Monday December 29, 2008
Mark Taylor - 11:54 PM AST
I visited East Side Mario's the other day. It had been a long time since I ate at this well-known restaurant.
I tried the Seafood Linguine. It was a simple dish but quite nice. There was nothing too fancy about it and it didn't distract you with any additions to the dish that weren't needed. The dish went quite well with a Sprite. I was definitely satisfied.
The dish was also what I expected it to be.
East Side Mario's will not serve you dishes that will wow you. There is no question about it. However, East Side Mario's is a nice restaurant because you know what to expect from it. You know how the food will taste and what the atmosphere will be like. You also know that you will be greeted at the door by one of the staff.
Restaurants can offer fancy interiors and a menu that will wow a person. However, restaurants always must remember that they must offer a consistent product and an experience that understands what they target customers want. In other words, a Chinese restaurant should not be serving Canadian food and that Chinese restaurant must constantly serve their dishes in a way they customer expects. The restaurants that will do well will understand this.
Yes, East Side Mario's is not a restaurant I would go to everyday but it is a restaurant that understands two very important things-it's customer and the need to be consistent.
Mark Taylor is a food writer and founder of www.diningpick.com
DiningPick.com is home to the largest directory of New Brunswick restaurants plus many news stories, features and recipes from New Brunswick chefs.
Sunday December 7, 2008
Mark Taylor - 10:57 PM AST
I recently had a chance to stop by the Saint John Ale House. I have to admit that it was the first time I had been in for a while. However, I'm glad that I returned as this restaurant is one of uptown Saint John's best restaurants. The food is good, the service excels and there is always something exciting planned for the menu. I hear Chef Jesse has some creative new things planned as I write this blog post.
i enjoyed a classic Scallops and Chips over lunch. The dish really satisfied with its great texture and flavour. The price was also very reasonable.
It definitely made a nice noon hour meal.
But the Scallops and Chips is not the only delicious offering at the Saint John Ale House as the restaurant provides customers with an excellent selection of dishes and a nice drink menu.
Chef Jesse and his team at the Saint John Ale House are doing some excellent things for Saint John and food lovers like myself. The restaurant remains a great addition to Saint John's uptown area.
Mark Taylor is a veteran food writer, restaurant reviewer and publisher of www.DiningPick.com
DiningPick.com is New Brunswick's food and drink website and home of the largest directory of New Brunswick restaurants, cafes and pubs.
DiningPick.com is owned by Delora Media.
Monday November 24, 2008
Mark Taylor - 11:10 PM AST
I love this idea: Organic food delivered to your home
Mark Taylor is founder of www.diningpick.com
DiningPick.com is home to the largest directory of New Brunswick restaurants, food and drink articles, food and drink blogs and opportunities to interact with chefs and other culinary personalities.
Monday November 10, 2008
Mark Taylor - 10:35 PM AST
There are many things Campbellton is known far. These things include salmon, the Restigouche River and some of the best views you will find in New Brunswick. I think Campbellton should also be known for the place where you will find what has to be the best seafood chowder in New Brunswick.
The city must thank Restaurant Le Bienfaisant for that honour. This restaurant on Water Street in the city's downtown area offers a seafood chowder that is worth the trip to Campbellton. It is fantastic.
It is full of delicious seafood, has great flavour and is something you truly won't forget. It is a seafood chowder lover's perfect dish.
It was also one of my motivations for making a trip to Campbellton back in June and I actually have been wishing that I could go back ever since. I have been missing this dish that much. It was that good.
Anyway, I encourage you to head to Campbellton to try this dish. It is truly something to experience.
Mark Taylor is founder of New Brunswick restaurant, food and drink guide www.diningpick.com
DiningPick.com is home to the largest directory of New Brunswick restaurants, cafes and pubs online today. The website also offers the best in food articles, recipes, beer advice as well as food and wine pairing tips.
DiningPick.com is owned by Delora Media.
