Searching for a Grade A Burger

Everyday a new burger place seems to pop up.  For better or worse it is a quintessentially American comfort food.  Bad Daddy's Burger Bar, one of my favorite burger joints from Charlotte has recently expanded outside the Queen City to open up a Raleigh location.  After sampling so many fantastic burgers at great triangle establishments like Bun, Bull City Burgers, Draft, Mo Joe's, Chow, and most recently Ashley Christensen's gourmet Chuck's, I had to see how these burgers, and of course their French fried sidekicks, stacked up.  Since I'm rating the meat, I thought I'd see who truly deserves to have their burger called "Grade A."

Bun - Downtown Chapel Hill, great fries, and assortment of burger topping combos and a great homemade vegan veggie burger than hardly made me miss the meat.  Good fresh fries regular or sweet potato served with your choice of unique dipping sauces like curry mustard, thai sesame, or wasabi mayo. Grade B

Bull City Burgers - Downtown Durham.  The most exceptional part of this burger joint is the locally raised beef, homemade condiments, and local produce.  Not to mention the beers from the in-house brewery!  Great choice of burger toppings like caramelized onions and gruyere.  Family style picnic table seating promotes a communal vibe with other diners. Just hope you can find a spot to sit before your food emerges. This tongue in cheek decor makes proclamations on how many vegetarians they have converted. This is a great place to bring a guy on a date, I have to rave reviews.  My criticism is that they consistently overcook their burgers for my taste.  I ask for medium, and always seem to get medium-well to well done.
Grade B+

Mo Joe's -  Downtown Raleigh.  Despite burgers being the specialty at this burger spot, neither myself or my burger loving accomplice were impressed.  Burgers didn't strike me as fresh ground. I'm not a fan of crinkle cut fries, I like them fresh cut, I might have been better off ordering the house chips instead. Not terrible, but not remarkable either. I doubt I'll be back. Grade C

Chow -  North Raleigh off of Creedmore.  While I generally get the nachos here, the burgers are a highlight as well.  Just stick to the meat and avoid the black bean burger...it's just not the same and doesn't stick together particularly well. The turkey avocado burger is great, and they are willing to cook your burger on the rare side. The regular fries are decent, but the sweet potato fries here are where it's at, they're actually crispy...probably due to a double trip to the fryer. Grade B-

Draft - DELICIOUS burger. I had a double pattie with cheese and peppered bacon.  A group of my favorite burger obsessed guys raved about this place saying it was one of the best burgers they'd had ever had.  Great flavor combinations.  They do not make fresh fries here though...so I would recommend the homemade chips instead. I'm very sorry to say....I was devastated to hear that they closed their doors on New Years Day.  WHY???  Grade A

Bad Daddy's Burgers - Downtown Raleigh at Seaboard Station and Charlotte locations.  Great burgers for every taste with a wide range of  fabulous homemade sauces to choose from.  My favorite is the signature "Bad Daddy's Sauce" a creamy sweet and smoky sauce. Burgers from the fresh mozzarella, tomato and basil burger to my guy friend's burger of legend "the baconator" with six strips of two kinds of bacon, bacon salt, cheese, and bacon mayonaise.  It's a heart attack on a plate no doubt, but they will probably continue to order it until the day they keel over. Another treat for the bacon lover, Bad Daddy's has on offering a burger patty made out of a combination of ground beef and bacon for a smoky bacon-y flavor throughout every bite.  My recent burger at Bad Daddy's was yummy, but with a very soggy bottom bun.  It was probably the messiest burger I've ever had, it totally fell apart on me, but the flavors were good. The homemade fries are fantastic with the dipping sauces. Grade B+

