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3 piece dark with mac and cheese, Miami Fried Chicken, South Beach, Miami, FL

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From Louisville to South Florida

Louisville was a great food visit for a weekend! It's a nice mid sized city that is easy to get around by car or, if you are drinking, by ride share. One thing that I had hoped to do was the famed bourbon trail, to visit a few distilleries! I guess that I'll save that for a future visit, which gives me a reason to return. And I will definitely return to this lively, interesting city full of friendly people. Now on to Miami and Key West, where I'll be splitting a week's vacation. To be honest, I have visited different parts of FL a number of times and never been a big fan. This upcoming visit is a destination birthday party so I know we will make our own fun. But finding good restaurants will always be an important part of any trip that I take and I wasnt impressed with what I saw and tasted. I'm happy to give Miami another chance and hope to find some great food!! I have never been to Key West and am excited to see what it's all about. I have been told by numerous friends what a great place that Key West is to visit. I have done a little research for this trip with regards to food so I'm hoping that KW has some interesting food to offer!! I know that the weekend will be an amazing party and I look forward to sharing my experiences here!! Have a great day!!

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Mike Linnigs, Louisville, KY

I saw Mike Linnigs online and thought a nice drive and a seafood lunch would be a great idea!! The menu offered a variety of seafood and one of my personal favorites, turtle soup! As I enjoy driving, I got in the car to have some lunch! It was about a 30, 40 minute drive out of town. The restaurant was close to the river so I took a little walk down before I went in and ordered. Not a lot to see there but it was certainly quiet and peaceful! It was a fairly warm sunday afternoon, so the restaurant was busy as I expected. Be prepared for a wait, this place seems to be very popular!! I knew that I wanted the turtle soup and some kind of fried seafood. I settled on fried oysters, which I seldom have the opportunity to enjoy! This is basically a cafeteria style place with very little ambiance. That being said, I was excited for allof what I ordered. Unfortunately, the turtle soup was very different than what I had enjoyed before. It was somewhat meaty in a broth but with little or no added spices. I took a few spoonfuls but couldn't finish it. It was bland and not good at all. The oysters weren't much better. They were mostly batter, with small oysters somewhere amidst the breading. It didnt help that the cocktail sauce was mostly ketchup. Once I peeled away the breading, the oysters weren't too bad. They were just small and the breading seemed to have no flavor either. I would definitely not recommend Mike Linnigs as the food was not good and it was also a fairly long drive away from Louisville. I will say that the staff was very friendly, the only redeeming thing about the restaurant. Also, having to wait for mediocre food is not an experience that I would ever repeat! If someone mentions going out to this restaurant, politely decline and find a better place in town to have your lunch or dinner. It will save you time as well as a bad meal!! Have a great day!!

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Biscuit Belly, Louisville, KY

Though I'm not much of a breakfast or brunch eater, in general, I do make exceptions when I am out of town. Not sure why, but I am much more likely to try eating earlier in the day when on vacation. So I found myself looking for a breakfast, brunch restaurant while in Louisville. Biscuit Belly seemed like a good option, as it was close to where I was staying and got good online reviews! Driving up, I knew right away where it was because there was a line to get in. This is generally a good sign, though I have been to popular places where the food is mediocre. I was definitely hoping that it was popular because it was good, not for any other reason. It was kind of cafeteria like, so I figured the atmosphere wasnt what was bringing people in. Looking at the menu, there were a number of dishes that looked very interesting. I went with the biscuit brisket and I added bacon. In addition, I had a hot tea, even though they also offered a few fun cocktails. I wasn't quite ready to jump back on that horse again. As busy as they were, my food came out in a very reasonable time. It came on a small plate which made it seem like a small portion, but it ended up being plenty of food. The brisket was very tender and flavorful. I would have liked a little more fat, but I know that's my preference more than most people's so I wasn't going to fault them for that. The biscuit was fluffy but still dense enough to be filling. In addition, it was just buttery enough without overpowering the rest of the sandwich. Adding the bacon, which was smoky and delicious, made it that much better. The house hot sauce was good, if a little more vinegary than I like!! Overall, a very good sandwich. Biscuit Belly was a good experience, not only for the food, but also for pretty quick service considering how busy they were. And I liked that they didnt try to rush me through my tea after I finished my sandwich. A lot of places will try to push you out if they have a wait but they let me relax and enjoy!! I would definitely recommend BB for a nice breakfast or brunch. Just be prepared to wait a bit for a table as it seems to be a pretty popular spot. It is very close to down town so very easy to reach! Check it out the next time you are in Louisville! Have a great day!!

