So I am a terrible blogger!!

But really, I've just had a hectic year. My boyfriend of 5 years moved out, I had a crappy living situation, my dad had court and my best friend talked me into moving to Phoenix! So here I am one year later, Phoenix, AZ sweating my ass off and loving all the new food opportunities at hand. I have tried so many new cafes and restaurants and haven't even put a dent in!! In Phoenix everyone lives a lot healthier. You kind of have too. I have already suffered from heat exhaustion and I've been here 6 weeks. Staying hydrated and eating right is what it all comes down to here! As always I have my yearly restaurant goal. 100 is the goal this year and I am at a whopping 65 already :) I'm hoping to be able to share new recipes, my spin on old recipes, some healthy tips and some restaurant reviews soon! But for now here are the 65 new restaurants I have tried thus far:
1. Atomic Cafe, Beverly, MA
2. Fugakyu, Brookline, MA
3. Harvard Gardens, Cambridge, MA
4. On the Border Cafe, Burlington, MA
5. In and Out Burger, Chandler, AZ
6. Jack in the Box, Suprise, AZ
7. Pita Jungle, Glendale, AZ
8. Rustlers Rooste, Tempe, AZ
9. Las Olas, Hampton, NH
10. Shot Cake, Burlington, MA
11. Marliave, Boston, MA
12. Bambara, Cambridge, MA
13. The Daily Grill, Boston, MA
14. The Fireplace, Brookline, MA
15. Kingston Station, Boston, MA
16. EVOO, Cambridge, MA
17. Gargoyles on the Square, Somerville, MA
18. Meritage, Boston, MA
19. Flour Bakery, Boston, MA
20. Salem Tipico Restaurant, Salem, MA
21. Mildred's Cafe, Lynn, MA
22. Popovers Cafe, Portsmouth, NH
23. Taberno de Haro, Brookline, MA
24. Bakery next door to Taberno de Haro, Brookline, MA
25. Fowles, Newburyport, MA
26. Pellana, Peabody, MA
27. Bar Americain, NYC, NY
28. Sugar Magnolias, Gloucester, MA
29. Postinos, Phoenix, AZ
30. El Encanto, Cave Creek, AZ
31. Baja Fresh, Phoenix, AZ
32. Kabuki, Tempe, AZ
33. Rubios, Phoenix, AZ
34. Paradise Bakery, Suprise, AZ
35. Cibos, Phoenix, AZ
36. Wildflower, Phoenix, AZ
37. Zen Zen Yogurt, Phoenix, AZ
38. Einstein Brothers Bagels, Phoenix, AZ
39. Zoe's Kitchen, Phoenix, AZ
40. Pick Up Stix, Phoenix, AZ
41. South Street Diner, Boston, MA
42. La Grande Orange, Phoenix, AZ
43. Sibling Rivalry, Boston, MA
44. Chandlers Icecream, Peabody, MA
45. Bill and Charlie's, Lawrence, MA
46. Legal Seafoods, Boston, MA
47. 5 and Diner, Phoenix, AZ
48. Z Pizza, Phoenix, AZ
49. Thai Basil, Tempe, AZ
50. Black Mountain Coffee Shop, Carefree, AZ
51. Teakwoods, Phoenix, AZ
52. The Main Ingredient, Phoenix, AZ
53. Carl's Jr., Phoenix, AZ
54. Green Burrito, Phoenix, AZ
55. Lolo's Fried Chicken and Waffles, Scottsdale, AZ
56. Four Peaks Brewery, Tempe, AZ
57. Papa Razzi, Boston, MA
58. Jersey Mikes, Phoenix, AZ
59. Cien Agaves, Scottsdale, AZ
60. Sprinkles, Scottsdale, AZ
61. Smashburger, Phoenix, AZ
62. Samurai Sams, Suprise, AZ
63. Loving Hut, Glendale, AZ
64. Teepee Mexican Restaurant, Phoenix, AZ
65. Sky Cafe, Scottsdale, AZ

Healthy Options When Eating Out!

