Bee Eye Why See: Burritos

So many of my friends on social media seem to be beyond happy when they go out to one of the big national chains for a mission-style burrito. Don't get me wrong, I'll eat at Qdoba or Chipotle if there is no better option, but here in York City there most certainly is and that option is Roburritos. Their burrito is the Best in York City (B.I.Y.C or bee eye why see).

When Anthony was working at York College the students there told him about the West York location over by the fairgrounds and it only took one visit for us to realize why it was so popular. He and Heidi and I started going back in '09 and even found we had a few connections to the good folks that run the place. Heidi used to work with one of the managers and Anthony's long time tattoo artist is close with Rob, the owner.

But don't think these connections are why we love the place. Even if we didn't know anyone involved we would keep going back for one reason and one reason only: their burritos kick ass. Rob made a pilgrimage to San Francisco's Mission district to learn all he could about how to make a great burrito and it shows. They serve huge burritos packed with meat (or potatoes for your veggie folks), rice beans and guacamole and sour cream.

If you aren't in the mood to get all these ingredients in burrito form you could always opt for the burritodilla which is the quesadilla version that you see at the top of this post, but either way you can't go wrong. And there are more and more places you can enjoy this fantastic grub. There are three different York locations and one in both Dallastown and Lancaster. Whichever is closest to you I highly encourage you to get out there and try them out.     

Lunch Spot to Check Out: Flats

 

The other day Anthony said he wanted to go somewhere different for lunch. Between us we've eaten at just about every place in downtown York. Then we realized that there was one place we hadn't yet tried right under our noses. Well, under Anthony's nose... I don't have one anymore. About 50 yards from Anthony's office is the Valencia Room (which coincidently is where he took Heidi to the College Formal a few weeks before they started dating) and in the front of the Valencia is Flats which bills itself as an "Original Flatbread Café."

I just love the menu at this place, so much so that we've been there three times in the last week. The menu breaks down into four groups of main dishes: Pizza, Quesadillas, Burritos and Sandwiches/Wraps. They also have a nice grouping of starters and salads of which I've tried the Roasted Hummus Flatbread you see on the left. It tastes just as good as it looks! They also have wings, a tomato bisque, a side salad and the option to get an extra basket of their awesome chips with a balsamic glaze and parmesan dusted on top.

On my first visit I tried  the Killer Beef quesadilla which is fact killer. The brisket was really flavorful and tender and perfectly complemented the cheddar jack and BBQ sauce. Anthony had the Ultimate Grilled Cheese quesadilla pictured on the right which is stuffed with four different types of cheese as well applewood smoked bacon and tomatoes. There are four other quesadillas on the menu too and I'm looking forward to trying them all.

On our last trip be both tried burritos. I had the excellent beef and bean burrito you see below. The beef in question is the same brisket from the quesadilla so your really couldn't go wrong paring it with refried beans, cheese and rice. Anthony went with the Spicy Chicken Crunch burrito that gets its crunch from tortilla strips wrapped up in the burrito and set off with some mango salsa.

I look forward to going back and trying some of their pizzas and wraps very soon and I highly recommend you get on down there and check them out. In addition to awesome lunch food you also get a really comfortable ambiance to kill your 60 minutes before heading back to your desk.

Bear Market: Simply Soup

I don't know weather to eat it or swim in it!
 

It is just stupid cold here in the White Rose city these days. I don't know about you, dear blog reader, but when the cold weather gets me down I reach for soup. Since I am a really lazy stuffed panda I don't take the time to make my own and I also am not a fan of the sodium packed canned stuff. Luckily for me there is a place to get awesome scratch-made soup in Central Market.

Simply Soup has a huge variety of recipes to warm you on even the coldest day as one look at their menu will show you. When you try any of their soups you can really tell that they are made with skill and care. Everything I have tried from there has been amazing so far. Pair the soup with one of the excellent grilled cheese sandwiches they serve you get one hell of a filling and rewarding lunch.

They aren't just for lunch though, because they also offer pint and quart containers to go. If you don't know what you're making for dinner tonight and you don't feel like going out either you can get some to go like Anthony, Heidi and I do. This week we got the Chicken Noodle you see at the top of this post and paired it with a mixed greens salad. If you're having people over get a few quarts and have them simmering on the stovetop when your guests arrive. They'll think you did all the hard work and you will have the upper hand on them, and isn't that what friendship is all about?