Chuck's - James Beard award nominated local chef Ashley Christensen's contribution to the local burger scene.  Hand cut Belgian fries and a "comeback" sauce that has been most effective in luring my roommate to comeback rather frequently.  I wasn't super impressed with the sauces I had, just because they tend to be mayonnaise based, which is very European of them...but I'm not European and I'm not a fan. Chuck's boasts innovative and non-traditional toppings like beats or bacon onion jam. Diners can choose from a 8 ounce burger or smaller 5 ounce freshly ground 100% chuck patty seared on a flat top grill and served on a potato bun.  Even 5 ounce burgers are very thick. I hated getting bites of bun and condiments with no meat, but then I guess I should have ordered the 8 ounce. The milkshakes are worth a try, I don't LOVE the tiny little bits of ice in them, but the flavor is fantastic.  I had the Madagascar (Vanilla) malt milkshake and I couldn't stop grinning, it tasted like my childhood. Grade A

Ultimately, if Draft was still around it would get my vote hands down...but it's not and I'm trying not to dwell on it.  That being said, that makes Chucks the best burger I've had around. The great quality juicy beef patty with the perfect seasoning and sear stole the show.  My runner up would be Bad Daddy's, I can't get enough of their dipping sauces and great fries. The burger is delicious, and might have come out on top had it not been for the soggy bottom bun.  From an underfinced foodie perspective these burgers are pricy.  A burger at Chucks runs you $9 and didn't include fries. Ordering the smaller 5 ounce burger allowed me to eat a gourmet burger without the wallet guilt.  A signature burger at Bad Daddy's can run around $11 but comes with fries.  I do the build your own, which depending on what toppings you get, can offer a better value.

Burger and Fries from Big Daddy's Burger Bar

 5 ounce burger from Chuck's.



Belgian Fries From Chucks

Guglhupf Bakery and Brunch

A friend of mine made the drastic claim that Guglhupf Bakery and Cafe in Durham offers an even better brunch than La Farm Bakery in Cary.  Hmph...I found that difficult believe, but made a point to get over there and see how it lived up to the ringing endorsement.  My first impression did leave me admittedly impressed.  The decor and atmosphere of the two floor cafe with the beautiful outdoor patio section was considerably more appealing for guests dining in than La Farm's cramped little dining room.  I also appreciated that my food was served on legitimate plates with legit silverware (one of my few qualms with La Farm.)  The presentation was appealing and the service was good. But ultimately, it all comes down to the food.  Since Guglhupf is a German bakery, it seemed prudent to order one of the German specialties.  I ordered the Alsatian layered potato and cheese tart, which was quite good, but not as warm as I would have liked, and a little heavy on the pepper.  To provide a more evenhanded perspective I needed to test out the baked goods (that's my excuse anyway...) I bought a loaf of the Guglhupf signature house bread to go, a bag of the Guglhupf granola with almonds, and an almond croissant that never made it home.  The bread was very good, really a toss up with La Farm's bread. Despite my love of all things almond, the granola didn't win me over.  Strangely it's a little TOO sweet and salty, especially if used as a topping for fruit yogurt.  I'm highly partial to the honey sesame flavor of the La Farm granola.  As for the croissant, you can't beat the French there.  The croissant was good, but had a slight hint of rye flavor that I found didn't quite belong.  So the consenus?  If your going out with friends, Guglhupf provides a considerably nicer dining atmosphere, especially on a nice day.  However, my heart (and stomach) still ultimately belong to La Farm.  Vive la France!

Pumpkin Flavor All The Things!

