Brian's Best Bites

Season 4, Blog #10

The hot dog from Portillo’s is on a soft poppy seed bun which gives it a nice flavor. It is an authentic Vienna beef hot dog that fills the entire bun. Relish, mustard, sport peppers, celery salt and a dill pickle on the side are my favorite toppings. I leave the onions and tomatoes off of my Chicago style hot dog, but you can include both if you like them. The hot dog gives you a nice snap when you bite into it. One hot dog is enough to fill you up and satisfy your hot dog craving! A side of cheese fries is a nice compliment to the hot dog. The cheese sauce is warm and ooey-gooey, and the fries are not too salty or greasy. They are a little bit crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. In conclusion, a Portillo’s hot dog and cheese fries are the perfect lunch or dinner! #briansbestbites #portillloshotdog #portilloscheesefries #foodblog

Season 4, Blog #9

La Michoacana is a new ice cream shop in Lisle. They have many locations throughout the Chicagoland area. On my first trip there, I tried the Oreo ice cream. It tasted homemade because it was so fresh. The cookie pieces were crunchy and the vanilla ice cream was creamy and smooth. It dissolved in my mouth leaving me wanting more. I give this ice cream 10 stars! I highly recommend going to La Michoacana ice cream for a sweet treat, party dessert, or to take home. In conclusion, I recommend it on a hot, sunny day!

#briansbestbites #lamichoacana #besticecreaminlisle #oreoicecream #foodblog

Season 4, Blog #8

My classmates and I worked as a team to make this recipe. Maria, our occupational therapist, led the group. We laid out the bagels after cutting them in the bagel slicer. Next, we put a thick layer of pizza sauce on each half of the bagel. After that, we used shredded mozzarella to cover the pizza sauce. Then, we added 4 slices of pepperoni to each side of the bagel. Finally, we added a sprinkle of Italian seasoning to the top of each slice. The bagels cooked in the oven at 425 degrees for 5 – 10 minutes. Once we ate them, they tasted like real pizza. The cheese melted nicely and was ooey-gooey goodness. The Italian seasoning gave it an authentic taste. The pepperoni had the right amount of spiciness to give it some zing! I recommend pizza bagels for a party, a snack or a meal because they are quick and easy to make, and they taste delicious.

Season 4, Blog #4

This wedding day dinner was inside a reception hall in Cleveland, Ohio. I was a groomsman in my sister’s wedding which was a beautiful celebration! The main course consisted of green beans, red potatoes and prime rib. The green beans were fresh and blanched to retain their natural, vibrant green color. Then, they were cooked just enough to remain a bit of crunch. The red potatoes were not too salty or starchy. Also, they were cooked just enough to make them soft and fork ready. The prime rib was cooked to a perfect medium rare and was not too fatty. It was juicy, flavorful and melted like butter in your mouth. This fancy wedding dinner was outrageous and enjoyed by all. The wedding had a great atmosphere and will be remembered for a long time!

#briansbestbites #primerib #weddingcelebration #fantasticfood #foodblog #flavorful

Season 4, Blog #7

There are 4 different kinds of beans in this bean bake. There are lima beans, pinto beans, white beans, and pork and beans. The texture was soft with a good chew. The bacon gave it a smoky flavor. The sauce was not too sweet, and it had a little acidity from the vinegar and ketchup.

The bean bake packs a lot of flavor. It would be a great side dish with any type of BBQ – ribs, chicken or beef. My suggestion, to make it even better, would be if it had more smoky flavor from a smoker. If you don’t own a smoker, you could add Liquid Smoke to the bean bake recipe. I enjoyed this BBQ success!

Season 4, Blog #6

Christmas dinner was off the hook! Being with my mom and dad was wonderful. It was a meal fit for a king!

The mashed potatoes were creamy and smooth with just the right amount of salt and pepper. There was a little bit of butter and milk that made it even more creamy. The green bean casserole had fresh green beans and had crunchy onion strings on top. The mushroom soup made it rich and creamy and added layers of flavor.

The prime rib was the star of the show. It was thick, juicy and cooked to a perfect medium rare. It was beefy and melted in my mouth like butter. The flavor was to die for! The crust added awesome color and texture. I give it a 200 out of 10!! The chestnuts gave it a roasted, buttery flavor. There was a delicious crunch in every bite. I ate the whole thing. It was the best Christmas dinner I ever ate!

