Blue Moon Cafe--You and the Cap'n Make it Happen

What do normal couples do on their 5 year anniversary? Well there's usually wine, roses, big fancy dinner, nice clothes, the whole nine yards. What do Ben and I do? We toss on our best jeans and t-shirts, go to a baseball game, and make it a Triple D double dip. Eh whatever, we admitted a long time ago that we aren't a normal couple. Baltimore has kind of become our mecca for Triple D days--it's a short drive and there's enough to do that you can fit in two meals with enough stuff in between so as not to be so ungodly full after your first meal that you never want to think about dinner. So for our 5 year anniversary at the end of August, we bought some O's tickets and planned a nice day in Baltimore sandwiched between breakfast at the Blue Moon Cafe and dinner at Brick Oven Pizza (check back later for that post).

The Blue Moon is in one of the most laidback, indie, trendy areas of Baltimore. A few miles east of the Inner Harbor is Fells Point, an eclectic li'l neighborhood full of tiny cafes and shops, plus a huge bread factory, which leaves the whole area smelling heavenly for most of the morning hours. Fells Point shares "borders" with Little Italy, which you have to drive through in order to actually get to Fells Point so there's always the danger that while driving with the best intentions towards this area of town for dinner or lunch or whatever, you'll detour into a little Italian eatery and you'll never get to experience the joy that is the Blue Moon Cafe. The Blue Moon was another re-visit for us. It was one of the 3 places that we had gone to before officially starting out on this crazy adventure, so since we've already covered Big Jim's and Blimpy's, the Blue Moon (apparently we only went to places that started with B before we started actually recording our visits) is the last on the short list of places that helped really spur this journey. What's also kind of cool about the Blue Moon is that it helped contribute to us almost completing a full episode of Triple D because it was featured on "Comfort Food" along with Grampa's and the Central City. If it had been a normal episode we would have completed it, since most episodes are only 3 visits, but of course, this was one of those rare episodes with 4, so alas we are still in search of completing a full episode, since we have yet to wander down to Texas to visit the Tip Top Cafe, which would make "Comfort Food" complete...but I'm getting off track.

It's kind of hard to not notice the Blue Moon when you're driving through Fells Point--not because it has some kind of crazy exterior or because it's huge or anything like that--no you notice the Blue Moon because of the massive throng of people always outside of the building any day of the week between the hours of 9am and 2pm. This is hands down the most popular place we've visited. When you combine amazing food, with an extremely tiny seating area (seriously we're talking like 7 tables), and a very very dedicated fan base the result is a very long wait. If you're planning on making the jaunt down to Baltimore plan your entire morning around the Blue Moon. Average wait is around an hour/hour and 15, longer if you've got a big party--honestly I would probably say if you have more than 4 people I wouldn't even try in the morning because they'll probably just tell you to come back later. Most of the time they tell you to wander around the area and go shopping and then check back, it's just that popular. Ben and I have taken to bringing books with us and sitting on the sidewalk outside while we wait, and I'd highly recommend that tactic. The Blue Moon is an experience, and one that you'll enjoy only if you go into it willing to wait and with patience. There's something oddly comforting about standing outside a restaurant with ten to fifteen other people all just waiting to eat, it makes you feel like you're a part of something bigger than yourself, and it also makes you feel like you're in on a big city secret, because people will drive by and look at all of you like you're crazy for waiting that long for food, but you know it's totally worth it and they're missing out. Plus, with that many people waiting there's guaranteed to be other Triple D visitors--it's happened both times we've visited, which makes for some interesting conversations and a great opportunity to swap stories about all the places you've visited. Believe me when I say though that the wait is worth it...when the wait is over an hour and people are willing to do it without a care in the world you know there's something good on the other side of that wait...and ya know what that is?? Cap'n Crunch French Toast.

