Caffe Sicilia

40 Main St.

Gloucester, MA 01930

(978) 283-7345

After a delicious lunch at Virgilio's Italian Bakery & Deli, Mom and I decided to hit up another Roadfood favorite located just across the busy Gloucester street - Caffe Sicilia. Armed with several pastry recommendations from Michael Stern, Mom and I entered the tiny corner bakery at approximately 2:45 p.m.
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What a tiny place! Mom and I were under the impression that Caffe Sicilia was a little bigger, but sometimes good things come in small packages. When we first walked in, I noticed a slim freezer filled with various cakes and pies. Everything looked great, and I knew we were in for some tasty treats. There were very few tables inside the cafe, and most of them were taken by locals who were loudly chatting back and forth. At first, the cafe seemed more like a hangout than an actual bakery - until we got closer to the display case. (NOTE: I apologize in advance for not getting a better picture. This was the only one I could sneak without getting caught!)
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We were immediately greeted by the owner, Paul Ciaramitaro, who we later learned was a former New Bedford fisherman. He is a larger than life character who was more than happy to help Mom and I choose some of his delicious pastries. Since we had heard good things about the gelato, we decided to get two small cups. Unfortunately, none of the gelati were labeled, so we had to bother Mr. Ciaramitaro to find out what the flavors were. He gladly obliged. After hearing yummy options like hazelnut and cantaloupe, we settled on tiramisu for me, and Italian cake for Mom. As Mr. Ciaramitaro scooped our gelati into cups, Mom got a closer look at the pastry. Unfortunately, she didn't really see any of the recommended pastries that we read about online. Also, nothing in the case was labeled, either. Still, Mr. Ciaramitaro was more than happy to point out a few good ones to Mom, who almost bought everything she saw. She chose an apple tart, a limoncello/raspberry cake, an amaretto cake, a chocolate mousse tart, and a huge lobster tail which happens to be one of the "must-haves" at Caffe Sicilia. The total came to $28. A little expensive, but Mr. Ciaramitaro informed Mom that everything she had ordered was $4 each, including the gelati. As we left the cafe, we placed the pastries in our freezer bag and got to work on our fragrant gelati before it melted in the summer air.
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(L: Tiramisu; R: Italian Cake)

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Wow, what a difference experience makes! The last gelato we tried was very flavorless. As a matter of fact, Mom thought that she just got the base (see: Gelato House). However, this gelato not only tasted great - it smelled great! What a mouthwatering fragrance! The texture was thick, and the gelato was cold and creamy - just like you'd expect gelato to be. The flavors were outstanding. Mom's Italian cake tasted sort of like a ricotta pie with little pieces of candied ginger throughout. My tiramisu had a heavy brown sugar taste that seemed to be flavored with some sort of liquor. Both cups were excellent, and they have renewed our faith in gelato makers!
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When we got home, we weren't in the mood for pastry right away. Cut to about an hour later when we decided to bust out the lobster tail and cut it in half. Since the apple tart was in the same bag, we decided to split that one, too. Why not? The apple tart had a very crisp, sugary but flaky crust, and the apples inside were fresh and juicy. As for the lobster tail, it was very large - so large that Mom cut her half in half, while I just stuffed my face with the end of the tail. The cream had been whipped so that it was light and airy. We couldn't tell if it was made with real cream or just cream mixed with powered sugar, but we did notice that it didn't have the moistness of the real stuff. Whatever it was, it was delicious. We especially liked the crust, which was made of many layers of crisp, light pastry. There was a little snap when you bit into it, which really gave it a different texture than most pastry crusts. Michael Stern was right - it really was excellent.
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By the time we finished the lobster claw and apple tart, Mom and I couldn't move. We saved our other pastries for breakfast the next morning. Aren't we the picture of health? Anyway, after cutting everything in half, we dug in. The raspberry/limoncello slice was cool, creamy, and a little tart. The amaretto slice was topped with little amaretto cookies and tasted like tiramisu. The chocolate mousse tart was dense and very fudgy. All three pastries were quite delicious.

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Everything at Caffe Sicilia was excellent, and the taste reminded us of two of our all-time favorite bakeries - White's of Brockton, and Wright's of North Smithfield, RI. It is good to know that we don't have to drive all the way to Gloucester to get outstanding baked goods, and it's also good to know that if we're ever in the area again, we can find happiness in the pastry from Caffe Sicilia.

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Caffe Sicilia is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday and holidays.

Virgilio's Italian Bakery & Deli

29 Main St.
Gloucester, MA 01930
(978) 283-5295

I was recently told by a popular blogger that we should feature more local restaurants. After all, we are from Fall River. Why not showcase some of the fabulous places to eat in the city? Well, although we agree with him, we at New England Bites like to visit a lot of different cities in order to find the perfect meal. After reading rave reviews on Roadfood about two delicious-sounding places in Gloucester, Mom and I decided to hop in the car and take the almost two-hour drive to America's first seaport. The first place on the list was Virgilio's Italian Bakery & Deli - home of the world famous St. Joseph sandwich. After slinking around a few tight streets, we pulled into a metered parking space nearby at around 2:15 p.m.
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Named after Saint Joseph, who Sicilians believe had saved the nation of Sicily from famine, this popular sandwich seems to be everyone in Gloucester's cure for hunger pangs. Virgilio's Bakery was filled with people requesting the St. Joseph in both the original form or filled with various vegetables. When Mom and I walked in, we saw that the market area that we had heard about online was smaller than we anticipated, but filled with several imported Italian foods like the expensive Maestri pasta noodles and several jarred sauces. While Mom was ordering our sandwiches at the deli counter, I was able to sneak a picture of Virgilio's case of beautiful pastries.
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Mom placed an order for two St. Joseph sandwiches ($4.75 each) and two bottles of diet root beer ($1.50 each). Our total came to $12.50. Since there were only one or two tables inside, and the place was filling up with hungry, frazzled patrons, Mom and I decided to take our lunch to one of the outside tables. I grabbed the soda bottles, and I thought she grabbed the sandwiches. After wiping down the table with a Wet Wipe (we always carry those in case of an emergency), I put the sodas on the table and looked for the sandwiches. Lo and behold, she thought that I took the bag, and I thought that she took it. Needless to say, the bag of sandwiches was sitting pathetically on the counter when I went back in - embarrassed as could be. Now, aside from forgetting the sandwiches at the deli, this was a big day for Mom. The only sandwiches she eats are turkey and ham. She never gets an Italian sub. However, due to Michael Stern's awesome description of the famous St. Joe's, she decided to try one.
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The sandwiches were served on a bulky roll and consisted of Genoa salami, German bologna, mortadella, cooked salami, imported Provolone cheese, and an oil and oregano spice mix. At first, Mom was surprised because the sandwich didn't look like it did in the picture on Roadfood. In the photo, the sandwich was served on a long sub roll. You can ask for it that way, but the price difference is $.75 more, and we didn't know that at the time. Looks aside, Mom took a big bite and thought it was really tasty. Besides the very fresh meats and roll, Mom thought the oil and spices really kicked up this sandwich. She's had Italian sandwiches in the past (although I've never seen her eat one), and due to the variety of meats, the flavor is always very good. However, the spices on the famous St. Joe's really put it over the top made and it very special. As for me, I too thought that the oil and oregano blend really distinguished this sandwich from other Italians subs I have eaten before, but all in all, the flavor was quite familiar. If you've ever eaten an Italian sub from Marzilli's Bakery in Fall River, than you've eaten a St. Joseph sandwich from Virgilio's without the added spice and on softer bread. It is so nice to know that, although Gloucester doesn't have a Marzilli's, they have a Virgilio's to fill their Italian sub needs. However, I will say that if Marzilli's were to add the Virgilio's spice mix to their grinders, I would probably overdose on sandwiches almost immediately.
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Before leaving the city, we decided to get a St. Joseph sandwich to take home to Dad ($4.75). When I went back in, the allure of the freshly filled cannolis was just too much for me, so I bought a couple to bring home ($2 each). My total came to $8.75. After being overjoyed with the surprise purchase, Mom quickly stuffed the new goodies into our freezer bag so that they would be in perfect shape when they arrived home ... although sadly, one cannoli didn't make it. We cracked that baby in half and ate it before we even got back on Interstate 95. The first thing Mom noticed about it was the size. It definitely had a longer shell, which leaves plenty of room for more fabulous filling. The shell was crisp without being so hard that it exploded when you took a bite, and the cream was made of sweet, creamy ricotta and had an excellent taste. Only a light dusting of powdered sugar topped off this excellent treat. We brought the lone cannoli survivor home to Dad as a chaser for his St. Joe's sandwich.