Eating out can put a damper on our healthy diets. Places like the cheesecake factory offer many salads and what seem to be healthier options but actually are LOADED with calories! The Grilled Chicken Tostada salad has over 1000 calories. Woah! Learning ways to eat healthier when you go out will make you feel less guilty about it and make you enjoy your meals way more!

1. Get your dressing on the side. Obviously salads aren't bad for you; it's usually the dressings and the extra fried chips and such that are smothering it. When possible ask for the dressing on the side this puts you in control of how much dressing and calories you are putting into your body!

2. Look at the menu before you go. Reviewing the menu and deciding what you want before you go keeps you from making rash decisions at the restaurant. Also many restaurants are offering their nutritional information on many websites online such as thedailyplate.com and calorielab.com which can help in your at home decision making!

3. Get the fish. Due to modern technology many restaurants are able to get fresh and delicious seafood with in just a few days of being caught. If you live on the coast especially New England you have access to some of the countries best seafood including cod, lobster and crab! All of which are very good for you. Try to get baked, seared, broiled or grilled seafood over fried and stay away from heavy sauces. Pair it with a seasonal vegetable and you will be good to go!

4. Eating well at the drive thru window. Sometimes eating on the go is necessary! Try some of these option when at the drive thru window.

1. Grilled Chicken Sandwich

2. Turkey Sandwich

3. Bean Burrito

4. Kids Meal Burger

5. Salads with dressing on the side.

5. Go healthy for dessert. Many restaurants offer fresh seasonal fruit with fresh whipped cream for dessert. Or craving chocolate, try to stay with dark chocolate. There's less sugar and the higher percent of cocoa solids a piece of chocolate has the higher amount of antioxidants :). I'm not saying eat a whole chocolate cake maybe split a piece with you're partner.

I hope these tips help you frequent eat-outers with keeping healthy and light.

oopsie! i forgot one!

Haha, I was just reading through old posts and realized I forgot to put Mr. Indian, Newburyport, MA onto my list of restaurants for the year so I am going to put down a mass list and the number of stars I gave them to give everyone an easy guide!

1. Tennessee BBQ, Peabody, MA ***

2. Mr. Indian, Newburyport, MA ***

3. New England Soup Factory, Salem, MA ***

4. Top of the Hub, Boston, Ma ****

5. Wagamama, Boston, MA **** (I changed this because I have really grown to love Wagamama and the Wagamama chocolate cake is to die for!!!)

6. Ruth Chris Steakhouse, Boston, MA ****

7. Crepe Place in Harvard, Cambridge, MA ***

8. The purple onion, Newburyport, MA ****

9. Chipotle, Peabody, MA ****

10. Kookoo Cafe, Brookline, MA ****

11. Cafe Bistro, Nordstroms, Peabody, MA ****

12. U-Burger ***1/2

13. Cheers, Boston, MA *** (I changed this one too, cheers definitely isnt everything it's cracked up to be! the atmosphere is cook tho!)

14. Crispy Crepe Cafe, Boston, MA *****

15. Zaftigs, Brookline, MA ****

16. Comella's, Brookline, MA ****

17. Cravings, Kingston, MA ***

18. Black Seed Grille, Boston, MA ****

19. Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse, New port richey, Fl ***

20. Pressed, Boston, MA ***

21. Aquitaine, Boston, MA *****

22. Cafe Pompei, Boston, MA ***

23. Pilgrim Diner, Salem, MA ****

24. Capt's Waterfront Restaurant, Salem, MA ****

25. Charley's, Boston, MA ****

26. Summer Shack, Boston, Ma ***

27. Plaza III Steakhouse, Boston, MA *****

28. Persy's, Kingston, MA ***1/2

29. La Dolce Vita, Providence, RI *** 1/2

30. Salem Diner, Salem, MA ****

31. Rundogs Hotdog Stand, Beverly, Ma *** 3/4
32. The Living Room, Boston, MA
33. The Rice Bowl, Boston, MA
34. Brassiere Jo, Boston, MA

