Author: tango449

Spices 101: Everything You Need to Know About Buying, Storing, and Using Spices

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Spices are found in nearly everyone’s home, but not everyone knows best practices when it comes to buying, storing and using spices! We’re talking Spice 101 today and everything you need to know about kitchen spices! Spices are a staple in pretty much every kitchen.

Source: Spices 101: Everything You Need to Know About Buying, Storing, and Using Spices

Made In’s Fry Pan Sold Out *Twice* Last Summer — but It’s Back in Stock for Grilling Season

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“It’s great for vegetables, yes, but it’s magic when it comes to grilling shrimp.”

Source: Made In’s Fry Pan Sold Out *Twice* Last Summer — but It’s Back in Stock for Grilling Season

A guide to couscous: The history, different types and how to cook with it

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A look at the history of couscous, how it’s made, the different types available and its culinary uses.

Source: A guide to couscous: The history, different types and how to cook with it

Lot 12 Public House Crushed It

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Lot 12 Public House
117 Warren St.
Berkeley Springs, WV 25411
(304) 258-6264
https://lot12.com/

American | $$$

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During a recent getaway trip to Berkeley Springs, West Virginia we were excited to try Lot 12 Public House. I had read good things about the restaurant and Chef Damian Heath. Our good fortune had us there the weekend  Chef Damian and his wife Betsy reopened after closing for some months due to COVID.

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The dinning room is cozy and has the feel of eating at a friend’s house.

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It starts with wonderful homemade bread.

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Our appetizer was this amazing Toasted Gnocchi with roasted garlic, sautéed mushrooms, and parmigiano-reggiano cheese. The gnocchi was perfect and paired nicely with the mushrooms and cheese.

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A nice Intermezzo came in the form of this Guava Ginger Sorbet.

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For my entrée I chose a  Grilled NY Strip Steak with bacon scallion mashed potatoes, a shitake demi-glace, ramp butter, and chimichurri. The steak had a great sear and was cooked perfectly. The smooth potatoes and demi-glace were a great accompaniment for the steak.

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For my side I continued my quest to order Mac & Cheese when ever it appears on a menu. This Smoked Gouda and Roasted Garlic Mac & Cheese was  delectable. Don’t hesitate to order this.

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My wife ordered a special of Baked Halibut with grilled shrimp and grits in a cream sauce. She said the fish was divine and cooked flawlessly. I enjoyed a bit of the shrimp and grits and found them like the wonderful dishes served in our Southern food Meccas like Charleston or Savannah.

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For my dessert I had to try the Lavender Crème Brûlée.  There was just a hint of the lavender giving it a delightful flavor.

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My wife’s dessert was a simple House made Sorbet with fresh berries.

Chef Damian, a James Beard Foundation Awards 2012 semifinalist, and his wife Betsy opened Lot 12 Public House in 1999. It remains an upscale dinning destination in the northwest corner of West Virginia drawing local guests and diners from Maryland and Virginia. Berkeley Springs is a quaint town with plenty of history and worth an overnight stay if you can get reservations for dinner at Lot 12 Public House.

Culpeper Glory Days Grill – Fail

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15295 Montanus Dr.
Culpeper, VA 22701
(540) 829-7133
https://www.glorydaysgrill.com/

American | $

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On a recent Sunday drive we found our way to Culpeper, VA and decided to stop by Glory Days Gill for a late lunch.

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I have had the Tortilla Soup at the Manassas location and loved it. The one here not so much. It was ok but not the same as the batch in Manassas.

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I went with the crab cakes and was disappointed. They looked great but were mostly filler.

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The golden rule of food photography is never take pictures of half eaten food, it’s not a good look. Crab cakes need filler to hold them together. Here there was little crab and mostly filler. The flavor came from the crispy panko, not crab.

If you find yourself at Glory Days you may want to pass on the crab cakes, they weren’t worth the money.