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After spending almost an hour caught in Boston traffic, we arrived home. Thanks to the freezer bag, the food remained just as it was when we left Gloucester. Dad was happy to try his sandwich and cannoli from Virgilio's. At first he thought the bread was too chewy, but he soon grew into it after he realized that all Italian bread has a little bit of chew to it. He enjoyed the combination of meats and also thought that the added spices gave it a real zing. As for the cannoli that did make it home, Dad thought it was delicious. He ate the whole thing, which is unusual for him because he often finds that type of pastry too sweet. He really enjoyed the ricotta filling because he thought the cannoli was just filled with whipped cream. It was the perfect ending to a great meal.

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Other than the St. Joseph sandwich, Virgilio's Bakery sells homemade breads such as Italian scala, semolina, ciabatta, St. Joseph rolls, Anadama, and multi-grain. They also sell pizza by the slice ($2-2.25), their own homemade bread dipping oil and marinara pasta sauce, and several cold and hot sandwiches including the Eggplant Supreme ($5.50-6.25), the chicken St. Joseph ($5.50-6.25), and the Porky Joe ($6.25), which is oven-baked pulled pork tenderloin simmered in tangy barbecue sauce. Party trays are also available for special events.

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Mom and I really enjoyed visiting Gloucester, and eating at Virgilio's Bakery made our trip extra special. I did learn one very important lesson - although traveling and trying different foods is a lot of fun, sometimes the one thing you're looking for can be found right in your own backyard. "There's no place like home ... there's no place like home ... click, click, click ..."

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Virgilio's Italian Bakery & Deli is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. They are closed on Sunday.

Bite of the Week - Sara Lee All Butter Pound Cake

What's not to love about a frozen pound cake? It makes a quick dessert for busy nights or unexpected company, it is versatile so you can have it with any topping, it is inexpensive ($3.49), and it can feed a family of four. My family often has the pound cake plain, with chocolate syrup, or topped with frozen strawberries and Cool Whip. Either way, it is tasty and addictive. It's no wonder why my family has been eating it for years, and we always have one in our freezer.

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THE VERDICT: Delicious. All you do is throw it in the microwave for 10 seconds and you have a perfectly good dessert that you can do anything with. The Sara Lee products are usually terrific, and this one is no different. The cake is always moist, even despite being a frozen food. It has a buttery taste and is thick without being too heavy. It is just as delicious served plain with a glass of milk than it is when you make an impressive dessert like a strawberry shortcake or an ice cream sundae with a cake bottom. If you really want to take it to another level, you can make a trifle. Simply cut the pound cake into cubes, top it with pudding, more pound cake, marmalade or jelly, and then more cake, pudding, and whipped cream. Doesn't that sound great? Mom and I wish we had some now ...

Burger King

www.burgerking.com

Diet, schmiet!

Contrary to popular belief, Mom and I tend to stay away from fast food. I know that a lot of people will think that we are pulling their chain, but believe it - not all fat people are obsessed with eating this junk. Although we do sometimes go with the flow and buy a couple of burgers, we tend to stick with ordering pizza and Chinese if Mom doesn't feel like making dinner from scratch. I'm not even that much of a French fry fan, which again, is shocking to some people. Well, on this horribly rainy and miserable day, Mom and I had a craving to eat a greasy burger, fries, and milkshake combo. At first, I was against it as we haven't had that food in a while and have gotten sick on earlier visits. However, as the day went on, I was all for it. After choosing between McDonald's (better burgers) and Burger King (better fries and shakes), we went with Burger King. Despite the 50/50 chance that we would be nauseous afterwards, I threw on a pair of dirty sweats and left the bra at home (hey, I gotta look the part, right?) and headed for the drive-thru. I pulled into the Plymouth Avenue location in Fall River at 2 p.m.