35. Smith and Wollensky, Boston, MA

36. PF Changs, Peabody, MA

37. Equal Exchange Cafe, Boston, MA

Foodie Establishment #24 Charley's, Boston, MA

Charley's on Newbury Street in Boston, MA is number 24 on the list! I went to a party Friday night and stayed in town with my friend Colin so we decided to get up early and go to breakfast. We were searching for Flour Bakery in the South End but I had a terrible time looking up directions on my phone so we decided as we about to pass the reflection pool at the Science Center to walk through the prudential and head down Newbury Street to a book store down there I knew had breakfast. As we were walking we passed outdoor brunch seating at Charley's. Everyone's food looked so fresh and delicious we decided to stop there. The brunch menu was small but reasonably priced and had good options. Every breakfast came with a free cocktail from a list on the top of the menu which included, mimosas, screwdrivers and bloody mary's to name a few. I didn't get a cocktail because they had decaf tea and I was more in the mood for that. I ordered the three egg omelet with bacon, peppers, onions, tomatoes and cheddar which came with english muffin, fruit and home fries. Colin ordered the Newbury Breakfast which came with eggs, english muffin, home fries and fresh fruit; he also ordered the freshly squeezed orange juice which had froth on top and seeds in it. (Can't get much more fresh squeezed than that.) Before the food came out the server brought over a basket with little mini muffins and butter. So cute and very good, I had a corn one. When the food came out the plates were huge. My omelet was the fattest omelet I have ever seen and it came with so many sides. Colin's eggs were also enormous and looked delicious. The food over all was outstanding. Everything was so fresh and not overly heavy like breakfast food can tend to be. I can't wait to go back to Charley's and try dinner.

Service: *****

Our server was such a sweetheart. Very knowledgeable about the menu and very friendly when asked for special requests. She was prompt and knew just when to come over and check on things.

Food:*****

One of the best breakfasts I have had in a long time.

Ambiance:****

Adorable. I love sitting outside on a Saturday morning on Newbury street. The weather was perfect and birds were chirping. It was great. My only gripe with sitting outside was how cramped the tables were together other than that it was great.

Noise: ***

Moderate, you are outside on Newbury Street. 

Foodie establishments # 23 Capt's Waterfront Restaurant

Capt's Waterfront Restaurant was number 23 on my list. It's in Salem, Ma down by downtown and the wharf. The restaurant is separated with a upscale casual bar/pub downstairs and a fancier dining room upstairs We sat downstairs because I am pretty sure the dining room was not open. The pub was small probably able to hold about 70 or so with a small bar in the corner. The view was gorgeous looking out over Salem Harbor and all the boats. We sat down and our server came over to take our drink orders. The menu was mainly seafood but had a section of quintessential bar/pub food. It included burgers, pot roast, meat loaf and so much more. There was also a fancier part of the menu that consisted of composed salads and appetizer plates. Al ordered the meat loaf and I ordered the pot roast which to much dismay the kitchen was out of, so I changed it to the Guinness and Onion Pie. The server brought over warm rolls and and soft butter, which to me is like a crowning jewel on a restaurant, I hate cold rolls and hard butter! The food took a long time to come out, probably over a half hour. When it finally did though everything was piping hot and looked delicious. Al's meat loaf he said was the best he had ever had out at a restaurant. It was a huge portion and was served with mashed potatoes and a green bean and carrot medley. My pie was made up of braised steak tips with a guinness jus and onions topped with puff pastry and served with mashed potatoes and the same green beans and carrots. My pie had really good flavor a couple of the pieces of the steak were a little chewy but on the whole it was pretty tender and good. I ordered dessert to go, it was a little disappointing. It was advertised as seasonal fruit tart and I was told it was a cherry cobbler tart. I expected a traditional fruit tart topped with cherry and streusel but it ended up being cherry filling inside a puff pastry shell with more orange flavor than cherry and a couple of side sauces that weren't great. The creme anglaise was good but the cherry sauce was not so palatable. Overall I would definitely go back to Capt's Waterfront again.

