Something I have been wondering about.

I am a big fan of food, I am sure to a certain extent we all are. Everyone has their favorite meal or their favorite restaurant. What I don't understand is what the deal with cooking shows such as 30 Minute Meals and Quick Fix Meals is. The Food Network is a very popular channel and many people tune into it to learn new techniques and new recipes but 30 Minute Meals are not that hard to make. When you think about it pretty much anything you want to make can be made within 30 minutes. Rachel Ray became infamous for her 30 minute recipes but everyone has their own 30 minute recipes. I give her a lot of credit she definitely comes up with some great ideas but so do many other people. I think I am just bitter that she became super famous for the idea of 30 Minute Meal, why couldn't it have been me!

Ryan has found his rebound girl

Ryan Reynolds has been spotted out in Manhattan restaurants with sexy starlet Scarlett Johanssen. After his February break up with long time girlfriend Alanis Morissette, he kept a low profile. This past weekend he reappeared with one of the sexiest women in Hollywood. The were spotted at Manhattan's Odeon restaurant sharing a quiet and intimate dinner. The "couple" also spent Easter together. They went to a fancy brunch yesterday at the Carlyle Hotel with a group of their pals, other guests said the couple seemed to be having a great time with all of their friends.

Dine and Dash

The art of dine and dash came to a halt for a restaurant goer in Bloomington, Indiana. The man would visit the same restaurant every Wednesday and order the same meal along with tow gin and tonics. He would be presented with the check then claim he had to use the restroom. Obviously he never used the rest room and would run out of the restaurant. When he returned for one of his infamous meals the staff was ready for him. When the man got the check and excused himself to use the rest room only to run out there were four waiters waiting for him. They called the police and the man offered to pay with a check. When the restaurant told him they don't accept checks the man got nervous and ran.

Controversial photos hit Cosi restaraunts

Cosi bans same sex marriage and couple photos in New Rochelle, NY. The chain restaurant put up a few pictures of same sex couples. The traveling exhibit is trying to spark talks of legalizing gay marriage and opening the eyes of political leaders. When Cosi took down the pictures they claimed that they could not keep the exhibit on their walls because it did not go through the companies "proper procedures for approving artwork." They had received many comments about the artwork both negative and positive. I think they just got scared and did not want this type of controversy to be associated with their particular chain. Cowards!!!!!!!!!!!!

I eat out often, it is one of my favorite things to do. Kick back with a few friends and enjoy a good meal. Whether it is a craving for a great cheeseburger or sitting down to a gourmet meal, here are a few of my favorite dining destinations:

For pizza you can't beat this quaint little restaurant called the Reservoir Tavern. The tavern has the best brick oven pizza I have ever tasted. Their menu boasts comforting Italian food. A few of the most popular dishes include the stuffed eggplant which is stuffed with zucchini, mushrooms, and roasted red peppers. It is lightly fried then covered in a homemade marinara sauce and fresh mozzarella cheese. Their sausage and peppers are also a true favorite, their sausages are made fresh everyday and come in either a sweet or spicy variety. Reservoir Tavern is known for their pizza. Whether you want thin crust or hand tossed it is guaranteed to be one of the best slices you have ever eaten. They have a numerous variety of toppings and will create whatever you desire. One of the favorites is broccoli raab with roasted red peppers. It is truly delicious.

If it is a cheeseburger you are craving Cleveland's Tap room is the best place in town. They serve simple standard bar food, but their cheeseburgers are so thick and juicy you would think you were in heaven.

For finer dining there are two options. Eccola Italian Restaurant is a quaint restaurant with gourmet dishes. They have a wide variety of fresh fish dishes as well as standard homemade italian dishes. Their mussels appetizer is a house specialty as well as their chicken picatta. All the pasta is made fresh and is so light and tender it melts in your mouth. If it is steak you are craving nothing can beat Don Pepe Steak House. It will satisfy any meat lover. The filet mignon is so tender you don't even need a knife. The home made mushroom and burgundy sauce is an amazing accompaniment to any piece of meat you choose. Their specialty side dish is fresh cut potato wafers, they are so light and crispy you won't feel guilty for eating plates and plates of them. Save room for dessert though. This steak house has a caramel apple creme brulee that is so silky and smooth you may just want to start licking the bowl when its done.

These are a few of my favorite dining destinations. When a craving hits I know exactly where to go. Try these places out and I guarantee you won't be disappointed.