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Philrad's Phoodie Thread


Philrad71

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Bill/Joey - I also LOVE me some good balsamic!

 

Michael was dying to try that flatbread so went to the third U Pick 6 establishment after spending the night in Erie to see Cirque Holidaze last week (amazing show, BTW!).

 

This time, he got the bacon grape flatbread and I got the chipotle smoked wings with Thai Asian BBQ sauce. While the wings were tasty and the sauce was incredible, I still like my wings the old fashioned way - deep fried and not baked!

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Smokey goodness, but I still prefer the original Buffalo way - deep fried!

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I really do love this creation...and I love U Pick 6 restaurants! :-)

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  • 1 month later...

^ I have been bad about that, Bill...but I promise that I will make up for it in the near future!

 

We are going to Aruba soon, so that should provide a good opportunity for some unique Caribbean "Phoodie" adventures!

 

Actually, we are going out locally for wings and beer tonight to a place that I have never been before (my friend raves about their wings). I will make sure to snap some photos if they are good!

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^ I have been bad about that, Bill...but I promise that I will make up for it in the near future!

 

We are going to Aruba soon, so that should provide a good opportunity for some unique Caribbean "Phoodie" adventures!

 

 

have you been before?

 

we were there about a year ago (on a cruise with terrible food), and had a WONDERFUL lunch at "the Paddock" (the fish soup was amazing), and then we had dinner that night at Bavaria restaurant (the schnitzel was among the best i've ever had).

 

here's a couple of pics from the Paddock (tho I'm 50lbs lighter these days)

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^ This will be our first trip, Bert!

 

We are flying out of Buffalo to JFK and then a straight shot from there to the island. We are staying at the Aruba Beach Club for a week with my partner, his sister and her wife, their best friends (straight couple) and a lesbian friend - we all have separate suites only steps away from the beach.

 

I did some initial research regarding restaurants in the area and immediately picked up on the Bavarian restaurant! I will have to also check out The Paddock and see where it's proximity is to the resort as I don't think that we are getting a rental car.

 

One thing we have to avoid are restaurants with nothing but seafood - Michael doesn't do anything that lives in water!

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^ This will be our first trip, Bert!

 

We are flying out of Buffalo to JFK and then a straight shot from there to the island. We are staying at the Aruba Beach Club for a week with my partner, his sister and her wife, their best friends (straight couple) and a lesbian friend - we all have separate suites only steps away from the beach.

 

I did some initial research regarding restaurants in the area and immediately picked up on the Bavarian restaurant! I will have to also check out The Paddock and see where it's proximity is to the resort as I don't think that we are getting a rental car.

 

One thing we have to avoid are restaurants with nothing but seafood - Michael doesn't do anything that lives in water!

 

you'll have a wonderful time. . and you'll HAVE to go get this pic (which is not too far from the Cruise Ship port. . . right where the Paddock is (and it's painted like a cow. .so it's THEMED. . LOL)). . the City Hall and lots of shopping -- as well as a few casinos are right there too.

 

definitely worth the trip just for the giant letters pic tho

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^ Cool...I will have to check that out as it reminds of the big sign in Amsterdam!

 

I know that we have a casino directly across the street from our resort, but not sure if it's one of the ones near that sign or not. Michael's sister and wife have been going there forever and have 5 weeks of time share per year (they are giving us one of those weeks)...although I don't think that they go off-resort very often.

 

Mostly beach, pool, casino & repeat. lol

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Looking online for you, the Aruba Beach club is right up the coast from downtown (where the I <3 Aruba, shopping, and other stuff I mentioned is).

 

not walking distance, but prolly a $10 cab ride along the beach to the Cruise ship terminal. . and then everything else is walk able from there

 

have a great time!

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  • 3 weeks later...

Hi folks,

Well, I'm saddened to say that our Aruba trip has come to an end. Although I have to say that this vacation was the true definition of paradise! Perfect water, beaches, drinks, food, fun, relaxation...what more could one really ask for?

 

Although we got screwed out of one day at the resort due to a plane malfunction in Buffalo, at least we were able to spend 6.5 days there just enjoying everything mentioned above.

 

Sooooo....is anybody hungry?

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We now do the park, sleep & fly in Buffalo due to the fact that we are 1.5 hours from the Buffalo/Niagara airport....and one never knows what kind of weather will be encountered in Western NY in late February/early March. Unfortunately, it wasn't the weather that delayed us this time though (stupid plane, anyway).

 

On our last trip to Hungary, Czech Republic and Austria, Michael and I started the trip out in style by eating at one of the most posh restaurants in Buffalo - Salvatore's Italian Gardens. Russell Salvatore is somewhat of a legend in Buffalo due to this restaurant. Since opening Italian Gardens, he has opened two hotels as well as this place - Russell's Steaks, Chops and More (attached to Salvatore's Grand Hotel). Probably one of the swankiest places in all of Buffalo!

 

We got to meet him as he is the greeter at Russells...a true definition of an older gentlemen. In past years, he has bought out hundreds of thousands of Buffalo Bills tickets that were remaining for non sold-out games...just so fans could watch the games on TV before the blackout ban was lifted last year.

 

He would then donate those tickets to Boys and Girls Club as well as our veterans of foreign wars. A real class act...you don't see multi-millionaires that do things like that on a regular basis anymore.

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This is the bar area where they had music videos with great music, including live performances of David Bowie (RIP).

