When in Syracuse, New York, Be Sure to Eat at Pastabilities for a Great Meal!

By Jodee Weiland

When I think about this particular trip, I can’t help but think about the wonderful Pastabilities! Oh, what a great place to stop and have a delicious meal!

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Recently, we drove from Chicago to Cape Cod with a few stops in between here and there.  We were on our way to an area just outside of Boston for a family wedding.  We decided to extend our trip another week, so we could spend time on Cape Cod.  On the way to and from the Cape, one of the cities we stopped at was Syracuse, New York, and this was no accident.

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We had seen a restaurant called Pastabilities featured on the TV show, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, with Guy Fieri.  They talked about the Pastabilities Daily Spicy Hot Tomato Oil that the restaurant served to customers with fresh baked bread, while waiting for their meal.  It was a bread dipping sauce in place of the typical olive oil.  It looked delicious, and that’s all it took for me to put Syracuse, New York, on the route we would take to the Cape!

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This was one of the best choices I have ever made in planning our road trip routes.  Pastabilities is without a doubt a wonderful restaurant that serves a choice of pastas and more, including homemade pastas.  The Pastabilities Daily Spicy Hot Tomato Oil is not only used as a dipping oil for bread, it is also used as a sauce for pasta.  I had it with homemade linguini, and I have to say it was beyond delicious.  It was superb or as my husband would say, “Best of the best!”  We both loved it and wish we could go there more often to enjoy this and all the other wonderful selections on the menu.

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The owner, Karyn Korteling, not only has her restaurant, Pastabilities, but also owns a shop across the street called Pasta’s Daily Bread, where they bake delicious fresh bread and sell the Pastabilities Daily Spicy Hot Tomato Oil as well.  You can, also, purchase it at the restaurant and online.  Needless to say, we left with a full supply of this wonderful sauce to bring home and enjoy!  I guarantee we will be buying more online until we can go back again.  If you can’t get to Syracuse, but would like to try some, just go online and order it.  Trust me when I say, if you order this Pastabilities Daily Spicy Hot Tomato Oil online, you won’t be disappointed!

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While dining at this fabulous restaurant, Pastabilities, Karyn came and greeted us at our table and told us she would be opening a place behind her restaurant where they would now be making even more homemade pastas, and perhaps having workshops for those interested in learning how they do this.  I would love to be able to attend one of her workshops once they get it going, because everything she makes is above and beyond delicious!

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According to her website for Pastabilities, Karyn claims her success is due to the fact that everything is homemade from pastas to desserts.  The breads served with her Pastabilities Daily Spicy Hot Tomato Oil are all baked fresh throughout the day at her own shop. This is all true, and I am glad I had a chance to experience it firsthand.   Pastabilities is one of the best restaurants I have had the pleasure to have had a meal.  But don’t take my word for it, since Guy Fieri of HGTV did a whole show on this restaurant and said the same thing!  If you ever have the chance to visit Syracuse, New York, this downtown restaurant is a stop you should put at the top of your list.  So when in Syracuse, New York, be sure to eat at Pastabilities for a great meal! You won’t regret it!  Enjoy!

Thank you to owner, Karyn Korteling, for all her help, for allowing me to take pictures of her restaurant for this post, and for taking the time to talk to me about Pastabilities.  Thank you so much, Karyn!

 

When in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Don’t Miss the 2nd Avenue Pier House Restaurant!

By Jodee Weiland

We just returned from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, after spending ten wonderful days there!  We love to go in September after things slow down a little, but not totally.  We spend our days on the beach enjoying the oceanfront, shelling, talking to other people visiting, and touring the area attractions.  But when it comes time for dinner, one of our favorite places to eat is the 2nd Avenue Pier House Restaurant.

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When we first started going to Myrtle Beach, we tried a lot of different restaurants, and 2nd Avenue Pier House Restaurant was where we found some of the best prepared seafood meals. For that reason I decided to share with you why we think this restaurant is so great!

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The 2nd Avenue Pier House Restaurant is an oceanfront restaurant with beautiful views from anywhere in the dining area. It is attached to its own pier, where you will see people of all ages fishing or just enjoying the views. There’s a full tackle shop as you enter the pier, in case you decide you want to do some fishing. You can sit and watch the ocean from various places on this very long pier that extends out over the ocean. You can also enjoy the open air bar above the restaurant for even more panoramic views of the ocean and coastline.  But even though we love the views, what we love most is the food at the 2nd Avenue Pier House Restaurant.

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The owners, the manager, and staff all make you feel welcome when you first walk into the restaurant. They are all very pleasant and helpful when you have any questions about the menu.  Although the dining area is not overly large, it is surrounded by large windows so everyone in the room has a view of the ocean. All of the selections on the menu are great.  My personal favorite, the seafood, is always fresh and deliciously prepared.  The meal portions are generous and presented well.  There are plenty of options to choose from for your meal from appetizers to desserts.  Surrounded by window views of the ocean, while eating delicious seafood expertly prepared, we felt relaxed and enjoyed our meal each time we ate at the 2nd Avenue Pier House Restaurant.