This was once just a special at the Blue Moon--one of those things only on the menu..wait for it..once in a Blue Moon (ba-dum-bah), but it has become a standard on the menu because it's just that popular. If you haven't learned by now, I don't deviate when I find something I like, and that's why no matter how many times we have gone and will go to the Blue Moon I will always get this french toast. My good God is it good. I don't even use syrup on this stuff, and I love syrup so believe me it's not needed. 3 thick slices of Texas toast, coated in crushed up Cap'n Crunch and then cooked on a griddle so they get all crispy and carmelized and delicious. Then if that wasn't enough they top it with homemade whipped cream, blueberries, and strawberries. This is honestly probably my favorite meal I've ever had at any Triple D stop. I'm a sucker for sweet breakfast (pancakes, french toast, I'm sold), but this was beyond anything I've ever eaten before. Now my darling Ben kind of hates breakfast--especially sweet breakfast, so he always has a bit more of an issue ordering at places like this. However, he loves the Blue Moon because they have an awesome menu when it comes to breakfast gone Mexican. He's at various points gotten their breakfast burritos--which were huuuuge, to the point that he couldn't finish them because yes there were two--and their Mexican scramble, which was eggs, cheese, peppers, chorizo, salsa all that good stuff. For it being breakfast, he loves their food! When you order off of the menu, you get their homemade biscuits too, which are big, fluffy, and moist, essentially they're perfect. Now Ben's a wonderful boyfriend and since he knows I love bread, he let me have his biscuits, but I share as much as I can. Lastly, a ritual for us at the Blue Moon is ordering one of their plate size homemade cinnamon rolls for a kind of appetizer. They warm them up for you, and they're gooey and every ounce of them is homemade down to the filling in the dough. They are like Grands Cinnamon Rolls times 100. In some ways they're my favorite part of the meal, because they are just that good. Hopefully, that gives you a clue as to why this place is worth the wait. I would wait hours for my french toast and cinnamon roll...sometimes good food just takes patience, and that staff appreciates that you've waited that long so they don't rush you, they make sure your food is great, and that you enjoy your time. They give you a quality experience because they know how long you've waited to be there. They are nothing short of gracious, which is sometimes rare in places this busy.

Just a few more tips other than being willing to wait: they're only open until 2 in the afternoon most days, and then sometimes they re-open at like 7pm, but we've only ever gone in the morning, so plan accordingly. I would recommend giving it a morning visit. Also, parking is on the street, so have someone who doesn't mind parallel parking. Lastly, like I said before, bring a book!! It'll make the time go faster I promise.

No website for them--it helps them keep as low a profile as possible...being on Food Network doesn't really help that much :-)

Krazy Jim's Bilmpy Burger--Forever #1

The Triple D road is long and winding, criss-crossing the country, moving from small--almost invisible towns--to the largest cities in America. This process will most likely be one that Ben and I will be pursuing for the rest of our lives (a fact we are not afraid to admit), so it may seem a bit premature to proclaim that we've found the place that will always be #1, but trust me when I say, I don't see it changing. It won't change because Blimpy's holds a special place in our world for multiple reasons, the main one being that it's where this whole crazy thing started. Flashback with me to the early months of 2008, the beginning of our final semester of college. We'd taken to watching Triple D a little bit more frequently than usual. Food Network used to simply be what we turned on at night, but with little regard for what we were actually watching, but somewhere along the way we become Triple D fans, and then one night it happened. We were watching a particularly yummy episode (Burgers, Rings, and Fries to be exact) and what we saw was the most incredibly, greasy, delicious looking burger shack we'd ever seen. Now if you haven't noticed by now, Ben and I are suckers for grease. I'll admit it, even if the woman in my head who controls keeping track of my Weight Watchers points wishes she could kill this part of my personality. We love greasy food. It's actually one of the things that we bonded over when we started dating--Ben loved that I wasn't afraid to finish a meal in front of him (little did he know the life he had ahead of him with me constantly intoning "but I'm on points" but I digress...) . Now as we're watching I realize (and say out loud) "That girl is wearing a Michigan shirt!" which was then followed by "OH MY GOD IS THIS PLACE IN ANN ARBOR!?!?" Cue immediate jumping off of the bed and cueing up Google as quickly as possible (God bless the internet) and there it was....Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger S. Division St., Ann Arbor, MI. My beloved Ann Arbor. My favorite city in the world to hang out in was home to this burger mecca. "HOW HAVE I NOT HEARD OF THIS PLACE?!?!" I immediately made plans to seek this place out over Spring Break...and thus the Triple D adventure began.

Yes, I went to Blimpy's for the first time without Ben...I'm not proud of it, but hey you do what you gotta do for a good burger, and now over 2 years later, it is our most frequented Triple D spot. It's a go-to whenever we wander back to Michigan. It's like a cosmic pull on my car whenever I go to Ann Arbor...and it's just that good...trust me. It's true from the outside, hell from the inside, Blimpy's looks a bit odd. It's not creepy--it's not near as creepy as some places we've been, but it's tiny, it never ceases to be hot from the grill that is always going in, and it's always busy (expect a line people), and let's face it, it's a dive. It's not fancy, it's not designed for comfort or convenience, it's there to give you a good burger, fast. Blimpy's is not a place for the faint of heart. The cooks yell, they get frustrated, and you see your burger getting banged out on the grill in front of you--so if you're one of those people who can eat greasy foods as long as you don't have to see how greasy it really is, don't go, plain and simple. Here's what I would honestly advise...if you make the trek to Blimpy's use the buddy system, preferably with a Blimpy's veteran. If you don't know anyone in the good old A2, then watch the Triple D clip (it's on YouTube) and take notes, or check out their website and take notes. No I am not screwing with you. I'm being honest to God serious, take notes. The first time I walked into Blimpy's I had notes written on my hand on how to order, because honestly it's a strict process....

