Best of Restaurant Bias: The Burger List

I'm not a major fan of most "Best of" lists, especially when it comes to restaurants. To tell the truth, I look at Burger lists out of sheer boredom. Burgers are everywhere. Most people like burgers. Matter of fact, I've only met one person in life that didn't like them (A person who didn't like condiments and didn't eat any kind of sandwich.) Oh and there so I've been to maybe 5 actual burger joints in my whole life and maybe one is on any list. And that's a big maybe.

And my biggest gripe about Burger lists is the location in town where the spots are located, of course. Most are long standers that are in North & East Dallas. There is that one usual that is not. And that bone that was thrown barely misses one's head. Trust Me!

My Top 3 Dallas Area Burgers

Snuffer's Here is the one that might be on a popular list. It's a local chain known for its loaded cheddar fries, which are tasty. But the burger is tops in my book.

Griffs This is a Childhood favorite that I enjoy every so often. Nice simple menu and nice simple tasty burgers.

Blackjack Pizza This is the reason why this list title doesn't include the word restaurants. This good burger is from a pizza joint. And I can't tell you if the pizza is good because I've only had the burger. It's a nice size. And it's juicy & delicious.

Honorable Mention: The Rustic The burger is made with brisket...Enough said.

Alright in the comments, tell me your favorite burger in your neck of the woods. I or a fellow reader might be in them and want to partake in a simple meal. And a burger & fries are simple... Right?

As Always Talking To You in Adult Terms!

Pick 2 Shot Findings (Answering Questions)

Kinda proud of that title. Took me under 2 minutes and no thesaurus to make it. That's a record for me. I might not break it until decades later. LoL

Q: Are you asking any guys you meet for possible dates are they fully vaccinated?

A:  If he doesn't beat me to the question, I will. And Yes better his answer if he wants to advance in conversing with me. I'm not debating with him. Just going to bid him adieu.

Q: I saw this fun question on Facebook and decided to include it in this post.

A: As of this date, Groceries & Plane Tickets are my choices. Shopping & Travel are two expenses that have surged in my world. Airfare has always been the highest part of my trips. And groceries are a necessary part of living. What would you choose?

This Post's Video Q & A:

If You Can't See the Video, Click HERE

My Top 3 Potential Dating Research Sites

Sex Offender Lists(Government Official): I explained my reasons on the video. It disturbs & scares me that folks don't check these.

Social Media Accounts: You can learn a lot about a person by what they like, comment, share, & post. Some stuff you might agree or disagree with.

Google Images: I saw this on Catfish. Some people lie about how they look, check if their photos are their photos. Only did this once for a buddy. And those were that lady's photos. But HERE is where you can learn to do this

Again welcome to the dating world. Oh and don't let your dates know you looked them up. Let this be News You Can Use for deciding if you want to date them, not to use in an attack.

Don't forget, if you have any questions, email them to C.OUT.SPOKEN.DIVA@gmail.com or leave them in the comment section below or on the social media site where you see this post. I will answer them.

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As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms!

Every Week Until Thanksgiving 2021...

...I am Posting This Blog Post on Twitter & Facebook.

Because in the 2021st year of our Lord Jesus Christ we are still having the "Fix That Man's Plate/He Got Hands" discussion. Because in the 2021st year of our Lord Jesus Christ couples are not having the "Make My Plate" discussion. Because in the 2021st year of our Lord Jesus Christ people are getting on social media to embarrass the person who didn't make their plate or wanted them to make their plate. Like this Twitter handle right here. (I got this screengrab from another public account because the man deleted it and went private. He got the attention he thought he wanted. And it became too much. That's My Guess.)

AND I AM TIRED OF IT!!!

Every 4-6 months and especially around the holiday times, this issue comes up.

I know I have said it on this platform (HERE it is) that I grew up in a home where my grandmother fixed my late grandfather's plate except during family events and when she was too ill to do so. During family events, plates are made for first-time visitors, children under the age of 10 & the elderly. All others make their plates. If someone makes a plate for their significant other, they make it in peace. There is No Fuss. No grandmothers, aunts, sisters, cousins, or friends tell any lady that they need to make any adult, regardless of gender a plate. The "Who makes a plate for a husband or boyfriend" has never been a discussion in my family.

But that is my family. All families are different. The Rules are Not Universal. I think it is wise for all couples (dating, committed, or married) to have a conversation about plate preparation (at home, with family, with friends, with business associates, etc). Shouldn't expect actions for something that is not talked about. And I beg of y'all to talk about these things because the public conversation is tiresome. 

It's a Conversation is About Respect.

So respect your relationship & the public and learn. Because it is disrespectful to my brain cells to see some variation of the plate conversation pop up all the daggum time. Oh and if anybody who wants to make me a plate, remember hot food & cold food belong on separate dishes. And unless it is lasagna or a sandwich, no bread, please. 