Season 4, Blog #5

The mostaccioli noodles were plump and were cooked just right. They weren’t mushy, but they weren’t under cooked either. The tomato sauce was creamy and the mozzarella was melted on top, so it was ooey-gooey goodness. A breadstick was included, but it wasn’t flavored. It would have been better if it had garlic butter on it like the Olive Garden breadsticks. The side of corn was fresh and tasted like corn on the cob. It was buttery and sweet. Overall, this lunch from Gourmet Gorilla was an 8.5 out of 10!

#foodblog #briansbestbites #mostaccioli #foodislife

Season 4, Blog #3

This Mexican comfort food is good for any occasion. The cabbage adds a nice crunch, while the hot sauce adds the heat. The lime adds a nice zing of citrus flavor. All the flavors together were an excellent treat for my mouth.

The acidity of the dish gives it a nice body. The dish has a great deal of flavor depth to it. Adding Cholula to the Pozole is an awesome idea, if you like a little spice. I give this dish a ten out of ten for its great variety of flavors.

#briansbestbites #foodblog #gourmetgorilla #lunchtimetreat #pozole #foodie

Season 4, Blog #2

The recipe was from the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company. It included eggs, oil, water and two packages of brownie mix. The batter came out thick and gooey. The rich chocolate taste included chocolate chips in the mix. Our team watched the cooking time carefully, so the brownies weren’t under cooked or over done. After the brownies were cool, we all did a taste test. Everyone agreed they were awesome! No frosting was needed on these brownies because they were just right straight out of the oven. I give these brownies a 10 out of 10 for their great taste and chewy texture!

Season 4, Blog #1

Rachel’s minestrone soup was delicious and had a lot of flavor and depth. The noodles were cooked perfectly; not too hard but nice and soft. The vegetables were a good consistency and were easy to chew. The broth had just the right amount of salt and pepper with a hint of tomato. Eating this soup would be great any day of the week or when you’re feeling sick with a cold. It’s the perfect comfort food that tastes like your mom made it.

#briansbestbites #minestronesoup #foodcritic

Season 3, Blog #6

I like the presentation of the lamb cake because it looks like a wedding cake presentation. It is decorated nicely and has green dyed coconut around it. The coconut is supposed to look like grass. We used chocolate chips for the eyes and nose. The white butter cream frosting was not too sweet, and it was creamy. The yellow cake mix was moist and tasted rich and airy. You can make this cake for Easter or a party. Your guests will love this delicious dessert. I give it a 10 out of 10!!

#briansbestbites #foodblog #dessert #lambcake #deliciouscake #foodislife

Season 3, Blog #5

During our cooking class, we made the SASED Burger. It was a thick and juicy burger that tasted like a Red Robin burger. First, we cooked the quarter pound beef burger in a pan, until it was well done. Next, the beef patty was set to rest on a paper towel, so it wasn’t too greasy. Then, the burger was put on the bottom bun, and we added toppings. American cheese, tomato, lettuce and thousand island dressing made it complete. Finally, we added the top bun and took a bite. The SASED Burger was off the hook, since it melted in your mouth like butter and made your taste buds tingle!

#briansbestbites #bestburger #foodblog #homemade #teamwork #cheeseburger

Season 3, Blog #4

The main item for our school’s Thanksgiving feast was tender and juicy turkey. I enjoyed the turkey with gravy on top. Next, I tried the stuffing which was a little dry, so I added gravy to make it moist. It tasted great once it had some turkey gravy on it. The apple/cranberry sauce was sweet and tart which made it tasty. My favorite side dish was the corn dream casserole. It was wonderful because it had crunchy edges with a creamy corn center. The bright green bean casserole was a group favorite with it’s crispy onion topping. We liked the homemade mashed potatoes with the brown, beef gravy with its rich flavor. Finally, we had three choices for dessert: pecan squares, pumpkin pie, and Portillo’s chocolate cake. I chose the Portillo’s chocolate cake because it’s not too sweet, but it’s moist with just the right amount of sugar in it. Also, the secret ingredient, mayonnaise, makes it perfect!

Go to briansbestbites.com to see my other blogs with food reviews! Comment on my blog if you liked it or have questions!! #thanksgivingfeast #Portillos #foodblog

Season 3, Blog #3

For my dad’s birthday, we had banana cream pie because that’s his favorite dessert. He likes it better than cake because it’s not too sweet. We even put a candle on top!

