Syracuse, NY Food Hop #3: The Little Thai House

2863 Erie Boulevard East
Syracuse,NY

The Little Thai House served up some authentic spicy thai food last night. Not quite as spicy for my taste but very great tasting. Presentation of the food was very clean on white modern plates, and I ordered thick rice noodles with vegetables, shrimp, and a light soy sauce. Everyone was pleased with their orders at the table, and reported wanting to return. My favorite Thai restaurant is still Bangkok Thai in Liverpool, NY. Hopefully I will visit there soon!

Syracuse, NY Food Hop #2: Sotiri''s

6523 E Seneca Turnpike
Jamesville, NY 13078

This Food Hop claimed to be an authentic greek experience. The ambiance was great, and the paintings on the walls set the right mood. However, I have mixed reviews for their food. Initially the table was served drinks and oddly... italian bread. I ordered the lemon orzo soup which was amazing, and very well flavored. I tried to keep it simple by ordering a gyro. I unfortunately lost out here with overcooked meat, and cucumber sauce that lacked enough cucumber. Overall, I might try this place again, but I do know the Black Olive in downtown Syracuse, NY has some really fabulous pita bread. I could live without this Food Hop!

Syracuse, New York Food Hop #1: Franchesca's Cucina

545 North Salina Street
Syracuse,NY

As I promised January 2010 would start with food reviews for my hometown and upstate NY area! My first stop on New Year's Eve was Franchesca's Cucina. A quaint Italian restaurant that serves up expensive dishes. Was the food worth the cost? Yes, but the service left much to be desired. After waiting for an hour and a half for a reserved table our group was starving. Without any compensation or apology from the staff, our group ate and left. I had the diver scallops on risotto, and a caprese salad. The scallops were cooked perfectly, and the risotto had a great bite. The fresh mozarella was amazing, and I am interested in where they purchase it from. All in all I would recommend other Italian stops in central NY: Gentile's or Rosalie's. Oh and don't worry my NYC trip is soon to uploaded!

Washington D.C., A Food Hopper Recomendation

Founding Farmers
1924 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington D.C, 20006

One of my trusted Food Hoppers reported back from Washington, D.C and made a recommendation. I will not be able to visit there for awhile so I thought why not highlight it?

Try Founding Farmers on Pennsylvania avenue! The On the Ranch Land and Sea plate looks delicious, along with the diver scallops, and the brackawurst on a roll for something unique. Try contacting me with your Food Hopping recommendations from your travels? Email me at thefoodhop@gmail.com

Moleskine Arrives with Foodie Journals

Do you like to write down what you just cooked up for dinner? How about track the different wines you taste during your travels? Ask for these great food journals that allow you to write, track, and draw what you eat in a sleek, compact book from Moleskine! Check out Cookin in the 'Cuse blog to find out more! http://jbbsyracuse.typepad.com/cookin_in_the_cuse/

Appetite City by William Grimes

In the midst of reading Appetite City by William Grimes. Good read about the history of gastronomy in NYC! Learning all about the local oyster bars that are now extinct. Wouldn't it be cool if someone opened a restaurant that was a throw back to the early days with local menus, and the old decor? Oh looking for a good xmas gift for a Food Hopper you know? Try Food Journeys of a Lifetime 500 by National Geographic.

Central & Upstate NY... Starting January ,09

I will be starting to Food Hop around central and upstate New York starting in January 2010! I want your input on where I should start! Please give me your feeback right on my blog by clicking on comments! And stay tuned for my Food Hop selections for my NYC trip in December!

December '09 New York Trip

I will be heading to Manhattan in December! Make sure to suggest where I should Food Hop next. Magnolia Bakery & Matsuri Sushi have all visited my blog and invited me back for special events!

Estes Park Food Hop #2: The Estes Park Pie Co.

370 East Elkhorn Ave

Estes Park, CO 80517

"You need pie!" is the theme of this local Estes Park pie company. When you put it that way, it easy to walk in the door. Homemade pies greet you in the cute glass display cases, and they serve up some very unique pie combinations. I chose the apple ginger peach with crumb topping, and my friend had the triple berry. Yummy! Food Hop here and savor the pie from local owners Valerie & Rick Thompson. I was surprised to learn that even brides are giving up their wedding cake to serve up their creations. Grab a forkful of pie and walk around downtown. Remember Colorado has 300 days of sun a year!

Estes Park Food Hop #1: Ed's Cantina

390 E Elkhorn Ave

Estes Park, CO 80517

Ed's Cantina greets on your way into downtown Estes Park, CO, the gateway to the Rocky Mountains. This is the only restaurant open downtown in the middle of October, and is a reliable "late night" pick. I had the fish tacos with rice and beans. The cucumber coleslaw with spicy cilantro was the highlight of the meal. This Food Hop is one you may need in your back pocket if you plan on eating in Estes Park after 8pm. If you can afford the Stanley Hotel, however, head on up the hill and Hop past this stop.

Boulder Food Hop #3: Tee & Cakes

1932 14th Street

Boulder, CO 80302

I was greeted by an employee wearing a BACON t-shirt and I soon learned why. Chocolate bacon cupcakes.... genious! Maybe not so good for you.... but oh wait! They have tasting cakes; small sweet experiences of all Tees & Cakes has to offer. As the BACON employee packed up my tasting cakes (strawberry milkshake, bacon chocolate, and butter cream) she was more excited than I was in how cute they looked in their pink cardboard box! Delightful, delicious, and very Boulder this Food Hop is one you cannot miss. And with small tasting cakes you get to try more then one!

