TRAVEL || WHERE TO EAT IN CINCINNATI

Cincinnati has a lot of great food choices! There were so many places to go in so little time, but here are a few we got to enjoy and would definitely recommend!

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For starters, you need to visit the iconic Skyline Chili. In 1949, Greek immigrant Nicholas Lambrinides came to the states and started Skyline Chili with his family recipes. It’s an Ohio staple! The restaurant has a very casual atmosphere with prices you just can’t beat! We went there for lunch and so did everyone else! It was really cool looking around the room seeing everyone on their lunch break. You have people in suits and ties sitting next to construction workers. I’d say that alone would make it a fan favorite! Oh, and I can’t forget to mention, they do all of the cooking right in front of you! The restaurant is set up with the kitchen in the middle of the room. You can sit at a table with friends or at the bar surrounding the cooking area- similar to a hibachi grill set up. My table got the chili dogs with chili cheese fries and a soda. Classic. You can tell by our cleaned plates in the photo below that it was good!

 

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Next on the list is the Moerlein Lager House. The best part about this restaurant is the location. It sits in the middle of the Smale Riverfront Park so you can grab a seat out on the terrace and enjoy the views. Watch the boats float down the river, people strolling through the park and take in the nice weather while you enjoy your lunch! My table ordered the Spicy corn chowder, Beer Can Chicken Melt Sandwich, and the Philly Cheesesteak with Sweet Potato Chips.

A cool, local dinner spot is Bakerfield OTR (Over The Rhine). Taco ’bout good food! Their tacos and queso dip were recommended to us, and I’m definitely passing on that recommendation. I also recommend ordering various taco options to explore all the combinations of flavors. The decor and vibes were on trend. If I lived here, this would definitely be my go-to spot for a casual date night!

After dinner, take a stroll around the block for dessert at Simply Rolled Ice Cream! This company is Ohio’s original rolled ice cream shop. If you haven’t heard of rolled ice cream, click here to watch my video! Simply Rolled has three locations- each of which are in Ohio and use locally sourced ingredients. They even have a vegan option! I did a create-your-own type deal with various chocolate toppings and cookie dough bites. NOM! Fun fact: Their spoons change color with temperature. You can kind of see in the photo below that the spoon is purple by the ice cream.

TRAVEL || NEW ORLEANS FOODIES

Let’s eat! New Orleans, Louisiana, is known for their authentic Cajun seafood cuisine. From touristy must haves to local favorites, here are a few places you have to try out when you visit!

CAFE DU MONDE || This is for sure the most visited restaurant in the city. The line is alwayyyysss a block long due to it’s coveted beignets, but these sugary fried fritters are worth the wait! This staple cafe is easy to find as it is located by the popular French Quarter.

FRENCH MARKET || The French Market has a lot going on. Venders are set up everywhere for lots of souvenir shopping. Definitely go around lunch time so you can get some seafood straight out of the coast! Food vendors line the edge so take a walk to explore your options and pick what you’re craving. They have tables set up for you to sit at and the market is covered, so you are set to chow down even if it’s pouring down!

BAYOU BEER GARDEN || When the weather is nice and you want to sit outside, the Bayou Beer Garden is a nice, chill spot to go. We went to watch football games and eat lunch. You really need to order the Famous BBG Disco Fries while you are there! I’m talking french fries, gooey melted cheddar cheese, and savory roast beef debris gravy. Oh and you’ll want to bring a friend to split them with!

THE TCHOUP YARD || This was probably my favorite place from our last trip to Nola because it’s vibe is definitely in my comfort zone. They have a restaurant with glass garage door walls that they can raise if weather permits. A large gravel area is set up outside with umbrellaed tables, TVs everywhere to watch sports, and corn hole boards- not to mention it’s dog friendly!! When you go, you HAVE to get the totchos with Mexican chorizo. It is basically tater tot loaded nachos! *insert heart eyed emoji* They are so good that I’ve tried to replicate them at home. It tasted good but just wasn’t the same. I need to go back!