Thank You!!!

And As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms!

Best of Restaurant Bias: The Brunch List

I'm not a major fan of most "Best of" lists, especially when it comes to restaurants. My hypocrisy shows when it comes to Brunch.  "Best Cheap Bottomless" "Top Brunch in DFW" "Best in Downtown" You name the local publication, I probably made my personal "Must Try" list from it. Brunch is a booming wave and most adults didn't grow up eating it in public restaurants(maybe a few at church). My grandmother loves pizza. She didn't have it until the 1960s, with almost half her life past her. It wasn't a common thing while she was coming up. Just like brunch wasn't for us. So, the "popular" lists help.

But are they biased? Yes! Rarely does a list has brunch spots South, East, or West of Main St in Downtown Dallas. So, those names listed will be the same. Many times the $$-$$$ places dominate the list. Who can drop major money for a three-course brunch all the time? Gone are the days where brunch is thought to be elitist & expensive.  Brunch Buffets exists contrary to those popular lists.

My Top 3(watch it become 5) Brunches in the Dallas Area

Fearings

If I ever tell you to treat yourself, this is an example of what I want you to do. Brunch here is pricier than most, but it is worth it. And don't just have an entrée & a mimosa. Have the starter (Suggestion: Dean's Tortilla Soup) & dessert also. Remember this is a Treat.

Whistle Britches

In 2020, my brunch-loving friends & I only got to go to brunch once and this was the place. Cute, quaint, & delicious. It even has a mac & cheese that I enjoy. And the Strawberry Mojito Mimosa is refreshing with a kick.

303 Grill

I have brunch-loving friends and come from a brunch-loving family. My cousin Shaun(blog name) picks some good places. She had a birthday brunch here & the Chicken Biscuit Sandwich didn't disappoint. It's fried chicken breast, their Homemade Biscuit with cheddar cheese, sausage gravy & Applewood bacon. Just make plans for your next day to be meatless & full of vegetables.

Mattitos

There was a time when DFW was sprawling with quite a few brunch buffet spots that were tasty. Mattitos is the only one left standing that is still good to me. There are the waffle, omelet, and dessert stations, lots of enchilada options, fruit salad, & a la carte options. Kid-Friendly and it is great for the pockets.

Ellen's 

DFW has nice breakfast & brunch spots that are open on the weekdays as well as the weekends. Having brunch on a day off is such fun. But on any day of the week, Ellen's is good. Its menu is all day. Try two of my favorite items, the pancake pot pie & Denver omelet (I talked about them HERE). And order a pitcher of mimosas or poinsettias. There is an entire bottle of champagne in there.

But I'm not a total hypocrite. 3:5 of this list are places people introduced to me and not seen on any publication list. So, in your face Best of Brunch List. I know better than you. LoL. A glass of St. Germaine Brunch Punch would be refreshing now. I gave y'all the recipe in this post right HERE. Let's go have one.

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms!

Best of Restaurant Bias - The BBQ List

I'm not a major fan of most "Best of" lists, especially when it comes to restaurants. My dislike probably becomes very apparent when it comes to the Top in BBQ lists. There are 4 styles of Texas barbecues.

• Central (dry-rub style, thought to be where Texas cue was started)
• East (tomato-based sauce marinade, slow-smoked)
• South (sweet molasses-based sauce, Mexican inspired)
• West (smoked with mesquite wood)

And most lists only highlight Central Texas-style places. That is a fact. Read this article HERE, because I am not the only person who sees it. I grew up on East Texas-style. I'm always chasing the flavor of my childhood favorite, Carter's that has been closed for almost 2 decades. (Wait! Stop suggesting that place on Loop 12 that used to be on Scyene, owned by the last said guy who cooked for the Carters. It has good flavor, but that is not what I grew up on). And as I've gotten older, I have grown to like restaurants from all 4 styles of Texas BBQ. But trust me, I won't name who shouldn't ever be on a Best BBQ list in the Dallas area. I'll just say that no spot that has barbecue sauce in a squeeze bottle on the table like the ketchup should be on there. Expensive spots ($$-$$$ instead $-$$) shouldn't only be on the list. This is not steak. Any place that doesn't have BBQ Stuffed Potatoes shouldn't be on the list. Even most people's least favorite BBQ spot (No names will be called.) has a consistent spud. How does a "Best" spot not have one? Lastly, no Top BBQ Restaurant should cut off the rib tips on Whole Slab orders. I was at a place and the cook chopped off the tips & put them in the grinder. How Rude?

My Top 3 Dallas Area BBQ Restaurants

TD's - I know folks just knew if I was going list a spot from the Oak Cliff area, I would say Records. I've never had them. I have had & like TDs. Affordable east Texas-style cue. And they have a good break, excuse me, short-end rib sandwiches.