Boulder Food Hop #2: Sushi Tora

2014 Tenth Street

Boulder, CO

So I was ready for some sushi, and Sushi Tora served up a very unique Japanese experience. I have had a lot of sushi, but this was the first menu that served up an orgasm! Oh... I meant an orgasm roll consisting of a california roll baked with salmon and creamy sauce. Just Food Hop here and order it ladies. I don't think you will need much convincing.

Boulder Food Hop #1: SALT the bistro

1047 Pearl Street

Boulder, CO

New to the Boulder, CO scene in August 2009 I took a chance and decided to eat here over the acclaimed The Kitchen restaurant in Boulder. It was well worth the risk! I picked the grilled flatiron steak served over top a forest mushroom pumpkin bread pudding. This savory and cozy meal helped me settle down for my drive to the rocky mountains! I recommend the seating at the kitchen bar where you can view the chefs cooking in their trendy open kitchen. Food Hop here and you won't be disappointed!

Denver Food Hop #4: root down

1300 West 33rd Ave

Denver, CO 80211

Hands down this is the best restaurant in Denver, and I have a Food Hopper Stephanie to thank for the recommendation! From its open kitchen to its throwback 1950's decor, root down knows they have it going on. Not to mention that everything they used to build the restaurant is recycled. The menu is designed for tasting and highlights all local Colorado food & drink. The meal started off with a Colorado sourced Cabarnet. Everyone at the table ordered two tasting plates, and each were passed around encouraging a social dining experience. I was so excited to eat that I forgot to take a picture so I apologize if some of the pictures are half eaten.... but still beautiful! Some of the star dishes included perfectly cooked seared achiote rubbed Colorado lamb, golden beet risotto, King Canyon Ranch buffalo sliders, and organic hazel dell mushroom bruschetta. The finale of the meal was an unforgettable banana "creme brulee" pie with peanut butter crust. This Food Hop was one of the best I have visited to date! Put this on your itinerary the next time you visit Denver.

Denver Food Hop #3: Tamayo

1400 Larimer St

Denver, CO 80202

Order the guacamole and dig in! Otherwise hop right past Tamayo, a modern Mexican restaurant in Larimer Square. Not many of us at the table could taste our meals because our mouths were on fire! Believe me when I tell you... all Mexican does not have to burn the palate. My chile relleno stuffed with shrimp, and topped with crema fresca was good in a painful kind of way. For me I would hop past this food stop, and try another memorable Denver restaurant from my blog. Oh did I mention the watery margaritas!

Denver Food Hop #2: Rialto Cafe

934 Sixteenth Street

Denver, CO 80202

Rialto Cafe is strategically placed on the popular 16th street mall featuring a wide variety of food at low prices. This is a reliable stop if you need a quick place to eat while shopping. There was little wait, but the restaurant had a nice buzz. I ordered the pistachio crusted salmon with wheatberry pilaf. Sweet, tart flavors combined on top of the perfectly cooked salmon. However, for me a glass of Kim Crawford Sauvignon blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand overshadowed any part of the meal. Creamy, fruity and light all the tastes of this wine combined to create a memorable glass . So order up any of the dishes, but make sure to try that Kim Crawford Sauvignon blanc!

Denver Food Hop #1: Luca D'Italia

711 Grant Street

Denver, CO 80203

Luca D'Italia is off the beaten path in Denver and highlights one of Denver's hottest chefs, Frank Bonanno. I ordered the house salad with an appetizer portion of the egg pappardelle with lobster and red sauce. The pasta was al dente, and the lobster a bit overcooked. It was tasty but did not blow me away. In addition it was very expensive... $17.00 for an appetizer portion of pasta. If I was food hopping in Denver again this would not be a repeat. I would stop by Osteria Marco run by the same chef on Larimer Street if I were you. Affordable and very delicious with outside seating. If I learned one thing from my trip to Florence, Italy it was that good Italian does not have to be expensive.

Denver, Colorado Trip

Hey all! Well I am about to get food hopping again in Denver, Colorado. I need some suggestions on where to eat. I will be there for four days, and then two days in Rocky Mountain National Park. I am staying at the Stanley Hotel where the shining was filmed. So far I have a few food hops as possibilities to eat at...... help me add a few more.

Snooze for brunch, Denver, Colorado http://www.snoozeeatery.com/

Luca D'Italia, Denver, Colorado http://www.lucadenver.com/

Fruition, Denver, Colorado http://www.fruitionrestaurant.com/

Nepal's Cafe, Estes Park, Colorado

Canandaigua,NY Hop #1: Just Crepes

101 South Main Street
Canandaigua, New York

On my way to a conference at the Wine & Culinary Center in Canandaigua, NY my friends and I stopped by Just Crepes on the main drag in Canandaigua,NY. The restaurant is formally informal....jeans can be worn but crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling. My favorite kind of place. This is my second trip back here which says something, but the first time I had the specialty fruit crepe. Crepes were being freshly made at the counter, and filled with sweet strawberries. They were topped with a berry mix along with a little bit of sugar and whip cream. I highly recommend this Food Hop. Yum! Dessert for breakfast!

Manhattan Hop # 9: Levain Bakery

167 West 74th Street

New York, NY

My last food hop in Manhattan has been all over the news, and recomended by a co-worker; I felt that I was forced to stop and try the best chocolate chip cookie on earth. This requires little more then a picture for you to understand why this soft on the inside, crisp on the outside little piece of heaven was worth it. Shared with a friend it might help you feel less guilty.