GRIS GRIS: Date night at Gris Gris, please and thank you! This two story restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating is aesthetically pleasing to the eyes and won’t break the bank. When you walk in, you see the beautiful open kitchen with pots and pans hanging above. I’m really glad we got to see the plates being prepared because that’s how we picked what we ordered. Everything looked so good and tasted even better!

Happy eating!

TRAVEL || DOUGH BIRD IN PHOENIX

Looking for great pizza in the Phoenix area? Head on over to Dough Bird! The interior decor is my kind of vibe with cool tiled flooring, shiplap walls, and exposed ceilings. It’s a popular place for locals to gather and has a nice sunset view through their large windows. If there is a wait, sitting at the bar is a great choice. You can watch them cook and prepare the food- dinner and a show!

We ordered the Pepperoni & Fresh Mozzarella Pizza with organic tomato and wild oregano. It was awesome. As a matter of fact, everything their kitchen was bringing out looked awesome. Hopefully when you eat there they will still have The Elvis for dessert! I’m talking chocolate, peanut butter, banana, whip, caramel, and bacon sandies. There is a reason why dessert is spelt with two S’s instead of one… because you always want more!

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TRAVEL || ROADTRIP TO ARKANSAS

My husband and I took a road trip through Arkansas, Kansas and Missouri over a long weekend. With the tight schedule, we didn’t get to explore Arkansas much- but we did visit Jonesboro on our way!

JONESBORO has a cute little downtown area with several restaurants.

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SKINNY J’S was our first food stop. Don’t let the name fool you- The food does not make you skinny, but man does it taste good! I got the Pimento Cheese Burger (topped with fried jalapeños and pickles and bacon) with grits on the side. Scott got The Juicy J (a pepperjack grilled cheese and burger patty topped with chicken, mushrooms, peppers, onions, queso, and tomatoes) with a side of sweet potato fries dipped in syrup.
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If you know me, you know I love taking photos by murals. This town was full of them! These two murals are right off the main street in downtown Jonesboro.

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On our way back through Arkansas, we stopped at DEMO’S SMOKEHOUSE. They had some of the best BBQ I’ve ever tasted! When we told them it was our first time visiting, they were nice enough to give us a free sample of ribs. They said we had to try them, and they were right! I would highly recommend eating here for all the barbecue lovers out there.

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waco shirt | adidas shoes | denim jacket | 65 south hat

FOODIE || LET’S TACO ‘BOUT IT

 

Birmingham now has a Local Taco in Mountain Brook! This is a great casual date spot. It has a good atmosphere with wooden walls and Edison bulb lighting. Not to mention, they have $3 tacos. I said, THREE DOLLAR TACOS! Everything we had was great, but my favorite was the Nashville Hot Chicken Taco. I can’t wait to go back!

Pictured tacos: Nashville Hot Chicken, Avacado, Southern Fried, Alabama White.

FOODIE || SOMETHING TO MAC ON

Someone recently suggested going to Ashley Mac’s for lunch. I had never been there, but I am definitely going back! Everything was delicious, but the best thing was.. they have a wall of food ready for you to take home and heat up! Worked late? Dinner is served! Have people coming over? Just pick it up and stick it in the oven!

Pictured is their Apple Havarti Sandwich with Greek Pasta Salad and Broccoli Slaw on the side.

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They have several locations around the Birmingham area. Click HERE to find the one closest to you!

FOODIE || MAIN STREET TAVERN MONTEVALLO

 

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We went to visit some friends of ours who live in Montevallo, Alabama. They took us to the Main Street Tavern for dinner. It had such a great atmosphere with large windows and rustic/industrial decor.

Everything we tried was amazing! We had fried pickles as an appetizer. My husband got the Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich with fries, while I got the Pimento Cheese Hamburger with mac’n’cheese. Definitely recommended!

Thanks for joining the fun- xoxo