, it was a beautifully decorated space. Oh well ... maybe next time. Although we did not use the ladies' room on this visit, Mom had in the past and said that it was very tiny, cute, and clean.


We hadn't been waiting long before our crab cakes arrived. Both Mom and I were pleased and surprised to see three cakes on our plate, as most restaurants only serve two. We each took a cake for ourselves and tasted it. It had a slighty crisp outside, and a softer texture inside. It also held its shape and was not mushy. Chock full of minced vegetables (we spotted some red pepper) and crab, the taste of the crab cakes was unbelievable. They were full of flavor and very hearty. The remoulade sauce (I tried it, Mom didn't) was tangy and complimented the crab meat well. I was a bit concerned when I first cut into the cake and noticed the veggies (Mom hates them), but I was very glad to see that she was enjoying the appetizer tremendously. She said they were the best crab cakes that she's ever had, and I have to agree with her. Hey, if this is the only way I can get Mom to eat her veggies, then bring on the crab cakes! We cut the third cake in half, just to be fair, but we really think that someone could make a meal out of this delicious appetizer.

After the young waitress had cleared away our appetizer plates, she brought out the entrees and warned us that both casserole dishes were extremely hot. She was right! Since Mom has a higher tolerance for hot dishes, she dug in first. The piece of scrod she had was a good size, and she said it was cooked perfectly. The fish was tender, flaky, and translucent white. It had a buttery crumb topping and came resting in a tasty lemon dill butter sauce. Mom thought it was absolutely delicious. She also enjoyed her fries, but - just like I predicted - she handed her cole slaw over to me.

My baked stuffed sole was fantastic. There were two filets in my casserole dish, each stuffed with a mixture of various seafood. The taste was so phenomenal that - according to Mom - I was enjoying it a little too much. All she could hear from her side of the table was me subconsciously saying, "Mmmmmmmmmm." I could not believe it! Apparently I "mmm-ed" through the whole meal! I really must have been enjoying myself. It really was one of the best stuffed soles I've ever had. I also found my fries to be very tasty and thoroughly enjoyed the taste of Mom's cole slaw and my marinated cucumbers. They were marinated in some sort of rosemary vinegar, and each piece really held the flavor. Everything was outstanding.

As if we weren't stuffed enough, I heard Mom mention (a few times) the words "grapenut custard." I told her that I was a little full, but she pulled the old "well I won't get one if you're not getting one" deal. Mothers! When the waitress returned to our table to take away our dishes, Mom asked her what desserts were being offered. I don't remember everything, but I do remember tapioca pudding and chocolate seduction cake. When she mentioned the grapenut custard, both Mom and I said that we would take a piece. I saw the waitress go over to the counter and pull out a refrigerated tray. Inside the tray was a giant square of custard. She cut two very large pieces, placed them on trendy plates, and covered them with whipped cream and cinnamon. When they arrived at our table, both Mom and I agreed that the next time we order this, we should just split one. It was huge ... and fantastic. Grapenut custard is a New England favorite, and it has quickly become a New England Bites favorite as well.

As we lay at the table in the midst of a food overdose, the waitress returned to take away our plates and bring the bill. The total came to:

1 crab cake - $7.99

2 IBC root beer - 3.58

1 broiled scrod - 11.99

1 baked stuffed sole - 12.99

2 grapenut custard - 9.18

Subtotal - $45.73

Food tax - 2.29

Beer and wine tax - 0

TOTAL = $48.02

We left $58 for the waitress, which included a 20% tip. This was quite an expensive meal for Mom and I! However, we never really do the whole appetizer-to-dessert kind of thing, so it was nice to get a taste of each of the courses that Marguerite's offers. As we left the restaurant, Mom and I remembered the last time that we had visited Marguerite's. The entrance/exit area is very narrow, and on our last visit, someone had parked an elderly woman in a wheelchair in the center of the entrance way to wait in line for a table. No one could get in or out! People had to smother this poor handicapped woman with their stomachs in order to get by. It was annoying, but hysterical.

Marguerite's isn't your typical restaurant. It tends to attract an older crowd, but that's just fine with us. We know that wherever you see a group of "Golden Girls" having a nosh, you're going to get good food (they're picky), big portions (they like leftovers), and low prices (they're frugal). The food is some of the best around, we love the fact that the chef seems to be putting a new spin on traditional favorites. Marguerite's Restaurant is definitely one of Southern New England's hidden treasures. Just don't sit under the chalkboard.

Marguerite's Restaurant is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Breakfast is served until 11 a.m.

Bite of the Week - Oscar Mayer Lunchables

Oscar Mayer Lunchables are aimed toward children, but I don't think that these meals-to-go are a healthy choice for them. According to this article on Wikipedia, it seems that the main company - Kraft - has come under fire for making these meals extremely unhealthy. Loaded with fat, sugar, and sodium, it seems that more and more parents are taking the easy way out and putting these ticking time bombs in their children's lunchboxes. Why do we buy them, you ask? For the fans!!

THE VERDICT: A little gross, although I've been known to eat one when there is nothing else is in the house. Lunchables usually contain a meat, a cheese, crackers, and a dessert. Bigger Lunchables include a drink and maybe even a second dessert. The Lunchable that we usually buy is the "Turkey & American Cracker Stackers" - my sister's favorite. Although she enjoys them, I find the meat extremely salty and chewy, and the entire meal never leaves me wanting more. It just reminds me that I shouldn't really be eating these. This particular Lunchable has 380 calories. It also has 40% saturated fat, 36% sodium, and 18 grams of sugar. However, it does have 22% protein (an "excellent amount" according to the box), but is it really worth it with all the artificial ingredients? My advice - make your kid a peanut butter sandwich on wheat with a side of grapes and leave the Lunchables to the lazy adults ... and my sister.

Kent's Restaurant

1675 G A R Highway
Swansea, MA 02777
(508) 672-9293

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Date visited: 7/19/08
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Kent's is one of those restaurants that Mom and I had only visited once, but really enjoyed. Since we hadn't done an "official" review of this place yet, and we were heading toward Seekonk to see the movie Mamma Mia!, Mom decided that we should check out Kent's for a second time. Plus, one of our favorite fans - Liz - couldn't say enough great things about eating here. Since it was early, Mom and I figured that if we were going to visit Kent's - now was the time. This place gets seriously busy during the dinner rush. We were glad to see that, once we pulled into the parking area at 3 p.m., there were only a few cars in the lot.

