$6 Snack: Mexican vanilla ice cream with gingersnaps and strawberries from Amy’s Ice Creams in Austin, Texas

by Sarah Steimer

I have no idea what the difference is between Mexican vanilla and any other vanilla ice cream. But I can tell you that it did not play second-string to the toppings, and that — to me — is the sign of a great ice cream.

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$6 Snack: Belgian Bomber from Jo’s Coffee in Austin, Texas

by Sarah Steimer

The Belgian Bomber and Miss Diana Ross, for your viewing pleasure. The Jo’s on South Congress has lots of great outdoor seating for some prime people (and dog) watching. [Care to hear more about my trip? Check out my round-up here.]

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$6 Snack: doughnut holes with caramel sauce from Duckfat in Portland, Maine

by Caitlin Saniga

I took these doughnut holes back to my room at the bed-and-breakfast and ate them in bed while watching “Toddlers and Tiaras.” Talk about extravagant.

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$6 Snacks: Number Four grilled cheese from The Lockview in Akron, Ohio

by Caitlin Saniga

Every grilled cheese comes with a paper mini-umbrella and sides of cole slaw and Goldfish crackers. I ordered the Number Four, which has mozzarella, sun-dried tomato pesto and arugula.

Akron, Ohio’s best grilled cheese can be found at The Lockview, a moody restaurant/bar (with a seasonal rooftop patio) downtown. The menu centers on a list of 12 grilled cheese sandwiches and a slew of other playful sandwiches and appetizers.

On my most recent trip there (I try to go every time I’m in the area, my hometown), I ordered the Number Four — toasty mozzarella, sun-dried tomato pesto and arugula with Parmesan cheese on Italian bread. The sandwich came with a small cup of cole slaw, which is a mayonnaise-based cabbage-and-carrot slaw with celery seed, and a pile of Goldfish crackers. No matter the sandwich, the crackers and slaw make the meal. It sounds crazy, but the flavor combination is perfect. The plate of food cost just $6. You can add tater tots, French fries or sweet potato fries for an added cost.

Kristina ordered the fish soft taco with fresh-cut French fries.

The grilled cheese sandwiches range in price from $4.50 to $7.

I ordered a drink called I’m Blushing, and, after two sips, I’m sure I was blushing. Those drinks are far from wimpy.

Some of the others I’ve tried (and generally loved) include the Number Two, which is Mozzarella cheese, tomato and pepperoni on Italian bread with a side of marinara;

Kristina always orders this coffee drink, but I can’t remember what it’s called. I know it’s $9 and she loves it.

the Number Six, which is Cheddar cheese, grilled apples and applewood smoked bacon on buttertop bread; and the Number Ten, which is Havarti dill cheese, pickles, grilled red onions and spicy brown mustard on rye bread.

Appetizers range from $3.50 to $7 and include macaroni and cheese bites, deep-fried pepperoni, and a bread basket with dipping oils. Other signature sandwiches range from $6 to $7. On my recent trip, my friend Kristina raved about the fish soft taco ($7), which she’s ordered several times.

But The Lockview’s drink menu is one of the best perks. The beer menu is always evolving and includes a long list of imports. They keep a neat list of beers on the chalkboard above the bar (and online, with wines), but be sure to ask about specials when you go. They also have a decent mixed drinks menu. On my visit, I ordered a drink called I’m Blushing ($8.50), which is Skyy vodka, fresh mint, muddled cranberries, fresh lime and cranberry juice. The cranberries made it seem like a holiday version of a mojito.

Kristina and I had a great time catching up at The Lockview. The atmosphere was cozy, with candles at each table and strings of light bulbs zig-zagged overhead. The waitstaff was attentive and friendly and wasn’t annoyed that we chatted in our booth for nearly two hours. That’s the kind of place it is. People go there to spend time enjoying the atmosphere and each other’s company.

Visit The Lockview in the downtown Akron: 207 S. Main St., Akron, OH 44308; thelockview.com

Photos: Caitlin Saniga

*$6 Snacks 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.

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$6 Snacks: baked treats from Presti’s in Cleveland, Ohio

by Caitlin Saniga

Presti’s Bakery has three triple-decker display cases just for baked sweets and other desserts. And that’s not including the gelato bar.

My cute family from left: Sam (the birthday girl!), Mom, me, Holly and Aunt Julie

For my cousin Sam’s birthday, some of my family and I met her in Cleveland’s Little Italy at one of our favorite bakeries, Presti’s. Poor Sam is probably so sick of Presti’s because, every time we visit her, we make at least a quick stop at the bakery. Even if she is, she always plays along enthusiastically. (Either that or she loves it as much as we do.)

Pepperoni roll

The mandatory Presti’s purchase is, without a doubt, the baked pepperoni roll — a 6-inch-long bread swirled with pepperoni. It’s soft on the inside, and crispy and buttery on the outside. At $2 a roll, I usually snag about four, and freeze the extras for later lunches. On this particular Presti’s outing,

From left: raspberry linzers, chocolate ganache sandwiches and a chocolate-dipped coconut macaroon

I got one roll, which meant I still had $4 left from $6 Snack budget.

So, I hit up the dessert display cases. One chocolate-dipped macaroon ($1.50), five chocolate ganache sandwich cookies ($12.50 per pound**) and four raspberry linzers ($12.50 per pound) later, I’d rounded off my budget.

The salads display case: Pesto tortellini (which I tried and loved) is the second from the left in the middle row

In the meantime, my family ordered gelato, pesto tortellini and several other desserts and savory dishes. Presti’s also serves a variety of coffees and teas and sells breads by the loaf. There’s a decent amount of tables to sit at, and the atmosphere is very much like a cafe’s. In warmer weather, outdoor seating is available, too. I always spot students from Case Western University  who stop in for snacks and to use the wireless Internet.

The Presti’s sign at night

Visit Presti’s in Cleveland’s Little Italy: 12101 Mayfield Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44106; prestisbakery.com

Photos: Sam Janis, Holly Saniga and a random stranger (who snapped the shot of my family)

*$6 Snacks 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.

** The woman I talked to said a pound is about 30 of the small cookies — linzers and ganache sandwiches included.

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$6 Snacks: jumbo vanilla cream puff frpm Schmidt’s in Columbus, Ohio

by Caitlin Saniga

Schmidt’s: the Jumbo Vanilla Cream Puff in all of its glory

Check out this baby behemoth of 100% tasty goodness. It’s a 1/2-pound vanilla cream puff from Schmidt’s in Columbus’ German Village. The photo doesn’t lie. This pastry tasted just as good as it looks. The menu describes it as the “award-winning (Columbus Monthly) combination of our special whipped filling in a lightly baked pastry shell.”

Yea. Let’s talk about that filling for a minute. The whipped fluff tasted like a cross between vanilla pudding and whipped cream, with a buttery flavor that melts in your mouth. (Do you see how buttery yellow that stuff looks?) And the pastry shell was soft but sturdy. The combination of pastry and cream was heavenly, but I couldn’t finish the whole thing in one sitting. And, even though the sweetness wasn’t overpowering, it was good to have a big glass of ice water on hand.

For $5.25, this fork-and-knife dessert was a pretty good value. And it’s definitely a staple of Columbus’ German Village. Schmidt’s also serves other specialty cream puffs (for carryout, too), including chocolate.

Visit Schmidt’s: 240 E. Kosuth St., Columbus, Ohio 43206; www.schmidthaus.com

Photo: Caitlin Saniga

*$6 Snacks 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.

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