    I was playing trivia recently, and was pleased as punch to hear a team was named "Pumpkin Flavor All The Things."  I couldn't agree more. My fall obsession with the pumpkin is now in full swing.  It always begins with a Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte, my personal harbinger of Autumn, and accelerates from there.  Before I know it I've bought up all the pumpkin delicacies that cross my path. Perhaps the irresistible draw of pumpkin goodies comes from the old McRib formula of only being available for a limited time. But then again...I'm never tempted to buy a McRib. Just when I thought I had maxed out on all the pumpkiny goodness, I saw the Trader Joe's October Fearless Flyer, or the "pumpkin issue," and was torn between feelings of elation and skepticism.  The obsession with all things pumpkin has clearly reached epic proportions. There were literally 21 pumpkin items listed!  Pumpkin Spice Ravioli? I don't know... Today I went to Dunkin Donuts to pick up treats for some students when I was confronted with, you guessed it, pumpkin doughnuts.  The pumpkins are taking over, so make smart choices readers.  To help you out, here are my favorite pumpkin goodies of the season:

6. The Cheesecake Factory's Pumpkin Cheesecake

5. Trader Joe's Pumpkin Pancake Mix
4. McCutcheon's Pumpkin Butter (Available at Whole Foods)
3. Big Boss Harvest Time Pumpkin Ale with Spices

2. Brueggers Pumpkin cream cheese

1. An autumnal classic...the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte

Chicken N' Waffles

At the urging of my friend Emily, I finally jumped on the chicken and waffles bandwagon and visited the popular Durham establishment Dame's Chicken and Waffles.  I was made a total chicken and waffle convert.  Delicious specialty waffles like sweet potato, blueberry, gingerbread or plain are topped with juicy flavorful chicken cutlets, drumsticks, or wings and paired with buttery spreads in a variety of flavors.  I tried the sweet potato waffle with a chicken cutlet, orange honeycomb spread and a honey Dijon drizzle (I was skeptical about that last part...but it works.) My taste buds were electrified.  Sides included some amazing mac and cheese, grits, collared greens with a kick, veggies, or a side salad.  While the food was sensational, patrons have to suffer through long waits and mediocre service (at best) from over-stretched waitresses struggling to balance seating guests, taking orders, helping out with who knows what in the kitchen, delivering food, refilling drinks (but mostly not,) and busing tables.  This place needs some bus boys and enough kitchen staff where they don't need the waitstaff to help out, especially on a busy Saturday night. After waiting an entire hour for a table for three, my friends and I were finally presented with a table.  Some time later our food came out, which we stared at longingly for a torturous five minutes before we could flag down a waitress to bring out some silverware.  I was feeling hungry and grumpy until I finally tried the food. Wow...it definitely turned my frown upside down. The chicken was well seasoned and juicy and provided the perfect savory complement to the sweetness of the waffle. Despite the intense frustration, I'll probably be back.  This time however, I'll keep trying even after the first three phone calls to make a reservation go unanswered.

          

Gearing Up for Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week

With Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week starting on Monday, August 20th  it's time to check out the venues and see who is offering the best deals!  For those of you who may be unfamiliar with Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week, it's the perfect occasion to pull out that twenty or thirty dollars you may have been squirreling away (plus tip of course...) in order to sample some of the finer dining options available downtown.  Participating restaurants each offer a $20 or $30 three course pre-fixe dinner while providing the diner with options from a few select choices, and often (depending on the location) the ability to tack on a $10 wine or beer pairing.  This year some restaurants are even offering a $15 appetizer sampling if you want to save some more dough and eat tapas style. So no this is not a particularly affordable evening for those of us on a fixed income, however it can provide the opportunity to patronize an establishment that might otherwise be well out of budget.  So if for once a year you can throw your foodie finances (slightly) to the wind and indulge in not only a nice restaurant, but also in an appetizer and dessert, then this is the week to do it!

So without further adieu, here are the participating restaurants offering a $20 pre-fixe dinner, the menu choices they are offering and my humble opinion as to whether they are offering a deal worth indulging in. So yes in other words...I've done the leg work for you...you're welcome.
Ahem...

$20 Dining Options

Restaurant: 518 West
Type of Food: Italian           
Menu Selections:  
     1st course-  Gazpacho, House or Ceasar salad
     2nd course-  Shrimp Risotto, Chicken Marsala, Beet Pesto Spaghetti
     3rd course-  Tiramisu, Creme Brulee, Brownie Sundae      
Wine/Beer Pairing Availability: Nope
Value: I love 518 West... Appetizers like soup or salad typically run about $4.50, entrees around $15 and desserts around $5.50.  So the restaurant week deal is kinda like getting a free salad or dessert.