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Once inside, there are two doors. The one on the left leads to the bar, and the one on the right leads to the dining area. After Mom and I had figured this out (it had been a while since our first visit), we spotted a list of specials and began checking them out. A waitress spotted us and asked how many were in our party. We said two, and she led us to a table by the windows. The dining room was empty except for one family which had a gentleman that was eating a clam boil very enthusiastically. His sleeves were rolled up and he was practically inside the aluminum tin that it came in. Mom and I were very glad to see that he was thoroughly enjoying himself.

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The waitress, who we later found out was named Amy, was extremely friendly. She came over to our table to bring the plastic-covered menus and list of specials. She also took our drink order - two Diet Cokes - which she quickly brought over in real glasses. When I had walked in, something on the board had caught my eye. Seeing it again on the specials' list, I was pretty sure that I was going to order that particular dish. Mom was busy reading the menu over and over, trying to decide from about 100 things that appealed to her. When Amy returned to the table, Mom and I were ready to order. I chose the Florentine ravioli ($8.95), while Mom chose the five cheese ravioli ($8.95). I was surprised that we both ended up choosing things off of the specials' list. Since both of our meals came with soup or salad, Mom chose the minestrone soup while I chose the soup of the day - cream of spinach. I was pretty excited because I love spinach, and now I was about to have it in my meal and in my soup. Yum! Mom and I also ordered an appetizer of boneless buffalo wings ($7.90). Voted the best buffalo wings around by The Herald News a few years ago, these wings were out of this world. We had them on our first visit and have been dying for them ever since. After asking us if we would like any ranch or blue cheese dipping sauce (we declined), Amy took away our menus as Mom and I took a look around the dining room.

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Although it looks like a steakhouse from the outside (and Mom thinks that it was originally billed as such), Kent's Restaurant has a pretty elegant dining area. Set up like a banquet hall with matching off-white tablecloths, chairs, and wall color, Kent's really goes out of its way to make sure that they can seat as many customers as comfortably as possible. There are no booths here, but the tables and chairs were quite comfortable. Although we couldn't really see the bar, I did notice that it seemed very large and had a flat screen TV hanging above. Back in the dining room, on each table there were paper place mats that featured local area businesses. In the center of the place mat was the Kent's tag line: "Where Friends Meet." After a few visits to Kent's, you will understand what they mean. It seems that everyone knows each other here. A lone man came in to sit at the bar, but not before stopping by to say hello to the guy who was all over his clam boil. Later on, another family came in, knew each waitress by name, and gave them all a hug before sitting down and ordering their meals. On our first visit, Mom and I noticed the same thing. Filled with "regulars," Mom and I got the impression that Kent's has a very loyal customer base. No wonder you can't get near the place on Friday and Saturday evenings!

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Before we knew it, Amy had arrived with our soups. Mom said that her minestrone was very good. It had a tasty broth, was chock full of vegetables, and was served piping hot - just like she likes it. My cream of spinach soup was just as delicious. I'd never had cream of spinach before, and I was pleasantly surprised at how much spinach was actually in the soup. There were other minced vegetables in there as well, and it all blended together beautifully. This soup should really be on the permanent menu! Amy had also brought over a small loaf of bread (the butter packets were already on the table), which was soft, warm, and very tasty.

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As we finished with the soups, our boneless buffalo wings were making their way to our table. I made a comment that my nose was already running because of the heat, and Amy laughed. I have a love/hate relationship with buffalo wings. I adore the taste, but they beat the crap out of me. My face turns red, I start sweating, my nose runs, and I definitely need to have a drink or two nearby so that I can cool down. What a prize, huh? Remind me never to order these on a date. What Mom and I like about these particular wings is that there is a good amount on the plate. Lately we've been finding that restaurants will only give you four or five wings, but this plate had at least 10 good-sized pieces of chicken, accompanied by some celery and carrot sticks. Now, Mom says that these wings are very sneaky - and she's absolutely right. When you first bite into one, the flavor of the sauce seems very sweet and tangy. However, after a few seconds, the heat starts to creep up on you and turns the wings from sweet into spicy. Mom recommended Kent's to my aunt, who tried the wings and said that they were a little too spicy for her. However, she really enjoyed the taste. As we started to dig in, we found that each piece of chicken was cooked perfectly, was very tender, and had a great amount of that tricky sauce. By the time we had finished the wings, Mom was perfectly fine, but I was a mess. Dabbing my face with a napkin, I had to eat a couple of veggie sticks and drink about half my Diet Coke to try and cool down, but that's nothing new for me. This always happens, but for these yummy wings, the pain was worth it. They are our favorite by far.

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Kent's has a very extensive menu. Unfortunately, when I asked Amy if we could get a take-out menu to go, they had run out. Kent's does a lot of take-out business, which is why they came up with the take-out window. Located on the left side of the restaurant (where the bar is), we often spot people standing in line to pick up their food. What a novel idea! You wouldn't think that a full service restaurant would offer something like this - but they do! Because we didn't have a menu to reference, Mom and I had to go by what we spotted on the menu while we were choosing our meals. We noticed that although some of the large seafood platters are in the low $20s, the rest of the menu is in the $8-15 range. There is quite a lot of comfort food here, which is probably why this restaurant is so popular. Mom was having trouble deciding between the ground sirloin platter and the boneless fried chicken. I was looking at the baked stuff sole and the filet Mignon. Other menu items include various appetizers, pastas, seafood, steaks, salads, burgers, and sandwiches. On our last visit, I had the French onion soup with broiled scrod, while Mom had the spaghetti and meatballs. Both meals were excellent, but the one thing I do remember was that I had a side of fries with my scrod, and they weren't very good. The fries were just big slabs of potatoes that seemed to be boiled. Perhaps that was just an off night.