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You can always smell Burger King before you see it, which I'm not sure is a good thing. The aroma of flame-broiled burgers cooking does make you hungry, but as you drive closer to the building, the scent changes from sizzling meat to boiling grease. Still ... I continued on. Since I wasn't dressed appropriately for public view, I was going to order my food in the drive-thru. There was only one car ahead of me, so I didn't have to wait long to place my order. When it was my turn, I pulled up to the large, colorful menu and ordering screen. I ordered two #1 value meals (a Whopper, fries, and soft drink). For Mom, I ordered her Whopper plain with no cheese. God forbid there be a tomato or a pickle on it - she'd freak! I ordered my Whopper with all the stuff on it, but no cheese. For our beverages, I chose two vanilla shakes instead of the soft drink. Since the value meals come in medium and large, I chose the medium size for both. After all, we were on a diet ... once. My total came to $15.50. I pulled ahead to the first window where I noticed a sign that read: "Stop and pay here." I stopped, and waited to pay ... and waited ... and waited. I waited so long, that the car ahead of me at the food pickup window had already driven off, and the guy in the car behind me had frantically started beeping his horn. I pulled up to the food pickup window where the cashier already had my shakes ready. I told her about the "stop and pay" sign at the other window, and she apologized and said that someone would remove it. She took my money and handed me the shakes in that nifty double duty box (which holds two shakes surprisingly well), as well as the bag of burgers and fries. I pulled over to make sure that Mom's burger was made correctly (just meat and bread), and it was. As I was inspecting her burger, I noticed the overwhelming smell of grease. Uh oh ... maybe this meal wasn't such a good idea after all. Oh well, I couldn't turn back now. I quickly drove the food home to Mom.

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When I got home, Mom and I laid out the food. I ended up cutting my overstuffed Whopper in half because it would be easier to deal with. Mom's value meal was as tasty as she thought it would be, and also just as greasy. Mom finds the Whopper so greasy that it's hard to peel the bun away from the patty. They're practically glued together. As she took her first delicious bite, she wondered how long it would be before she got sick. The fries were hot, salty, and crisp. They also seem to travel much better than McDonald's fries, which become limp when you get them home. The shake was fantastic - nothing greasy there (just fatty, ha, ha)! It was cold, flavorful, and had a great vanilla taste. Mom really enjoyed this once-in-a-great-while meal, but she's just afraid at what might happen next. Yikes!

My Whopper was also very good, but they tend to overdo it on the mayonnaise, which I'm not really a fan of. I should start asking for it without mayo, but since I don't visit Burger King often, I always forget about this when I order my meal. The vegetables inside the burger were very fresh, the shake was very tasty, and the fries were crisp. I like to dip my salty fries inside of my sweet shake. Mom thinks that this is disgusting, but she likes to dip a plain potato chip into a cup of ice cream. It's the same thing! Salty and sweet - one of the best flavor combinations.

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Cut to about a half hour later, and I was already not feeling well. Oh man, what did we get ourselves into? The funny thing is, when I was younger, I could eat this food every day and night. I loved it! Now, in my old(er) age, I say things like, "Oh, that gives me heartburn," or, "Do you have any Rolaids for afterwards?" Maybe Mom and I should just lay off eating fast food altogether, but every once in a while, the cravings are just too strong to overcome.

Everyone has their favorite: Burger King, Wendy's, McDonald's, Sonic, In-N-Out Burger, and so many others. We really have nothing against Burger King, and I really do love their seasonal Italian chicken sandwich, but we're going to keep it as a once-in-a-while treat. Since so many people go to Burger King and have no problem with it, it's probably not an issue with their food - it's an issue with our stomachs. Oh well, you know we'll be back. Mom and I are just gluttons for punishment. I wish we could be gluttons for diet and exercise instead!

The Burger King visited in today's review is located at 66 Plymouth Ave., Fall River. For more information, call (508) 673-6272 or visit the Web site at www.burgerking.com.

Bite of the Week - Saranac Shirley Temple

Since we all know that the Black Goose Cafe serves some of the best gourmet sandwiches in the area, it should come as no surprise to our readers that Mom and I often order lunch to go - especially since I've been unemployed and readily available to drive to Tiverton at any given moment. While picking up our sandwiches on Friday, I spotted a bottle of Saranac Shirley Temple Flavored Soft Drink in the beverage cooler. I haven't had a Shirley Temple in almost 20 years, and I remember loving the taste, so I decided to buy one. However, I told Mom that I would bring home iced coffees from Dunkin' Donuts, so I was in quite a bind. Do I buy the soft drink and get an iced coffee? Is that stupid? No. What's stupid is leaving the bottle there, drinking the iced coffee, and kicking myself for not having bought the drink for our Bite of the Week. Needless to say, I returned the next day to pick up a bottle of Shirley ($2).

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THE VERDICT: Fruity and nostalgic. The only thing that was missing was the glass, the umbrella, and that tiny toothpick with the cherry and the orange slice stuck through it. Oh, and I would have probably been sitting at the old China Royal restaurant with my parents. Drinking this was like walking down memory lane. My uncle Roland bought my cousin Jennifer and I a Shirley Temple once at a party, and since I'd never had one before, I treated it like I was drinking a glass of Chardonnay. Since Jen was a pro, I copied her as she delicately sipped the pink drink through that skinny straw with her pinky up. What a class act! After my sister was born, we got her hooked on the stuff as well. I don't know if parents know this or not, but giving a little girl a Shirley Temple instead of a soda or a glass of milk is like finally acknowledging that she is a young woman. It's all very sophisticated. As for the drink itself, I found it extremely sugary (that probably has something to do with the 45 grams of sugar they used to make it). What bothers me is the fact that I even looked at the nutrition facts on the label. Doing this sent me back to reality - kids don't care about all the sugar. Thirty year old women do. Yikes!! At least I got to relive my childhood for a brief moment. Thanks, Black Goose!

(REPOST) Bite of the Week - Hoo-Mee Chow Mein Mix

Can Josephine's Famous Foods save Fall River?

Due to the recent loss of the Oriental Chow Mein Company in Fall River, owner Robbie DeBarros of Josephine's Famous Foods has notified New England Bites that her Massachusetts-based company is willing to step up to the plate regarding the Wong family's famous noodles:

"I just wanted to let you know Josephine's Foods is now selling our own Fall River Style fried Chow Mein Noodles. If I must say so myself they are absolutely delicious!! Same shape and crunchy taste we have all grown to love. Wasn't in the plans but we need to keep it going. Too many lovers of Fall River Chow mein so this favorite will and MUST continue. New pictures of our noodles will be on our site sometime today. We are good friends of the Wongs and they have been very supportive of our business throughout the entire process wishing us success all the way through. I think they would be pleased to know someone stepped in during such a tragic time to make sure people can still enjoy this long standing favorite dish."

Please visit their Web site at http://www.josephinesfoods.com/ for more information.

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JUNE 18, 2009: The Oriental Chow Mein Co. has been destroyed by fire. Click here to read the article published in The Herald News. To honor the late chow mein noodles, we are reposting our Bite of the Week from March 8, 2009. Let's hope that the Wong family can reopen their business and continue providing Fall Riverites with this wonderful product.

