Giordano's Pizza - Chicago, IL

I remember when I was a kid I did not really like pizza that much. I guess it ended up growing on me as I got older because I love it now. I have eaten many kinds of pizza...from authentic NY style, to typical delivery, to the thick Chicago stuff. Giordano's Chicago style is by far my favorite pizza. Ever!

Featured on Travel Channel's "Pizza Paradise" and "Chowdown Countdown" it does not disappoint. My family in the Chicago area told me I had to try it so they ordered some for me. It was love at first bite! I thought I could not get enough but after that second piece I could not eat any more. How can you go wrong with pizza that filling?

If you have ever had Chicago style pizza, you would know it's the funny looking thick stuff with the sauce on top. Giordano's does it right: thick cheese, plentiful toppings, and a crust that holds everything together. The first Giordano's pizza I ever had was chicken and spinach. Sounds weird but it was fabulous. If you try any of the regular pizza toppings they are amazing as well.

My Rating for Giordano's Pizza
Taste - 5 out of 5
Service - 3 out of 5 (It's slow due to extended cooking times)
Establishment Aura - 4 out of 5

www.giordanos.com

Lambert's Cafe "Home of the Throwed Rolls" - Sikeston, MO, Foley, AL

Lambert's is a pretty big tourist attraction. I have visited the restaurant in Foley, AL and the original in Sikeston, MO. The few times I have gone both had a line out of the door and tour buses lined the parking lot. Lambert's gets a lot of hype as it has been featured on Travel Channel's Chowdown Countdown and ranked one of the best placed to pig out.

They claim to be "The home of the throwed rolls." It's always fun to catch the rolls and I have to say that Lambert's has the BEST rolls I have ever ate! They are so soft and buttery but also have a great texture and crust on the tops and bottom of the Rolls. The rolls alone are worth taking a trip to Lambert's.

As for the main entrees at Lambert's, they are not my personal favorite. The taste of the food is pretty standard and doesn't have the layers of flavors that I like. The unlimited pass arounds are great but I like meat and I judge a restaurants by the meat. So, like I said earlier, just standard. The portions are huge but who cares if the food isn't something I crave. The ham is too salty, the roast beef is o.k., and the salad is plain Jane. The best thing I have had there is the fried chicken but even that wasn't that memorable.

Overall Lambert's is worth a visit for the rolls but not repeatedly for the food. A trick I have learned for the one in Foley, AL is to enter through the souvenir shop into the dining room. You can then catch a roll and be on your way.

Taste - 3 of 5
Service - 5 of 5
Establishment Aura - 5 of 5

www.throwedrolls.com

IveyCake - Franklin, TN

Who doesn't like cake? Well one of my favorite local cupcake shops was featured on Food Networks's Cupcake Wars. IveyCake is a place I have been eating cake from the past few years and I must say it does not disappoint. I'm pretty sure I have tried just about every flavor they serve. There is no way I would be able to chose a favorite because they are all so good. It certainly does help that it's located in one of the best small towns in America, Franklin, TN. An IveyCake cupcake is the perfect pre or post snack for a stroll around the town.

As I mentioned earlier IveyCake has many great flavors. Every single cake I have consumed has been prepared and assembled with precise perfection. The cake itself is flavorful, moist and always topped with the perfect icing where the cake flavor and the icing flavor always compliment each other well.

IveyCake definitely lives up to the TV hype and is a must have if you are ever in the Nashville, TN area.

My Rating for IveyCake
Taste - 5 out of 5
Service - 5 out of 5
Establishment Aura - 5 out of 5

www.iveycake.com