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Finally it was time for the main event. When Amy brought over our plates of ravioli, we were shocked. There were only three on each plate. Does that sound like a ripoff? Well, let me explain. They were the biggest ravioli that we had ever seen. This stuffed pasta had to be homemade, because we've never seen anything like that in a store. Covered with a nice layer of sweet sauce, each one of Mom's ravioli were stuffed with the delicious ricotta cheese blend. She was impressed because - for once - the ravioli actually had more filling than pasta. Lately we've been getting screwed when it comes to fillings, but these were filled to the brim and held their shape as Mom cut into each one. There is nothing worse than cutting into a ravioli only to find air and some leftover water from when the frozen pieces had been thawed out. Luckily, there was none of that with this meal. Everything was great, and Mom loved the taste.

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I should mention that before I began eating my ravioli, Amy noticed that my soda was getting low (probably from all the drinking after the wings) and refilled it for me. I, like Mom, thoroughly enjoyed my ravioli. Each one was filled with ricotta and spinach and had a nice, fresh taste. The sauce was nicely spiced and was not overwhelming. I could not get over the size of each piece - just humongous!

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Feeling just as stuffed as our pasta was, Amy came over to clear away our plates and brought the bill with her. The total came to:

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Ravioli five cheese - $8.95

Ravioli Florentine - 8.95

Boneless Buffalo wings - 7.95

Lg. soda - 2.50

Lg. soda - 2.50

Taxable - $30.85

Tax - 1.54

TOTAL = $32.39

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We left $39 for Amy, which included a 20% tip. She was an excellent waitress. Although we did not use the restroom on this visit, we did on the last and we both agreed that it had been very clean, despite the large amount of customers that were there that night. Amy wished us well as we rolled our full selves out to the parking lot. Just as we were leaving, we noticed that more customers were starting to come in. I could tell that it was going to be another busy night.

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Mom and I really enjoyed our time at Kent's. The service was great, the dining room was clean, the menu was extensive, the portions were huge, the prices were average, and the food was absolutely delicious. We can definitely see why this restaurant is so popular with Swansea residents and other locals. Just make sure to get there early if you don't want to wait, but even if you have to, eating at Kent's Restaurant is definitely worth it.

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Kent's Restaurant is open from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Pa Raffa's Restaurant

2857 Acushnet Ave.

New Bedford, MA 02745

(508) 995-7711

Date visited: 7/14/08

I know that Fall Riverites and New Bedford residents aren’t supposed to get along, but Mom and I just adore some of the restaurants that are offered in The Whaling City. After taking a quick visit to Can King Redemption on Tarkiln Hill Road (love that place), Mom and I were trying to narrow down somewhere to have lunch. Since I just started learning where certain New Bedford roads connect to each other, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that we were very close to Pa Raffa’s – one of our favorite Italian restaurants. Once I clued Mom in, we soon found ourselves pulling into a parking space at just around 3 p.m.

One of the things that Mom loves about Pa Raffa’s is that they let you seat yourself. Since it wasn’t really a busy time for the restaurant, Mom and I pretty much had our choice of seating. We chose a table on the top level (there is a sunken area with booths) right in between two windows. We were soon greeted by a waitress, who left us with two plastic covered menus and took our drink order – two Diet Cokes. They soon arrived in plastic glasses. I was really in the mood for pizza, but Mom decided to get one of the Italian dishes instead. This worked out well because I could choose any pizza topping I wanted! When I share with Mom, I always make sure that the topping is to her liking. What a martyr I am. She’s not a fan of green peppers, olives, or any kind of veggie on her pizza. When the waitress returned to take our order, I ordered a spinach pizza ($7.95) while Mom chose the chicken parmagiana ($11.75), which came with soup or salad. She chose the minestrone soup, which arrived along with a basket of warm bread and butter. Mom said that the soup was piping hot, full of vegetables, and had a really tasty broth. The bread was also very good - served warm with little packets of butter to spread on the slices.

As we waited for our food to arrive, we took a look around the dining room. It may not look like much from the outside, but Pa Raffa's is actually a really cozy restaurant. With lots of dark wood paneling, faux plants, and dim overhead lighting, the atmosphere really makes you feel right at home. I often see large parties and families with children visit Pa Raffa's for their terrific food and large portions. They offer several specials daily (written on a chalkboard) and do an extremely large take-out business. They actually have an entrance just to retrieve food to go, which is what we did when we ordered a large antipasto for a holiday one year. Let me just stop for a second to talk about this antipasto. It is amazing. Just the individual size alone would feed at least two to three people. Covered in shredded mozzarella, Pa Raffa's antipasto consists of only the freshest vegetables and the finest Italian meats. It is accompanied by a bottle of oil and water, and several empty plates for sharing. People visit Pa Raffa's just for this salad. It's unbelievable. Other delicious items on the menu include several varieties of pizzas ($6.95-9.90), hot grinders and sandwiches ($5.55-6.80), salads ($5.58-12.24), lasagna or ravioli ($7.55-11.70), spaghetti or macaroni ($5.10-9.20), and various side orders like meatballs or garlic bread ($1.10-12). If you're looking for something a little heartier, there is a long list of dinners such as homemade manicotti ($9.50), baked ziti ($6.50), and eggplant parmagiana ($11). Pa Raffa's also sells their tomato and meat sauces and their minestrone soup in pints and quarts ($3.80-6.90). Since everyone is being really frugal these days, Pa Raffa's has cleverly come up with two "money savers" - a dozen meatballs for $12, and a bucket of spaghetti (Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday only) for $6. Also, for people who don't have time to sit in the dining room, they offer their own speciality pizzas in "take and bake" form. That's right! They make it, you bake it (at home). The only complaint we have is that Pa Raffa's seems to be very "generous" with their sauce, i.e., sometimes the food is drowning. Mom and I ordered an appetizer of fried meat ravioli a few visits ago, and they were swimming in sauce. I was hoping that the chef eased up on today's meal.

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When our food arrived, I could tell right away that Mom's plate was too saucy. However, she thought that everything was great. The chicken was in a dish by itself, which was unusual. The bottom of the oval crock was covered with chicken pieces, then covered with a layer of thick sauce and gooey cheese. There was so much topping that Mom had trouble finding the chicken, but when she did track it down, she thought that it was fantastic. The chicken was very tender, moist, and cut into little chunks so that each piece was perfectly done. It was worth digging through the sauce to find. The other plate had the spaghetti, which was served piping hot like the chicken pieces were. Although very tasty, the star of this meal was definitely the chicken. Mom said it was one of the best chicken parms that she's ever had.