MARCH 8, 2009: Fall River is known for many things. We are the home of Lizzie Borden, Emeril Lagasse, the Battleship Massachusetts, and our very own chow mein mix manufactured by the Oriental Chow Mein Company right here on Eighth Street. My family has been eating Hoo-Mee Chow Mein for as long as I can remember. Mom even said that she remembers my grandfather bringing home boxes of it when she was a kid. The company has been in business since 1926, and I'm surprised that we haven't featured this earlier. After all, we Fall Riverites are obsessed with chow mein. When China Royal was closing its doors, the whole city came together in mourning.

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I unfortunately had the experience of eating chow mein that wasn't from The Riv. When I worked in Taunton, I ordered a small chow mein for lunch from a local restaurant. What I received was a Styrofoam container filled with dry, round noodles, and limp, wet vegetables. Where were the dark noodles? The brown sauce? The delicious flavor? Well, they certainly weren't in that Styrofoam. When I complained to my fellow co-workers, who were from the Brockton/Bridgewater area, they had no idea what I was talking about. That chow mein was the only chow mein that they had ever seen. They had no idea what they were missing! Even when I told them about the brown sauce, one of them said, "Like ... soy sauce?" NO! Not like soy sauce! I guess you just have to grab a box of Hoo-Mee and see for yourself.

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THE VERDICT: Delicious. The Hoo-Mee mix is very simple to prepare, and tastes almost as good as getting an order from one of the local Chinese restaurants. The noodles are dark brown and flat, and the spice packet is more like a gravy than a sauce. Around here, you can find it in the "ethnic foods" section of the supermarket. If you visit the Oriental Chow Mein Company, you can buy the chow mein noodles and spice packet separately by the pound. This is nice if you have a big family or if you're cooking for a lot of people. If you live outside of Fall River and would like to try Hoo-Mee, along with other Fall River specialties, visit A Taste of Fall River. Believe me, I'm serious when I say that people come from all over to have this chow mein. My poor aunt unfortunately had "the other" chow mein on a recent trip to Bristol, RI. I think we should send her a box of Hoo-Mee.

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PS - Boxed chow mein noodles can also be helpful when parenting your children. Years ago, while I was being bratty during a grocery shopping trip to Valueland, my mother hit me with a box of chow mein. Needlees to say, my attitude changed immediately. I still have nightmares.

Panera Bread

www.panerabread.com

To celebrate my first scheduled job interview after almost five months of being laid off, I decided to treat myself to a new outfit and lunch at Panera Bread. Little did I know the job interview would be cancelled rescheduled cancelled rescheduled, and unless I wanted to wear a large, flowered mumu, I didn't find anything worth buying. Oh well, at least I had a good lunch. Since I was in the area, I stopped into the Seekonk, MA, location at just around 3:30 p.m. Mom sat this one out, but later complained that I didn't bring her a sandwich - even though she never asked for one.

I had never been inside of this particular Panera Bread. I usually hit up the one in Dartmouth, where you have to fight for a parking space and a seat inside of the tiny restaurant. I was glad to see that the Seekonk locale was quite different. There was plenty of parking and quite a lot of seating, including a small outdoor patio area. Because of the added space, this Panera was much less frenzied than it's smaller sibling. I approached the counter to place my order. I already knew what I wanted to get - an Asiago roast beef sandwich served on an Asiago demi ($6.89) with an iced chai tea latte ($3.19). I had gotten both items before and enjoyed them tremendously, so I was excited to be having them again. The cashier (Toby K.) informed me that I could have either a bag of chips, an apple, or a baguette with my sandwich. I chose chips. She also asked me if I wanted cinnamon or nutmeg on my latte. Since I simply answered, "Yes," she said that she would have it made with both spices. Yum! Toby then gave me a final total:

1 Asiago roast beef w/chips - $6.89

1 Iced chai tea latte w/cinnamon and nutmeg - 3.19

Subtotal - $10.08

Tax - .50

TOTAL = $10.58

As I paid for my meal, Toby took my name and asked me if I knew where I was to pick up my order. I was pretty sure I knew where to go, but she verified that I was to stand by the sandwich counter to get my sandwich, and the front counter to get my beverage. She then handed me a receipt and sent me on my way. A very efficient system, I must say!

Panera Bread is not your average sandwich shop. It's quite the trendy place to hang. Panera has Wi-Fi, so that should prepare you for seeing a lot of people working on their laptops while chowing down on something good. There is a lot of comfortable seating like couches and overstuffed chairs (besides the normal booths and tables) all scattered around a large fireplace. I often picture people sitting around on the furniture, talking about themselves and reading poetry. Panera Bread seems to cater to the college crowd and snobbish career folk who wouldn't be caught dead sitting in a McDonald's parking lot with a Big Mac. For example, when I tell fellow Big-Mac-in-the-car-fans that I went to Panera for lunch, they say, "Oooh, big spender!" I feel like I went up a notch in status. Who knew that eating lunch here could make you feel so important?

After hearing my name being called, I took my food-to-go and headed for the parking lot. As I was getting all settled with my sandwich and drink in the car, I kicked myself for not thinking about eating outside on the patio. It probably would have been a lot easier to eat. Oh well, I had everything set up on the passenger seat, so I wasn't about to get out now. Just as I expected, my iced chai tea latte was amazing. It had a strong chai flavor and the nutmeg and cinnamon sitting on top gave it an extra burst of spice. The Panera brand potato chips were OK, although they reminded me very much of Cape Cod chips, which I'm not really a fan of. I find them too crunchy and greasy, but for the time being, they went really well with the delicious sandwich. Stuffed with thick slices of lean, oven-roasted roast beef, smoked cheddar, lettuce, tomato, red onion, and horseradish sauce, this sandwich - which is one of Panera's signatures - was both tangy and hearty. Although the rustic Asiago cheese demi was a little tough to bite into, the taste was excellent. All of the flavors really went well together, and the surprising standout of the group was the red onion. It really spiced up the taste. I couldn't help thinking of my friend Scott, who adores red onion. I'm pretty sure he would have enjoyed this sandwich. All in all, it was a great lunch and I'm very glad that I didn't just go through a drive-thru to get something to eat. I stopped, got out of the car (which seems to be a big issue for a lot of people, myself included), and picked up an awesome sandwich made with fresh ingredients for almost the same price as one of those tacky value meals.