Restaurant:Beasley's Chicken and Honey
Type of Food: Uh...chicken           
Menu Selections:  
     1st course-  Salad 
     2nd course-  Fried chicken and two sides
     3rd course-   Un-identified featured dessert           
Wine/Beer Pairing Availability: Nada
Value: The chicken and two sides would ordinarily run you $14.50 and a dessert would cost $5.75. Making this savings the equivalent of a free salad and 25 cents off your dessert.  I've heard they ordinarily overcharge here for what you get, but this is one of three time James Beard Award nominee Ashley Christensen's restaurants, so it certainly can't be half bad.

Restaurant: The Big Easy
Type of Food: Cajun and Creole (although a certain Cajun friend of mine might well disagree on this point...)            
Menu Selections: No se....hopefully they will get that posted.     
Wine/Beer Pairing Availability: No...but there is a $15 appetizer sampler menu here.
Value: I went here last year for Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week and felt like the deal wasn't that much better than just ordering what you want off the menu.

Restaurant: Cafe Luna
Type of Food: Italian           
Menu Selections: 
     1st course- Choice of 3 salads     
     2nd course- Choice of pumpkin ravioli, linguini with pesto, chicken scaloppini, or beef tenderloin.
     3rd course-  Gelato or cheesecake              
Wine/Beer Pairing Availability: No...but discounted wine is available with the purchase of two pre-fixe dinners.
Value: Depends on what you order.  A salad runs about $4 and an entree runs about $14, so the deal is like getting a discounted dessert.

Restaurant: Gravy
Type of Food: Italian           
Menu Selections:
     1st course-  Salad, risotto cakes or bruschetta.   
     2nd course- Lasagna, eggplant pie, chicken Parmesan, gnocchi, pasta primavera, or whole wheat penne with grilled chicken.
     3rd course-  Flourless chocolate cake, panna cotta, or cannoli.            
Wine/Beer Pairing Availability: Nope
Value: Gravy is d'lish. I knew it had to be the real deal since my favorite Italian has always called tomato sauce gravy. With the deal this is like saving about 50 cents and a free dessert.

Restaurant: La Volta
Type of Food: Italian          
Menu Selections: 
     1st course- Eggplant Rollatini, Bruschetta, or Mozzarella Caprese Salad    
     2nd course- Veg. Lasagne, Penne with sasauge and peppers, Fettucini Alfredo with chicken,Spaghetti Bolognese, or bow tie pasta with salmon in pink sauce.
     3rd course-  A homemade mystery dessert    
Wine/Beer Pairing Availability: No...but appetizer sampler menu yes.
Value: I've never been here, but I love eggplant rollatini, so I may have to go...  An appetizer here would ordinarily run around $7, one of the pasta dishes would cost around $14 dollars. So you're already saving around a buck even before you get the free dessert.

Restaurant: Five Star
Type of Food:  Asian         
Menu Selections:
     1st course-  Spicy shrimp, chicken lettuce wraps, or Korean ribs 
     2nd course- "Five Star General's" Chicken, Crispy Sesame Beef,
Teriyaki Beef Tenderloin
with mashed potatoes and sauteed vegetables, Ginger Scallion Shrimp,Szechuan Tofu & Vegetables
     3rd course-  Chocolate cake, or fresh fruit and cream.      
Wine/Beer Pairing Availability: No, but there is an appetizer sampler menu.
Value: One of these appetizers here will cost around $8, an entree here runs about $12 and up depending on what you order. It's like getting a free dessert, with the added bonus of being able to order a couple options not available on the regular menu.