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I loved my spinach pizza. It really had a lot of flavor and you could tell that all the ingredients were very fresh. I ate the entire thing, and I know that sounds piggish, but the pizza has a very thin, crispy crust and just goes down very easily - and quickly. Believe me, I didn't want to move after eating this, but it was worth every mouthful.

It was at this point that Mom and I began to discuss whether or not we should bring something home for Dad's dinner. She was originally going to make him something at home, but since we were at Pa Raffa's, and he enjoys Italian food as much as the next person, we figured that we'd just grab him one of their delicious hot subs to go. When I raised my head to try and spot our waitress, who had been very friendly during our visit, I noticed her walk by with her purse, as if she were heading out the door. Once she spotted me spotting her, she slowly walked back to the kitchen area, put her purse down, and trudged over to our table. Still being very polite, she asked us if we would like anything else. I saw her face fall when we told her that we would like to order a meatball torpedo with cheese and peppers to go ($5.55). Since she had already brought over the bill (in hopes that we wouldn't want anything else), and wrapped up the rest of Mom's chicken parm to go, she slowly walked back to the kitchen to put in our order. Now, we're not saying that she wasn't friendly because she was. It was just a little uncomfortable to know that she was in such a rush to leave. I felt bad about holding her up, but couldn't someone else fill in for her? It was only one meatball sub.

While the food was still being prepared, I decided to use the ladies' room. It was very clean and organized, as was the entire dining area. When Dad's food was ready, our waitress brought over the sub in a box and started rewriting the bill. She was very frenzied, as if she were now very late for something, and asked to borrow my pen. Good thing I had one! I let her figure out the bill, and when she was done she returned the pen and sprinted back toward the kitchen. The total came to:

2 Diet Coke - $3.90

Spinach - 7.95

Chicken parm - 11.75

Subtotal - $23.60

Tax - 1.18

TOTAL BEFORE MEATBALL SUB = $24.78

Meatball sub - $5.55

Tax - .28

TOTAL OF JUST MEATBALL SUB = $5.83

1st total - $24.78

2nd total - 5.83

GRAND TOTAL = $30.61

I was starting to pull out my wallet to make change with Mom for the $36+ I was going to leave her. I laid some money on the table, but it wasn't the correct amount yet. Before we knew it, the waitress was flying over to our table and almost walked off with half the payment! We had to stop her and tell her that we weren't ready. "OK," she said hurriedly. Mom and I raced through our wallets to find the correct amount plus the 20% tip we were leaving, despite her frantic state. Once we had all our ducks in a row, she appeared again (she had to have been standing nearby) to take the money right out of Mom's hand and rush off, wishing us a good night.

As Mom and I left the restaurant with the rest of her chicken parm and Dad's sub, we commented on how rushed the waitress was. We hadn't even arrived at our car yet when we heard footsteps very close behind us. We turned around - and there was our waitress! She smiled at us and hurried to her car, jumped in, put it in drive, and sped out of the parking lot. Mom and I hadn't even buckled ourselves in yet. I really hope that she wasn't late picking up a kid, or anything, but seriously - I think someone could have covered for her. The place wasn't that busy.

Before I got my license, my friend Tammy used to rave about how good Pa Raffa's was and how I should go one day to try their fantastic food. Now that I've been several times over, and I've never been disappointed, it's funny to think back to the days when I couldn't just get in my car and drive to Pa Raffa's. Like I said before, I know Fall River and New Bedford are rival cities, but this is one place that everyone - no matter what town they're from - should try at least once. Can't we all just get along?

Pa Raffa's Restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

PS - Dad loved the meatball sub (where else can you get a sub that big for $5.55), and he also enjoyed the rest of Mom's chicken parm. He did, however, agree that there was a bit too much sauce over everything. Good sauce, but too much of it.

Bite of the Week - Entenmann's Little Bites Carrot Creme Snack Cakes

Mom spotted these adorable snack cakes in the Entenmann's case at the end of the aisle in the supermarket. Since we love trying new things, and this box had the word "new" at the top in bright, bold colors, we threw it in our cart. After all, Entenmann products are awesome, and so is carrot cake. The marriage of these two great thing plus being only 100 calories per cake had a perfect ring to it. We couldn't wait to try them.

THE VERDICT: Delicious! Both Mom and I were very pleased at how tasty they were. The base had a nice carrot cake taste, and the cream cheese filling inside was light and not overly sweet like frosting can be. Although they're super tiny, what do you expect for 100 calories? I'm sure that the entire box of eight still doesn't equal the amount of calories in an actual piece of carrot cake. These Little Bites are definitely worth the price - around $3 a box.

Bite of the Week - The Feast Edition: Portuguese Malasadas

If there is one thing that Fall River loves, it's a Portuguese feast. Since this city is made up of mostly Portuguese residents, and we live in the center of town, Mom and I get to see a lot of feasts right in our own back yard. The bad parts about all this local activity are a) we have trouble finding a parking space, and b) the over-the-top renditions of Bon Jovi's "Runaway" at 11 p.m. are a little much. However, there is a good part - the food. There is nothing better that getting a hot bag of homemade malasadas (a.k.a., fried dough or doughboy) to take home to the family, and that's exactly what I did earlier tonight. Since Fall River was holding the Feast of St. Anne very nearby, I decided to take a walk over to the tents to get a bag of sugary goodness.

THE VERDICT: Good, although they would have been better if there was more to them. Because the cooking equipment the women at the feast were using was not meant to make a lot of malasadas at once, they were really rushing to get them out quickly. Covered in sugar, the middles of the malasadas were a bit on the thin side. I purchased eight of them ($1 each) and each one was very similar in size. We will definitely be getting malasadas again, but this time we'll wait for the Great Feast of the Holy Ghost in August. With over 300,000 attendees, they're bound to have enough equipment to crank out an A+ piece of fried dough.