Speaking of price, depending on what you get, Panera can be a bit expensive. For some reason, the coffee drinks are priced much higher than what you would find at Dunkin Donuts or Tim Hortons. However, they're really good, and if you want to spend a little extra, you certainly won't be disappointed. One of the best things about Panera Bread is - drumroll, please - the bread! All of the breads are freshly baked, and the bagels are some of the tastiest around. My favorite combination is the Asiago bagel with vegetable cream cheese, while Mom likes the French toast bagel with honey walnut cream cheese. Trust me, they're delicious. Specialty breads include the cinnamon raisin, honey wheat, tomato basil, sourdough, and Asiago cheese. I also remember a Kalamata olive bread that was really good. They also have a small selection of pastries like cookies, brownies, muffin tops ("muffies"), sweet rolls, and mini bundt cakes with sweet icing. If you're looking for something heartier for breakfast, try their egg sandwiches with bacon, sausage, and other combinations. They also serve baked egg souffles and strawberry granola parfaits. For lunch and dinner, try one of their signature sandwiches, salads, or soups of the day. Panera Bread definitely caters to picky and healthy eaters because of their large selection of foods with high nutritional value. Panera Bread also does catering, and I'm sure you'd be the office hero if you were to walk into a conference room with a bag full of Panera bagels. Try it! I'm sure you'll get a raise.
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Hey, that gives me an idea. Perhaps I should bring some on my interview for good measure ... when and if it happens. Keep your fingers crossed!

The Panera Bread in Seekonk is located at 211 Highland Avenue. For more information, call (508) 336-1401 or visit the Web site at www.panerabread.com.

Bite of the Week - Nestle Chocapic Cereal

I first heard about Chocapic on a Facebook "Top Five Favorite Cereals" survey. One of my friends had listed Chocapic. Since I had no idea what it was, and the picture reminded me of a Count Chocula knockoff, I asked him about it. He told me that it was a European chocolate cereal by Nestle that was very tasty. I complained that I had never seen Chocapic at Stop & Shop, and he told me that it could be found at Chaves Market in Fall River, a Portuguese supermarket and gift shop. I've been meaning to visit Chaves for a while, and since Mom and I had no idea what we were going to feature for our Bite of the Week, I decided that now was the time to try this cereal. With only five minutes until closing time, I flew into Chaves and - after some searching - found Chocapic ($3.99). The little cartoon dog on the front of the box seemed to be enjoying himself, and since all the text was in Spanish Portuguese, I took my friend's word for it that it was going taste great.

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THE VERDICT: He was right! This cereal was delicious! My all-time favorite chocolate cereal is Cocoa Pebbles, and that is because the "pebbles" are thin, crispy, and full of flavor. I'll force myself (sarcasm) to eat the other similar brands like Cocoa Puffs and Cocoa Krispies, but their puffiness seems to take away from the flavor. Plus, your milk doesn't get that chocolaty afterwards, and what's the point of eating chocolate cereal if you can't enjoy the yummy milk? Count Chocula is another one I like, but that's in a different category altogether because it has marshmallows. As you can see, I am a chocolate cereal connoisseur, which is why I don't really keep it in the house. Chocapic, however, will be here until the box is empty, which will probably be very soon. The cereal pieces are weird-shaped - kind of like a pasta shells cut in half - and Mom described the taste as being similiar to the crispy part of a freshly baked brownie. It really is good, and I'm glad that it was mentioned in that survey or else I never would have known about its existence. Oh, and the best part is ... the leftover milk tastes great!

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Chili's

www.chilis.com

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL SOMERSET MENU

The moon was in the Seventh House, and Jupiter aligned with Mars. Yes, that's right - New England Bites actually visited a chain restaurant - Chili's in Somerset, MA. Why did we go against the grain and stop into this popular establishment? Because, for once, it wasn't crowded. If you live in the area, you know that the Somerset Chili's is always busy. However, after seeing only a few cars in the parking lot, we decided to stop in. We walked under the giant red chili pepper and through the doors at around 4 p.m.



Although I love Chili's, visiting the restaurant always reminds me of the time when I was dining at the East Providence location, decided to be "cool", and sent a drink over to a friend of mine. I saw it done on television many times, and I always thought it was a pretty slick move. As the man stumbled over to me, I quickly realized that it wasn't my friend - it was some drunk guy. The entire restaurant, including the Chili's staff, was in stitches. I apologized for mistaking him, and he was fine with it ... but his girlfriend wasn't. I thought she was going to stab me in the ladies' room and leave me for dead. Needless to say, I stopped trying to be "cool" and instead, have embraced my lameness. After being greeted by a friendly hostess, Mom and I were seated at a table and told that our waitress - Janet - would be joining us shortly. The hostess left us with two large, colorful menus to peruse.


The Chili's atmosphere is very bold and eccentric. Since the menu is mainly Tex Mex-based with foods like tacos, fajitas, and baby back ribs (I want my babybackbabybackbabyback ... remember that?), the interior is just as spicy. One of their main claims to fame is the Presidente Margarita which you get to shake at your table, so of course, little blue shakers are scattered throughout the restaurant. Colorful booths and tables and jazzy music make Chili's the perfect place to go after a long week of listening to your boss complain about nothing. Cute chalk signs advertising the specials are hung here and there, and the bar area is always lit up with social activity. It almost makes me wish that I had a job so that I could come here after work and have fun with my co-workers. Plus, Michael Scott from The Office (my favorite show) loves this place, and if he likes it, it has to be awesome.

Janet soon joined Mom and I to take our drink order. After turning down her suggestion to order some margaritas (which we probably should have), we went with our usual diet colas. Mom and I still needed a few minutes to decide what we wanted, so Janet left us alone to make up our minds. At the last second, I decided to order the Quesadilla Explosion salad ($8.99), while Mom chose the Chicken Crispers with honey mustard dressing ($9.99). To kick off our awesome meal, we chose the bottomless basket of tostada chips with homemade salsa ($2.99). The chips arrived quickly and were warm (which Mom loves), thin, and crisp without being greasy. The salsa was more tangy than spicy, but it definitely had a lot of flavor. This starter is certainly addictive, and if we had finished our serving, another basket would have been brought out.


Since we were still pretty much the only ones on our side of the restaurant, Janet jokingly came over and told us to quiet down because we were making "too much noise." We laughed and told her that everyone was probably out enjoying the beautiful day since we hadn't had one in a long time. She agreed, and told us that the place would probably pick up more toward dinner time. A few minutes later, Janet returned with our dishes. Mom's chicken was accompanied by a pile of tasty fries and a large ear of corn that was sprinkled with butter and pepper. The honey mustard dressing was both sweet and sour, while her white meat chicken strips were lightly coated, allowing the full flavor of the chicken to shine through. It was crisp, tasty, and an excellent portion.


