First Ever Shake Shack

I think it's been a couple of years since I first heard about Shake Shack, which I believe transpired during the days when The Girl Who Ate Everything  posted more frequently (yup, seems very likely). But on none of my NYC visits did I quite make it into Manhattan to give the burgers a try. I was curious, but I was also happy to hang out in Brooklyn and eat other things. So when Shake Shack opened a location in Philadelphia, I was happy about it and knew that I wanted to give the establishment a try. Unfortunately I've been a little strapped for cash lately. My finances and the purportedly long lines for a burger kept me away. I figured I'd let the hullabaloo die down and then try it out, which is pretty much what I did, finances be damned! So last Sunday I walked into Center City fully expecting an hour wait. Instead I had about a 5 minute wait in line and then perhaps another 10 for the food to come out. The place bustled, but it wasn't bat-shit crazy. I was even able to sit outside on quite a beautiful and sunny day in order to get my first taste of the well hyped burger. I ordered the SmokeShack, attracted especially to its chopped cherry peppers. And, hey, who doesn't love bacon? Lots of people, actually, but that's not the point I was trying to make. I also ordered a side of fries and a Arnold Palmer (which they simply referred to as a half n half).

So what did I think? Pretty good. My burger was a little sloppy in its construction, and the bun a little soggy. Now the sogginess was of a better standard than, say, McDonalds or Burger King, but I like my bun to at least have a moment or two of being relatively intact before going to the squish side. Good, but not quite the life changing experience of, say, a Village Whiskey burger. But they're not really trying to be the same thing. Shake Shack, as I understand it, is focused on being a high quality fast food burger, made with better produced ingredients than the average chain. And that they certainly have down. But as far as extra love and care? Or doing some sort of voo doo magic to the meat that makes you want to close your eyes, grab a table and just become one with the burger? Well that's still VW's territory, and it comes with a heftier price tag. It's good, too, that they serve slightly different purposes and markets, considering the fact that Shake Shack is located directly across the street from Village Whiskey. I didn't try a 'concrete' (ie: shake), but I also found it curious that they decided to open up a burger and shake joint across from the aforementioned VW and Capogiro, which specializes in gelato. It seems calculated. Like they could siphon off the people who get tired of waiting for either establishment. Makes sense, but is still a little weird.

The fries were nice and crispy with a lovely creamy center. I forgot to get ketchup, but enjoyed them regardless.

I had planned on going to Shake Shack and then meeting up with a few of my new dart team members (I am now the captain of my own team, of course I am). But due to the lack of line, I had far more time to kill than I expected, so I walked to Rittenhouse Park, sat on a bench, and read Tolstoy. Because I'm classy.

Road Food

WhileI wish I could say that I really got off the beaten track as far as meals for my drive south, the fact is I did no such thing. My first stop on the way to Scottsville, Virginia was at a rest stop in western PA. There I tried the bacon cheeseburger from Burger King. It was not so magical or royal.

Opposite of Good

Last Wednesday I was robbed at perhaps gunpoint. I will write about that at some point. I'm fine. On Thursday evening I took the R1 to the Philadelphia airport for a long weekend in Tennessee. I was hungry and had time to kill, so I went to the Wendy's in the food court. You know how sometimes you find yourself at a fast food place, and you actually want to ruminate on the menu for a minute before you decide just how unhealthy you're going to be? I didn't have that time. So I ended up with the worst. In terms of being good for me or even my really wanting it. Double cheeseburger with medium fries and drink, which I scarfed down in rather record time at my gate.
It's fine. My metabolism is amazing. <------ Not an accurate statement.

McDonalds Angus Third Pound Burger...Maybe?

So, my mom has been in the hospital for, geez, the last three weeks. So I flew down to Nashville to be with her and my father. On the flight down I was hungry and had McDonalds. I tried some sort of new burger, which I think was probably the Angus Third Pounder. It was definitely a cut above their regular cheese burgers, and I have to admit the tomato was actually looking pretty good. I accidentally spilled my soda all over the airport waiting area's carpet, and didn't know quite what to do. If I were in a restaurant I'd attempt to clean it up while attracting the attention of a member of the waitstaff who would, more likely than not, send a busboy over to clean it up. While airports certainly have cleaning staff, I'm not sure who you contact to get to them. I feel like the airline people are too busy being rude directly to me, then bitching about other passengers to their colleagues right in front of me, to bother with maintenance.

Eggs, Goodbye to the Lake and Curdside Appeal

On Labor Day, we made an early day of it. Breakfast was cooked by A.'s dad, and it was delicious. I mean, how can you go wrong with farm fresh eggs, bacon and English muffins? The answer is that you can't. I should have taken a photograph of the yolks of these eggs they were such a deep orange, not like what you find in the grocery store, even when you buy organic.
A. took one more dip in the lake.

