Sams Diner Review – Waterford, WI

Sam’s Diner Review – Waterford, WI There are a few times in my life when I’ve had a plate put in front of me at a restaurant and I’ve sighed and said “this is art.” When/where this has happened, it’s never been dependent on the price or the number of stars, or some fancy name… Continue reading Sams Diner Review – Waterford, WI

Hazels Diner and Bakery Review, Hebron, IL

Long ago, in a galaxy far, far away, I was convinced I had stumbled upon the best breakfast potatoes in the country. OK, it wasn’t a galaxy, it was a breakfast horseshoe in Springfield, and after breakfast at Hazel’s Diner and Bakery, Springfield has been relegated to second place. Located in the quiet ville of… Continue reading Hazels Diner and Bakery Review, Hebron, IL

Harpers Country Ham Review

Man I love good ham. OK, I love bad ham, too.  But “country cured” – a dry cure lengthy process with salt, hickory smoked,  that’ll get me everytime. I’ve driven back roads of Missouri, Virginia, the Carolinas and Kentucky in search of small processors. I’d never heard of Harper’s, even tho they’ve been around since… Continue reading Harpers Country Ham Review

Crocketts 1875 Breakfast Camp Review – Gatlinburg, TN

Crocketts 1875 Breakfast Camp I’m big about avoiding tourist traps or “voted best XXX 10 years in a row.” Unless I specifically head out for one, of course, and Crocketts 1875 Breakfast Camp was just one such destination. I was going to be passing near Gatlinburg, and I thought the least I could do to… Continue reading Crocketts 1875 Breakfast Camp Review – Gatlinburg, TN

Great Value Smoked Ham Lunchmeat Review – A WalMart Product

I write a lot about ham, it seems.  Because I love it. I love premium hams and have driven background all over the country in search of small processors, and been very successful in Virginia, Tennessee, the Carolinas, and Missouri. I have quite a few reviews of very expensive ham, as well as very cheap… Continue reading Great Value Smoked Ham Lunchmeat Review – A WalMart Product

Lunch Mate Cooked Ham Review – An Aldi Branded Product

I have reviewed quite a few products found at Aldi, a global grocery retailer that focuses on value-priced items. They are able to achieve lower costs by largely staying away from big brand names, and instead, creating their own brands and contracting the manufacture and packaging of them to quality co-packers and producers. This product… Continue reading Lunch Mate Cooked Ham Review – An Aldi Branded Product

Winstons Irish Bacon Review

When you request bacon in the US, you know what you are going to get. Smoked/cured thin slices of pork belly, with streaks of fat parallel to streaks of delicious meat. Unless you request “Canadian Bacon” which is neither Canadian nor bacon, but very lean sliced pork loin,  cured and smoked. Outside of the US,… Continue reading Winstons Irish Bacon Review

Lake Geneva Country Meats Review, Lake Geneva Wisconsin

I have been known to take road trips in search of small producers of processed pork products, especially hams. Jumping off the interstates, traveling back roads, stopping in diners to inquire about local products. Never disappointed. The other day, I had been to a “pick your own” tomato farm, had a bushel of the beautiful red fruit, stopped at… Continue reading Lake Geneva Country Meats Review, Lake Geneva Wisconsin

Fricks Ham Review, Missouri Processor

I love ham, and I’ve been fortunate to run into some great ones lately. Most recently the notable one was local, from All Grass Farms. But I screwed up this week, didn’t do my research, and tho I was going to be close to a Missouri processor named Frick’s Meats, whose product I have enjoyed… Continue reading Fricks Ham Review, Missouri Processor