No matter if you decide to pass it off as your own or you give the credit to Simply Soup one thing is for sure: you'll have a great meal and warm yourself up.

Bee Eye Why See: Cheesesteak

 

In doing my research for my B.I.Y.C. (Best In York City)  post about cheesesteaks I've gained almost a pound. That may not sound like a lot to you but I'm not even a foot tall so I think you get the idea that I ate a whole lot of cheesesteaks. In the end I came back to the first one I had when I started the blog back in August.

Pepper's Grille at Central Market are masters of taking tried and true favorites and putting their own unique spin on them to take them to a whole new level. Their Bacon Cheesesteak is a fine example of just how they turn it up to 11. I'll be honest: when I first heard about the bacon steak I didn't know if I would like it. I thought the bacon might make it a bit too salty. But when I had it I found that the bacon brought the perfect balance to a cheesesteak.

Just take one look at these pictures and you'll all see the care that owners Steve and Ginger put into all their creations. Everything that goes into the steak is fresh and of super high quality. The rolls come all the way from Philadelphia: aka Cheesesteak Mecca and Steve also gets his secret ingredient for flavoring the steak all the way from Virginia.

It all adds up to one of the best things you'll ever eat, and I've had enough of them that I need to get myself on a diet. There are many places to get a good cheesesteak in York but Pepper's it one place to get a true masterpiece of steak, bread, bacon and cheese. It's even better than my own!

Bee Eye Why See: Mac & Cheese

 

When winter comes there are a few specific dishes that I reach for that warm me up both physically and mentally. One of my biggest comfort foods is macaroni and cheese and my bar is set quite high. I was lucky to land in Anthony's house for many reasons. Not only is he the kind of guy who keeps his teddy bear around for his whole life, but his folks could both really cook. Susan made awesome mac & cheese and the only box to be found was the box the noodles came in. And the cheese came in solid form not squeezed out of a pouch. None of that blue boxed crap for us.

With my storied mac & cheese history in mind let me say that not only is the Varsity Smoke Shack's version is easily the best in York City and some of the best you'll ever have. Their particular version is not a casserole style, so if that's what your into I beg you to have an open mind. The baked variety is also great, but this is a frying pan base preparation utilizing a béchamel based sauces. It is made toorder so it always arrives piping hot and bursting with flavor.

On a cold winter's day it makes the perfect side to one of Varsity's awesome sandwiches that I blogged about last month. While its on the menu as a side, two of them would serve to be a filling and satisfying meal all on its own. One of these days I'm going to get them to cut up a few strips of bacon in it and the result may make me weep. But it is the best mac & cheese you'll have in York all on its own and you should run and get some ASAP!

Bee Eye Why See: Fried Chicken

A bear about to be stuffed with Bair's!

I can't believe it's taken me this long to get around to writing this blog post. Nearly 20 years ago when Anthony brought me to York for college we got some fried chicken at Central Market. And that same stand is still there selling some of the best fried chicken you can find in the area. Bair's has been selling fried chicken at the market for almost as long as Anthony and I have been alive. And it's not just the name that keeps this bear heading to Bair's; their chicken is the drawing card.

Over the years I've had just about everything on the Bair's simple yet comprehensive menu. It ranges from wings and sandwiches to nuggets & strips but my go to is the Number 5 consisting of a breast, wing, leg & thigh nestled next to a huge pile of Dutch potatoes. It's totally worth the hour and a half I have to spend licking my oily paws.

The chicken is always crisp on the outside and moist and tender inside which, let's be honest, is what you're looking for in fried chicken. It is quite simply the perfect late night/post bar food, which makes the fact that they're only open till 6 kind of a bummer, but that's par for the course with the market. I'm hoping the revitalization of the Market District leads to more of these great businesses saying open longer. In the meantime you just have to get yourself to the Market by 6 PM Tuesday through Friday and by 3 PM on Saturday to get some of this awesome "Four Paw Rated" fried chicken. It is, by far, the Best In York City!