Sunday October 26, 2008
Mark Taylor - 9:41 PM AST
There are many things to enjoy about autumn in New Brunswick such as the colourful trees and the crisp autumn air.
But one of the best things about this time of year has to be the many food and drink festivals that take place. It's a period of the calendar where you won't go more than a few weeks before another excellent festival begins.
The next festival is the 18th annual World Wine and Food Expo in Moncton. This event runs from Nov. 1st to Nov. 8th and will delight guests with an abundance of activities as well as many great samplings of the best food and drink. In addition, there will be many very talented chefs and wine personalities in attendance.
Ganong Chocolates, Wolfshead Smoked Salmon, Maison Beausoleil Oysters, Tansy Lane Herb Farm and Fromagerie aux 4 Vents are just some of the fine businesses who will present. Some of Moncton's best restaurants such as Bogart's, RestoClub Rouge, the Delta Beausejour and The Creek will also take part.
Over 350 wines will also be available for tasting and purchasing. These include La Delfina Rose Pinot Grigio and Chateau Ksara Reserve Couvent.
The World Wine and Food Expo is truly an excellent event and just one of many reasons for the food and wine lover to enjoy autumn in New Brunswick.
Bon Appetit!
Mark Taylor is a food writer and founder of www.diningpick.com
DiningPick.com is New Brunswick's only online food and drink publication and the home of the largest directory of New Brunswick restaurants, cafes, bistros and pubs.
Sunday October 19, 2008
Mark Taylor - 9:51 PM AST
I'm so happy that Nova Scotia-based Garrison beer has finally made it to ANBL store shelves.
Brewing since 1997, Garrison only recently gained a presence in New Brunswick. However, I've been hearing great things about this beer for a long time and I now know what people have been talking about.
Garrison offers a fantastic variety of beers ranging from Raspberry Wheat to Nut Brown. The beer is refreshing and has a excellent taste. It's also great on its own or with your favourite food. For example, I enjoyed a Tall Ship Amber tonight with some duck, rice and squash. It was really good.
Yes, Garrison is not a New Brunswick-based brewery but it is a welcomed addition to the choice that New Brunswick beer drinkers have. I think I'm going to head to the fridge to grab another Garrison right now.
Mark Taylor is a food writer and founder of New Brunswick dining guide www.diningpick.com
DiningPick.com is home to the largest directory of New Brunswick restaurants, cafes and pubs.
Monday October 13, 2008
Mark Taylor - 6:26 PM AST
I just returned home from a nice afternoon and Thanksgiving dinner with family.
This year we decided to make the trip to the Kings Head Inn at Kings Landing to enjoy their Thanksgiving dinner offerings and I am pleased that we did. The traditional Thanksgiving dinner of turkey, stuffing, sweet potato, mashed potato and peas was very good and the service was great as usual. But the highlight of the day was the pumpkin pie. It was excellent. It was so good that we had to have seconds.
Pumpkin pie has always been something I look forward to at this time of year. It has great flavour, superb texture and is real comfort food as Martha Stewart would say. Made from Kings Landing-grown pumpkins, the pumpkin pie at the Kings Head Inn had to be the best pumpkin pie I have ever tasted. It was that good. The pie had wonderful texture and a delightful mix of spices. I'm still talking to my wife about how good it is.
So be sure to enjoy some pumpkin pie with friends or family. The Kings Head Inn would be a great place to do just that.
Mark Taylor is a food writer and founder of www.diningpick.com
DiningPick.com is home to the largest online directory of New Brunswick restaurants, cafes and pubs.
Thursday October 9, 2008
Mark Taylor - 6:17 PM AST
I always look forward to any opportunity to enjoy good food and drink and a trip to St. Andrews later this month will give me that chance.
Indulge NB is a three-day festival packed with events and dining opportunities such as special restaurant nights, indulge opportunities and culinary events including a chowder cup.