Oh my God, I don't even know what to say about my Quesadilla Explosion. First of all, it was served with a cheese quesadilla that was quartered and placed around the salad. It was soft, gooey, and perfect. The chicken was fajita marinated, and the salad was filled with corn relish, cilantro, diced tomato, crispy tortilla strips, and an ancho-chile ranch drizzle. I topped it with the accompanying citrus-balsamic dressing. It was so full of delicious flavors that somehow all went together beautifully. The tender chicken was cooked perfectly, the vegetables were fresh, and the portion was extremely large. This definitely wasn't a "healthy" salad, but you'll probably save on calories throughout the day because you'll be so full that you won't want anything else. It is really excellent, and I can see why it is one of Chili's most popular choices. Fans, please remind me that if I ever go on a date not to order salad. I shovel it in like it's going out of style. That's not necessarily the impression I want to leave, but I can't help it. It's too good!

Speaking of shoveling in food, a woman at the table behind me had ordered a few large plates of food - for herself. Now, we're not sure if she was doing a review or not, but either way, she was definitely enjoying every bite. Good for her, although if I was going to pig out like that, I would have gotten a take-out order. I'm not brave enough to eat all that food in one sitting ... in public.

Janet returned to see if we wanted any dessert. Of course we did, but we were too full to order any. She returned with the bill, and the total came to:

Bottomless chips and salsa - $2.99

2 beverages - 4.58

Quesadilla salad - 8.99

Chicken crispers - 9.99

Subtotal - $26.55

Tax - 1.33

TOTAL = $27.88

We left $33 on the table for Janet, which included a 20% tip. She was an excellent waitress and I definitely hope that business picked up so that her day would go by faster. Before exiting the restaurant, Mom and I visited the ladies' room. It was nicely clean and well kept. I should mention that Mom almost had a throwdown with the woman who sat directly behind her. When Mom was standing up, she pulled her chair out and it made a scraping sound against the floor. Apparently, this annoyed the woman who - along with her husband - decided to stare Mom down until she left the area. How rude! Mom didn't complain when the woman smacked her on the back with her chair when she first sat down. What a moron!

As we headed out to the parking lot, we noticed that there were more and more cars pulling into Chili's. We marveled at how we finally got a chance to visit a chain when it was quiet, because that is the kind of atmosphere we enjoy the most. Sure, loud and noisy is OK sometimes, but we like when we can sit down, eat a great meal, and talk to each other without screaming. Today was certainly one of those days.

The Chili's in Somerset is located at 825 G.A.R. Highway. For more information, call (508) 679-0474 or visit the Web site at www.chilis.com.

Bite of the Week - Lay's Lightly Salted Potato Chips

We all know that Mom loves coffee ice cream, but what most people don't know is that Mom is also a fanatic about Lay's Potato Chips. That big yellow bag of crunchy crisps never made it through the night after a grocery shopping trip, but since we're all trying to cut back on salt and calories, we decided to try the Lightly Salted variety instead. At first, Mom wasn't happy about the change. However, after eating a handful, she quickly changed her mind.

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THE VERDICT: Fantastic! There is very little difference between the lightly salted and the regular Lay's. They are not as overwhelmingly salty and greasy as the original brand, and with only five ingredients, the taste is always fresh and natural. We certainly "can't eat just one" of these babies. At least with this bag of chips, we know we are getting 50% less sodium and 100% taste. You should definitely make the switch to Lay's Lightly Salted. We hope to see them being sold in smaller snack sizes soon. Mom wishes that she had some right now (but what else is new).

The Cabin

114 East Grove St.

Route 28

Middleboro, MA 02346

(508) 947-8590

I used to frequent The Cabin from 2003-2004 when I was training nearby for my old job with a local cable company. Although I quit the nightmarish job in 2005, I never quit visiting this restaurant. I even got Mom hooked on coming to this quaint "log" cabin located on a woodsy Middleboro road. Since we hadn't been in a while, and we hadn't given it an official New England Bites review, we decided to stop in for dinner at around 6 p.m. We were hoping that the place wasn't packed, but luckily we had gotten in just before the Saturday night rush.


As we walked into the restaurant, we were quickly seated by an older gentleman who we've seen on many occasions. He left us with two large menus to look over and told us that our waitress would be right over. At this time, Mom decided to use the ladies' room. Since she was gone, I decided that now would be the perfect time to snap a picture of the dining room. Now, there were several people scattered throughout the restaurant, but I am a photography sniper. Usually, I can take multiple shots without ever being caught. Well ... not today! Some obnoxious kid across the room saw my camera flash go off. Did he ignore it? No. He screamed, "HEY MA! THAT LADY JUST TOOK A PICTURE! THAT ONE. HER. THAT LADY. TOOK A PICTURE. WITH HER CAMERA. IN THE WHITE SHIRT. SHE. TOOK. A. PICTURE." OK, first of all, I had on a pink plaid shirt, dummy. Second, how about shutting your mouth? Not only was he staring at me, but the whole restaurant (including the kid's handicapped grandmother) decided to turn around to see what the Hell I was doing with my camera. At first I tried to fake like I was "testing my camera." I even tapped the bottom to make believe that I didn't know what was wrong with it. Great, now this little brat has me acting. I wanted to throw a spoon at him, but it probably would have bounced off of his stupid pageboy haircut. UGH! There's nothing like letting the whole restaurant know that you're doing an anonymous review. Anyway, this is the picture I was able to get when the restaurant finally cleared and that brat went home:


