Day: September 10, 2019

Friendly’s 9.6.19

On By Rob GIn Going PlacesLeave a comment

We went to Friendly’s in Syosset, NY on September 6, 2019. Since there were only three of us, there were no appetizers. I had the Philly Steak and Cheese Super Melt. I’ve had this before and like this sandwich. It might be better with some more gooey cheese, but it’s still good as it is. I ended the meal with a large Reese’s Pieces Sundae. Three scoops of ice cream (I chose Vienna Mocha Chunk, Brownie Batter, and Forbidden Chocolate), Peanut Butter Sauce, Marshmallow Sauce, Hot Fudge Sauce, Whipped Cream, Reese’s Pieces, Cherry, and Chocolate Sprinkles. I took a picture (the Reese’s Pieces are under the whipped cream), but it doesn’t properly reflect the enormity of the sundae. It was still a fantastic way to finish off my meal. Even though we went there for lunch, it filled me up so much that I wasn’t hungry enough for dinner.

When I was younger, my family went there quite a bit. I remember having a much bigger metabolism than I do now. We’d start with Mozzarella sticks, then I’d have a Big Beef Bacon Cheeseburger with a side of Chili, and finish it off with the large Reese’s Pieces Sundae, which had 5 scoops back then. We used to have a favorite one and I had a friend, Dudley G., who worked there. But that one closed, and a couple of others closed (Jericho and Westbury). But I try to make it back there a couple of times a year, if possible. When my sisters and their families come out, we try to get over there as well. So an old family tradition continues with the new generation. The food may be slightly different and there may not be as many locations as there used to be. But what doesn’t change is what it means to be there with family and to remember all the times we were there together over the years.

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Driving in a Generally Northern Direction

On By Rob GIn Going PlacesLeave a comment

I took a drive up on September 5, 2019. I drove up the 95, over the Delaware Memorial Bridge and on the New Jersey Turnpike and beyond. I had created a new playlist for my car, so it kept me entertained for the 5+ hours. When I take these drives, I enjoy taking in the scenery. Right now, there is a lot of green with little bits of yellow coming through on some of the trees on the New Jersey Turnpike. I look forward to another month or so when the leaves are in the middle of changing colors and I’ll be able to see some green, yellow, orange, red, etc. on the way.

I stopped at China Palace in Glen Cove, NY to pick up some lunch. I ordered two sides – Wontons in Spicy Sesame Peanut Butter Sauce (without the sauce) and Hot Noodles in Sesame Peanut Butter Sauce (with the sauce). I really enjoy the noodles and have gotten them both hot and cold. I prefer them cold, but getting them hot makes it easier to incorporate the sauce. The wontons are really good. One of my sisters and I went there one day and saw them making the wontons fresh, and we’ve gotten them every time since. It made for a nice meal with the family.

I took a scenic route home after picking up the food and got to see some horses and some swans, so it made for a very productive drive.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf 9.5.19

On By Rob GIn Going PlacesLeave a comment

I’m catching up on some writings and wanted to start with my visit to The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in Pikesville, MD on September 5, 2019. Continuing with my seasonal flavors, I decided to go for the Pumpkin Spice Ice blended. This was a definite favorite of mine. The flavors were on point and the consistency was fantastic.

I have a bit of a bias when it comes to The Coffee Bean, though. When I lived in California, this was one of my favorite coffee places to go to on a regular basis. I would go on a walk or run with one of my sisters on the weekends and this would be one of the places we would stop at, depending on our route. So this has sentimental value, since I associate The Coffee Bean with seeing my sister and her family. And stopping for an ice blended drink after running or walking for 3+ miles felt pretty good, especially in the hotter months.

There are a couple of other reasons I’m a fan of The Coffee Bean. They tend to have specialty drinks more frequently than other places, so there is always a chance for something different or new. I also enjoy the way they make their ice blended drinks. The ice is crushed more finely, so there is less of a chance of getting pieces of ice coming up the straw. This makes it a much more enjoyable experience for me.

There was a store inside a hotel in Baltimore, but it was not a full store and had a limited menu. It was still good, but not the complete experience. I was very happy to learn about the store that opened in Pikesville. I’ve been there quite a few times over the past year or so (maybe once every couple of months). It is nice to go into a store and have the people recognize you, even if you haven’t been there for a couple of months.

This was an overall nice experience. I enjoyed the Ice Blended Pumpkin and would definitely get it again while it’s still out. I’ll look forward to the next batch of specialty flavors, and I’m sure I’ll be writing about that as well.