Basket Full of Goodies

Bread Basket Family Bakery, Gahanna, Ohio

I absolutely love scones.  LOVE them.  So, when I went to visit a friend of mine in Columbus, Ohio, she mentioned a local bakery in Gahanna that had…scones.  So, it only seemed natural that I go and check them out.  I mean…scones for breakfast make any day better.  Mark my words.

So, we headed into Gahanna and dashed through the rain into Bread Basket Family Bakery.  Their mission: To make the best baked products possible. To serve our customers, our community, and our families to the best of our abilities.  Seems noble enough.  And, for a bakery that does everything…EVERYTHING…from scratch, well, it has to be good.

Myself and my two friends were set on scones, although contemplated a loaf of bread for a moment.  Realizing we had much to do before heading back home, we opted just for the breakfast.  Each of my friends got a chocolate chip scone.  I opted for the strawberry cream cheese scone.

The one thing I absolutely loved about this bakery was the glass walls.  Honestly, I could look back behind the counter and see the staff preparing the breads, the scones, the cakes…I could see it happening.  I could see how the food was prepared and the people who were making it.  No hidden kitchen in the back.  It was out there and it was fascinating.

With scones in hand, we headed out with great anticipation to dive into them.  I was informed the chocolate chip scones were awesome.  The chocolate chips just melted away as you popped bits into your mouth.  One of my friends got one with icing on it and she loved it.  My strawberry and cream cheese scone was good…but it didn’t wow me.  It might have been a texture thing.  That being said, it was good.  Delicious.  And, despite the very large size of the scone…I ate every last bite of it.  I kind of want to go back and try another kind…and maybe get some bread.

I’m very particular on scones.  When I travel overseas, it’s my go-to breakfast for the most part.  It’s filling, it’s delicious, it’s just…a warm piece of heaven that goes well with tea or coffee.  Yes…scones are amazing.  And the Bread Basket Family Bakery does a good job with their recipes.  Good enough that I really want to go back and have another one…

Strawberry Cream Cheese Scone from Bread Basket Family Bakery, Gahanna, Ohio

It was all about the cream puff…

Schmdit's Sausage Haus und Restaurant, Columbus, Ohio

I know what you’re thinking…

A sausage haus?  But…but…but you’re a vegetarian!

That’s right.  I am.  But this is Schmidt’s Sausage Haus und Restaurant in Columbus, Ohio.  After watching an episode of Man v. Food on Netflix one night, my roommate saw this place featured.  After Adam Richman’s suggestion that everyone try the Bahama Mama sausage, Schmidt’s signature one, she knew we had to go next time we were in town.  And, lucky us…we just happen to know people in Columbus.

Me?  I totally wanted one of their half-pound cream puffs.  Yes…you read that right…HALF A POUND OF CREAM PUFF!!  They are known for them and I can tell why.

We went early on a Friday night to Schmidt’s, knowing that it is a really busy place on weekends.  But, we got a table immediately and were given time to look over the menu before placing an order.  The waitress was informed of my vegetarianism and immediately began pointing out what on the menu could be done for a vegetarian, depending on how strict one is.  I am really strict when it comes to that, so anything with chicken broth was out, but there was still plenty out there.

Hot tea at Schmidt's Sausage Haus und Restaurant. Love the science experiment look!

I opted on the appetizer of Pretzel Nuggets with a side of the Potato Pancakes und Apple Sauce.  To drink, I got the hot tea, which just happened to be served in what looked like a tube for a science experiment.  It was different…and I love different.

The food was amazing.  I absolutely fell iin love with the potato pancakes.  The pretzel nuggets were perfect…crispy and chewy.  The right texture.  And the apple sauce had so much fresh flavor…it was delicious.  I sampled a couple of sides from my roommate’s plate, as she opted for the big buffet, known as “The Autobahn.”  The macaroni and cheese was delicious!!  My roomate sampled a bit of everything…and the mild and hot versions of the signature Bahama Mama sausages, prefering the bite of the hot one to the mild.  It may have still had a bit too much spice as soon she was just mixing the sausage in with her macaroni and cheese, but I give major kudos to her for stepping out of her usual comfort zone and trying something different!

Schmdit's Pretzel Nuggets with a side of Potato Pancakes und Apple Sauce

And then came dessert.  The half pound cream puff.  As it wasn’t a Saturday or Sunday, we didn’t get the option for a specialty, but that was fine.  Our choices were vanilla, chocolate, and peanut butter.  My roommate went for chocolate.  I wanted the original.  The Vanilla Cream Puff. And when it was delivered…I was in dessert heaven.  No, I didn’t eat it all then.  I had maybe 1/3 of it and saved the rest of it for another time.  Rich.  Delicious.  Creamy.  The pastry was the perfect compliment to the creamy topping.  Half a pound of deliciousness.  I already crave another one.

So…if you find yourself passing through Columbus, Ohio and want to try out an awesome place to feast…check out Schmidt’s Sausage Haus und Restaurant.  It’s vegetarian friendly, despite it being meat-heavy and specializing in sausage.  And the food is far and away some of the best to be served up anywhere.

And…save room for that cream puff.  You know you want one!

Schmdit's Half Pound Vanilla Cream Puff. The original!

Oh, Mamacita!

Taco Mamacita, Nashville, Tennessee

Sometimes, grabbing food on the road can be difficult when you are a vegetarian.  So many restaurants cater to the meat and potatoes crowd.  If you aren’t a carnivore, well, have a salad and, perhaps, some soup…if we’re featuring one without meat in it today.  Those soup of the day can be tricky as a lot of the cream-based one have cream of chicken soup in it anyway.  So…what is a vegetarian to do?

There are some cities in this world that offer up quite the offering for the meat-eaters and the vegetarians alike.  In Nashville, Tennessee, Taco Mamacita is one of those places.

Upon entering, it’s a friendly environment.  The staff is cheerful and helpful.  Drink orders are taken as you settle in, and when they are put on the table, you are asked if you’ve ever been there before.  Since neither my roommate or I had, our waiter was really quick to offer suggestions.  I love hearing what people who work there like to eat.  If it’s good enough for them, well…it’s gotta be good enough for the general public, and foodies like myself.

Of course, I threw the monkey wrench into the circuits with the declaration that, “I’m a vegetarian.”  Have no fear, my veggie-loving friends.  Taco Mamacita has its own vegan menu.  Not even kidding.  An entire menu with vegan selections, all of which made it very difficult to choose one thing to have.  In addition to that, they have gluten-free options as well.  Could this place get any better?

Taco Mamacita's chips and salsa appetizer, Nashville, Tennessee

If the chips and salsa were any indication…yes.  Just enough spice to heat up the mouth without being uncomfortable, their salsa was the perfect consistency and the perfect heat.  And…was it ever delicious!

My roommate and I placed our orders.  She decided to start a Travel Channel war, and chose a pork taco, the Carnita, in honor of my chef hero, Anthony Bourdain, and a steak taco, the Royale, in honor of Adam Richman.  Her side?  The cilantro-spinach rice.  She really is branching out these days!

As for me, I ordered off the vegan menu, a delicious order of the vegan enchiladas.  These delicious treats are corn tortillas that were stuffed full of cilantro spinach rice, yellow corn, diced tomatoes, black beans and cilantro.  They were liberally doused in their homemade salsa verde.  They looked amazing when they came out.  They tasted even better.  I enjoyed every last bit…and splurged and got my favorite side with them – sweet potato fries.

Taco Mamacita is doing what more restaurants need to be doing.  They are catering to the average diner, but also have separate menus for vegetarians/vegans and those with a gluten intolerance.  What’s even better…they love it when these special cases come in.  They enthusiastically grab the alternate menu and begin to make suggestions for the new diner.  How awesome!

There are a lot of good restaurants in the Nashville area, but it’s going to be difficult to get me to go anywhere other than Taco Mamacita now.  They serve up delicious food on top of everything else.  It’s a place that needs to be on more people’s maps.  Especially if you are craving a taco…and not those fast-food Taco Bell ones either.  Real tacos.  Real food.  Really damn good.

Vegan Enchiladas and Sweet Potato Fries at Taco Mamacita, Nashville, Tennessee