Sea Swirl

30 Williams Ave.

Mystic, CT 06355

(860) 536-3452

www.seaswirlofmystic.com

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Date: 7/12/08
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Personally, I think our Web site is fantastic. I really try to give our readers everything from color photos to the nitty gritty of the restaurant bathrooms. However, there is another Web site that my mother frequents that has sent us on many an eating adventure - Roadfood. Together, writers Michael and Jane Stern have traveled the nation in search of the best out-of-the-way spots to grab a meal. With rave reviews about Sea Swirl's delicious seafood, Mom and I just had to take the drive to Connecticut to see what all the fuss was about. Besides, I can't think of a better way to spend a hot summer day than to sit outside on a picnic bench eating at a clam shack. Although it was over an hour away, Mom and I pulled into the parking lot at just around 3:45 p.m.

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Mom had read online that Sea Swirl was housed in an old Carvel Ice Cream stand, which gave the place a very old fashioned feel. Luckily for us, it wasn't too busy. Perhaps everyone was still shopping at Mystic Village or perusing the nearby Seaport or Aquarium. Nevertheless, Mom and I got in line and waited to order. We had already discussed what we were going to get before we arrived (a fish and chip dinner, a side of clam strips, a side of clam fritters, and drinks), so ordering should have been a breeze. Unfortunately, when I got to the window, I realized that I was going to have a little difficulty in relaying my selection. Apparently, the family who owns Sea Swirl is from another country and all the employees have very thick accents. I'm not sure if it was Russian or not, but it sounded very similar. Anyway, as I began to tell the girl my order, we started to have a "what did you say" contest. I didn't know what she was saying, she didn't know what I was saying, etc. Eventually, we were on the same page, although I may have screwed her up when I referred to the clam fritters as "clam cakes." That must be a Massachusetts/Rhode Island thing. Oops. Once the ordering was complete, she quoted me a price:

1 clam fritters - $4.95

1 fish & chip dnr - 12.95

1 s/o strips - 9.80

1 bottle water - 1.25

Subtotal - $28.95

Tax - 1.74

TOTAL = $30.69

Yikes! I wasn't expecting the bill to be so high, but apparently the price of seafood has gone up along with everything else in the world. I paid the cashier and she handed me a receipt and told me that my number was 206. Mom and I found an awesome table that was at the end of a row and right on the main road. We hadn't been waiting long before our number was called. Since Mom already had both legs under the picnic table, I sacrificed myself and went up to the window to retrieve our food. I noticed that there was only one bottle of water on the tray, but when I told the girl that I had ordered two, she found the restaurant's copy of my receipt and told me that I had only paid for one. Annoyed, I brought the food over to my table, plopped it down, grabbed my wallet, and headed back to the ordering window to get my water. After spending another $1.33, I was finally able to sit down and eat - or was I? They had only given us one fork, so I had to wait in the for the third time to get another fork. When I got back to the table, Mom had found the second fork in the bag of clam strips. Now there were three forks. OK, deep breath. "Hey Mom, can you pass me a napkin?" "Hey Laura, where are they?" Uh oh. Getting up a forth time, I trudged over to the window to get some napkins. I was really starting to annoy myself. All I wanted to do was eat!

After we were finally assembled, and all of our utensils were firmly in place, we dug in. The first thing I ate was the cole slaw that came with the fish and chip platter. It was excellent! It had just the right amount of vinegar and mayonnaise, and was very light and tangy. Next, Mom and I split the large piece of fish in half so that we could both try some. It was a good-sized piece of fish, but we both felt that - for the price - there should have been a second piece in that order. However, the taste was great. The fish had fried up nicely, leaving a light, crisp batter on the outside. The inside was white, flaky, and tender. The fries underneath the fish were also very good. They were a little thicker than shoestring, but had the same consistency and taste. Everything was served very hot, including our two side orders. The clam fritters (or "cakes," depending on where you're from) were excellent. The same crispy batter that was on the fish held the fritter together very well. Inside, instead of the clams playing hide and seek inside the dough, each piece was chock full of them. The fritters were nice and fluffy, but very hearty. Now, some people don't really know what a clam strip is. It is basically a strip of clam without that large, chewy belly that you see people gnawing on sometimes. Gross. Mom and I can't handle any kind of chewy bits of food in our mouths, so we figured that clam strips were the way to go. Battered and fried, these strips came highly recommended on Roadfood. Since we'd never had them before, we figured now was as good a time as any. We were pleasantly surprised at how much we enjoyed them. They were sweet, with a meaty filling and crisp coating. As we were ending our meal, I polished off what was left at the bottom of the bag. Delicious! This is definitely something we would get again, but as a dinner plate next time (we only had a small side).

fish and chip platter

clam fritters

clam strips

The prices at Sea Swirl are a little high. I don't know if it is the price of seafood, or because it is in Connecticut, but everything was almost $10 or over. There were a lot of things that said "market value," but I noticed that almost all the dinner plates were between $10-16, and side orders were just around $10. They definitely offered a great deal of seafood including whole belly clams, oysters, extra large gulf shrimp, sea scallops, chowders, seafood salad, lobster salad, and codfish. They also have sandwiches, assorted American appetizers (jalapeno poppers, buffalo wings, etc.), and hamburgers and hot dogs. Sea Swirl also serves ice cream, which Mom read was very tasty. Of course, as full as we were, we just had to try some. This led to one of the biggest meltdowns any almost-30-year-old has ever had.

