Scraping the Skillet

America’s Grills with the Juiciest Hamburgers

admin — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

The hamburger is an American tradition. There is nothing quite as delicious as a juicy ground beef patty cooked to perfection in a soft bun with onions and cheese. While you can get a burger just about anywhere, there are a few places that serve some of the best burgers in the world.

Wedl’s in Jefferson, Wis., has some of the best sliders in America. They don’t have a website and they don’t have a ton of fancy options. The burgers come with meat, cheese and onions. The only options are if you want one, two or three patties. The burgers are juicy, and the onions are perfectly steamed. Wedl’s does burgers just right.

The Barney Burger at Triple XXX in West Lafayette, Ind., is another big juicy burger that is downright heavenly. Just the right amount of grilled chuck and american cheese with perfectly grilled onions make this a fantastic, no-frills burger.

Matt’s Bar in Minneapolis, Minn., has been serving up one of the world’s best burgers since the 1950s. This beautiful burger creation features two hamburger patties that are hand pressed with slices of cheese in the middle. This makes a molten masterpiece that you have to taste to believe.

Le Bernardin – New York City’s Finest Seafood Restaurant

admin — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Le Bernardin, a seafood restaurant located in Midtown Manhattan, is one of the best dining experiences in not only America, but the entire world. It was opened by Maguy Le Coze and Gilbert Le Coze in 1986. Check out a few of the accolades Le Bernardin has earned over the years:

In 2009, Le Bernardin was ranked the 11th best restaurant in the world in the Restaurant magazine Top 50.
Le Bernardin is just one of seven New York City restaurants awarded three Michelin stars.
Gayot ranked Le Bernardin among the Top 40 restaurants in the United States, giving it a rating of 18/20.
Le Bernardin has held a four-star rating from The New York Times longer than any other restaurant (since 1986).

In 2011, Le Bernardin closed for more than a month to undergo an extensive renovation. In its first major alteration in 25 years, Le Bernardin modernized its look, added a lounge and became greener by pursuing its LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification.

As someone who has thought about renovating his kitchen, I can’t imagine how much this renovation cost. My jaw almost dropped to the floor when I saw what it would cost to make a few alterations to my 2,500 sq. foot kitchen (I got a free consultation through homeproimprovement.com).

Thus, to help defray the renovation cost, Le Bernardin raised the price of its 4-course menu from 115 to 120. The tasting menu also rose 5 from 140 to 145.

The States with the Best Diners and Dives

admin — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0000

I have traveled through many states and eaten at many diners and dives. The state that has the favorites on my list is Missouri. They have some of the most unique diners and dives that I have ever seen. The menus are impeccable. Some of the concoctions that these chefs come up with seem off the wall but are amazing in flavor and value. Another state that has great diners and dives is Ohio. There are many local “Mom and Pop” run places with family recipes that date back over a century. Ohioans all have their own favorite place to eat, and it’s not usually a chain restaurant. The locally owned and operated diners and dives offer up the best values, best flavors, and most fun atmospheres around. Ohio is full of small towns, these small towns have some of the very best food that I have ever eaten in my life. The last state in my favorites for best diners and drives is New Mexico. Their bold flavors and New Mexico Chiles bring out some real flavor in their authentic cuisine. Some of the best kept Mexican/Native American fusion secret recipes can be found all over New Mexico.

Diners and Grills that Fry Everything

admin — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

There are 2 amazing diners that will deep fry just about anything. Many other establishments also offer deep fried items, but these 2 go all out and will deep fry anything. Sumo Grub and Park Slope ChipShop are the 2 most recognized diner style restaurants that deep fry outrageous items. Sumo Grub is located in Berkeley, California right across the street from Berkeley High School. This small diner was featured on Food Network’s show called Outrageous Foods. There is a platter there called Six Feet Under which includes deep fried hamburgers, twinkies, macaroni and cheese, and oreos. Park Slope ChipShop does have Sumo Grub topped though. The ChipShop is located in Brooklyn. The chef will allow you to bring in anything that you want to have deep fried. He’s pushing the envelope when it comes to deep fried foods. At the ChipShop, deep fried pizza has been perfected. A regular menu is also available at the ChipShop Diner. My husband and I are planning a trip to Brooklyn just to go to this diner. We want to challenge the chef to see if there is anything that he cannot deep fry successfully. This diner is just pure genius and innovative.

Unexpected Surprises at Out of the Way Diners

admin — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

What you may not expect from a diner that is in the middle of nowhere, is that they more than likely have the best food you’ll ever eat. Diners are known for from scratch cooking and family recipes. Most would expect that diners would have bread, gravies, soups, and other items brought in already prepared. This is not the case in all diners. Most make their own breads, doughs, soups, stocks, sausages, grind their own meat, and some even make their own cheeses. There is a diner in Detroit, Michigan called Traffic Jam & Snug. This diner does make their own bread, cheese, and ice cream. The diner looks like it is just part of an old building, but it is far more than that. Their building is huge and houses a bakery, restaurant, and creamery. Traffic Jam & Snug also has their own brewery to make their own beer. I must say, I have visited Traffic Jam & Snug and it is more than I imagined it was. There really is no other diner in the United States that will even come close to the experience that you will have here. This is a must visit diner in Detroit, Michigan.

Diners and Grills With the Best Home Style Recipes

admin — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Diners are often liked for their home-style cooking and simple food that you could be eating at home but just do not feel like making. Southern cooking is one of the most often thought of when home-style food is talked about. Here are five of some of the amazing diners that serve home style cooking.

1. Southern Kitchen Restaurant
1716 6th AVE
Tacoma, WA 98405

Southern Kitchen specializes in fried chicken, catfish, cornbread, fried okra, macaroni and cheese and a Food Network award winning peach cobbler. A southern chef transplanted from Texas has brought his cooking skills to the Pacific Northwest where they are dominating in the Seattle area.

2. 50s Grill
5524 Brooklyn Blvd
Brooklyn center, MN 55429

This grill features home-style comfort foods such as pot roast, meatloaf, and a great hamburger that will leave your mouth watering for more.

3. The Rendezvous
Arrah Wanna Rendezvous Center
67149 E Highway 26
Mt. Hood, Oregon

This grill features the freshest seafood in Oregon as well as fantastic burgers made with most anything on them that you could imagine.

4. Nic’s Grill
1201 N. Pennsylvania Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK

The City of Oklahoma has rated Nic’s has having the best burger in the city. It has been featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives on Food Network Channel.

5. Duke’s
560 Third Ave at 37th St
New York City, New York

This diner is one of the best known as being kid friendly. Traditional Southern comfort food, such as pulled pork, friend chicken and chicken sliders.

The Top Ranked Diners and Grills in America

admin — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

There are thousands of wonderful diners and grills in the US. The top rated diner is located in St. Paul, Minnesota. Mickey’s Dining Car is not only famous, featured in the movie The Mighty Ducks and several others, but they are exactly what a diner should be. Mickey’s Dining Car has simple menu items, a cramped atmosphere, and it is old. This is what diners are expected to be. Many call Mickey’s Dining Car the birthplace of the American diner. Their food is delicious. It has been the top rated diner for years. Some diners may have more sophisticated food but Mickey’s has a certain feel to it that makes everyone feel right at home.

One of the top rated grills in America is Joe’s American Bar & Grill located in several states, with 5 locations in Massachusetts. Joe’s is a family friendly environment that was established in 1984. They offer up traditional American cuisine. Joe’s strives to use only the freshest ingredients for all of their menu items. The menus will vary slightly depending on the location that you visit. They offer a brunch, lunch, and dinner menu. Their pricing may seem just a bit high for some consumers.