Mama Cozzi’s French Bread Pizza Review – An Aldi Product

Another Aldi product this week, actually did this one some time back, didn’t write it up. Mama Cozzi’s is the brand name the Aldi grocery chain has cooked up for their frozen and fresh (take and bake) pizzas. I’ve tried a lot of them, including the one I wrote about directly below, and a “Mega… Continue reading Mama Cozzi’s French Bread Pizza Review – An Aldi Product

Appleton Farms Bone In Butt Ham Review – Aldi In-House Brand

oth Appleton Farms is Aldi’s in-house brand name for selected meat products.  I’ve reviewed quite a few of them, which you can read here, tho for some unfortunate reason, some of them are tagged “Applewood.” Oops. I’ve even reviewed this particular product, bone-in butt ham, before, but it was made for Aldi by a different… Continue reading Appleton Farms Bone In Butt Ham Review – Aldi In-House Brand

Buena Vista Restaurant Review – Algonquin, IL

I rarely go out for Mexican food; exception would be if I’m deep in an area of a big city with a heavy Mexican population. Traveling the world, you get spoiled on “authentic” cuisine and disappointed about the Americanized version of same. At least I do.  Same after I lived in China.  Never been in… Continue reading Buena Vista Restaurant Review – Algonquin, IL

Tyson Crispy Chicken Strips Review – Home Cookin’

I’m not much for ‘heat and eat’ products, tho I do try them from time to time to see if they’ve improved. For the 40-50 years there has been frozen “crispy” food – chicken, fish, whatever, I’m quite surprised the industry hasn’t licked “crispy” yet. Apparently not a priority. I especially don’t like microwaved (or… Continue reading Tyson Crispy Chicken Strips Review – Home Cookin’

Better Living Brands Review (In-house Safeway, Albertsons, et al)

I used to be SUCH a brand snob.  I wouldn’t even consider buying a store brand. And I’m old enough to remember when “generic” products first started showing up in store – do you?  Black and white boxes with plain block lettering? Today’s “generic” (store) brands are considerably different and often made by the large… Continue reading Better Living Brands Review (In-house Safeway, Albertsons, et al)

Red Baron Deep Dish Singles Review

I like to check in with the mainstream frozen pizza choices once a year or so.  See if they’ve improved, changed at all. For the most part, I don’t care for any of them, with the exception of hyperlocal brands like Vito and Nicks in Chicago (absolute #1 favorite), and for the pies at Trader… Continue reading Red Baron Deep Dish Singles Review

Buona Beef Restaurants Review – Chicago area

About thirty years ago, Chicagoan Joe Buonavolanto Senior had a notion to open a restaurant serving Chicago specialties – Italian beef and sausages, hot dogs, ribs, sandwiches and pizza. He took a 2nd mortgage out on his house to finance it, and did some of the initial construction with his own hands. Today, the third generation… Continue reading Buona Beef Restaurants Review – Chicago area

Crystal Lake Rib House Review – Crystal Lake, IL

Yeah, I’m just not a rib guy.  Never have been.  I’ll cook them for others, I’ll go to restaurants that serve them, they just aren’t for me. When it comes to BBQ, give me pulled pork (I make an excellent one), BBQ sausage, smoked turkey, chopped ham ‘cue, maybe some beef. Besides, I’ve been to… Continue reading Crystal Lake Rib House Review – Crystal Lake, IL

Mardi Gras 2018 New Orleans in Poem

(From my archives) Mardi Gras 2018 New Orleans in Poem I had never been to a Mardi Gras celebration until I moved to New Orleans. What I learned living there, is that  for the locals, it’s a great opportunity for family activities, far away from the tourism debauchery in the Quarter.  I was  ‘inspired’ one… Continue reading Mardi Gras 2018 New Orleans in Poem