Full details at indulgenb.com
This event will take place throughout St. Andrews and the town will come alive with fantastic food, great drink, fantastic music and fascinating personalities.
One of the main features of the festival is the Saturday activities. For example, there will be an opportunity to enjoy 14 different beverage stations featuring 75 different beers, wine and spirits and there will be 5 of the province's best chefs serving up mouth-watering dishes. Food producers will also show their harvest and there will be lots of music.
St. Andrews is truly one of the culinary centres of excellence in NB. From the Rossmount Inn to the Europa Inn, there are many excellent places to dine in this seaside town. Indulge NB is a great way to showcase this and I am counting down the days until I get to take in this fine event.
Mark Taylor is a food writer and publisher of www.diningpick.com
Sunday October 5, 2008
Mark Taylor - 12:13 PM AST
Someone told me yesterday about a great new spicy dish they bought at M & M Meats the other day. We quickly got into a discussion about spicy food and some of the great restaurants in New Brunswick where you can spice up your life.
In this blog post, I would like to highlight a few of them.
Chez Riz on Queen Street in Fredericton is a place everyone must try. Opened by a family with Pakistani roots, Chez Riz offers an abundance of delicious offerings in a very unique setting. You feel like you are not in Fredericton when you visit this place. Some of my favourites on the menu at Chez Riz include the lamb and the chicken tandoori.
Caribbean Flavas in Fredericton is also a great spot. Opened by a family from Trinidad, this restaurant has won many fans of its one-of-a-kind dishes and welcoming atmosphere. From samosas to a variety of seafood offerings, Caribbean Flavas has many great options for the lover of spicy food.
Mexicali Rosas in Fredericton and Saint John has been a favourite for many people for many years and for good reason. This restaurant offers a variety of very nice spicy dishes inspired by Californian-Mexican influences. It's a really nice place to visit anytime of the year. It's a place you are sure to visit again and again.
Mandarin Palace in Fredericton offers many nice Chinese and Thai dishes. The food is very, very good.
Asia Beef Noodle in Fredericton is a great restaurant to find delicious Vietnamese and Viet-Thai dishes. The food is absolutely delicious, the service is great and its a place you will not forget.
The Thai Hut in the Saint John area offers some of the best Thai food you will find in New Brunswick. Their Pad Thai is just one of many great dishes on the menu. It's got great flavour and is nice complement to almost anything.
There also many restaurants that have a different focus but will offer some great spicy dishes often. These restaurants include Opera Bistro in Saint John, Racines in Fredericton, The Blue Door in Fredericton, BrewBakers in Fredericton and Pastalli's in Moncton.
Yes, there are many great restaurants in NB where you can spice up your life. It makes living in NB much more exciting and interesting than the days of old when a trip to KFC was your best option for spicy food.
Mark Taylor is a food writer and publisher of New Brunswick food and drink website www.diningpick.com
DiningPick.com is owned by Delora Media.
Saturday September 20, 2008
Mark Taylor - 8:22 PM AST
I'm always up for a good time with superb food and great drink. So you can imagine my happiness when I recently discovered one of New Brunswick's newest culinary events.
Indulge NB will treat visitors to three days full of delicious events next month ranging from a Brew and Brats afternoon to a chowder competition. There is also a wine trail and several restaurant evenings planned.
The event runs from October 17th to October 19th.
This is not only a great way to showcase some of the mouth watering offerings the province has to offfer but it is also a wonderful way to introduce people to the wonderful restaurants St. Andrews has. It is also a great chance to meet many of the magnificent talents in New Brunswick's culinary scene.
Congrats to the organizers of Indulge NB. I'm sure this event will quickly become one of the province's most popular gatherings.
You can find out more information on Indulge NB by visiting DiningPick.com's latest news section.
Mark Taylor is a food writer and publisher of New Brunswick restaurant and culinary guide www.diningpick.com
DiningPick.com is owned by Delora Media
