Real Chains of New Jersey

I am writing this blog in utter shock of what I am watching on TV.  The Real Housewives of NJ are so nuts and disgusting and crazy and fake and broke.  These so called women or womans, whatever they call themselves should be ashamed   Gross.  Thank god for that fine piece Albie, brings some class to that show.  I also think Danielle's daughter is really pretty and should be a model.  Good luck!
Anyway, I can think of one good thing coming from NJ and it is not these women or Xanadu.  It is CHAIN RESTAURANTS!
So without further adieu here is my list of chain restaurants I want to go to but am scared I might run into a housewife (also known as my fav NJ chains).  I will pick 5 in honor of every housewife (I dont't forget about nutso Dina).

1)  Jose Tejas (no shock there)
2)  P.F. Changs
3)  Joe's Ameican Bar and Grill
4)  Houston's
5)  Bahama Breeze

Oh Theresa just said "Do we believe everything the NYPost writes."
Umm Yes.  DO NOT PUT DOWN THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE BLOG!

Pop The Champagne, It's The Birth of a Chain

Mazel Tov Lavo!  Congratulations and welcome to the world of chains.
It is with great pleasure that I announce that Lavo will be opening in NY, therefore having 2 locations and being a chain.  The original outpost is in fabulous Las Vegas at the luxurious Palazzo Hotel.  Lavo is run by the same peeps that run Tao and I certainly love me some Tao.  Lavo is an Italian restaurant.  I went in Vegas and from what I can remember, which sadly is not much, it was quite lovely and quite delicious.  I do remember the nice waiter that Nini became friends with and eating meatballs that were yummy and a pasta dish.  I was kinda a hot mess that night, not gonna lie.  Oh well.  Now that it is opening up in NY I can have it again soon.  My bro claims he has a connection and can get us into opening night.  Fingers crossed!!  If that happens, you can expect a full blog posting on it.

My Response to Eater's List

My heterolifemate, Nini just sent me a link from Eater naming their picks for the top 10 chain restaurants that need to come to NY.  I am outraged that they did not contact me, the NYC chain restaurant extraordinaire, for input.  By not contacting me, they totally messed up and missed so many key chain restaurants that need to come to NYC.  Here are their picks with my comments.  Sonic (ok might be cool), Waffle House (no let it be a southern thing), Krispy Kreme (we had and we have enough donut stores -this is the most egregious pick), Dairy Queen (eh), Denny's (no, it is really for WT and I like my island for the lack of WT), Cracker Barrel (this is a country thing, good, but not for the city), P.F. Changs (yes, yes, yes) Chilli's (sure but not necessary), Chick Fil-A (yeah I would hit that) and In N Out (obvi yes).


For the correct list of the the top 10 Chain Restaurants that need to open in NY.  See below.

10)  Blue Ice Gelato
9)  Yogurtland (bc it is now Phileo)
8)  Katsuya
7) Panera (would be great for lunch, better than freakin Le Pain)
6) In N Out (give Shake Shack a run for it's money)
5) Cheesecake Factory
4) Del Taco (heard it was good)
3)  P.F. Changs (my parents would prob visit me more, if that is even possible)
2)  Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (please)
1) JOSE TEJAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  (no shock here)

OBIKA not Obama

My favorite O, besides Olen is not Obama, but Obika.
What is Obika you may be asking yourself, well it is a fabulous mozzarella bar in Rome Italy that has found success in other cities like London, Paris and good ol'NYC!  There is never a bar I do not love.  I was lucky enough to experience this mozzarella "bar" in Campo di Fiore a lovely square in the darling historical city of Rome.  I went to Obika after a late afternoon excursion with my travel buddy JM that included gelato.  When we walked passed Obika, we knew we had to try it because it just looked fabulous.  I am so glad we did.  The focus of the menu is of course, mozzarella which is just perfect for me because it is the only cheese I really like.   We got the Burrata with pesto sauce, basil and tomato (see photo above).  It was truly outstanding and delicious!  It was so creamy and wonderful and the pesto was perfect!  JM and I weren't hungry so we tried not too pig out to much but it was really hard.  To go with our lovely appertivo snack we each had a wonderful glass of refreshing Rose.  I really can't think of a better way to end a day in fabulous Rome.  Especially when on said day, one gets their luggage back!!!!! What a way to celebrate the return of Big Bertha back in my arms.  
Now, as I mentioned before there is also an Obika in NYC but that location seems to really be a bar within the IBM office building.  Not sure what I think about that.  I wish Obika would have opened up in the village where one could sit outside and people watch the way you can in Rome.   Perhaps one day! (cue in One Sweet Day by Mariah Carrey music now)

Ronaldo McDonaldi

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A trip to a foreign land would not be complete without exploring what the McDonald's is like in that land.
It is fun to see the different personalities each country brings to its best restaurant, McDonald's.  When I was in Italy I was pretty sure that the McDonald's there would have pizza, kinda like when they tried to introduce the McPizza in the USA.  I am glad that didn't work out.  Anyway, I was wrong, no McPizza.  The menu in Rome was very similar to the one in the US, just a bit abridged.  One thing that did totally stand out to me though was that they had fried shrimp!   I thought that was cool.  As always, I was there for one thing... the Chicken McNugget.  On my last day I fought through my infantile ear infection, exhaustion & dizziness and found the McDonald's right across the street from the Pantheon, how historic!   Jen M was kind enough to go with me on this expedition.  It was an expedition because the Trevi Fountain McDonald's had no power and was closed. 
Overall, I thought the chicken nuggie was pretty good, but still prefer the American version.  I think the American version has a lighter more airy batter.   This nuggie was a bit more crisp and hard in Italy.   The meat was totally white and for my chicken, I like that.   Jen M said she prefered the Italian version.  Really, both are quite delicious!  The dipping sauces are similar to what I found in Spain, honey mustard, bbq and some curry thing.  I just went with the bbq and honey mustard one.  I guess it is Italy, it would have been cool if they had a pesto or tomato dipping sauce.  I love some sauce!
So, there it is, one more McDonalds conquered.  I can't wait for my next one!