On the Sea Swirl Web site, Mom told me that they had dips for the cones. One of the dips was toasted coconut. I could picture it in my mind. A big ice cream cone with all these little brown flakes of yummy coconut all over it. I never get my cone dipped, but I figured I would splurge for some coconut. I asked Mom what she wanted. Not shockingly, she asked for a small cup of some sort of coffee flavor. Yawn. I spotted banana on the list, so when I found myself back at the ordering window, I ordered her a cup of espresso, and myself a cone of banana - with a coconut dip. The total came to $4.55, bringing my grand total for the day to $36.57. A little high, but we did have a lot of food, so it wasn't too bad. It could have been worse. I waited in line behind a pushy woman with two large, panting dogs, and a baby carriage complete with screaming baby to get these cool treats. The cashier handed me Mom's cup, and then my cone - without the coconut pieces. "I asked for a coconut dip," I said. "Um ... ok," she replied. I watched her dip my ice cream in what looked like a hot vat of oil. The cone, which had a nice swirly top to it, was now a big, mushy mess. When she handed it back to me wrapped in a paper towel, it had a glistening sheen to it. Through the shiny pieces, I saw some bits of coconut. I also saw that half of the ice cream had melted away. Why did I think that they were going to dip the cone in actual coconut? Was this a foolish thought? Nonetheless, I stepped over the screaming brat, big dogs, and pompous lady to get back to Mom. Mom had a great time with her ice cream. She said that it had a deep coffee flavor, and was very smooth and creamy. Although the serving was a bit small, it would be worth getting again.

the ice cream, or the calm before the storm

Poor me. I can't even tell this story without getting mad all over again. Are you sitting down? When I took my first lick of the cone, the coconut coating moved, and took all of the ice cream with it. I had melted ice cream ALL over my hand - and I was paralyzed. I could barely even hold the cone, and was too messy to grab my camera. I had to eat it so fast that I barely tasted any. However, what I did taste was excellent! It had a great banana flavor and the coconut dip was quite sweet. Unfortunately, the ice cream wasn't the only thing that was melting down. I was fuming because now I was sitting in the sun, on a hot day, covered in dairy. Anyone that knows me knows that dairy scares the Hell out of me. I love it, but I can't take it when people leave milk on the counter or dirty ice cream bowls in the sink. Dairy products come with an expiration date, and that really makes me nervous! All I could think of was that my hand was now expiring in the hot sun. GROSS! I started yelling about my hand, then yelling at Mom for just being there, and then finally washing my hand with various wet naps and the antibacterial hand wash that I keep in my purse. I also threw some of my bottled water over my hand to rinse off the ice cream, but to no avail. I felt filthy, and I could think of nothing more than to get the Hell out of there and wash my hand. Yes, I was overly dramatic, but GROSS! Ice cream on your hands? Eww.

After stomping back to my car in a huff and leaving Mom to clean up the messy, ice cream filled tray (sorry, Mom), we sped out of the parking lot. We were headed for Foxwoods, but all I could think about was washing my hands under some hot, soapy water. We will definitely be visiting Sea Swirl again, but I'm going to stay away from any type of ice cream cone with a dip. The seafood was excellent and well worth the trip. The service wasn't that great (they were a little on the cocky side), the tables were situated right behind the ordering window which made for a crowded space, and the prices were a bit high, but the taste of the food made up for it. I could really pig out on a bag of those yummy clam strips, and I'm sure if you visit Sea Swirl, you will not be disappointed. Just make sure you bring plenty of wet naps.

Sea Swirl is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. until Columbus Day.

PS - We lost at Foxwoods, but we found this awesome new progressive Wheel of Fortune slot machine (only a nickel). It is in the center of one of the rooms at the Rainmaker entrance, and it was fantastic! Lots of fun, and you actually get to sit at a giant wheel. I wish we would have spotted this earlier in the day!

... and yes, I finally got to wash my hand. Hooray!

Wood's Premium Ice Cream

Adamsville Road
Westport, MA 02790

UPDATE: Since our first visit, Mom and I have been back to Wood's many times. We've tried several different flavors, including coffee, wicked good chocolate, Maine deer tracks, and chocolate peanut butter cup yogurt. Each one has been better than the next. Mom said the coffee is the best that she's ever had, and if you know anything about Mom, you know that she adores coffee ice cream. I felt the same way when I tasted the wicked good chocolate, which came highly recommended by a fan. Speaking of fans, a lovely lady named Chandra - who found Wood's through this very Web site - has informed us that Wood's gets its ice cream from Gifford's of Maine, a supplier for many local ice cream stands and stores. We can't wait to return.

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Date: 7/5/2008

When we started New England Bites, Mom and I never expected the outpouring of love and fantastic recommendations that we would receive from our readers. Whether they've seen our signs hanging up in local restaurants or come across our site accidentally, our loyal fans have given us many a great suggestion. Take Heidi, for example. With the click of an e-mail, this fan sent Mom and I driving through the beautiful country roads of Westport to taste some of the best ice cream she has ever had - and we completely agree with her. Wood's Premium Ice Cream stand is just about a quarter mile away from the junction of Main and Adamsville Roads and situated on a beautiful farm. Mom and I excitedly pulled into the gravel parking lot at just around 6:45 p.m.

The first thing we noticed is a sign asking patrons to park their cars on a large cement patch, which unfortunately only fits about four of five cars. Apparently after the lot is filled, you can park in the dirt. After backing into a space, Mom and I got out and decided to visit the goats and chickens that were in the nearby pens. We also spotted a sign on a large fence that warned customers to beware of the donkeys - they may bite. Although we didn't see any donkeys, we did come into contact with four very friendly goats. After they posed for a few photos, I turned my attention to the large chickens who really didn't seem interested in getting their picture taken. Still taking in the beautiful country scenery, Mom and I trudged up the grassy hill to the stand's large window. We first had to take a look at their flavors, but Heidi mentioned that everything was delicious at Wood's. Since we had eaten a late lunch, I settled on a small cup of Maine maple walnut ($2.50), and Mom chose a small cup of frozen pudding ($2.50). Yes - frozen pudding. Can you believe it? I was so proud of her for being adventurous, but at the same token was a little nervous because if she didn't like it, surely it was somehow going to be my fault. The girl at the window - with the squeakiest voice I've ever heard - gave me a total of $5. Heidi was right! The ice cream was very inexpensive, and considering our shock when we saw the size of the small cups, you definitely get your money's worth.

(L) Maine maple walnut; (R) frozen pudding

Although there were a few picnic benches and chairs scattered throughout the grounds, Mom and I chose to eat our dairy delights in the car. When we took our first bite, my immediate thought was, "I have to thank Ms. Heidi for this one." My Maine maple walnut was chock full of walnuts - and chock full of flavor as well! Normally maple walnut ice cream can be a bit on the sweet side, but this ice cream had a great consistency, was cool and creamy, and had just the right amount of maple flavoring. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Mom eating her ice cream. Since I was too busy stuffing my own face, I didn't notice if she was glowing with joy, or boiling with hate. Thankfully, it was a joyous moment for Mom. She chose something different, and it turned out to be a delightful surprise. The butter rum flavored ice cream was sprinkled with bits of candied fruit, which did not overwhelm the dessert. Mom said it was rich, creamy, and not overly sweet. She also agreed that Wood's Premium Ice Cream is obviously top quality. No freezer burn or dense pieces here!

