Author Archives: briansbestbites

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 theContinue reading “Portillo’s Hot Dog and Cheese Fries”

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.Continue reading “La Michoacana Oreo Ice Cream”

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 shreddedContinue reading “Pizza Bagels”

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.Continue reading “Wedding Day Dinner”

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 fromContinue reading “Mrs. Paulus’ Bean Bake”

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 evenContinue reading “Christmas Dinner 2022”

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 itContinue reading “Lunchtime Mostaccioli”

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 niceContinue reading “Pozole by Gourmet Gorilla”

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 overContinue reading “SASED Double Fudge Brownies”

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 ofContinue reading “Rachel’s Famous Minestrone Soup”