The Capital Grille

Located all around the US, Capital Grille has a reputation for serving nationally renowned aged steaks. The food and décor are matched at elegant perfection and the service is always at the highest attention.

Allergy Info:
Allergy Friendly
Not vegetarian Friendly

Foodie Rundown:
Prosciutto Wrapped Mozzarella with Vine Ripe Tomatoes – this tasted like a mozzarella stick but instead of breading, it is wrapped in prosciutto, get to share, but you may not want to after the first bite!
Capital Grille Chopped Salad – everything but the kitchen sink! Definitely order to share because this salad is huge, unless your appetite can fit this and a steak, so take your time
Lobster and Crab Stuffed Shrimp – All in the title and more, butterflied shrimp stuffed with fresh lobster and crab, lightly breaded and served for your taste buds to enjoy. What an outrageous seafood loving entrée
Filet Mignon – No Fat, perfectly cooked, cannot go wrong
Sides:
Lobster Mac n Cheese
Grilled Asparagus
And don’t forget the Au Gratin Potatoes – full of potatoes, cream and cheese, topped with lots of bread crumbs!

Locations:
New York City
Philadelphia
Seattle
Boston
DC
Miami
Orlando
Houston
Atlanta
Chicago
Las Vegas
LA
JUST to name a few…for the complete list – check out the location link!
http://www.thecapitalgrille.com/locations/Main.asp

Travel Thursday - Hey Cupcake!

Guest Post by Gina Oliva – Thank you!

Today we’re traveling to Austin, Texas. Although Austin is weird, (if you’ve been you totally know the saying), but gourmet cupcakes are never weird especially at Hey Cupcake!

There are simple flavors ranging from Vanilla to Chocolate, to 24 Carrot and Michael Jackson. The best is that they offer gluten free options, such as Pina Colada. A tropical paradise for those who are gluten free! Oh and if you’re in the area, and you go to their website, or click on the link here (http://www.heycupcake.com/index.php), you can enter your email address for a FREE cupcake. Yes, I said FREE!

Allergy Info:
Gluten Free Cupcake Option

Foodie Rundown:
Pina Colada- Trying to fit in with the Austin mentality of fitness and healthy eating, I choose a Gluten Free cupcake after a delicious dinner at South Congress Café across the street. I was not expecting much, just that I would not feel as bad for my decision to say “Screw It” and eat a cupcake. It was well worth it. Hands down no one would have known it was gluten free. After taking my first bite, my second bite was even better. To my surprise the cupcake was filled with pineapples to make the cupcake even moister. The only deduction was that the icing was super sweet. I don’t have much of a sweet tooth (would rather eat another bowl of pasta than dessert ;)), so I would have preferred more of a cream cheese frosting, such as the one they have on their delicious red velvet cupcakes, which are not gluten free. The Pina Colada cupcake was as close as I could get to pretending I was on a beach and a great example of how eating gluten free does not always match up with the stereotypes associated with it.

Locations:
Everythings bigger in Texas…
North Austin
South Austin
Four Points
Braker
San Marcos

Gluten Free Party!

So last night, I went to a restaurant called Risotteria with my friend who eats all gluten free due to dietary restrictions. She has a difficult time finding restaurants that have enough gluten free options. Well, FEAR NO MORE! As Risotteria strives to be 100% gluten free! Not only will you not feel like you’re eating gluten free, you will eat bread, pizza, panini’s and even cupcakes that are all 100% gluten free.

Being that I don’t have to eat gluten free, this place is great for people who have friends or spouses that can’t eat gluten. The food is outrageous, fresh and tastes like normal bread and carb-like gluten filled items.

Allergy Info:
100% Gluten Free

Foodie Rundown:
Gluten Free Pizza - Pesto with Zucchini and sundried tomatoes – yummy! Small pie to share as an appetizer was a great idea!
Risotto with prosciutto, scallions and fontina cheese (pictured)
Risotto with mushrooms (pictured)
Peanut Butter fudge cupcake – this was so tasty! The frosting tasted like chocolate / peanut butter heaven with a rich chocolate cake bottom (pictured)
Gluten Free Ciabatta bread, for sale at the front desk (they also sell: chocolate chip cookies, black and white cookies and a fake twinkie – all which are gluten free!)
Gluten free wines and beer! (the gluten free beer is of course the most exciting for gluten – free friends!)

