Sometimes you just NEED a burger!

Maybe you've had a bad day, maybe you're starving and you only have $6 in your checking account until payday, maybe you had to go to the doctor and get blood taken and for the first time in 28 years you didn't cry or pass out... Some situation in your life warrants a good 'ol burger.

OK so I was totally just making excuses to eat such a lunch today.
I don't care what anybody says, Milo's is the bomb, yo! From the always crispy fries to the sauce and the piece of mystery meat tucked into the middle of your burger. There is nothing about Milo's that I don't love!

Don't get me started on those pies! Apple, lemon, peach - they're all delicious.

Oh, and the tea! Ohh the sweet tea! Now I've had better tea in my lifetime, usually the best comes from my own kitchen, but there's some kind of tea crack they put in Milo's Sweet Tea. Something that keeps you coming back for more and more until you realize you've drank a whole gallon within a day - oops. Here in Alabama, it ain't a family gatherin' unless you have a jug of Milo's around..

Once in high school, we spent Spring Break in Panama City Beach, Florida. While at the grocery store stocking the fridge for our first week of independent beach-going, we were absolutely appalled and outraged that there was no Milo's Tea in sight at the grocery store. It was a shame! This was not the age of smart phones and wide-spread internet access so it wasn't until I got back to Birmingham until I learned that we were the only ones privileged enough to enjoy this tea crack.

It's my understanding that not everybody enjoys Milo's. I just don't see how this is possible. As far as fast food goes.. Everybody goes to Milo's!

SoWnd tHe AlArm SpiCee ChiKin iZ HeEr

Chick-fil-a has introduced a new Spicy Chicken Sandwich that pretty much blows their regular chicken sandwich out of the coop! (get it, chicken, coop..)

Me and Chick-fil-a ended our friendship about two years ago when I started my current position downtown. I was told there was all this yummy food around within walking distance but when I stepped out of my 30-story building all I saw was Chick-fil-a, so all I ate was Chick-fil-a for a long time. Eventually I grew tired of their menu and to this day I generally stick to their side salads because their salad dressings are bomb!

I like to imagine the spicy chicken sandwich with boots, a hat, and gun holster walking through the double doors of a saloon bustin' up a game of chicken nugget poker (queue the music). He's here to kick that regular chicken sandwich's ass and take names! You know what? He does! The spicy chicken sandwich is GOOD! It has the flavor and heat of a mild hot wing.. paired with some ranch sauce or some blue cheese dressing you have yourself a hot wang sandwich!

You can get the sandwich in two different meals, one is plain (like the original) with just a pickle, or you can get a deluxe with lettuce, tomato, pickle, and pepperjack cheese! Both meals come with your standard waffle fries and a drink. I opted for the side salad because I wanted blue cheese dressing to put on my sandwich!

The sandwich is good, but not something I would go back for, unless I had a huge craving. If you're a fan of the original Chick-fil-a chicken sandwich and desire a little kick, go get you one!

Tuscaloosa Roll from Ichiban in Tuscaloosa, AL

Hands down the best sushi roll I have had in sooo long!

One night a couple of months ago the boy (pictured with his tuna roll) and I go to dinner at an unsuspecting hole in the wall place in Tuscaloosa. The parking lot was dark and I was seriously straight up scared to eat here! I kept telling him that I would rather have Taco Casa, but he assured me this would be good.

GOOD! This place was THE BOMB!
I'm a complete sucker for any sushi roll that contains the words "fried" and "cream cheese" in the description! Usually they're all the same (with the exception of the Kaboom Maki at Surin - but that deserves a separate post!) but this was different, this sushi contained sushi crack! It was the perfect combination of warm and crispy from the shrimp and cool and cream from the cream cheese.
I to this day crave this roll.
I've tried several varieties of the cream cheesy fried shrimp rolls around Birmingham trying to satisfy this craving for a roll that resides 40 miles away in Tuscaloosa but nothing has come close.
I dream about eating this roll again.
I CRAAAAVE IT !!

Sushi crack, you win, I'm officially hooked. Now let me go find a 12-step program for sushi roll addicts.

Welcome back/show the turkey burger some love!

My poor little neglected food blog :( I promise I will try to spread the word on my delicious adventures more often - 'specially since I've learned how to manage this thing through my BlackBerry aka my right arm :P

My latest obsession/adventure are these delicious little turkey minis I've been making at home! Mmmmm!! I mixed some Italian bread crumbs, garlic, salt and pepper into some ground turkey and threw it into a hot skillet with some olive oil. Meanwhile I took these yummy little potato rolls that my local grocery store makes in their bakery and toasted them up in the toaster oven. I found these awesome Kraft singles deluxe in a three-cheese garlic flavor and I melted some of that over the burgers.. Flipped them into the toasted roll and topped with bread and butter pickle chips and ketchup!
Mmmmmmm !!
Yummy yummy there's a party in my tummy!!

This is such an easy, quick, and delicious meal to make for yourself! I've been eating these nonstop for two weeks it seems!
Sent by the SVP of The Finer Things Club (West Jefferson Chapter)

Zaza Trattoria

Working in downtown Birmingham certainly has it's advantages and disadvantages when it comes to dining out for lunch. You can either walk two blocks to your car, leave, and hope you can come back within your designated time. Or you can settle for something in the food court or within walking distance.. which you tire of very quickly (with the exception of Zoe's kitchen - if I had an infinite amount of money to spend on lunches every day I would eat at Zoe's.. and if I had an infinite amount of calories to consume I would finish every meal off with a piece of chocolate cake.. oh I love Zoe's).

When I came across a new place opening on 20th St N while reading al.com one day I knew I had to go, I mean, I was pratically drooling over the article!

The next day a couple of co-workers and myself walked there for lunch. The place was packed, standing room only. Smelled AMAZING !! We stood in a line that wrapped around the eatery while we saw some of the most delicious looking food coming out from behind the counter. I could not make up my mind what I wanted, I kept seeing pasta dishes and salads and soups, I wanted to climb over a table and steel a woman's fork, but I knew better since I was wearing a dress. Our turn to order came and I took one look at the pizza piled with colorful vegetables and pancetta. I don't even like squash or zucchini but I knew pancetta when I saw it being the avid Food Network viewer and pork lover that I am. I ordered one piece and a side salad.

This was hands down the best fancy pizza I have ever had in my life. The crust was crispy and airy and flavorful and thin in some places, thick in others.. the sauce was awesome lightly coated the crust just enough for the toppings to stick.. vegetables cooked to perfection, neither dry nor soggy, perfect.. and while I've never actually eaten pacetta I've got to say that this was a pretty good first experience. The side salad was great! I love dark greens, or as some people call them "yard clippings" it was drizzled with a homemade vinaigrette that was incredibly flavorful yet very light feeling.

I recommend that you visit Zaza Trattoria and try something, anything from this place. They get a 10 out of 5 in my book, I can't wait to go back!

Welcome!!

Finally a place where I can talk about my love of both food, and photography! Though my recent food photos are more about "this looks so good I have to take a picture of it" than quality photography!
What you can expect here are camera phone photos of various meals I deem worthy of text and what I have to say about them. Of course this is subject to change, I'm oh so new at this... I hope to also review various meals and the restaurants that are lucky enough to have me grace them with my presence. Stay tuned for some good home cooked meals, themed dinner nights with my friends, and sweet recipes !!

Welcome to Andi's Appetite !! I hope this will be fun !!

(Pictured is the best meal I've had lately.. from my most favorite restaurant in the world The Original Oyster House in Gulf Shores, Alabama mmmmm!!)