Bee Eye Why See: BBQ

Two Meat Platter: Ribs & burnt Ends with baked & green beans

I can't believe it has taken me this long to do my "Best In York City" post about BBQ. The York City establishment that Heidi, Anthony and I have frequented most over the last four years also happens to be the best BBQ place in all of Central PA, let alone York. When Lou Smith got laid off from the York Harley Davidson factory he and his partners Erika & Jim started selling southern style Bar-B-Que around town. They did well enough that they were soon able to open a storefront on West Princess St. and Big Lou's BBQ was born.

Brisket Platter with green beans & baked beans

One of the best complements I can pay this restaurant is that I have no favorite item there; every thing they make is awesome. They feature all the classics of southern style que: brisket, ribs, burnt ends, chicken wings and pulled pork and they are all top notch. I can only eat them one at a time (like the brisket platter you see on the left) but Anthony gets two or three meats at a time. His favorite combo to get is what he calls "The whole Farm Yard" with pulled pork, burnt ends and chicken wings. You can also get the brisket and pulled pork on a sandwich which makes an excellent lunch.

We often eat at Lou's for lunch and when we get platters we invariably end up skipping dinner all together that night. To say that Lou's generous portions fill you up is an understatement. And it's not just the main courses that keep us coming back time and again; the side dishes are worth eating all on their own. Save for the top notch Mac & Cheese and the coleslaw just about all of them have meat in them. The baked beans have ground beef  and the green beans have pork and they all have boundless flavor.

I could go on and on about this place, but suffice it to say I give them my highest review: Four Paws. You really shouldn't just take my word for it, you should head down to Lou's and forget that you've every been to a BBQ chain restraint. There's no need to thank me.

Bee Eye Why See: Burgers

This is York's best burger and the contest wasn't even close.

One of the only problems living in the epicenter of the reemerging scene in York City is that it can
hard to convince yourself to leave the neighborhood. I regularly find my self deciding to just stay in the Market District for a meal rather than leave it to get a comparable meal elsewhere. But that's when the difference is between a B+ and a B-. When you're looking at the difference between a B+ and an A+ you'd b willing to go pretty far out of your way.

Luckily for me this A+ is only 5 blocks away at the Roosevelt Tavern on the corner of Penn and Philadelphia. The Roosevelt is a hallowed York institution and they have a very impressive menu that you can eat in their beautiful dining room, but I hardly ever do. And it's not because they refuse to seat stuffed pandas in there. It's because when I go to the Roosevelt I sit in the bar and order they best burger in all of York.

The Dry Aged Skyblu Farms Burger is a masterpiece on a plate, simply stated. Skyblu is the 2013 winner of the York County Agriculture Business Counsel's "Best Farm Family" and one taste of the quality of their product and you can understand why. When you take that superior ground beef and dry age it and cook it to perfection you could just eat it plain and be in heaven So when you top it with high quality bacon and gouda cheese and nestle it in a brioche bun you are beyond heaven.

This burger isn't just delicious it is also massive. While they say it is 9 ounces it seems way bigger to me. Maybe the high quality of the meat means that it shrinks far less when it's cooked or maybe they chef is just generous. Either way with the fries added in it is a very filling meal. And the real kicker is the price 6 days a week you get this awesome burger and fries for ten bucks, and on Thursday it will only set you back $7! Why would  you ever eat a value meal at a burger joint when you can get the Skyblu burger for about the same price?

When you consider the superior quality and the amazing price it's easy to see why I'm willing to walk out of the Market District to get York's absolute best burger.

Bee Eye Why See: Coffee Shop

It's a good thing Heidi gets decaf or I'd be wired!

Since we moved downtown Heidi has been leaving the apartment at the same time every afternoon. I used to think she was going to see one of the boyfriends that she and Anthony are always talking about, so I climbed into her laptop bag last week to see where she was going.

Turns out, she has been spending her afternoons working at a local coffee shop called The Green Bean. Now, I'm not what you'd call a coffee drinker, I come from the place brought you tea after all, but you know what they say: when in Rome. So I had a couple of pulls on Heidi's Decaf Iced Coffee with Toffee Nut Syrup and a splash of half and half, and let me tell you: my eyes were opened. I know what you're thinking: "Teddy you don't have any eyelids so your eyes are always open" but I was speaking metaphorically. Don't be difficult.

