Chili Mac - Mark's Downtown Coney - Ann Arbor, MI

The chili mac from Mark's Downtown Coney in Ann Arbor was a filling and enjoyable lunch that ranks high in the "Good Slop" category.  The chili mac was a plate of spaghetti, topped with shredded cheddar cheese and chili.  I spiced it up with some raw onion and Frank's Red Hot.  I was unable to twirl the spaghetti with a fork, so I opted for the shovel method by cross cutting it and mixing it all together to the perfect slop consistency and then sent it down south.

Mark's Downtown is a great place if you are in the mood for some grease for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.  I recommend the chili mac, but I also saw the griddle cook making some reuben's, blt's, coney dogs, and omelets that all looked delicious.

- Lunch Pail

Fresh Plate of Some Chili Mac

Kitchen Cleanout

Here is a dinner that was sent in by Phil #14 a few months back.  He didn't provide much detail, except for he just cleaned out his cabinets and fridge and was able to create this.  From the picture is looks a little like shrimp scampi.  Shell pasta, shrimp, crushed red pepper, in a buttery olive oil garlic sauce.  It is amazing on what can be created with the things lying around the kitchen.  The craziest part of the meal is the loud design on the plate.  I wonder if Phil was able to buy the matching mugs and soup bowls at the yard sale as wel.

Ode to Carpaccio - Il Buco, NYC

During the holidays, Seegs and I went to see Jersey Boys followed by dinner at one of her favorite places, Il Buco down on the lower east side.  The food was delicious and the 11:15 pm dinner reservation was pretty cool.  I never thought I would accept a reservation that late, it was there first available time for that Saturday.  There menu is based on the season so I will definately be back in the Spring to eat again.

Here is what Seegs has to say about her favorite dish from one of her favorite restaurants...

"Oh how those raw ribbons of meat melt in your mouth and linger on your tastebuds. Yes, raw. This baby is beef in it's most primal form. "Carpaccio di Manzo" is what the menu reads, and it tastes even more glorious than it sounds. Bison strip loin carpaccio, fried chickpeas, black cumin, arugala, shaved parmesan cheese- with a drizzle of the purest extra virgin olive oil to top off this delicious masterpiece. Ever since I first laid eyes (and teeth) on this delicately thin sliced beef 2 years ago, I dreamed of the moment that we would reunite. And so, I'd like to thank Lunchpail for bringing carpaccio and I together again, if only for a moment, that I could once again enjoy a few savory slices of heaven. Until next time carpaccio... unfreakin'believeable."

- Seegs

Carpaccio di Manzo

My dinner - Garganelli al Ragu

Seegs' dinner - Risotto di Something (I forget the actual name, but it was really good)

Yo, Angelo! I DID IT!

My buddy Snee thought it would be nice to treat his wife, Annie Babes, to a nice Italian dinner the other night at Angelo's in Harriman, NY.  I have been there a few times with my family, Serious Meat, Seegs, and even went one night with Snee.  I must say Snee gave proper credit to this place.  Everything I have eaten there has been great, and their chicken cutlet is awesome.  It seems like they butterfly it and pound it real thin, which to me, is the best way to have a cutlet.  What Snee forgot to mention was that this place is BYOB, which makes it real light on the wallet.  I am sure I will also post about my experience here in the future since I also like to try new things.  Next time you are shopping at Woodbury Commons try to plan a lunch or dinner here, you won't be dissapointed.

I have had the stuffed mushrooms before, and they are great.  They are not stuffed with bread crumbs like most stuffed mushrooms, Angelos stuffs them with sausage and other seasoning.  I will try to get a picture of them the next time I am there.

Here is what Snee had to say...

"Being German and Irish, a "Homestyle Italian Meal" makes as much sense to me as carrying a dental dam in your wallet. However, there's a little gem of an Italian restaurant in Harriman, NY called Angelo's...about a mile and a half from my estate that serves some of the best away-from-home-homestyle-Italian food in the area. I believe they were voted Best Italian Restaurant in Orange AND Rockland Counties. Regardless...

Started off with the stuffed mushroom which no matter where you go, is always a hit-or-miss item. The stuffed mushrooms here are so far batting 1.000. I don't know exactly what's in them, and I would have gotten a picture of them if I didn't dominate them so fast, but needles to say they made the front of my pants get very tight. Next up I had the manicotti, or "man-eh-GOT" as my Italian friends would say. This brings up a point...this is the first time I've ordered that entree there, and I always try to get something different every time. I don't believe you can fully recommend a restaurant and say, "Oh, the food there is delicious!" if you have the same thing everytime. I've had about 10 different things from this place and I can firmly say, "The food there is delicious."

The wife on the otherhand gets her chicken with tomatoes and fresh MUTZ every single time she goes. In her case, it's the REASON she goes because she loves it so much, so I don't blame her for not trying other things. (I'm being nice because she'll probably read this and I have to live with her.)

If you're ever in the area...it's a must."
- Snee
 

Nice Manicotti smotherd in sauce and cheese.

Grilled Chicken Cutlet with Fresh Mutz, Tomatoes, and Basil. 

iDonthaveaflash

Good thing the iPhone can tie your shoes for you, but the camera doesn't have a flash.  BG and his team enjoyed a nice dinner at Cheese Cake Factory last night in Chicago.  I mean there is nothing wrong with 3 dudes going to dinner at Cheese Cake Factory, right?  Chicago isn't known for deep dish pizza, hot dogs, italian beef sandwiches or antyhing like that, but for the Cheese Cake Factory.

"So the Gexpro audit team is in Chicago this week minus Pepin and its BG, rob aka Brigham young, and a newcomer to the blog John Stofka who has yet to earn a nickname
Dinner started out with Brigham ordering a diablo patron drink even though he is a Mormon.....very fruity if u ask me
Dinner was chipotle chicken pasta for the BG, jambalaya pasta for Mr. Young and chicken and shrimp gumbo for our first year. Needless to say everything was awesome and the portions were huge. Gotta love America...no wonder we have an obesity problem but its sooooo delicious. Saw the biggest piece of cheesecake ever on the way but none of us could even think of getting some. All in all a great dinner."
- BG

The Robway Special

This just in from Gaetano "Too Many Middle Names" DeLuca, aka GRPD, a Tarrytown, NY native. Seems like GRPD earns a nice salary and can afford expensive lunches. Man I wish I had his job. Try not to get any grease on those precious workpapers.


"So I decided to change things up today for lunch since I went the hot breakfast this morning (consisting of scrambled eggs, home fries, breakfast sausages and French toast). I call this the 'Robway Special Combo' - total cost $11.75.
This special platter includes sautéed chicken, spicy salsiccia & escarole served over rigatoni with a side of freshly baked bread from Roberto's Restaurant ($9.00) and the weekly Friday special at Subway which includes 6 inches of tuna on whole wheat with lettuce, tomatoes, onions and olives ($2.75)."




- GRPD