Restaurant: Irregardless Cafe
Type of Food: Americana           
Menu Selections:
     1st course-  Middle Eastern platter, salad, or a cup of soup.
     2nd course- Thai green curry or roasted eggplant risotto (my boss has raved about this dish.)
For $30 upgrade to a meat entree: pan roasted salmon, roast chicken, or beef brisket.
     3rd course-  Key lime pie, vegan chocolate cake, or flour-less brownie.
Wine/Beer Pairing Availability: YES!
Value:  Irregardless offers both a $20 and a $30 pre-fixe menu. So that you can be good, or oh so bad.
The value is essentially like getting a free dessert. 
Restaurant: Tuscan Blu
Type of Food:  Italian          
Menu Selections:
     1st course-  Lobster Ravioli (1 peice, so this is more of an amuse bouche than a course.)   
     2nd course- House salad
     3rd course- Choice of lasagna, angel hair primavera, or baked red snapper.
      Dessert- Cheesecake     
Wine/Beer Pairing Availability: Yes.
Value: Tuscan Blu also offers the choice of a $20 or $30 pre-fixe menu.  Ordering the $20 menu is like getting a free amuse bouche and a free dessert. Totally different options available for the $30 menu. This deal equates to getting a free salad. Or if you choose the porterhouse steak option the price bumps up to $35. This is out of my price range so...yeah, let me know how it is.

Restaurant: Sitti
Type of Food: Mediterranean and Lebanese           
Menu Selections:  All a mystery at this point...
     1st course-      
     2nd course- 
     3rd course-             
Wine/Beer Pairing Availability: No...
Value: Not knowing what they are serving, I can't say.  I do remember last year's menu looking really yummy.

Restaurant: The Rockford
Type of Food:  Generally this place is known for sandwiches          
Menu Selections:
     1st course-  Salad, crab cake, or prosciutto wrapped shrimp   
     2nd course- ABC signature sandwich, pan- seared salmon salad, bacon burger, NC Tilefish ( I have no idea what that is...) and filet mignon! Yes, you read correctly.
     3rd course-  Cheesecake or personal Oreo or Boston creme pie cake.     
Wine/Beer Pairing Availability: Yes!
Value: Obviously, this depends considerably on what you order... this could alternately come out about even to what you might regularly spend or be a real deal. It's a great chance to try some non-sandwich menu additions.
                       
Restaurant: The Pit
Type of Food:  Barbecue ya'll  (I can't say that in real life, but a Yankee girl can type it right?)           
Menu Selections:
     1st course-   Grilled focaccia, pimento deviled eggs, or smoked chicken salad.
     2nd course- Mushroom and sausage stuffed pork chop or Barbecue chicken.
     3rd course- Peach and raspberry cobbler or banana pudding.       
Wine/Beer Pairing Availability: Nada
Value:  Great eastern style barbecue here...why isn't it on the menu? Like getting a free $7 dessert.
 
Restaurant: Market
Type of Food: Local and seasonal           
Menu Selections:  Still under wraps!
     1st course-     
     2nd course- 
     3rd course-           
Wine/Beer Pairing Availability: Yes!
Value: Market is a great place, I love the local farm fresh meats and veggies.  Not sure what kind of value this menu will present, but I bet it will be pretty good.

Restaurant: Jibarra
Type of Food:  Modern Mexican          
Menu Selections:
     1st course-  Ham wrapped asparagus or jicama taco.   
     2nd course- Pasta in pumpkin seed sauce with choice of shrimp or vegetables.
     3rd course-  Arroz con leche or peach empanada      
Wine/Beer Pairing Availability: No
Value: Not sure why a pasta dish is the only entree available at a Mexican restaurant...I haven't seen these items on the regular menu, so I'm not sure of the value.  Entrees here are generally pretty pricey though.