It's adorable! The restaurant has a very homey feel, and from the wooden tables and chairs to the exposed beams and country decor, you really do feel like you're dining inside of a log cabin. On the stone wall in the dining room hangs a large blackboard with the daily specials, and when you first enter the restaurant, there is a small bar area and brick oven where they make all of their homemade pizzas. I always love walking into The Cabin because the smell of food cooking is fabulous.
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After Mom returned to the table and I explained what had gone down with that annoying little boy, our waitress, Leona (according to the receipt), joined us. She took our drink order - two Diet Cokes - and gave us a few more minutes to narrow down what we wanted to get. We were both in a pizza mood, and I was going to get their pizza of the day (pepperoni, bacon, garlic, and mushrooms) until Mom saw a pie called the potato skin pizza, which was sauceless and topped with mashed potatoes, bacon, and garlic. SOLD! When Leona returned, we were ready to order. I went with the potato skin pizza ($7.45) while Mom made her own with linguica and bacon ($7.20). Leona commented on how good my pizza choice was, and I couldn't wait to have some for myself.
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The Cabin really has some excellent food choices, but a lot of folks come here for the homemade stone oven pizzas. Starting at $5.50 (with $.85 per topping), you can really get creative and put just about anything on the 10" pie for a low price. Specialty pizzas range from $7.45-9.95 and include eclectic toppings like shrimp, scallops, and artichokes. The Cabin also serves pasta dishes ($8.50-12.95), fried and fresh seafood favorites ($8.95-19.95), and wraps and sandwiches ($5.95-12.95). Cabin favorites include the baked stuffed chicken ($9.95), chopped sirloin ($9.50), surf & turf ($14.95-16.95), and a chicken quesadilla ($9.95). They also have a dessert menu with fried ice cream served with hot fudge and whipped cream ($4.50) It really is comfort food at its best.
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Considering we had ordered two homemade pizzas, they certainly didn't take long to arrive at our table. Both pizzas looked and smelled delicious, and we each stole a piece off of each other's pan. Mom certainly chose two tasty meats because she said that her pizza was full of flavor. The Cabin doesn't skimp on toppings, either. The linguica was lean and mildly spicy, while the bacon ... well, bacon rules everything. Mom said that it was one fantastic pizza, right down to the nicely thin crust. Even the older gentleman who seated us earlier gave Mom a thumbs up for ordering linguica.
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My pizza tasted exactly like a potato skin! If you would have blindfolded me, I would have been shocked to find out that I wasn't eating a bacon topped potato slice. The potatoes were plentiful, and the bacon and garlic flavor gave a kick to each bite. It definitely was a heavy choice. I probably shouldn't have forced down those last few pieces, but it was too good to leave behind.
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After Mom and I had eaten as much as we could, we decided to box up the rest of our pies and bring them home to Dad, who enjoyed them later on in the evening (he said Mom's was tasty, and mine was very potatoey - duhhhhh ... this is why he doesn't do reviews). Leona put both pieces in the same Styrofoam container and cleared away our dishes. In the meantime, the chef had paid a visit to our table to ask how everything was. At first when I saw him coming over, I thought that he may have overheard that brat screaming about my photograph. However, he was stopping by every table to make sure that each customer was having a great time and enjoying their food. What a great thing to see! It's nice that someone cares if their patrons are happy. Leona returned to bring the bill. Our total came to:
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2 Diet Cokes - $4.30

1 Potato Skin - 7.45

1 Linguica, bacon - 7.20

Subtotal - $18.95

Tax - .95

TOTAL = $19.90

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Considering we had just spent $17.90 at Madrid Bakery in Marlboro, MA, we thought that this dinner was a steal. We left $24 on the table for Leona, which included a 20% tip for her excellent service. Before heading to Swansea to do our weekly errands, I visited the restroom. Like Mom, I found it clean and neat. As we left The Cabin, we grabbed an updated take-out menu. The chef was standing by the door and thanking customers as they headed out to the parking lot. We love that guy! If more chefs/owners cared about their customers, perhaps they would have more business. Just a thought ...
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Although we don't really have to say it, we will definitely be going back to The Cabin. We've had several meals there - everything from chicken Parmesan to Greek salad - and they have always been fantastic. The service is always great, the prices are excellent, and the portions are large. Luckily for me, I can leave my camera at home on my next visit (I'm still mad at that damn kid).
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The Cabin is open from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 12-8 p.m. on Sunday. They are closed on Monday.

Madrid European Bakery & Patisserie

1019 Boston Post Road
Marlboro, MA 01752
(508) 485-8844

www.madridbakery.com

As you may have read in our "restaurant graveyard" section, Esler's American Bakery in Marlboro, MA, has closed. New England Bites is always sad to learn of the passing of an eatery, especially during these tough times. However, we noticed on our last trip to the Wayside Country Store, which is in the same plaza where this bakery was located, that the building was being renovated. Like a super sleuth, I called Esler's old number a few weeks ago to see if a) Esler's had returned, or b) something new had taken over. What I thought I heard was an Asian gentleman telling me that, in Esler's place, was a Mandarin bakery. Mom had always wanted to visit an Asian bakery because she wants to try pork buns, which are little buns with spicy Asian pork inside. Not wanting to disappoint Mom, we took the long drive to Marlboro to check out this Mandarin bakery. Lo and behold, I was completely wrong about what I'd heard over the phone. It wasn't a Mandarin bakery with Asian employees. It was a bakery called MADRID with European employees! Oops. Good thing Mom didn't run in there asking for pork buns. We would have gotten a few blank stares. Luckily for us, my misinterpretation of what was said on the phone brought us to Marlboro to try some of the best pastries we've ever had. We entered Madrid a little after 4 p.m.

Inside was a large cooler display case featuring several mouthwatering cakes and desserts. Scattered around the bright and sunny room were bags of colorful meringues, loafs of fresh tea cakes and breads, and boxes of homemade cookies. Mom and I didn't know where to look first. Luckily for us, a woman, who we believed to be the owner, emerged from the back and greeted us. She was very polite and was more than willing to answer any questions we may have had, and informed us that she had just gotten through putting out the freshly baked tea cakes. No wonder it smelled so good in there! She also offered Mom and I pink and yellow meringues, which melted in our mouths.

With Mom spinning herself silly (we all know how excited she gets in bakeries), the woman behind the counter continued to explain that everything sold at Madrid has been made on the premises. Mom spotted a jar of empty cannoli shells, and the owner told us that the reason she doesn't like to fill the cannolis right away is because they always taste better when they've been freshly stuffed. Right on! No one likes a soggy cannoli.

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After a few minutes of staring at everything with our mouths open, we decided to buy something. Mom picked up a bag of chocolate dipped coconut macaroons to take home ($5.95), and we decided to get a few real cream desserts that we already knew wouldn't make it back home in one piece. During this time, a woman came in to pick up a cake she had ordered. It looked beautiful, and as she stuffed herself with the free meringues, she ordered a box of pastry and some extra goodies to eat in the car. Hmm ... could she be a long lost relative that we don't know about?

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We decided to get two small cannolis ($1.35 each) which had chocolate chips peeking out of each end (the owner asked us if we wanted the chips, and of course, the answer is always yes). We also got a chocolate eclair ($2.95) and their signature dessert - the San Marcos ($5.45). Now we know what you're thinking - who pays $5.45 for one small dessert? Well, this isn't just some piece of cake or cookie. It is a creme brulee tort with layers of creamy custard, soft cake, and a crunchy sugar top. It also comes in a chocolate version, but we decided to try the original first. Our total came to a whopping:

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Coconut macaroons - $5.95

2 small cannolis - 2.70 (1.35 each)

chocolate eclair - 2.95

San Marcos - 5.45

Subtotal - $17.05

Tax - .85

TOTAL = $17.90

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Yes, Madrid is very expensive. However, considering that we've never seen any bakery quite like this one, and it has some of the most beautiful homemade desserts that we've ever seen, it is really worth the money. For all the work that goes into these items, they have the right to charge a higher price than someone who just slaps a donut on a piece of wax paper. You have to pay for quality.