Service:*** (This is because of the long time I waited for my food, the server was delightful)

Meatloaf:*****

Guiness Pie:****

Ambiance:****

Noise:**

Food Establishment # 21 and 22 Pilgrim Diner and Cafe Pompei

Foodie Place #21 was the Pilgrim Diner in Salem, MA. An eclectic looking diner car on one of Salem's busier roads route 107, has counter service and maybe four or five booths. There are usually two people working the restaurant at a time, both of which were very friendly. The Pilgrim Diner car is an actual Worcester car from 1936. I love the nostalgia. I went in with Al and sat at a booth. I got a decaf tea and a veggie omelet (which I added cheese and bacon too :)) and Al got 2 eggs, sausage, home fries and toast. My omelet was enormous!! It had to be a foot by three inches. It was practically laying off the plate, there was also a generous portion of home fries and two pieces of wheat toast. Al's plate was also huge and the sausage looked really good! It was actually Italian sausage, no links or patties here just actual sausage caramelized to perfection on the flat top! Everything was delicious. I love diners. Behind the counter there was a special's board it boasted things like omelets, tomato soup and caramel apple french toast! I can't wait to go back and try more! And a definitely bonus, Pilgrim Diner is open all night starting a 10 pm Friday and Saturday! Awesome! Pilgrim Diner is fun, eclectic and delicious, I will definitely be going back.

Service: ****

Food: ****

Ambiance:*****

Noise: ***

Foodie Place # 22 is Cafe Pompei, North End, Boston, MA

So, I am sitting in Faneuil Hall with my friend Colin and we are both having the bitchiest conversation ever about where we want to eat. We both just wanted each other to pick and neither of us could decide. So finally I said I felt like Italian so we headed to the North End, both of us strapped for cash we decided to walk a bit and compare menus (they are posted outside at most restaurants in the North End) and finally decided to stop at Cafe Pompei. Our dinners would come to less than $20 each so we figured it was a safe bet. I ordered a dish (which I can not remember the name for the life of me) that consisted of linguini, a pinky sauce made of wine, parmesan cheese, artichokes, roasted red peppers, mushrooms and pan seared chicken cutlets. Colin got, what else, but the chicken parm! :) I enjoyed the sauce and veggies of my dish, I felt like there was maybe a little to much parmesan but other than that the pasta and sauce were good. The chicken in my dish however was definitely not seared well, it was mushy and soggy with no color which I hate. Even if no color was there intention soggyness I am sure was not. Colin also did not enjoy his chicken parm which is so disappointing. The service was great. Our server checked on us an adequate number of times and was very friendly each time. I may go back to Cafe Pompei to try their pastry but definitely not for dinner. 

Service: ****

Food: ** 1/2

Ambiance: ***

Noise: **

Food Establishment # 20 Aquitaine

         Boston's south end is an ever blossoming part of town with beautiful apartment buildings with spiral staircases and tons of new city life and restaurants. Aquitaine, not necessarily a newbie lies on the corner of Tremont Street with giant class windows and a small town frenchy feel. The restaurant's decor is dark but its well lit because of the large windows. We were sat at a two top at the end of a booth (the restaurant probably sat no more than 70.) As much as I hate extended booths with multiple tables the service and food well made up for it. Our server was very nice with much knowledge about the food. She served me a glass of  Rose which was alright, a little strong for my liking. We ordered a bottle of still water, which was topped off literally every time we took a sip, which at first I thought was a little annoying until I found out the bottle of water was $6.95 and I wanted every last drop. I ordered the roasted chicken breast with pommes puree and an au jus made of leeks, bacon and mushrooms. The chicken was cooked absolutely perfect. Nice and crisp on the outside and perfectly juicy on the inside. The potatoes were smooth and creamy with a nice buttery flavor and the sauce perfectly complimented the whole thing. My partner in crime ordered the Lemon Sole Meuniére with slivered snap peas, tomato concassé, buerre blanc & pommes purée. He described the fish as being one of the best he has had in a long time. Again the potatoes were creamy and buttery. I tried the potatoes with the sauce and the snap peas and they were amazing. the snap peas lent the perfect crunch and buerre blanc offered the most perfect creamy mouth feel to the potatoes. We decided against dessert and headed to modern pastry for tea and pastries. which, for any occasion deserves a blog of it's own! I will add pictures of aquitaine in the coming days.

Service *****

wine ****

roasted chicken *****

lemon sole *****

ambiance ****