The pie was made with fresh bananas and a creamy custard filling that tastes like banana pudding. The crust is made of graham crackers, and it tasted crunchy but not too hard. The topping on the pie was a fluffy whipped cream with crunchy almond slivers on it. Finally, there were slices of banana on top of the whipped cream.

My dad and I liked the pie a lot because it has less sugar than cake and tastes healthier. Also, we like the flavor and the texture. I recommend the banana cream pie instead of cake for your next birthday party.

Season 3, Blog #2

Yesterday, in our class, we made fruit and yogurt parfaits. They are a great dessert after dinner. First, put vanilla yogurt in a cup. We used half the yogurt, so we could make layers. Next, add three cut strawberries on top of the yogurt. Then, add 4 teaspoons of granola. Last, repeat those 3 steps to add more yogurt, strawberries and granola layers. It is a healthy dessert with creamy yogurt, fresh and juicy strawberries and crunchy granola. This fresh and easy recipe is something anyone can make at home! I recommend this recipe for kids or adults!!

Go to briansbestbites.com to see my other blogs! Comment on my blog if you have questions!! #foodie #fruit&yogurtparfait #foodblog #dessert #strawberriesaregreat

Salt Grass Steak House

I went to Oklahoma for my sister Mary’s graduation. I went to dinner at Salt Grass Steak House with my family.

I had surf-n-turf and macaroni and cheese. The surf-n-turf included grilled shrimp and sirloin steak. The steak was tender, juicy and beefy. It melted in my mouth. The shrimp was grilled to perfection; spicy, smoky, juicy and to die for! The mac-n-cheese noodles were plump, cheesy, creamy, ooey and gooey.

The waiter was great, the atmosphere was good, and it was not crowded. I loved everything I ordered. I highly recommend the Salt Grass Steak House!

#briansbestbites #foodblog #surfnturf #steakandshrimp #saltgrasssteakhouse #foodie

The Mexican Buffet had soft corn tortillas, a Mexican cheese blend of quesadilla and cheddar, and juicy ground turkey with chipotle pepper that put a little heat in the meat. Next, there was creamy Spanish rice with corn and green pepper which was a good side dish. The burrito was a soft corn tortilla stuffed with refried beans, mild cheddar cheese, and just the right amount of spices. It was comfort food that made me smile and filled me up!

Season #2, BLOG #1

Jewel Roasted Chicken

A quick amazing dinner can be made with a pre-cooked chicken from Jewel . My mom added two delicious sides to compliment the chicken. She made stuffing from a box and fresh green beans. Finally, she poured a creamy gravy over the meal and it tasted like Thanksgiving.

Holy Guacamole is this the most heavenly burger ever! My mom made burgers on the grill. They were a mix of ground turkey and Angus Beef. I added cheese, pickles, mayo, mustard and guacamole. The burger was moist, juicy and tender. The guacamole was light and not too spicy. The pickles rounded it out with a great crunch. And, my dad is the best guacamole maker ever!!! Remember, toast your burger bun and have some hand-cut fries on the side for a perfect meal!

#briansbestbites #foodforlife #foodblog #foodreviews #whoopwhoopboom #burgers

I recently had a chocolate cake with vanilla filling from Delmonico’s Deli. It was delicious. Not too sweet and the vanilla frosting balanced out the chocolate. It was moist and creamy. It just melts in your mouth!

#briansbestbites #whoopwhoopboom #dessert #foodislife #chocolatelover

The other day I had a blueberry muffin from GOH cafe. The staff were nice, friendly and helpful. The cashier was fantastic. The muffin was moist and soft. The blueberries tasted fresh, and there was just the right amount of berries. The crust was beautiful, and it was a perfect brown. I should have asked for a glass of milk!

Go to briansbestbites.com to see all of my food blog reviews.

There were many choices at Panda Express where I went to dine before work. I chose Sweet and Sour Chicken. The chicken was crunchy, not too sour, and the sauce was tangy. The noodles were buttery, savory, soft and delicious. The shell of the eggroll was crispy, while the filling was a great mix of cabbage, other veggies and spices. For dessert the fortune cookie was light and not too sweet.. 

The whole meal was Off the Charts! I can’t wait to go there again.

briansbestbites.com

The Preferred Meal company called this lunch Popcorn Chicken. I called it NOT mixed vegetables, because they were separate. I think vegetables taste better when they are separated. The corn was buttery, sweet and warm. The green beans were tasty and tasted like they just came from the farm. The popcorn chicken had a nice crunch to it, and the chicken was tender, juicy and moist. I give this meal 2 thumbs up!