 

I particularly like the wine bottles on the ceiling & walls! :-)

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Even bread and butter is exotic at Russell's.

 

An olive blend that was absolutely delicious accompanied by whipped regular creamed butter and one with (I think) rasberry compote mixed with the creamed butter (in the middle)

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Here is the Arugula Berry Salad with strawberries, warmed roasted red peppers and toasted pecans topped with a peach habanera glaze - OMG OUTSTANDING!

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My meal was the Filet Au Poirve which had cremini mushrooms, brandy and peppercorn sauce with a veggie accompaniment.

 

I am salivating just looking at these photos again!

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Michael opted for the 10 oz filet with a Bearnaise sauce on the side.

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The five cheese Au Gratin potatoes were almost as ungodly as the filet mignon....soooooo good!

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And if you say medium rare...you will get just that!!!

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Ummmmm yeah....better bring your American Express card with you.

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Yay....we finally made it to Aruba!

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No food, but almost like food porn....I give you - beach porn.

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Here's a pic of our resort taken from a sunset (booze) cruise.

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First meal of the night was a bacon cheeseburger at the resort next door.

 

Is this the real cheeseburger in paradise?

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Meh....it was good, but nothing outstanding. Guess that I should have posted this in the MMMMMMM.....burger thread? ;-)

 

More Aruba coming soon...thanks for reading!

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^^ I don't think you should post anything in the Mmmm.....Burger thread, unless you thought

the burger was actually.... good enough for you? Doesn't sound like it was, from your caption.

 

The other food?

 

And the PRICE of the other food?

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^^ Thanks Bert...after seeing the photo of the sign you posted, we both wanted to get downtown to get a photo for a must-do opportunity. While we didn't get into The Paddock across the street, it certainly looked like a very cool restaurant!

 

^ Bill....yes, Michael and I both about crapped when we first saw the total of the bill. But keep in mind that we had 2 Crown Royal Manhattan's each and a "nightcap" of B&B before we left. Those damned liquor tabs are what will escalate any dinner bill in a hurry!

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^ I think that the Crown Royal Manhattan's were like $12 each and the B& B was $14...so definitely pricey and something that we will probably never do again unless we hit the lottery!

 

The 10 oz filets were $42 each (I believe) and the potatoes and salads were ala carte.

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More from Aruba...

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This was a breakfast "Mexican Wrap" that I had at our on-site restaurant: Ricardo's. It is a beach-side restaurant with good food and some of the best hot sauce that I have ever eaten (in the cup). It was a mustard concoction blended with Scotch Bonnet peppers and Habanero's so it had a plenty of bite!

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Another reason to love this place...Happy Hour 2 for 1 drinks from noon-1:00, 4:00-6:00 and 9:00-10:00!

 

The Mango Martini's on the left (Cosmo's on the right) were my favorite and were to die for!

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The only beer that I am aware of that is brewed in Aruba is Balashi. Kinda looks similar to Heineken and tasted similar too...not that that's a bad thing.

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Matthew's was a posh beach-side restaurant at the resort next door. Michael got another filet and while good, it was no where near as good as the one at Russell's....but not nearly as expensive either. ;-)

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Being in the Caribbean, I had to go for the Caribbean shrimp. Spicy, sweet, garlicky....awesome!

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Iguana Joe's is right across the street from the cruise docks in downtown Oranjestad and has great empanada's, Jamaican Jerk chicken skewers and even more great hot sauce - I bought both kinds to bring home with me.

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For our final night on Aruba, we all took a cab to Bavaria...an awesome German restaurant about three miles from our resort.

 

Michael's meal on the right was thin tenderloin beef with pickles, onions and bacon wrapped inside, along with sides of red cabbage and spaetzle. Very good!

 

And for the beer enthusiasts, they had 200 different kinds of beer on the menu to choose from. ;-)

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My final meal on the island was two huge pieces of Weinerschnitzel, spaetzle and sauerkraut washed down with two very good bottles of Bavarian Lager.

 

It doesn't get much better than this, folks!

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The restaurant was in a highly Americanized strip mall.

 

Do they have Quickie Lickie Laundromat's in America?

 

Is this a laundry with a happy ending? LOL!

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Goodbye Aruba...hope to return someday soon!

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^ Oh yes...it was very good.

 

Although I think that THE best schnitzel that I have ever had was in Budapest, Hungary at some small restaurant near our hotel. The piece was about twice the size of my plate and this was where I was introduced to Eros Pista - probably the best condiment ever!

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I need to order more of this stuff - I'm almost out!

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 3 weeks later...

^ It was, Joey...one of the best filet mignon's that I have ever had!

 

And here is a mini-update from the Ellicottville West Brewpub in Fredonia, NY. This place is not far from I-90 so if you are making a quick run from say Waldameer to Fantasy Island and want a good place for lunch, it is highly recommended!

 

 

EBC West

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I went completely different with the Poblano Goat Cheese Burger - which is a beer burger (cooked the way you like) topped with beer braised mushrooms, goat cheese and poblano peppers. Throw in some fresh-cut fries covered in vinegar and a Stainless Steel Obsession draft IPA and you have yourself one tasty (if not completely filling) meal!

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Michael opted for a more traditional Reuben, which he said was excellent.

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I threw on the lettuce, onion and pickle for an even funkier taste.

 

What a great burger!!!

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