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Biscuit brisket with bacon, Biscuit Belly, Louisville, KY

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Joella's Hot Chicken, Louisville, KY

After not having a very good first experience with hot chicken in Nashville, I jumped at the chance to try it again when i saw it nearby in Louisville! I was excited for a second try, but also skeptical after a pretty bad first version. First impression was that Joella's seemed like a cool, popular neighborhood type of spot. I wasnt even going at what I would consider a peak time and there was still a line! Definitely take that into consideration when going here. The line did move along fairly quickly and there was plenty of seating, though some of it was in a semi outdoor area, where it was a bit on the cool side. I prefer cold to warm so I happily took a table in that area. I ordered my hot chicken dark, just a personal preference, with sides of green beans and mashed potatoes with kickin gravy. I saw strawberry shortcake in a jar and added it as i was intrigued!! The chicken was very good, crispy skin but incredibly moist meat. It was a nice medium heat, not so spicy that it was inedible as had been the case previously. The mashed were also excellent, very creamy and the gravy also had a nice amount of spice. The green beans were very typical of southern style veggies, which was on the mushy side. The flavor was fine but i like my beans a little more al dente. I would skip the green beans the next time. Dessert was a very nice surprise!! It was a little odd eating it out of a jar with a spoon but it had a fresh berry flavor and the shortcake was very good as well!! I would absolutely order it again!! Joella's was a much better version of hot chicken that i would definitely enjoy another time!! Not only very good chicken, but additions, as well as fast counter service made it a worthwhile experience. Price was also reasonable and it was on a main street and not too far from downtown! Make a stop at Joella's if you are looking for some excellent hot chicken and more!! Have a great day!!

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Joella's hot chicken, Louisville, KY

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Momma's mustard, pickles and BBQ, Louisville, KY

This neighborhood BBQ joint seemed like a must stop when I looked at the menu as well as the reviews. It didnt hurt that it was a fairly short drive from where I was staying! When burnt ends are on the menu, that is what I will be ordering. I love the burnt smoky flavor as well as the tenderness of the meat. Their meats came with a choice of 2 sides. I chose the cheezy corn and the baked beans. The meat lived up to my expectations, extremely tender with a great smoky flavor. The house hot BBQ added some much enjoyed heat!! The sides were also quite good, the corn being simple, creamy and buttery. The beans were a little plain, but the hot sauce came to the rescue yet again!! It was all delicious amd well worth the stop. I had wondered when the food arrived whether it would be enough food as it seemed to be a modest portion. My concerns were nothing to worry about as it was a filling lunch, which I was barely able to finish!! Momma's was a great stop, so happy to have chosen this for my BBQ lunch! Great food, friendly service and reasonable prices make this a must stop for any BBQ lover!! It's a bit east of downtown, but with Louisville being a moderate sized city, it's a very east place to reach. Highest recommendation, dont miss it!! Have a great day!!