As I sipped on Heidi's drink and nibbled on her peanut butter cookie I began to realize that I was missing out. So I asked her a simple question: is this the best coffee shop in the city. Her answer was a resounding yes. There are only a few other options but after trying them all out multiple times Heidi settled on Green Bean as York's best.

She says that not only is the coffee great, and the ambiance condusive to work (which for her is smut writing) or just catching up with friends, but, you are always well taken care of by Vanessa and Jen. As and added bonus, since the shop sits across Beaver St from the Police Station you're always bound to see a few of  York City's finest.

So if you're looking for a place to have a cup of joe (hot or cold) and some sweet treats the best place to go in York is the Green Bean. You might even see Heidi and I there, because I'm hooked now!

Bee Eye Why See* - Latin American/Tex Mex

When Anthony told me we were going to be moving to York City I was excited to find a few new places. But there is one category of food that just can't be superseded in the Greater York area and that is Mexican food, or to be more specific Latin American food or Tex Mex. To get the best Tex Mex around you need to head to El Serrano out on East Market St (or their Lancaster location but that doesn't fit with the theme of this blog).

You really can't go wrong with anything on El Serrano's menu which is heavily inspired by the Peruvian heritage of the family who owns and operates both locations. Some times I opt for a basic dish like the Los Burros you see above, which are fantastic burritos or I go with the ever popular  chimichangas, enchiladas, fajitas and tacos.

My personal favorite dish at El Serrano is the Chuletas de Puerco which you see on the left here. Its two marinated pork steaks that come served on a sizzling fajita plate. Also on the hot plate is a quarter of a pineapple which tastes amazing when it is seared. Also, rather than having rice and beans on the side it comes with a little step-pyramid looking scoop of white rice that would seem more at home in a Chinese restaurant than a Tex-Mex place.

If you really want to experience the best of the York location be sure to go on Thursday nights so you can hear the incomparable Dante who starts to sing and play music starting at 6 PM. When he whistles "The Girl From Ipanema" it makes my food taste even better. There is no other rating I could give El  Serrano other than the full 4 Paws!

  

Bee Eye Why See: BLT

Maewyn's Gourmet B.L.T.

Next up on my list of the Best in York City is the quintessential sandwich: Bacon Lettuce & Tomato. The B.L.T. is just about the most perfectly balanced sandwich in the world, and usually it is at its best when it is at its simplest. But my choice for the best B.L.T. in York is far from simple and that is what make Maewyn's Gourmet B.L.T. so great.

Obviously the star of any B.L.T. is the B and that is no exception at Maewyn's where they use thick cut bacon that they cure on the premises. You'd almost have to call the bacon candied since it has a sweet sticky cure on it that really works perfectly with the bacon's natural smokiness. If all the sandwich had on it was this bacon with some lettuce and tomato it would be amazing, but, like I said this sandwich isn't so simple.

What takes this B.L.T. to the next level is the one part I had them hold the first time I ordered it: cheese. So I guess its more like a B.L.T.C. after all. They use a combo of Boursin and Cooper cheese that is really soft and velvety when it gets warmed up. While my arteries will hate to hear this but there is almost nothing like mayo and bacon getting together with soft creamy cheese. I really need to get back to eating bamboo for a while!

So if you're looking for a good option for lunch, brunch, dinner or late night eats to go with a few beers make your way to N. George St. and be sure to wear a little green!


 

Bee Eye Why See: Wings

York's best wings are at the corner of Philadelphia and Beaver

When I decided to do a series of posts determining the best of various dishes in York City I knew that wings would have to be first up. They're just about my favorite thing to eat in the world. When Anthony first brought me to York I used to tag along when he and his college roommates went out for cheep eats. While dollar tacos from Murph's were good what I really got excited about was nickel wing night at the West York Inn.

I'm an older and wiser stuffed panda these days so when I eat wings I'm after quality not quantity or even value. And when it comes to quality wings in York the White Rose wins paws down. That shouldn't come as surprise since the Beaver St. eatery is, if not the best, than one of the top two or three restaurants in all of Central PA, let alone York.