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When we left Madrid, the woman told us to tell our friends about the bakery. Although our friends will probably think that we're crazy for spending $17.90 on pastry, we didn't care. We couldn't wait to try something - and that moment came as soon as we got to the car. We busted out the two cannolis and chowed down. The smaller size was great for a two- or three-bite dessert. Mom loved the fact that they were freshly filled. The cannoli cream was very light and delicate, while the shell itself was fresh, crisp, and lightly dusted with powdered sugar. It was a really tasty treat, and wasn't overwhelming heavy like a lot of cannolis are. We also liked that the shell wasn't covered in chocolate. Those type of shells taste good, but they break easily and it's almost like you can't taste the cream inside because of all the chocolate.

As for the two remaining desserts, they lasted until the evening. After we did our grocery shopping, we decided to finish them off. Just like last week's "cookies on the dashboard," we ended this lovely day of errands with "pastries on the driver's seat." We even decided to purchase some cutlery for the car to go with our freezer bag since we do a lot of "dashboard dining." Of course, we split each one in two so that each of us could taste both pastries. We loved how each dessert was placed on its own small cardboard tray. It really made for an easy transition from the box to the plate. First, we had the San Marcos. Both Mom and I thought the San Marcos tasted like a marriage between creme brulee and tiramisu. The cake layers with the cream in between definitely had a tiramisu feel to them, but the caramel top was definitely creme brulee. Together, they were fantastic. This is the kind of dessert that would be a big hit if you really wanted to impress your guests. The chocolate eclair was excellent. Instead of being filled with the typical boiled (Boston) cream, it was filled with a chocolate pastry cream. It was very different from the eclairs that are found in local bakeries. It was almost overflowing with cream and topped with a thin layer of chocolate ganache. The pastry itself was fresh and flaky. This is definitely another dessert that is suitable both for family and friends.

Once we got the macaroons - the only remaining dessert - home, we shared them with Dad. The macaroons came six to a pack and had a chocolate bottom. Mom and I found them to be very flavorful and crisp, and the chocolate at the end gave it a nice touch. Dad would have preferred them to be a little chewier, but he still thought they were very tasty. Oh Dad, this is why we leave you out of most of the food trials. Tacos are too spicy, ice cream is too sweet - it's supposed to be!!! Either way, the macaroons were a big hit, along with the other delicious goodies we picked up at Madrid.

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Mandarin bakery or not, we love Madrid. However, we're really not sure how well they're going to do considering the current state of the economy. Not everyone is going to want to run out and buy a few pastries for $20. We hope and pray that people are willing to splurge on these fine European pastries because they really are worth trying. We saw a cannoli cake that was to die for (approximately $25) and we almost drove back to pick up a box of caramel-filled cookies that were dipped in chocolate. This bakery is one of a kind. They don't just sell pastries, they create beautiful works of art. You're almost afraid to eat them because you'll ruin the exquisite design (somehow we got over that fast). We will absolutely be stopping in again, and we hope you do the same.

Madrid European Bakery & Patisserie is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. They are closed on Monday.

Bite of the Week - Ghirardelli Walnut Brownie Mix

Can you believe it? I'm cooking again. I actually enjoy it more now than I ever have, but I still don't like the actual touching of the food while I'm preparing it. I know - I'm weird. How else am I going to get the food on the plate? Still, I'm working on it. Today, I decided to make a brownie mix that we've had in our cupboard for a few weeks (and believe me, I've been dying for it since its arrival). I'm so glad that Ghirardelli has not shied away from including walnuts in this mix because I am so sick of people with their nut allergies ruining brownies. When I was young, it was rare to see a batch of homemade brownies that didn't contain nuts. Now, all you hear is, "Nuts make me sick," or, "I can't breathe - call an ambulance." What the Hell? I can't have walnuts because you can't breathe? Oh well, enough about that. Now that I can actually operate the oven, I can't turn back the clock and beg Mom to whip these up for me. She'll just yell, "Make them yourself!" Understood, so here we go:

STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

STEP TWO: Spray an 8x8" metal pan with non-stick cooking spray. Mom told me that Martha Stewart suggests that, when making brownies, you should pour the mix onto parchment paper rather than directly into the pan. That way you won't have to spend the rest of the day trying to scrape the brownies off of the bottom. Good idea! Instead of spraying the pan, spray the paper. Oh, and yes, the paper is a huge pain in the a**.

STEP THREE: Pour 1/4 cup of water into a mixing bowl, which may or may not contain irreversable spaghetti sauce damage.

STEP FOUR: Pour 1/4 cup of vegetable oil into the bowl.

STEP FIVE: Crack an egg and put it into the bowl.

STEP SIX: Blend the egg, water, and oil until they are ... well ... blended.

STEP SEVEN: Pour in the Ghirardelli Walnut Brownie Mix.

STEP EIGHT: Stir until mix is fully moistened.

STEP NINE: Spoon batter into the pan, or in this case, into the center of that crazy parchment paper.

STEP TEN: Put the pan into the oven.

STEP ELEVEN: Set cook time between 38-42 minutes. I chose 38 to start.

STEP TWELVE: After the time has ended, check your brownies. I had to leave them in an extra two minutes because they weren't fully cooked. To check to see if they are ready, put a knife into the brownies. If the knife comes out clean, they're done. If the knife has liquid on it, leave them in a few more minutes.

STEP THIRTEEN: Take the ends of the parchment paper and pull it gently away from the pan. Put the brownies (still in the paper) on the counter/table to cool down. Because they're out of the pan, they'll cool faster (which is awesome because at this point I was dying for one).

STEP FOURTEEN: Cut and serve. The box said that I should have been able to get 16 brownies out of this mix, but I wanted nine big ones instead. You can do whatever you want. I just didn't want to be bothered having to get up to grab a second (or third) brownie.

THE VERDICT: Divine! Remember that Fig Newton jingle that went something like, "Ooey gooey, soft and chewy inside ... soft and cakey, tender flaky outside ..." Those aren't the right lyrics, but they get the point across. The brownies were fudgy without being too thick, and they had a cake texture without being too soft. Perfect! I adored the walnuts inside. It was such a nice change from years of forcing myself to eat nutless brownies (somehow I muddled through). I would definitely buy (or make Mom buy) this mix again, and I would HIGHLY recommend using the parchment paper. It was a pain to put in the pan, but it was well worth using it because I didn't have to struggle with removing the brownies. Plus, the brownies actually stayed in one piece! Thanks for the suggestion, Mom ... and Martha!