Baby Back Shak - I never said a popular list spot was not one of my tops. I'm not against all of them. This one is very tasty. It doesn't break my bank, either. And they serve boudin (Umm, it's like dirty rice in a sausage casing). Something I discovered from my time living in Southeast Texas was having boudin as a BBQ plate side dish. Shoutout to Patillo's & Broussards.

Soulman's Barbecue - I remember when they started on Buckner Blvd in the Pleasant Grove area of town. They have grown into a small chain. Nice & Consistent BBQ. The sauce is warm. Ribs are smoked nicely. The brisket is tender. A chopped beef sandwich is delightful. And if you finish a whole potato in a single sitting, I will jokingly judge you.

Honorable Mention: Baker's Ribs

Top BBQ list makers sometimes need to leave the trendy & popular areas of town if they want some real smoke. If they look at my "tops" and click their names, they will see their addresses and visit. And I know it's not just Dallas with this issue. I see the comments on other cities' articles. We all have our opinions.

Now, what is your Top BBQ spot? Let me know. 

As Always Talking to You in Adults Terms!

Best of Restaurant Bias

I'm not a major fan of most "Best of" lists, especially when it comes to restaurants. I remember when we used to get a Friday newspaper when I was growing up. I used to like reading The Guide (a version still exists HERE).

It was fun to plan out my make-believe social life. But one thing seemed weird to me. The local food places my family & I patronized the most were never scored high in the ratings. Then one day I paid attention to locations & maps and understood the elitist & economic biases of the listed ratings.

Fast forward to now, much has not changed. I have since learned about sponsored articles & the paid advertising system. That's why I look at the "Best of" or "Top 10" articles with a critical eye. I'm not saying they aren't useful aids. (How do think I am in the know about some of the hottest Brunch spots? It's not just word-of-mouth recommendations. *wink*) But I know there are other hidden gems out there that need a little shine on their name.

And since I have a platform...

Yep, this is an announcement post for a new series. I will talk about My top 3 favorite restaurants in the DFW area in different cuisines. And I expect y'all to share your favorites in the city you live in. This should be entertaining.

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms!

Settling These Well Liked Chain Restaurant Debates

Have you ever looked at restaurant ranking lists and disagreed with them majorly. Yep, Me Too!!!

It is not a secret, I don't eat out as much as the average American. There are many popular chain restaurants I've never dined in. I have several reasons. But I still have an opinion on the nationwide restaurants I really like. And a few of these are my favorite spots, even though I don't eat at them often. But I never mind going back to them again & again.

Cheddars Monté Cristos & Broccoli-Rice Casserole...Who can say they serve probably the best version of those dishes? But also this place is truly a casual restaurant. I've never been to a Cheddars where the vibe is not relaxed. Even new ones that are overcrowded on the weekends, yet. Once you get a table, the energy calms down. And relaxation is good for digestion.

Pei Wei Maybe some bastardization, I mean fusion of the cuisine of some of the countries in Asia is not bad. Pei Wei is one of the good ones in my opinion. Weirdly enough, I can't find anyone of Chinese, Japanese, or Thai descent that has a recorded opinion. Not even a Buzzfeed video. Oh well, when one appears, I'll still be enjoying the Thai Dynamite with Shrimp on Brown Rice.

IHOP Yeah, it's diner food. But the funniest part about me liking IHOP is that I don't like pancakes. But I do like waffles, hashbrowns, & fruit flavor syrups. And the only eatery that does it all nicely is the International House of Pancakes. I also like their no breakfast items. And before you get in the comments...Waffle House is not Nationwide. And they don't have strawberry or blueberry syrups.

Taco Bell Even though they betrayed me by taking the Mexican Pizza off the menu, it is still my favorite fast food. And though, my aging body can't tolerate the sauces, salt, & fat past a certain time of the evening, the taste is consistent.

Cheesecake Factory Much crap is talked about in my favorite restaurant on social media. But have you heard of one closing? It tastes the same delicious when I first had it in 1999. That was back when I ate the Chicken Littles. But my favorite of all time on the menu is the Bistro Shrimp Pasta (Y'all do know I don't go out to eat healthily? Because this dish is high in calories & fat. But I never finish it (or any of their dishes at the restaurant.) with a slice of Adam's Peanut Butter Cup or Lemon Raspberry cheesecakes to go. Others can keep their hate, I have enough love for Cheesecake Factory to block them.

But what do I know? Oh yeah, I know my taste buds. And I like pleasing them with food I don't cook sometimes.

Oh, and yeah, I have a Dislikes list too. See me groan about restaurants HERE. But unlike that post, I want to see your faves in the comments.

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms!