Sometimes, Staying At Home Can Be Pretty Cool

My wife Angela is an incredible cook. And while we love to dine out, it is hard to beat her home cooking. I have compiled a list of her top 5 dishes to share with you. And yes, if you would like the recipe, contact me or her and we will forward it.

5. Meatloaf. A combination of beef and spicy sausage, with onions and loads of garlic, this loaf is a savory treat. It also makes for great leftover sandwiches, particularly when topped with cheese and placed on a bakery bun.

4. French Onion Soup. This is one of my favorite foods in the world, But Angela's version is completely different than typical restaurant fare. Full slices of high quality bread instead of a crouton or a small chunk combine perfectly with the savory broth and sweet onions. Topped with a generous amount of Swiss cheese and spiced perfectly, it is a soup to remember.

3. Sausage Gravy and Biscuits. I used to love to go from diner to diner and sample the gravy and biscuits. Hell, I even loved the Bob Evans version of it. Then I tried Angela's version. Rich and creamy, spicy, with a touch of pepper and garlic. And the perfect proportion of sausage to gravy. I don't order sausage gravy and biscuits when out at diners anymore. The bar has been set too high.

2. Spaghetti and Meatballs. Okay. I am an ass when it comes to Italian food. I am very picky. Traditional Sicilian style or nothing! With one exception: The southern Ohio bacon version. It is nothing like Mom's thin marinara (which is also incredible, review coming soon). Instead, this is a thick. rich, and garlic infused sauce with more than a hint of oregano. We call it "Italian Chili". Combined with beef and sausage meatballs with some bacon thrown in too, it is a unique experience. And a delicious one.

1. Homemade Chicken and Noodles. Hand rolled noodles made from scratch. A broth with a garlic pepper seasoning. Fresh chicken chunks. Nice and thick while still maintaining a soup like quality. Nuff said :)

All in all, it's kinda cool to eat at home. It helps to have a cook like Ange around. I am a lucky man.

Tuscan Table: New (smaller) Menu, Same Huge Portions

When a restaurant boasts about a new menu, it can often be deceptive. A lot times that means a smaller menu, and sometimes it means same prices, smaller portions. Tuscan Table in downtown Circleville now advertises a new menu. And in their case, the former was very true, and the latter anything but.

My family has been visiting this somewhat overlooked place in Roundtown for a while now. On my first visit, I was very skeptical. I come from an Italian-American family and am very picky about my Italian cuisine. Add to that the word "Tuscan" in the name, and I had visions of lots of North Italy dishes involving Alfredo sauces. Not my cup of tea.that's

I was pleasantly surprised, however, and have enjoyed every one of my visits since. The food is quite good, and the portions are amazing. See the picture in the upper right? That is a chicken breast. Yes, it actually covered my large plate from edge to edge. It had to be the biggest piece of chicken I have ever seen.

So we showed up tonight and saw the "new" menu. It was printed on a place mat and was probably half the size of the old one. Nothing new, just a lot of things eliminated, most notably ravioli. An Italian joint without ravioli? That's like a greasy diner that doesn't offer burgers. Just not right.

Fortunately, they still had a lot of their signature dishes. Angela and I ordered lasagna and the aforementioned Chicken Parmesan and agreed to split both. Good call. As mentioned earlier, the portion sizes here are unreal. The chicken is a deep fried and delicious chunk that is nearly the size of a flat football. It is covered in a garlic heavy marinara sauce and smothered with cheese. The lasagna, a favorite of mine, is a hearty, huge, and tall chunk of deliciousness. Topped with the same tasty sauce, it is highly recommended by this picky Italian.

Overall, the experience was awesome as usual, despite the smaller menu. And there was actually even a positive that came out the the menu cut. One of the only complaints I have had about Tuscan Table in the past is the service. It would take forever for the food to arrive. Tonight, due in part to the streamlined menu, our food arrived in record time, and the service was excellent and very attentive. I highly recommend this place. It's worth the trip down to Circleville.

Thurman Cafe Part 2: The Beast On My Plate

The thing in front of me was ominous. 12 ounces of beef, about a half a pound of ham, crazy amount of onions, mushrooms, and bacon. I took a bit, and it was outrageous. Perfectly seasoned, wonderfully messy, and probably the largest thing I have ever eaten. I enjoyed every bite, and so did my company with their meals. The chili dogs are also highly advised, according to a friend. May have to try that next. I do love a good chili dawg.

All in all, this place rocks. Worth the wait, but don't try to get in on a Friday night. Instead, find a few good friends, head down on a Monday afternoon, and prepare to wait a little while nonetheless. It is worth it. Enjoy!

Coming tomorrow, my observations on Cameron's American Bistro in Linworth.

Thurman's Cafe: A burger that (almost) left me speechless

Thurman Cafe, located in the heart of the German Village district of Columbus, Ohio, has long been a Central Ohio landmark. And once upon a time, not that long ago, it was a locally well known but unassuming spot that had terrific food and a loyal following. And, then, food oriented television came along.

Now don't get me wrong, my wife and I love food shows. It's one television concept we can agree wholeheartedly on. But this place was rated one of the top 30 places to "chow down" on The Travel Channel. It has been featured on Man v Food, Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, and many other lesser known shows. And when a place gets pub like that, it can only lead to one thing: enormous popularity. And that leads to something else....lonnng waits for a seat.

This is great for an owner of one of the "chosen" places. However, it turns the average patron's experience from one of visiting a local diner into something resembling waiting to get into a popular Manhattan night club. Crowded wait areas, lots of noise, and long periods of patient waiting. That being said, if the food lives up to it's rep, it is worth the wait. And that was certainly the case here.

We met another couple, who are definitely "foodies" as well, at about 2pm on a Monday, The wait was still 45 minutes, even at possibly the most off time of the week for a restaurant, We decided ro hang and rock with it. Literally. A Rolling Stones pinball machine, internet jukebox, and a cold draft or two made time fly by. After about 40 minutes, we were seated.

Despite the crowd, the service was prompt. We all had cold drafts in front of us within 2 minutes. I perused the menu and decided that onion straws and Chicken Cordon Bleu Balls (insert joke here) sounded like a great start. We ordered and and enjoyed our brews.

As we grooved to The Clash rocking out some "Rudie Can't Fail" (sorry, really irritated looking old couple in the corner), our apps arrived. They did not disappoint. The Bleu Balls were awesome, deep fried goodness. Especially with hot sauce. And the straws we delicious, crispy and savory with a subtle spicy kick, Great start.

I stepped outside for a smoke, came back in,and grabbed another draft. My girl and I rocked out to a little Suicidal Tendencies, and then it arrived. Apt choice of music, because upon seeing this behomoth burger on my plate, I realized that eating it would contribute to my slow suicide. Nonetheless, I dug in.