Shish Kabob Express (Detroit)

So, I'm home for summer vacay and one of my fav places to eat is a Mediterranean/Lebanese restaurant called Shish Kabob Express. They have locations at Twelve Oaks Mall and one at Tel Twelve (Telegraph Rd and Twelve Mile for you non Detroiters) and the food is AMAZING! Seriously. Before I ate here I was nor here or there when it came to Middle Eastern food but now I am definitely a fan. 

Everything is super fresh, even the smoothies they make from fruits and vegetables right there on the spot. I usually get a chicken shawarma sandwich which has grilled chicken, pickles, and garlic sauce wrapped in a toasted pita. First of all, I LOVE GARLIC so that's a plus for me and, like Chipotle, the chicken is grilled and seasoned to perfection. The crispy pita with the slightly sour pickle and chicken is delicious. Trust me. I've also had their chicken fattoush salad which is a chicken salad with their version of croutons,  toasted pita chips. It has fresh spinach or romaine (whatever your choice), tomatoes, purple cabbage, and some other stuff I can't really think of at the moment topped with their house dressing which is basically a balsamic vinegar dressing. It's also served with a pita and garlic sauce. ALSO, since I've recently been restricted to vegetarian life, I tried their falafel sandwich which was tasty. I was scared because I ordered a falafel plate from another popular Middle Eastern restaurant chain in Detroit that shall remain nameless and it was disgusting. My family and I couldn't even finish one falafel, let alone the plate. The waitress had the nerve to ask us if we wanted a carry out box. If looks could kill.... Anywho, there are LOTS of other items on the menu, these are just a few of my favs. If you live in Detroit, I implore you to try them out! Alesyn, if you're reading this, we still have to take the trip out there so you can taste their magnificent glory. Also, if you can't go to this place, try out some Middle Eastern food wherever you are but try to look at customer reviews and start with something simple like the aforementioned items. Everyone can't do good Middle Eastern food just like everybody can't cook greens as well as my dear mother. Yes, I tooted her horn. Happy eating ! 

Couldn't Get It Up...

Brace yourselves....Junior's in Times Square

I know! I know! But I was expecting greatness! I saw the episode on Making The Band just like the next person. My friend Kayla whimsied me with tales from the Junior's in Brooklyn so I'm hoping the disappointment is only with the Times Square location. I got the strawberry cheesecake and I gotta tell ya, I wasn't impressed. I've had better cheesecake from Chik Fil-A. Cheesecake Factory's is waaaaaaayyy better. Junior's wasn't wasn't smooth and creamy or whipped. I couldn't taste the cheese and sugar. It just wasn't up to par. It was like watching Saturday Night Live and expecting to laugh. It wasn't what I expected at all. But again, I'm willing to go to the Brooklyn location and give them a second chance.

NEW YORK CITY!

For my 21st birthday on March 19th, me and some friends went to NYC. It was my first time and I had a great time. We went to the Comedy Cellar in The Village where we met comedians Godfrey and Ben Bailey from Cash Cab where I reminded the latter just how white he really was (but that's another story). Of course, I wouldn't be posting if I didn't have some great food too!                

                                   

First up was a New York hot dog from those cute little carts. Let me go ahead and admit how excited I was to even be purchasing one after I had seen it done so many times on TV. I wanted one with just mustard like Dre got when he was walking through the park with Sidney in Brown Sugar.  My suite-y DeAndra persuaded me to get one with the works (onions, saurkraut, ketchup, mustard, some other sh*t) and it was DEE-LICIOUS! Oh, why is the vendor so close to my face in that second picture, you ask? Because he wanted Andrea candy, that's why. He kept asking me how old I was and if I would give him a kiss. While we were posing for the pic, he thought he'd sneak one in. Yeah. Gross.

Next was some New York pizza, also suggested by DeAndra. She kept going on and on and on (:o) about how NY pizza was the best and didn't come close to any pizza you've ever had before, no matter how good it was. Yeah, it's safe to say she was blowing NY pizza up. Though we didn't find "a hole in the wall where you have to let the grease drip from the pizza", we did find this place in Times Square. I was a little skeptical of this place since hole in the walls usually have the best food but I was pleasantly surprised! It was cheesy and saucy like I like it with a thin, crispy crust. Not too thin, like thin crusts from national chains. Just a little thicker so that it was perfect. Good stuff. But next time I visit NY, I need to find that whole in the wall.