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We had the best crab cakes here as an appetizer. Our server told us they used no fillers in their house made crab cakes, just fresh crab meat served pan seared with a remoulade sauce. They were fabulous. They also had crab cakes as a main course or a sandwich on the menu, so it was up to you just how you would have them.  On our numerous visits here, some of the selections we had for our main course that we enjoyed were their blackened grouper with creole crayfish cream, their broiled scallops in lemon butter topped with seasoned breadcrumbs and parsley, and their large, pan-seared shrimps over pepper jack grits with country ham and red eye gravy.  These were just a few of the wonderful dishes we had there.

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If fish isn’t your thing, you can have a twelve ounce hand cut ribeye with garlic shallot butter or two grilled boneless chicken breasts with either barbecue sauce or teriyaki glaze.  Finish off your meal with chocolate lava cake, house made key lime pie, or any of the other dessert choices.  There are so many more options for every part of your meal than just those I’ve mentioned here, but whatever you choose from the menu, I feel certain, you won’t be disappointed. From house made salad dressings to their wonderful house made desserts, 2nd Avenue Pier House Restaurant knows how to treat their guests to a delicious meal.

https://learnfromyesterday.com2nd Avenue Pier House Restaurant not only serves dinner, but they have fabulous breakfast and lunch menus as well.  The items on these two menus will surprise and delight you as well. At breakfast, enjoy an omelet, like the Cobia omelet I had with fresh spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes, and parmesan. It was delicious and the veggies were truly fresh. My husband’s choice for breakfast was the Bucksport Banana Pancakes, three large banana pancakes with a choice of bacon, sausage, or one side item.  I know it was good because of the smile on his face as he ate every bit of it.  We didn’t stop for lunch this time, but if the main plates at lunch are half as good as they sound, I’m sure you wouldn’t be disappointed.  All the menus offer so many delicious options for each meal that you’ll want to go back just to try something else.

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Chef Andy Yates, Manager Joe Kralich, Owner Teak Collins

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If you go to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, be sure to visit 2nd Avenue Pier House Restaurant.  You won’t be disappointed.  The food and service is excellent.  The views are fantastic.  On top of all that, you can eat, spend time on the pier, and visit the open air bar afterwards, if you like, to get still more panoramic views of the ocean while sipping a glass of wine or a cocktail of your choice.  Whatever you decide, when in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, don’t miss the 2nd Avenue Pier House Restaurant!  You’ll be glad you ate at this fabulous restaurant! Enjoy!

My special thanks to Owner Leigh Ann Collins for her help while doing my article. Thanks again, Leigh Ann!

Disney World in Orlando, Florida…Epcot’s Annual International Food and Wine Festival

By Jodee Weiland

While making our plans for returning to the Annual Epcot International Food and Wine Festival at Disney World this year, I decided I should share why we so enjoy this event and return time and again for it.

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This event happens annually in the fall of each year. It has been scheduled for September 27th to November 11th of this year, 2013. Once again we will attend during that time, so we will be able to enjoy this wonderful event and create new memories.  Although we have visited Disney World several times during this event over the past few years, we never tire of it. Why? That question is simple really to answer.

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Epcot’s Annual International Food and Wine Festival makes tasting foods, wines, and more from all over the world possible all in one place, Epcot’s World Showcase Park. In addition to their everyday international showcases, there are booths set up throughout the park for still more international venues from around the world. Signature dining experiences with celebrated chefs are available for those who would be interested. You can even arrange to attend a culinary demonstration or a wine seminar. A concert series called Eat to the Beat has nightly performances featuring some popular hit-makers, such as Big Bad VooDoo Daddy.  While there, we’ve enjoyed sitting in the America Gardens Theater in front of the American Adventure, while enjoying a New England Lobster Roll, one of our favorites. The concert series and the food choices have been outstanding when we visited.

 

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Another favorite food choice of ours has been a miniature Lobster and Shrimp Shepherd’s Pie outside the United Kingdom attraction. Once again, we were able to taste something wonderful while watching an outdoor entertainment presentation nearby. There are so many choices, you will have a hard time deciding which food selection to try. You might decide to try the Kielbasa & Potato Pierogie with Caramelized Onions and Sour Cream at the Poland booth. Or you might decide on the Kalua Pork Slider. Everywhere you turn there is another booth with another unique international tasting and more outdoor entertainment than usually there.

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We enjoyed wines from Australia and beers from Argentina, plus many delightful tastings from around the world. The outdoor booths typically feature smaller portions of an international dish for you to try. There is a small cost for each tasting, but it is well worth it to be able to try something new and different as you walk through the World Showcase.  Many people make a meal out of several tastings rather than going to a restaurant to eat. You can buy a Food and Wine gift card with a wrist band that is reloadable and use it as you move throughout the World Showcase.

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Along with the various countries featured are the souvenirs you can buy to commemorate your trip to Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival. It’s almost like attending an international outdoor street party that wraps around the entire World Showcase. This event is great fun and a great international food tasting experience for anyone who attends. As I make our plans for this year, various dining reservations and more, I thought of all the wonderful memories my husband and I have of past trips to  this event at Disney World. Remember there is the rest of Disney World to visit as well while you’re there and with Disney, you can’t help but make memories of your trip throughout the various parks.  Disney World is the kind of place where magical memories are an everyday happening.  If you get a chance to visit during Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival, you will have new and different magical memories of Disney World.  Hopefully, you will get the chance to do so.  Enjoy!

Destinations in Florida - Florida Travel Specialists