Now This is What I Call A Combo Meal

There are times when I crave fried chicken and there are times when I crave tacos. Then, there are the troubling times when I want both, but know I shouldn't eat both at the same time. That's where Bair's Fried Chicken steps up their game and becomes my hero. What you see pictured here is their newly christened Loco YoCo Taco and it can really help when you want both but don't want to choose.

I've had a few of them over the last month, although I never did get around to putting in a name suggestion.  No matter what they're called they are awesome. Think about it: You get the best fried chicken in York all wrapped up in a tortilla and smothered in taco fixins. The Loco YoCo makes for an awesome lunch, dinner or even a snack.

So the next time you're downtown stop by the Market do yourself the favor of trying these little bundles of deliciousness. I know you'll thank me when you do.

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!

Teddy's Favorite Things: Soap

It's the most wonderful time of the year... even for a tiny stuffed panda. I love gift giving, and since I'm writing this blog I thought I might share with you some gift idea's from businesses right here in York PA. I know some of you are surprised that my first gift idea is soap and I hear what you are saying: "Teddy, you don't look all that clean bud, what the hell do you know about soap?" well, screw you. That's #1. And #2: I live with two humans who are the picture of cleanliness. So I know from soap. Ok?

If you're looking for fantastic locally made bath and beauty products you need look no further than Paintbox Soapworks. They have everything for the special lady or guy on your list. Both Anthony and Heidi use Pantbox products and rave about their exquisite fragrance and efficacy.

Anthony swears by the Black Bart Shaving soap; he says his face is always much smoother post shave than when he used to use shaving cream. An added bonus is that Heidi loves the combo of its leathery and smoky smell. A few bars of this stuff with a fancy barber's brush would make a great gift for husbands, boyfriends, brothers and fathers alike.

Heidi's go to are the sorbetto emulsifying scrubs. She has a variety of scents and uses them to clean and care for her skin, which she is awfully hard on these days. Her regiment keeps her skin looking and feeling like porcelain which is no easy task with all the swimming and working out she does. Package a few of these together with some Paintbox's hand creams and scent balms and you'll wow any lady on your list.

If you don't like my pairings you can just go to their Etsy page's Gift Sets tab and pick some out for your mom, sister, uncle, teacher, secretary or... you know... a cute teddy bear you might know. You can shop on-line or like their FaceBook page to find out when they are selling at pop-up retail locations around town. Tell 'em Teddy sent you!

Bear on Beer: Liquid Hero Brewery

The first of my Bear on Beer posts was about a place that sells beer from all around the world through their 30 taps. This one is about a York spot that brews their own. Liquid Hero Brewery opened its doors less than two years ago but they have ridden the wave of craft beer popularity to a thriving business today.

When I first visited their brewpub on North St. the business was so new that they still didn't have a license to sell their beers across the bar. Such are the odd liquor laws of the Commonwealth of PA that they were able to sell their brew in growlers to take home but if you wanted a pint they had to give you a "sample" to sit at the bar with.

Anthony isn't much of a drinker and when he does drink beer he usually went for PA staples like Rolling Rock or Yuengling. So I was lucky that my first visit to Liquid Hero was with our old roommate Jon who is a craft beer aficionado. Between Jon and the owners of the brewery Josh, Matt and Christian I got a tour of all the different types of beers on offer. From ales and IPAs to hefeweizens and stouts Liquid Hero has it all. And if you don't know what you might like the brewers will happily walk you through the options and get a pint in front of you that you'll enjoy.

The brewery came about more than five years ago when it's three founders watched an episode of the History Channel series Modern Marvels all about brewing. They grew through home brewing and eventually got their fantastic location across from York's baseball stadium. The old building you see to the left has been upcycled
into a quintessential brewpub. The back three quarters of the building is where the brewing is done while the front has been turned into a cozy bar that is more like an intimate neighborhood bar of days gone bye. It's quite simply a fantastic place to have a few beers with good friends.

My only regret with the Liquid Hero is that it doesn't have a kitchen of it's own. You can have food delivered from outside vendors which is better than nothing at all but my hope is they experience tons more success that leads to an expansion that will include a rocking menu. Till then you'll just have to peruse my blog for places to go have a bite to eat before or after you have a few of Liquid Hero's great beers.

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: 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.