A few $30 menu highlights...
Restaurant: Zely and Ritz
Type of Food:  Eclectic local American
Menu Selections: No word yet
     1st course-     
     2nd course- 
     3rd course-           
Wine/Beer Pairing Availability: No
Value: I've wanted to try this place for quite awhile since I'm a big fan of local sustainable food.  However, the prices have been prohibitive.  A regular tasting menu at Zely and Ritz is $32.50. I don't know what it includes, but this price is fairly comparable to that.


Restaurant: Buku
Type of Food: Global street food inspired cuisine           
Menu Selections:
     1st course-  Berry salad, spicy potato cake, or African peanut stew.
     2nd course- Adobo pork tenderloin, Duck breast and duck confit with gnocchi, Vietnamese rice noodles with seared tofu.
     3rd course-  Sweet blueberry and cream cheese egg roll or a Saffron and Pistachio Kulfi frozen Indian custard.         
Wine/Beer Pairing Availability:
Value: Oh my lord these menu choices sound amazing...I may be rooting through the couch cushions to try to hit up this one. This place is ordinarily pricey, but also delicious. I had a fun date night here, so I have positive associations with this place anyway. Whether this is a good value depends on whether the 2nd course is made up or small or large plates...I'm assuming large or it's no deal. If the 2nd course is a large plate, than this is essentially the equivalent of a free dessert.


I may add more of the $30 menus later on...but this is the Underfinanced Foodie after all....so $30 plates aren't exactly within my price range and therefore just make me a little envious.

Be sure to let me know where you wind up going and how it was!

The Sushi-lympics

I used to hate sushi, the rice vinegar, the raw fish, I just didn't get the appeal. Then, I went to Japan... In Japan the appeal of sushi suddenly made sense,and my early courtship with sushi began. Back in the States I felt like the sushi didn't match up. The fish wasn't as fresh or sliced as finely. However as of late, with an abundance of sushi restaurants in the Raleigh area, I've sought out the best sushi around. In honor of the Summer Olympics I've tested four local contenders against the criterion of taste, freshness, presentation, roll selection, and service, in an effort to determine the best.

Shiki Sushi (Durham) :

Pros- A massive selection of interesting and inventive rolls.  Delicious, large and filling, and perhaps most importantly...buy one get one free for most of the rolls. Once again, plan on sharing a plate with your dining companion, but if you are with a group you can even order a wooden boat full of rolls, how cool is that!?

Cons- The prices of individual rolls are pretty expensive, if it wasn't buy one get one free it wouldn't be any deal. That being said, watch out, they will charge you for the most expensive rolls ordered by your whole party, and take off the least expensive rolls ordered. So make sure to order rolls that are fairly comparable in price with those of the rest of your group, or try separating checks and orders beforehand and see if that will work for you.

Try the Sear-Sea roll, the Florida roll and the Caribbean roll! Each pictured below.

Mura (North Raleigh) :
Pros- Beautiful presentation of rolls, and good quality yummy tasting sushi served up in a classy modern atmosphere.
Cons- The price makes Mura only possible for a special night out, or when someone else is footing the bill. I suffered through what could have been an insufferable date here at Mura with a guy who argued with me about politics, but the food made it totally worth it. You had better make some advance reservations, because this place is popular. Parking can also be a b*tch.

Sono (Downtown Raleigh):

Pros - Nice presentation, as long as you don't mind sharing your rolls with your date. (This might bother me if I didn't have an even greater desire to try their rolls than to hoard my own.) Pleasant atmosphere and some WONDERFUL service.  (I went on a date here with a guy held up in traffic for 30 minutes so I really spent some quality time with the wait staff.) Free valet parking (of course there really is no such thing as free when you have to tip them, but it can still be cheaper than paying for parking in a lot downtown.)

Cons- Once again the prices are steep.

Sushi Blues (Downtown Raleigh):  
Pros-Some good vegetarian roll selections and the daily buy a roll get a roll free deal can be a great value for your sushi buck.
Cons- The presentation isn't always great, and the quality and flavor isn't as good as elsewhere.