Location:
Bleeker between 6th and 7th

Make sure to check out their website for more details on the menu and other items for sale. Remember, they do not take reservations, and cannot sit more than 6 people at a table. The restaurant is small, so come with a big appetite and get there early!

http://www.risotteria.com/

Veggie Tales!

This is one of my all time favorite restaurants in NYC. I have been to 2 out of the 3 locations in the city (west village and Chelsea) and they have yet to let me down.

Westville, is known for being fresh, simple, vegetarian and vegan friendly! Their mom and pop style restaurant is a local hot spot that I frequent. They have a great menu full of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, hot dogs and veggies. The veggies are daily specials and are definitely my favorite part of the menu, (and I'm totally not a vegetarian) they are always fresh and delicious!

Allergy Info:
Vegetarian Friendly
Vegan Friendly
Nut Friendly

Foodie Rundown:
Greek Salad - Salad portions are huge, which is great for a dinner salad!
Veggie Chili – my parents love this!
Grilled Cheese: Cheddar / Gouda blend melted on a Portuguese muffin (with bacon) – this will just melt in your mouth, fat kid style (see picture)

Veggies (Note – these vary by location / day but here are some of my favs)
Arichoke Hearts with Parmesan
Soy Glazed Green beans
Broccoli with Garlic
Honey Dijon Brussel Sprouts – another brussel sprout award from Foodergie! (these will totally clear out your sinuses, so make sure you like Dijon!)
Tomato, Basil and Mozzarella
Korean Cucumber Salad – So fresh, great during the spring / summer!


Locations:
Chelsea - 18th between 7th and 8th
East Village - Avenue A and 11th
West Village – Bleeker and West 4th (this one only has about 8 tables, so try and go at an off time so you don’t have to wait too long!)

Daily Specials are listed on Westville’s website, they also deliver, so make sure you check the delivery map! http://www.westvillenyc.com/

As seen on serious eats! http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2011/07/a-sandwich-a-day-grilled-cheese-with-bacon-an.html

Bagel Magic

So before I rave about all the allergy friendly options here, the innovativeness, and the absolutely pure genius of providing a “salad” type bar for your cream cheese mix ins, this place is a goldmine.

Vic’s Bagel Bar has over 15 types of fresh bagels that will be sure to delight your hangover on Sunday morning. The whole wheat everything bagel will never disappoint, and for those who are more carb conscious, the whole wheat everything Flagel (a flat bagel) will give you all the satisfaction of eating a carb filled bagel.

Moving onto the cream cheese. The cream cheese bar, is by far, the best part of Vics Bagel Bar. Choose your base, regular, low, or no fat cream cheese. And choose mix ins from the following :
Take big breath now!
Bananas
Carrots
basil
sprinkles
raisins
cucumber
dill
chocolate chips
tomatoes
broccoli
parsley
potato chips
red onion
corn
cilantro
kosher bacon bits
green peppers
chickpeas
scallions
strawberries
pesto
wasabi
za'atar
blueberries
roasted red peppers
edamame
feta

Wow! There are still more??? Breathe in…

mangoes
black olives
bbq sauces
goat cheese
walnuts
sundried
capers
cheddar
cheese
cashews
tomatoes
avocado
bacon
Chopped lox
grilled chicken

Ok so from all of these mix-ins you can put into your cream cheese, you can have a different customized bagel anytime you go Vics. The best news? Is that they now offer a GLUTEN FREE BAGEL!

Oh, did I mention that they deliver? So if you’re hungover and can’t leave your apartment, order 2 bagels to meet the delivery threshold (yes, I’ve done this before), freeze a bagel and eat the other!

Allergy Info:
Please mention any allergies to the guys behind the counter, they are very accommodating
Gluten Free Bagels!
Flagels (carb conscious)

Foodie Rundown:
Many different options, but here are a few that I tend to see…
Bagel: Whole wheat everything
Base: no fat cream cheese
Mix-ins: scallions, cucumbers and sundried tomatoes

Bagel: Blueberry bagel
Base: low fat cream cheese
Mix-ins: strawberries, blueberries and mangoes

Bagel: Whole wheat everything bagel
Base: cream cheese
Mix-ins: lox, scallions and capers

Location:
544 3rd Avenue (Cross Street 36th St)

Order online at Seamless Web! (www.Seamlessweb.com)

http://vicsbagelbar.com/