WWWE: What Would a Wildcat Eat?

This past weekend Gourmet Gab made a road trip down to Tucson, Arizona to visit her Wildcat friends at the University of Arizona. Let me tell you, Tucson’s got it good! Recapping all my dining experiences would be the length of a novel because every meal was so darn delicious. Instead, here is a photo collection of my tasty Tucson eats.

Dinner Friday Night: The B Line makes the BEST Pesto Pasta I have ever had the honor of eating. (This has now made the “Favorites” list!)

Dessert: Heavenly Pumpkin Cheesecake. Ideal balance between pumpkin and cheesecake flavor. Scrumptious graham cracker crust. Alongside it (brace yourself) homemade Vanilla Caramel Lavender Ice Cream. DIVINE!

Saturday Lunch: The “Dab’s Delight” from Beyond Bread. Tuna salad, tomato and Havarti cheese sandwiched between toasted wheat bread. Side of their special pasta salad. It was so good I literally polished everything.

Dessert: More cheesecake! This time White and Dark Chocolate with a cookie crust. Rich, creamy, and oh so satisfying.

Saturday Dinner: Arabic food from Sinbad’s, a quaint little restaurant tucked in University Blvd. Great veggie filled pitas with hummus (called Veggie Aaryes).

Breakfast (and lunch!) Sunday: A famous Breakfast Burrito from the on-campus market/diner in Highland. Filled with eggs, potatoes, veggies, cheese and salsa it kept me full ALL day. So ridiculously flavorful! Not your average college cafeteria food.

Gourmet Gab learned that great food and great friends are essential components of a weekend getaway. Next time you are on a trip, seek out the locals’ favorite places (guaranteed to be delish!), share your meals in good company, and document your dining experiences!

P.S. Props to Catherine Radachi for fabulous restaurant selections and excellent photos.

Love food. Love self. Love life.

X’s and (Pumpkin Spice) O’s

Nothing says “Happy Halloween!” like pumpkins. Today I was at Target and guess what I came across? Pumpkin Spice Hershey’s Kisses! I purchased them out of curiosity…would they live up to the classic taste of Pumpkin Pie, or even a Pumpkin Spice Latte?

First off, the swirled bronze packaging is darling, very fall appropriate. As far as taste goes, they are actually pretty yummy. The flavor of the Kisses is very sweet and somewhat overpowering (limited my number of consumption to around 2), but if you are looking to change up the traditional milk chocolate they are worth it!

Still on the list for celebrating Halloween with Hershey’s are the Candy Corn and Carmel Apple flavors. Gourmet Gab wants your feedback…do you think they cause a fall frenzy? If you have tried all three, which one is your favorite?

Love food. Love self. Love life.

Havana Nights

Random fact about Gourmet Gab: I am half Cuban, half Norwegian/German/Irish. My dad was born in Cuba and immigrated to the United States with his family when he was five years old. I have grown up loving my Cuban culture that encompasses savory food, loud music, Salsa dancing, passionate people, and the beautiful Spanish language.

Yesterday I went home to see my family (ahem, do laundry for free and mooch leftovers…just kidding!) and my Dad and Uncle Tommy prepared a classic Cuban dish for dinner: “Fricase de pollo con arroz blanco y platanos maduros y ensalada de aguacate.”

Basically that can be translated as a chicken stew with potatoes (flavored with green peppers, onion, tomato sauce, and garlic), served with white rice, fried bananas (called plantains – a sweeter version of a typical banana), and avocados drizzled with olive oil.

Let me just put it simply: it was MUY DELICIOSO! The chicken was tender, juicy, and flavorful; the bananas were slightly crisp and candied; the avocados fresh and soft. All of the flavors were like a party in my mouth. Seriously.

Next time you drive by the restaurant Havana Cafe or are in Miami, Florida please stop and enjoy some traditional Cuban food. Actually better yet, hire the Rodiles Boys to cook up some authentic dishes! Salud y buen provecho!

Love food. Love self. Love life.

Ask Gourmet Gab

Do ever buy an ingredient at the grocery store and have no idea what to do with it? Are you searching for a great gift for a fellow foodie? Trying to decipher a completely unfamiliar term you heard on Food Network? Sick of your everyday meals and need inspiration?

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, you are in luck! Gourmet Gab is adding a new feature to the blog…Question and Answer! Email me at gourmetgab@gmail.com with questions and comments (or simply to say hello). I will research, investigate, and find an answer for you. Once a week, I will post my results to share with you all! Cannot wait to hear from you.

Love food. Love self. Love life.

Say (Grilled) Cheese!

I don’t know about you, but my favorite comfort food is a Grilled Cheese Sandwich. There is just something about the combination of gooey cheese oozing from buttery, toasted bread that feels like a big bear hug right when you need it most. Cozied up in PJ’s on a “cold” winter night, I dip my Grilled Cheese in tomato soup sprinkled with Goldfish. Now that I am in college, I feel a little comfort from home when the dining hall serves my old-time favorite.

Check out the article, 5 Tips for the Ultimate Grilled Cheese and watch the slideshow of tantalizing pictures for tons of fantastic ideas of how to add some pizzazz to this classic. One of my out of the ordinary concoctions includes Brie cheese, green apple slices, and a drizzle of honey! Hopefully you will be inspired to whip out the bread, butter, cheese, and fix-ins to create a Grilled Cheese of your own. When you do, comment below about your creation.

Looking for a place to order a great Grilled Cheese? Try out Essence Bakery Cafe in Tempe, Arizona. They have made my “Favorites” list!

Love food. Love self. Love life.