I walked to the shore and dipped my feet into the waters but didn't fully immerse myself.
This is my 'I'm sad to leave such a pretty place' face.
We stopped in the Town of Caroline.

Then we stopped at an A&W restaurant place and tried their fried cheese curds. All three of us got our own, A. hoped that G. or I would have leftovers, but we didn't.
What a great weekend. It's amazing how much I really love pretty places, large groups of family members (none of which I am related to), hours outside with nothing on the agenda except reading and swimming, and excellent food...and fires! Sigh. Thank you again to the whole S. clan for welcoming into their delightful lake life.

Bad Food, Great View

A few days back I drove down to Winchester/Decherd to pick up some supplies. I also stopped at Burger King and ordered a whopper with cheese. I then drove back up the mountain (plateau, whatever), stopping at the big scenic view rock situated about half way up. I don't think I've ever stopped before, or if I have it was when I was wee little.

The whopper was exactly what it was, which was exactly what I was looking for. So I win.

Philly Airport Food

The day after my sandwich lunch and Japanese dinner, I took a day off from work, went to the doctor, sat in the sun (it was 63 degrees), walked to 30th Street Train Station and took a train to the airport. Once at the airport I did as many have done before me, I checked in (refusing to check luggage due to the ridiculous $15 fee I would have to pay) went through security and found myself trying to decide between a myriad of crappy food options. Of course, I could have been smarter and brought a little snack for myself...but those of us who do not think eating fast food all the time is a good idea are not without our cravings. The whole 'I only eat [fill in the name] on long car trips or in airports' philosophy is one I have subscribed to, on occasion. One occasion, of course, being that day. I ordered the Chick-Fil-A nuggets meal, with sweet tea and disappointing waffle fries. Well, it was all disappointing. But that was sort of the point?

Chicken Fries?

On Friday L. very kindly drove me to the airport. I had a bit of a wait before my plane was scheduled to depart (but that was because I got there early...the flight itself went off without a hitch...thanks Northwest Airlines! If you would like me to be a blogsperson for you I would do it happily...if you gave me free plane tickets) and I hadn't eaten breakfast so, for a quick snack/lunch I ordered Burger King's chicken fries. They were nothing special but I do like those ridiculously chemical sauces. Mmm.

Art Should Be About Good Things

All this past week I've noticed the commercials on television for McDonald's new "Southern Chicken Sandwich". What I've particularly been interested in is the fact that for one day they were giving the sandwiches away with the purchase of a medium or large drink. On Thursday I realized that it was the day. So I drove to Monteagle, got in the drive-thru line and ordered me my free sandwich and a medium Dr. Pepper. This seemed pretty similar to the Chic-Fil-A sandwich I had in Bucks County. A small smattering of pickles (2 to be exact), no sauce and a surprisingly moist and chicken-like piece of chicken. It was okay. It was free. It was rainy.

A Week Behind Ish

These were taken in Western Maryland...or West Virginia...roads carved out of rock and all that junk that makes you think about the pioneering spirit of Americans...or not.


Many hours later we stopped for dinner at McDonalds. I had chicken nuggets. It was about an 11 hour drive and I'd have to say we watched about 8-10 hours worth of the television show Bones...this was after 6-8 hours on the way. I love Bones. Handsome faces and shitz.

We left Bloomington around 3 o'clock on Thursday and drove all the way to Virginia, arriving at 3 o'clock Friday morning. We stopped in Dayton, Ohio and had dinner at Wendy's. I think this was my first, ever, Wendy's burger. Or, at the very least, my first in the last 15 years.
It was certainly the first time in a long time that I have eaten fast food sitting in the fast food establishment.

Drive Food

I drove the first three and some hours to Savannah. We stopped at an exit that had both a Starbucks and a Dunkin Donuts (Dunkin Donuts in the south...or the south I've been to...is quite a rarity) and we ended up Starbucking it up. I had an iced coffee with hazelnut flava. Also, in terms of food, I got some Taco Bell. I partook in a spicy chicken crunch wrap supreme...and a cheese and bean burrito (not pictured).

It was okay. I really like it for its nacho cheese mixing with chicken taste...and often there isn't enough of that entirely ersatz cheeese product for my liking.

Mistake

Yesterday I drove down the mountain to get groceries for my cousin's then imminent, now postponed, weekend visit. Also to get groceries for an entirely different cousin and her family to come to dinner today. I had been thinking about trying a Sonic Burger ever since I got down here and yesterday, I decided, was the day. It's novel having your own drive thru which gives one the opportunity to push a button to order. I wanted to try one of those frozen drinks they're always talking about in their commercials. The burger with cheese was sloppily put together and not all that much better than McDonalds. And my cream slush was only okay. Though I wonder if what I really wanted was not a cream slush but a straight up slush. The fries were utterly forgettable. All I got out of it was a reason to feel bad about myself. I really have enough reasons already and so I call this fast food experience a big mistake.