Since there is virtually nothing available on the Internet about Wood's Ice Cream, I've decided to list their entire menu. Flavors include mint chocolate chip, mocha chip, blue ribbon strawberry, old fashioned vanilla, moose tracks, cotton candy, wicked good chocolate, Maine deer tracks, bear claws, coffee, lobster tracks, orange sherbet, Almond Joy, chocolate peanut butter cup yogurt, black raspberry chocolate chip yogurt, butter pecan, black raspberry, cake batter, cookies n' cream, caramel caribou, orange pineapple, pink peppermint stick, mint chocolate chip, pistachio nut, chocolate chip, chocolate peanut butter, Maine black bear, cookie dough, Mississippi mud, and vanilla raspberry swirl with no fat and no added sugar. Ice cream treats include cones/cups ($2.50-3.25), sundaes ($3.75), malted frappes ($4.25), freezes ($3), banana splits ($4.50), floats ($3), frappes ($4), and quarts ($6.50).

After saying goodbye to the goats, and goodbye to our empty ice cream cups, Mom and I proceeded to drive out of the parking lot. As we were pulling away, we both noticed that Wood's was established in 1900. Now, I assume they mean that the farm was established 108 years ago, but it figures that Mom and I would only just be finding out about something that's been around all that time. We need to get out more, and perhaps revisiting Wood's Premium Ice Cream can be our incentive. Thanks again, Heidi!

Wood's Premium Ice Cream is open daily from 1-9 p.m.

Bite of the Week - Perdue Oven Ready Roaster

My mom likes to cook, but sometimes she prefers to use a shortcut. Last night at the grocery store, she picked up a Perdue Oven Ready Roaster ($8.99), which is a complete six pound chicken in a bag that cooks for 90 minutes. There is no prep work needed, and all the giblets and neck have been removed. She spotted it in the store flyer during the week and couldn't wait to try it. Well, tonight was the night.

THE VERDICT: Excellent! Besides being extremely easy, we found the chicken to be very moist, well cooked, and nicely seasoned. Not having to clean or pre-season it was a great help, and the cooking time was right on target - it really did take just 90 minutes to make. Even my dad, who usually doesn't like chicken, thought this one was great and scarfed it down. We were surprised at how much meat came off the bird. Mom would definitely buy this again.

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Going in the oven.

Coming out. Mmm ... mmm ... good!

Taco Bell

www.tacobell.com

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Since Sunday, I had been trying to cut junk food out of my life, so naturally by today I was looking for a greasy, carb-filled excuse to cheat on my diet. On Tuesday night, while watching Hell's Kitchen, Mom saw a commercial for the new Big Bell Box at Taco Bell. Luckily, I didn't see it or else I would have taken my keys and run for the border. I love Taco Bell, even if it doesn't always love me. Before heading to bed, Mom asked me if I had ever heard of the Taco Bell Big Bell Box. "No," I said excitedly, "but what's in the box?" Like a modern day Nancy Drew, Mom flew to the computer to investigate. Once on the Taco Bell Web site, she called me over so that I could see the components for myself. I lunged over to the screen, almost tripping over my cat on the way. I just had to know what was in that box! What we saw was one of their new Queso Crunchwraps, a bean burrito, a crunchy taco, a large drink, and a small bag of cinnamon twists. For $4.99 plus tax, it was advertised as "the meal that's made for men." A little sexist, in my opinion. I can pig out just as good as any man can. Since it was too late for my stomach to handle a big box of fast food, I went to bed with visions of Fire sauce packets dancing in my head.
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When morning rolled around, I tried to put my Mexican food fantasies on the back burner. I had a diet to worry about! Although I had a lot of work to do at the office, my mind kept drifting toward the Big Bell Box. "I wonder how big it is," I said to myself. I decided to call Mom. After all, it was almost lunch time. If I was going to cheat on my diet, it was now or never. "So what about that Big Bell Box," I asked her. I was trying to get her to say, "Oh man, I could go for some Taco Bell right now." I just didn't want to be the one who voluntarily ruined the diet. I wanted to blame her for my taco consumption and possible weight gain. Since she never took the bait, I just came right out with it: "I'm going to Taco Bell for lunch. Are you with me?" Without hesitation, Mom said, "OK!" So much for the diet. Hanging up the phone, and with $10 burning a hole in my wallet, I got in the Kia and drove all the way across town to Fall River's only Taco Bell. I arrived at just around 1 p.m.
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Since this was an impromptu visit, I didn't have my camera. I made a mental note to return to Taco Bell after work to snap some shots of the building and its interior (see above). I was on a time crunch since my lunch break is only 45 minutes, so I was getting a little antsy waiting in line at the drive-thru. I glanced at what I could see of the large menu, and did NOT see the Big Bell Box. WHAT?! I started to panic. Finally, as I was able to drive a little closer, I spotted it. Unfortunately, it was $5.99 - a dollar more than the commercial stated. I guess prices do vary. Anyway, it was finally my turn at the intercom. Does anyone else hate Taco Bell's new way of taking your order? Instead of saying, "Welcome to Taco Bell. May I take your order," they say, "Hi. How are you?" Yeah, I'm fine - just get my food. I never know if they're waiting for me to talk or not, so I always end up sounding impatient by shouting, "Are you ready?" After the employee was finally with me, I placed my order: a Big Bell Box with a Diet Pepsi (of course - gotta watch the calories), and two beef supreme gorditas with no tomatoes for Mom. The woman's voice on the intercom asked if I wanted a crunchy or soft taco. For some strange reason, I thought that both types of tacos were included in the box. "I don't get both," I asked. "Um ... no," she replied, probably thinking that there was enough food in there for two people. After choosing a soft taco, she quoted me $10.05 and asked me to drive forward. PROBLEM: I only had $10. I had used all my change to buy some cookies at work, and now found myself desperately searching for a nickel, five pennies, or SOMETHING. I keep my car way too clean and could not come up with anything, unless she wanted to take a box cutter, a dirty blanket, or some recyclable grocery bags instead of the cash. When it was my turn at the window, I handed her the $10 and said, "I'm so sorry, but I just don't have the five cents." She looked at me kind of weird, and so I said, "We can take something out if you need to." After I said it, I thought she'd better not take anything out for one damn nickel. Reluctantly, she said, "It's OK." Phew! That was a close one. Remind me to keep some spare change in the car in case this happens again. After asking me if I would like any sauce, which I declined, the cashier handed me the drink and bag of gorditas. Last but not least, she handed me the Big Bell Box. It was huge and very heavy! I couldn't wait to get home and tear that baby apart. She also handed me the receipt:
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*2 C-BFSP - $3.58