Blimpy's niche is sliders, you don't just order a burger (you have to be under the age of 7 to get a single patty burger no joke), you order a burger by the number of tiny patties you want on it, they'll go up us high as you want even though I think beyond 10 they might question your sanity. BUT again it's all part of a process so I'll walk you through the steps.

1.) Get a drink. It'll be the first thing you pass in line, so decide if you want a fountain pop or one of the umpteen bottled pops they have (I always go with IBC Cream Soda, Ben Stewart's Key Lime).
2.) Ask yourself: Am I eating here or getting it to go? I would advise eating there, unless you aren't travelling far. Travel too far with your burger and the grease becomes a bit of an issue when it comes to soggyness, I've done it once and it was my least favorite Blimpy's experience to date). IF AND ONLY IF you are eating THERE: Grab a tray. Getting it to go? DON'T TOUCH THE TRAYS. (You think I'm kidding about the rules? I'm not. Don't believe me? Try to screw with the process and see what happens)

3.) Do you want anything fried? They'll ask you if you want anything from the fryer. We loooooove their onion rings, they seriously take 3 days to make and they're friggin' amazing. But they also do all forms of veggies (mushrooms, zucchini, etc.) and of course fries, but we've only ever gotten the rings.

4.) Now it's time for your burger...PAY ATTENTION!!! You order the number of patties (double, triple, quad, quint, etc...), the type of bun you want (regular, onion, pumpernickel), and if you want anything grilled on it (bacon, onions, mushrooms, egg). DO NOT I repeat DO NOT talk about cheese at this point. I have seen many a poor soul get yelled at for ordering a bacon cheeseburger in line. They will ask you about your cheese before your burger is done...let them ask you.

5.) Cheese: like I said someone will ask you if you want cheese, just wait for the question.

6.) The guy at the end of the counter will ask you about other toppings: give him your wet ones first (mayo, ketchup, etc.) then the dry (lettuce, tomato, you get the picture).

Then you're good to go, but beware they only take cash!!! No credit cards here people! And expect to be handed your change in 50 cent pieces and $2 bills (again I'm not kidding). I know it seems complicated but it's worth it and after the first trip you'll be good to go and ordering will be as easy as riding a bike, just push through that first time. My ideal Blimpy's meal? IBC Cream Soda, onion rings, and a triple on a regular bun with bacon, grilled onions, cheddar cheese, ketchup, mayo, and lettuce. It's heavenly. If heaven is a big ball of grease in the sky that is. I've never deviated in my order...ever. Same thing every time. Ben has branched out...he's even gotten a quint--yes that's 5 sliders on a bun and yes he did finish it, it was nothing short of impressive. Don't plan on having a big dinner after you eat at Blimpy's, believe me when I say you won't need it. And one last thing, don't be intimidated by the process, don't be intimidated by the line. Because of the strict ordering, things move quickly, and they mean business so the line will dwindle fast, don't walk out because it's busy, you might never eat there if that's the case because it's always busy. If you are looking for a convenient time here's what I'd suggest: go in the summer. This place is a haunt for U of M students because it's in the middle of campus. If you go in the summer you cut down the number of people a ton. And again with a huge DO NOT!! go in the fall on a Saturday when the Wolverines have got a football game at home...it's a bad idea. So if it's a Saturday between September and November, check U of M's football schedule first, trust me. So is it hard to believe that after all rules that this place is our favorite? Maybe...but doesn't that tell you just how good the food is???

As usual here's the website, much more user friendly in the post-Triple D days...

http://www.blimpyburger.com/ (notice there's a tab on ordering...they are getting nicer believe me)

Nadine's--"It's a scuzzy bar..."

For those of you who watch Bones, you'll hopefully recognize fairly quickly that my title is an homage to one of my favorite episodes, an oldie but goodie from Season 2. The joy here is that when you are so invested in so many facets of pop culture, eventually there will be realms where your some of your loves collide, and this would be one of those moments, because no matter how many times I tried to think of a better title for this place, all I could here was Sully in my head telling Brennan he was taking her to a scuzzy bar. As it happens, one fateful day near the end of July, I think I was about 3 days away from finally finishing my hospital work in Pittsburgh, our date night (which was more of an afternoon in this case) ended up being to a scuzzy bar. Now, I'm sure that most people would read that and assume that either the food was total crap or the place was scary enough that we would never darken the door again...ya know the things we do for Triple D. However, while yes I'll admit I was a bit terrified when we stood outside Nadine's, it has become something of a haunt for us now. It's a bar, that oddly enough cranks out some of the most honest to goodness comfort food, that makes one forget that they're sitting on a squeaky, plastic covered bar stool, but rather leaves one imagining that they're sitting at their grandmother's kitchen table eating a big family dinner.