Taking into account the various factors, and that overall I just can't get tuna or salmon as fresh as would be ideal here in Raleigh...my vote is for Shiki Sushi as the go to.  However, don't hesitate to pass up on Mura or Sono for a special occasion.

The Vegetarian Experiment

For almost three months now I've been undertaking a new foodie lifestyle. Ever since reading Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin, I've made the effort to cut out the meat. This has been difficult not just because I love meat, but because I hate tofu. My vegetarian experiment has been less the result of a desire not to consume the flesh of animals and more out of a desire not to ingest the hormones and antibiotics that animals are treated with, and a concern about the conditions wherein these animals are raised. I am open to eating hormone and antibiotic free, free range meats, but because of my tight purse strings I can rarely afford to do so. Therefore, I've spent the last three months finding the best delicious and affordable vegetarian products and options at local restaurants. Bonus! Vegetarian entrees often cost less than meat based entrees, and cutting the meat out of your grocery bill can save you some dough. Some Triangle area restaurants with a great veg selection:

The Borough - Sandwiches and Salads (try their spicy ranch dressing on...well anything!)

Neomonde - Middle Eastern

Aladdin's Eatery - Middle Eastern with a HUGE (like overwhelmingly so..) menu of affordable   healthyoptions.

Unaabi Afghan Cafe - Some great veggie options, who knew?

The Remedy Diner - Large selection of vegan items and some great cocktails to boot! Though they have  items for your carnivorous friends I don't particularly recommend some of them. Seasoning chicken doesn't appear to be their strong suit, but hey, they clearly cater to a largely vegetarian clientel.

Peace China ----Good veg. items, although they have VERY few veg. selections on their lunch special
 menu, something I take issue with. My friends rave about their tofu, but honestly it still tastes like a   sponge to me so I go plain Jane and just get vegetable entrees.

Sunflowers Sandwich Shop - Exactly as it sounds. Good veggie sandwiches, but a bit pricy for sitting in a revamped fast food joint, and they could stand to make their own potato chips... The dinner menu sounds good, but the prices are not frugal foodie friendly.

The Rockford - Fresh sandwiches, quesadillas, a burrito, and salads made with care and served in a hidden hole in the wall with a cute atmosphere.

Bun - Burger place on Franklin St. in Chapel Hill. Has a great homemade vegan veggie burger.

Veggie Items I'm obsessed with right now:

1. Morningstar Farms "Sausage" Patties-- I'm not a big fan of meat replacements but with these you'll never miss the real thing! The taste and even the texture is pure pork minus all the grease, fat and calories. Throw one on a biscuit with some egg or crumble one up in an egg omelet.

2. Dr. Praeger's California Veggie Burgers-- Don't expect the same texture of a beef burger, but these patties are chock full of vegetables and have a great flavor.

3. Silk Original Soy Milk-- I haven't given up dairy, but I finally got around to trying out Soy Milk, and it's surprisingly yummy.

4. Veggie Sushi Rolls-- Vegetarian and delicious! (Try the crunchy veggie roll at Sushi Blues!)

5. Falafels--Middle Eastern food can be a vegetarian's best friend! Delicious vegetarian salads, dips, wraps, and protein rich chickpea based items like falafels and hummus provide delicious sources of protein minus the meat. For a late night veggie treat, hit up the Pita Pit!

6. Hummus-- Neomonde makes the best!

8. Pesto-- My perennial favorite anyway, besides being delicious, vegetarians can get a dose of protein from the pine nuts. For a cheaper alternative substitute walnuts for pine nuts. Basil is in season now so make up a bunch of pesto now and freeze servings in ice cube trays for later.

9. Giada De Laurentiis products at Target-- I'm particularly enamored with her Vegetable Marinara.  It's packed with carrots, peppers, onions and garlic.  The flavor surprisingly robust to come from a jar, and the price is great. Frugal foodies rejoice!