$6 Snack: Apple hand pie with rosemary caramel from O Pie O in Cincinnati, Ohio

by Caitlin Saniga

Each hand pie comes individually boxed, like a delicious little present.

Read Full Post »

$6 Snack: Mock turtle soup from Ron’s Roost in Cincinnati, Ohio

by Caitlin Saniga

To be honest, I don’t know if I’d willingly order mock turtle soup ever again. The version at Ron’s Roost was extremely acidic from lemon juice and/or vinegar and had some new-to-me texture combinations like hard-boiled egg and ground beef. A one-time experience is good enough for me. That said, members of Joel’s family who are from Cincinnati LOVE mock turtle soup from Ron’s Roost, and they seemed to really enjoying a hot cup of the soup on the day that we visited.

How cool is this rooster-mobile parked outside of the restaurant?

I visited: Ron’s Roost, a Cincinnati restaurant known for its fried chicken (Note the rooster-mobile parked outside of the restaurant) and German-influenced local favorites (hot bacon slaw, sauerbraten, and mock turtle soup).

I tried: A cup of the mock turtle soup, a Cincinnati favorite that has roots in English and German cooking. It’s an imitation of the more expensive green turtle soup and incorporates beef (sometimes calf brains and organs) to mimic the texture of turtle meat.

Why it stood out: There are quite a variety of recipes for mock turtle soup. Joel’s grandma told me about a version that incorporate ground gingersnap cookies as a warm, spicy, thickening agent. A recipe I read in Joel’s aunt’s cookbook included some usual soup suspects: celery, carrot, onion, tomatoes, bay leaf; but it also listed a slew of surprising ingredients: whole cloves, browned flour, chopped hard-boiled eggs, and loads of lemon and vinegar. I can’t be sure of all ingredients used in the soup at Ron’s Roost, but it definitely had a slap of acidity with deep, warm flavors from clove and bay leaf. This was a combination of flavors and textures I have never experienced.

It cost: $3

Find out more:
Ron’s Roost
3853 Race Road
Cincinnati, OH 45211
513-574-0222
ronsroost.net

$6 Snack is a recurring feature that reviews an area eatery’s snack — for $6 or less. Look at a map of the places we’ve tried. Help our map grow by submitting your own review! Find out how.

Read Full Post »

Caitlin’s pumpkin brew reviews

Autumn in New England goes like this, apparently: The “leafers,” as they’re lovingly referred to, pile into their cars and make the long, laid-back drive through Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine, scoping out the fall foliage. They stop at pick-your-own apple orchards and pumpkin patches. They pick more than they know what to do with. Meanwhile, all of the local breweries are chucking pumpkins and spices into their brew kettles, and in most cases, these concoctions are magical. On their way back home, the leafers stop for seasonal six-packs. Here’s the pick-six I brought home to sample.

Read Full Post »

Sarah’s pumpkin brew reviews

by Sarah Steimer

Let me put this out here, first and foremost: Pumpkin beers are not usually my fall go-to. I’m an Oktoberfest gal. But every so often, I’ll wander outside of my ‘tobers and try a pumpkin brew or two. (Please note: There is one beer in this review not pictured in this line-up.)

Read Full Post »

$6 Snack: Trippple Threat grilled cheese from Toasted by Casey in Christiansburg, Va.

by Joel Hawksley

Fresh off a long bike ride, the site of a food truck rodeo at The Village Grill in Grandin Village was welcome news. It didn’t take me long to give this sandwich a ride it would never forget.

Despite the line, service was fast.

I visited: Toasted by Casey, a food truck based in Christiansburg, Va., at the Star City Food Truck Stop, held at The Village Grill in Roanoke, Virginia.

I tried: The Trippple Threat, a grilled cheese with deep-fried, breaded mozzarella sticks, American and mozzarella cheeses, and marina sauce sandwiched between slices of “Tuscan-seasoned” bread.

Why it stood out: Anything tastes good after a long bike ride, but this sandwich took it to another level. Paired with a Get Bent Mountain IPA from Parkway Brewing, I was really impressed with how well the fried treat translated to a grilled cheese sandwich. The cheese was perfectly melted inside and out, and the seasoned bread (WHAT ARE THOSE FLAKES?!?!) kicked it up a notch.

It cost: $6

Find out more:
540-818-7679
Toasted by Casey on Facebook

$6 Snack is a recurring feature that reviews an area eatery’s snack — for $6 or less. Look at a map of the places we’ve tried. Help our map grow by submitting your own review! Find out how.

Read Full Post »

Market Review: Boulder, Colorado, Farmers Market

by Sarah Steimer

This is one of my favorite photos from not just the market, but from the entire trip. It must have been peak beet season in Boulder, because these bad boys were piled high, plus I ate beets at local restaurants at least once each day of our visit.

Read Full Post »

$6 Snack: Peach white Zinfandel ice cream from Mercer’s Dairy in Boonville, N.Y.

by Caitlin Saniga

Behold: the only ice cream cone I’ve ever been carded for. When I asked the girl working the counter which flavor of wine ice cream she’d recommend, she replied, “I couldn’t tell you. You have to be 21 to try it.”

Read Full Post »

$6 Snack: chocolate almond croissant from Mrs. London’s in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

by Caitlin Saniga

The chocolate almond croissant was, clearly, amazing, but Joel and I can also vouch for some of Mrs. London’s grilled sandwiches. I tried the Virginia ham on farm bread with cheddar cheese, apple and raisin-walnut dressing. Joel had the sauteed spinach panini with fresh mozzarella, roasted red pepper, toasted pine nuts, basil and olive oil on ciabatta bread. Both were fantastic — a little greasy by the time they’d made it through the panini press, but crispy and melty and delicious.

Read Full Post »

$6 Snack: beef bulgogi slider from Mama Kim’s in Providence, R.I.

by Caitlin Saniga

Mama Kim’s is another $6 Snack mecca — almost everything on the menu is less than $6. Joel and I met up on a recent weekday for lunch in Kennedy Plaza, which is in downtown Providence. We ordered a beef bulgogi slider ($4), kimchi mandu ($3), veggie panjun ($5) and Korean sweet ma-tang fries ($2).

Read Full Post »

$6 Snack: Cheese sambousek from Cedars in Roanoke, Va.

by Caitlin Saniga

Cedars has a meza menu available on weekdays and for a limited window of time on Saturdays. Diners can choose 5 full-size appetizers from a list of 10 or 12 for about $18. When my mom and sister came to visit recently, we ordered (clockwise from bottom left): cheese sambousek, hummus bi tahini, falafel, fried beef kibbeh and fattoush.

Read Full Post »