Wings are a tricky business, because while you have to really try hard to screw them up it also takes everything working together in concert to make them amazing. Its with this attention to detail that the White Rose make their wings exquisite. It all starts with quality products and from my experience the White Rose never cuts corners with any of their meats, cheeses or produce. But simply buying good chicken is not enough, wings have to be fried just right to ensure that they are crispy and yet not burned, and cooked through without being greasy.

The wings at the White Rose tick all these boxes. They have a little crunch on their skin despite not being breaded and are moist and tender all the way through. They'd even be good enough to eat sans sauce, but there's no need for that kind of craziness. Its in the realm sauce that the White Rose really wins me over. There's nothing I hate more than ordering chicken wings and getting wing soup, where the wings come out in crime-scene like pool of sauce.

As you can see from the picture at the top of this post the White Rose's wings are very lightly sauced. So much so that at first blush you think they have none at all. That said, they don't lack for flavor in the least bit. This approach is a big bonus for a teddy bear. Believe you me, there is nothing worse than spending an hour and a half licking crappy wing sauce off you paws.

For all these reasons White Rose has the best wings in all York City. The runner up, and makers of some fantastic wings in their own right is Big Lou's BBQ on W. Princess. At Big Lou's the wings are smoked rather than fried and the sauce is cooked on so, while they are sticky, they are not dripping with excess sauce.

Bear Market: Peppers Grille

The next stop on my blog tour of  York's Central Market is Peppers Grille. In the month that we've lived downtown I've had occasion to visit Peppers a pawful of times for both breakfast and lunch.

The natural order of things is to start with breakfast and I've had a few breakfast items from Peppers. The first thing I tried was the beauty you see above. It is a maple bacon wrapped cinnamon bun topped with cream cheese icing. Yeah, that just happened. It goes without saying, but the combination of bacon, icing and a cinnamon bun is epic but this one really rocks.

Bacon is a real theme at Peppers. The other breakfast item I had was a breakfast BLT and like the menu says, it's just what you think. The breakfast part is a fried egg added to a regular BLT and it was a fantastic sandwich. They also have egg sandwiches breakfast favorites like pancakes and french toast. The item I haven't tried yet that I'm dying to is the brisket omelet and I think that says all you need to know.



Peppers Grille on the North side of the Market

As for lunches I've had a few of them as well and you won't be surprised to find out bacon featured in them as well. First up was a Bacon! Bacon! Burger which is chock-a-block full of bacon. It's in the ground of the patty and on top as well. I got mine sans cheese and I think that's the way to go. The bacon is really the star and it shines extra bright.

My second lunch there was the Big Bacon Steak with sautéed onions. Again, the name says it all for this cheesesteak with onions and small pieces of bacon mixed throughout. The flavors were great and the roll was perfect for the presentation and enjoyment of they whole experience.

Peppers is one of my early favorites for best of the market right along with Mezzogiorno. I give them the full 4 paws, not only for the food I've tried there but for their whole approach. You simply must try them out!



Bear Market: Mezzogiorno

The #9 Sub: Capricol, Salami & Provolone

Another market day and another Teddy "Bear Market" watch. If you live in or around York and don't go to Market on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays you are doing yourself a great disservice. It's only been a few weeks since Anthony moved us downtown but I haven't missed a market day yet.

This week I visited Mezzogiorno and I was apprehensive to say the least. While I may be a tiny stuffed panda teddy bear I was taken in by household with heavy Italian influences. Some of my earliest memories are of Anthony's dad making subs for us with excellent salami and provolone. So now whenever I go to an Italian place this sub is my touchstone to see how good they are. If the salami and provolone isn't good chances are nothing else is.

I'm happy to say that this sub was fantastic. Good quality meat and cheese on a great roll with excellent toppings. In short: everything you can ask for out of a sub. I also sampled a #11 with turkey and provolone and that was also great. I see why the Mezzogoiorno is one of the most popular places at the market. The lunch menu includes hot & cold subs, paninis, soups, salads and pasta.

Unlike some other stands that are only open on market days, Mezzogoiorno is open Tuesday  through Saturday for breakfast and lunch. It is popular with all the usual market like jurors and the work a day set. It's just a shame that they aren't open for dinner.

I give Mezzogiorno all four paws and I highly recommend that you check them out. Tell them a little adopted Italian-American teddy bear sent you.