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Burnt ends, cheesy corn and baked beans, Momma's mustard, pickles and BBQ, Louisville, KY

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Mac and cheese with pork belly, Fork and Barrel, Louisville, KY

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Fork and Barrel, Louisville, KY

I took a weekend getaway in Louisville, a reasonable 5 hour drive from Chicago! I wasn't exactly sure what I would be doing except for eating great southern food. My airbnb was just off Frankfort Av, which turned out to be a great little restaurant area. Fork and Barrel was just a short walk from where I stayed so it was a perfect place to eat on my first evening. I didnt want to venture too far but was still looking for some great food. All I had to do was see chicken livers on their menu and I knew I would order them. They were lightly fried, tender and flavorful, served with 2 sauces. I preferred the dijon mustard sauce over the horseradish cream. The latter was a little bland for my taste. With the addition of some cholula, the horseradish cream was much better. I decided on a second appetizer, mac and cheese, but I added pork belly. This app was extremely cheesy and the addition of the rich, fatty pork belly made this almost as filling as a main course. The restaurant also had a small but interesting beer list from which I chose a locally made bourbon barrel ale. It was medium bodied with a light whiskey finish. The light sweetness complimented the rich savory flavor of the mac and cheese! To add to the great food, the bartender, Bethany, was awesome!! I also happened to meet the chef and the owner, who were friendly and welcoming. These interactions took my experience to the next level! Fork and Barrel gets my highest recommendation not only for its outstanding food, but also for its excellent staff and their service! I would definitely return if I went back to Louisville for another visit. Frankfort Av is very accessible to most of Louisville, certainly by car, as it's not that large of a city. Definitely make your way to Fork and Barrel if you are taking a trip to Louisville. You wont be disappointed!! Have a great day!!

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Fried chicken livers, Fork and Barrel, Louisville, KY

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Que Rico, Chicago, IL

I have always enjoyed Mexican food and was certainly spoiled while living in San Diego!! But I also knew that there is a large Mexican population in Chicago so there are some very good Mexican restaurants here as well!! When friends invited me to dinner at Que Rico, a new place for me, I was excited to give them a try. Though technically in Lincoln Park, Que Rico is only a short drive from Lakeview, even walkable on a warmer summer day. Immediately upon entering, it has a welcoming feel of a family run restaurant!! Everyone smiling, guests enjoying themselves, its definitely what I want to see when I walk into a restaurant. The seating area seemed small until I discovered that there was a back dining room as well as an upstairs. I'm sure those are well used on the weekend, so there shouldnt be any concern about waiting to be seated when you eat here. There were specials on a chalkboard as well as a fairly extensive menu!! We ordered drinks and I also began with something new for me, cream of jalapeno soup! I wasnt sure what to expect but I was certainly intrigued by the idea! It arrived fairly quickly and was a larger bowl than I had expected. It was a light green color, garnished with some thin slices tortilla chips for texture. The flavor was pepper but in a subtle way, with a hint of spicy heat. Everyone at the table tasted it and agreed that it was excellent, if not quite what they had expected!! I'm glad they all tried some soup or I might not have had any room for dinner!! I chose roasted poblano peppers stuffed with diced chicken and vegetables topped with melted chihuahua cheese for my main course. It was 2 good sized peppers with sides of rice and black beans!! It was finished with a smokey chipotle sauce, which was mildly spicy but quite smokey. The peppers were perfectly cooked, tender to the fork but still with a nice crunch. The cheese was plentiful, giving the dish a nice creaminess, then contrasted by the smokey sauce. I did want a bit more heat so they brought over their house made habanero sauce. That was just what the dish needed to make it perfect for me!! This was an excellent Mexican experience that I would definitely try again!! As it turns out, Que Rico has been around for more than 25 years!! In one visit, I could see why they have lasted so long. Great food, reasonable prices and friendly staff have gone a long way for this family run restaurant. Being near north, in Lincoln Park, it's pretty accessible to most of the north side of Chicago, especially Wrigley field, if you happen to be in town to see the Cubs play!! For an outstanding Mexican restaurant experience, make your way to Que Rico. You will be very happy that you did!! Have a great day!!