1 QSOBOX - 5.99

Subtotal - $9.57

Tax - .48

TOTAL = $10.05

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Like Mario Andretti, I raced home at top speed so that I could eat in the house. I really didn't want to drag a big box of tacos to work and gather a crowd in my cubicle to watch me eat it all. I threw the bag of gorditas to Mom who opened it and noticed that they had given her chalupas instead of gorditas. Not a big deal, but they should be more careful (*I also saw that the receipt listed chalupas instead of gorditas). I made Mom stop what she was doing so that she could watch me open my Big Bell Box, which conveniently said "BIG" on the front and even had lifting instructions in case you were too weak to move it on your own. It doesn't get any fatter than that. Once inside, all I saw were wrappers. I unwrapped each item, laid it all out, and just stopped to admire everything. Wow, there was a lot of food in that box.
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I decided to eliminate the cinnamon twists, so I gave them to Mom. However, I did steal a few before handing them over and they were a little over-spiced and too crispy. First, I started on the soft taco. With only a few bites, it was already over. It was good, but there always seems to be more wrap than filling, which is a bit of a let down. Next, the bean burrito. This actually was the complete opposite of the soft taco. It was stuffed with refried beans, which I don't really care for that much, and was extremely filling. Was I even going to be able to eat the Queso Crunchwrap? I soldiered on. I picked up the giant sexagon and took a bite. At first, all I tasted was the soft wrap. It was the second bite that allowed me to taste some of the spicy queso cheese. It was flavorful, but again, there was too much wrap and not enough filling. Mom's chalupas, on the other hand, were good. Now, the only difference between a gordita and a chalupa is its exterior. The gordita has a puffier shell than a regular soft taco and served as is, while the chalupa shell is the same, but fried. Mom enjoyed this different texture and was pleasantly surprised at how fresh the lettuce and the tasty beef mixture was. The only downside - not enough filling. Apparently that was the theme with today's order. She also shared my dislike of the cinnamon twists. They were too airy and had way too much sugar. Mom ended up chucking them afterwards.
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The Big Bell Box

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Mom's chalupa

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After peeking at the clock, I decided it was time to go back to work. The problem was, I couldn't move. I literally could have fallen asleep at the table because I was so full and exhausted from eating all that heavy food. Through all the drowsiness, something became quite clear to me - the Big Bell Box was nothing more than a bunch of Taco Bell's cheapest things in a giant square of cardboard. Feeling a little sick, I trudged back to work a little remorseful for abandoning the healthy eating for a big box of crap.
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Some people call this place "Taco Hell," and I can see why. There are times where the service is horrible, and the food isn't much better. I don't know if Taco Bell is a great place to work or not, but I'm sick of the employees taking out their frustrations on my food. Although they do use fresh ingredients, sometimes the food is served very sloppily. There is sour cream all over the inside wrapper, tomatoes everywhere but in the shell, and only a few bits of cheese near the center of the taco. However, there are other times where the food is to die for. My personal favorites include the gorditas, chalupas, Crunchwraps, and the double decker taco supreme, which is a crunchy taco filled with ground beef, cheese, sour cream, and tomatoes surrounded by a soft taco coated with refried beans. The best of both worlds. I also enjoy the new Big Taste Taco for $.99. Mom likes the chicken quesadilla and the nachos and cheese. I guess what it boils down to is that when you eat at Taco Bell - at least the one in Fall River - there is a 50/50 chance that you will get a good meal.
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I'd like to think of myself as an adventurous eater. I can "think outside the bun" with the best of 'em. However, there are times when I've regretted my decision to visit Taco Bell. Will I be back? Absolutely! There is something about the taste of hot sauce, ground beef, and sour cream that will keep me going back again and again. It's the only Mexican-ish restaurant in the area, and since I can't cook, this is my only option. Plus, where else can you get a bag of food and eat like a pig for around $5? Times are tough, my friends. I'll see you there!
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Taco Bell is located at 195 Marianno Bishop Blvd., Fall River, MA. The hours of operation are 10-2 a.m., Monday through Thursday, 10-3 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10-2 a.m. on Sunday. For more information, call (508) 677-0929.

Bite of the Week - Mailhot's Best Cretons Pork Spread

I know what you're thinking. Pork spread? Where does New England Bites find this stuff? The truth is, we've been eating pork spread for years. Normally seen in the supermarkets around here as "gorton," this spread is a French delicacy. Since we're French, I've been eating the stuff since birth and so has Mom. My memere (grandmother) used to make it for her all the time, and my aunt still makes it from scratch. The downside to loving gorton is that it is only spotted in the grocery store during the winter months. Well not anymore! Thankfully, a Canadian brand company called Mailhot's Best has decided to supply us with pork spread all year long! Although they changed the name from "gorton" to "cretons," the taste is still the same.

THE VERDICT: DELICIOUS!! It really is, even if it sounds gross. Made with pork, water, dehydrated onions, salt, and spices, it's really nothing to cringe over. We usually eat it cold and spread it over toast or English muffins. If you've ever had pork stuffing at Thanksgiving (which we Frenchies do all the time), it tastes almost exactly like that. It's got a real comfort food kind of feel to it, and it's full of protein for those people who need an extra boost of energy. It's also full of fat, but the dancing pig in a tutu on the label should have already tipped you off. I think everyone should try Cretons at least once. It may be a one time thing, or this yummy pork spread just may become a part of your family. It's always been a part of mine!