There is little to commend Nadine's to the mere passer-by unless you are one of two things (or possibly both): a. A local who has known about this place since you were 2 or b. A Triple D addict. Seeing as Ben and I fit one of those categories, we approached Nadine's, after an unbelievably frustrating 20 minutes spent searching for parking in Pittsburgh's Southside construction hell-zone. In all honesty, one would probably never simply pass by Nadine's. It's tucked away on a side street, surrounded on both sides by streets filled with cute little pizza places and eateries. Needless to say, in this part of town if you're looking for food, Nadine's probably wouldn't be your top choice. The outside is unassuming and the sign on the front reading "No one under 18 admitted" isn't exactly welcoming, but trust me on this...push on through. Fight off your tendency to judge a book by it's cover and believe me you'll be thanking me...if you like hot roast beef sandwiches that is.

Nadine's is run by a little, tiny, Italian fireball of a woman...Nadine (obviously). She runs the place with her kids and their significant others, and regardless of whether you're actually related to any of them, once you walk in you're treated like family. What makes Nadine's unique is that while there's a set menu, you don't really ever look at it. No, the second you walk in you look to the specials board on your left next to the door. That's what makes this place a diamond in the rough. Everyday they crank out 4 or 5 of their 11 specials, and once they're gone, they're gone, and when you're competing with hungry construction workers, you better get there at a decent time if you want to find some food. If you saw the show, you know that they cook all their food from two ovens, one of which is literally held together by string, but I'm tellin' ya that might just be the secret to their success. The first time we went we had a pretty broad range of specials: Hot Roast Beef Sandwiches with Mashed Potatoes, Spaghetti and Meatballs, Meatball Hoagies, and Chicken Salad Sandwiches. The roast beef is where you want to go, I promise. Guy loved this stuff, and so did we. Now I'll confess, I can be a picky eater, ESPECIALLY when it comes to soggy bread, so usually the whole hot sandwich and gravy thing is something I avoid, but for the sake of Triple D (and how good this stuff smelled) I went for it and oh. my. God. The helpings are huge and if you didn't get enough to eat on the first go round, they'll give you seconds. Yes seconds. For freakin' free!!! Ben, of course, took them up on this and to give you a glimpse of the type of woman/mom Nadine is, here's how that conversation went:

Ben: Do you do seconds on the roast beef?

Nadine: You want some more? Are you still hungry? (said like a total sweet Mom)

Ben: That's be great.

Nadine: You better eat it all or you'll be back here doin' dishes."

And I'm telling you she wasn't kidding, and yes she did check to make sure Ben ate all of his second helping. And if the second helpings weren't enough to add to the familiy feel, there's a big "Happy Birthday" banner that hangs over the bar with a detachable end, where they stick the names of regulars when it's there birthday. It was Joe's birthday when we were there, and it was just one of those unique little things that you find at Triple D places that just makes them all the more awesome. 'Cuz that's really the thing about Triple D...it might not be hard to find good food, especially in a city like Pittsburgh, but it isn't all that easy to find a place that knows it's customers birthday's by heart and is willing to feed you until you're full. The unique twists are what make Triple D places great.

Here's some tips for you though if you're planning on visiting Na's in the Southside:

1. Be prepared to fight for parking and walk. There's always a ton of construction so parking is a bit of a pain in the ass.
2. If you don't like smoke, don't go. Nadine's is a bar after all and they still are a smoking establishment, so just be prepared.

3. Be ready for it to be packed (you'll get a table) but it is a bar and they'll take care of you like you're one of their own, but don't expect an intimate setting.

4. If you want to change the TV channel or adjust the volume, check with the guys at the bar and then go do it yourself.

5. Again! Don't judge a book by it's cover. I'm tellin' ya the place is awesome.

We've also tried a couple of their appetizers on our various trips. Their wings are alright, they aren't great. They aren't covered in sauce, you drizzle it on yourself so these aren't your stereotypical wings. We've also gotten their fried mac 'n cheese which is quite awesome, but a little pricey compared to the specials. Personally, I'd say just stick to the specials board and it'll be smooth sailing. The prices are insanely cheap and the food's awesome, you really couldn't ask for anything more.

Per usual here's the website so you can judge for yourselves:

http://www.nadinesbar.com/