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Roasted, stuffed poblano peppers with rice and beans, Que Rico, Chicago, IL

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Mikwaukee Brat House, Milwaukee, WI

I was up in Milwaukee for one night and really wanted to experience something classically Milwaukee!! I assumed that meant some kind of sausage so I let the friend with whom I was visiting pick the place! I love most types of sausage that I have tried so I was leaving choosing the restaurant completely in her hands!! Milwaukee Brat House just sounded like a great place to me. Walking in, it was cozy and rustic feeling. We were taken quickly to a high top booth, table bu a friendly, smiling hostess. The menu wasnt as large as I had expected but it did have a number of very interesting selections!! I went with the hot, Hungarian sausage, though there were more than a few items that I would have been happy with. The addition of sauteed onions and fresh sliced jalapenos is probably what put it over the top. As sides, I chose baked beans with bacon and house made onion rings!! Milwaukee is also a beer town and Brat House had a nice selection of beers as well, in bottles or cans as well as some draft. Beer is a perfect compliment to most sausage so I picked a nice malty brown ale to cut the assumed spiciness of the sandwich that I ordered. As we enjoyed our beverages and waited for our food, I found the ambiance and neighborhood feel of the place very welcoming and comfortable! My sandwich looked amazing and I wasnt disappointed as I took my first bite. The sausage was both juicy and spicy, with sweetness added from the onions. They went with a simple roll to take no focus away from the sausage itself. It even had a little crunch from the cooking of the sausage, which was a nice textural addition. Fresh jalapenos also added a different crunch as well as spice! This was an excellent sandwich, well worth the drive up to Mikwaukee!! The sides were not quite as great as the sandwich itself. The baked beans with bacon were quite good, just needing a bit of hot sauce to spice them up a bit. Big pieces of cooked bacon really added to this side dish. The onion rings were a bit disappointing, a little on the bland side. They came across more like frozen rings not fresh made. With that being my only issue with my meal, I was definitely happy, overall, with the experience!! Milwaukee Brat House is a must stop, if you want to experience excellent sausage as well as some great beers!! Prices were very reasonable and service was helpful and friendly. High recommendation for Brat House, I know that I will definitely return on a future visit to Milwaukee!! Have a great day!!

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Hot Hungarian sausage, baked beans with bacon, Milwaukee Brat House, Milwaukee, WI

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Lou Malnati's, Chicago, IL

I have always been a big pizza fan, especially Chicago style pizza. Of course, my favorite has always been Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinders but I'm also a big Lou Malnati's fan!! When I recently began work near downtown in Chicago, incouldnt have been happier when I saw a branch of Lou's around the corner from my new job!! It took less than a month but I finally got the chance to stop in and try out this location! I was by myself so I went to the bar to order a beer and a pizza. I wanted some left over to bring home with me so I ordered a large sausage pizza. My plan was to eat 2 slices and wrap the rest up to go. Then.i would have pizza to eat for the rest of the week. I got there by 4pm, so it wasnt too busy yet. I put in my pizza order when I ordered my beer. I knew that their thick crust would take a good 20 minutes or so to bake so I relaxed with my beer and chatted with the bartender. She was friendly and not too busy so we had a nice conversation until my pizza arrived. I always appreciate friendly staff and enjoy engaging restaurant staff when they are not busy. Once the pizza arrived, I dug right in. It had been a number of years since I had enjoyed Lou Malnati's pizza so I was very excited to have it again! And it was just as delicious as it had always been!! Loaded with sausage and seasoned tomatoes, this is an excellent pizza! But what really puts it over the top for me is the butter crust. Crisp, buttery and loaded with toppings, I will always return to enjoy their sausage pizza!! Highest recommendations for Lou Malnati's pizza. It was even better than I had remembered! It was an added bonus that the staff was friendly amd helpful. There are now numerous locations all over the Chicago area so they are pretty easy to find whatever part of town that you are in. Check one out the next time you are visiting this amazing pizza city!! Have a great day!!