Make mine a cheeeeeseburger ...

Most of our blog group, including a special guest from Howell, got together last night for the third throw down competition! Each couple purchased two plain cheese burgers, cooked medium, from a local restaurant.

The cheeseburgers came from:
Center Stage Restaurant and Lounge
1785 West State Road
Lansing, Michigan 48906
517-482-2280

Edmund’s Pastime
101 Washington Square South
Lansing, Michigan 48933
517-371-8700

Harry’s Place
404 North Verlinden Avenue
Lansing, Michigan 48915
517-484-9661 

Piazzano’s Restaurant
1825 North Grand River Avenue
Lansing, Michigan 48906
517-484-0150

The cheeseburgers were judged on appearance, taste, cheese, and if the burger was cooked medium. The highest score for each category was 5, the total score an individual taster could give was 20. With 8 tasters, the most points a restaurant could receive was 160. At the end of the night the winner, with a score of 114, was Piazzano’s!

Scores:
Piazzano’s = 114
Edmund’s = 105
Center Stage = 102
Harry’s = 98

The next time Scott and I head to Piazzano’s (and yes, we go there A LOT), I’ll be having a cheeseburger!

Ribs, ribs, ribs!

Our blog group, including a couple of guests, got together for a rib throw down earlier this week. The idea was for each couple to purchase a rack of ribs and a side from area restaurants. The hosts for the evening created score cards, came up with basic rules for the evening (the most important was not revealing where the ribs came from until after the voting) and then the rib fest began.

The five area restaurants were:
Cowboy's Southern BBQ
6283 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
517.648.8237

Gregory's Ice and Smoke
2510 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
517.323.7122

Harry's Place
404 N. Verlinden Ave.
517.484.9661

King of the Grill
4400 N. Grand River Ave.
517.323.3096

Meat - Southern B.B.Q. and Carnivore Cuisine
1224 Turner St.
517.580.4400


The ribs were judged on appearance, tenderness, sauce, and overall flavor. The highest score for each category was 5, the total score an individual taster could give each rib was 20. With 11 tasters, the most points a restaurant could receive was 220. At the end of the night the winner, with a score of 184.5, was Harry's Place!

Ribs from Harry's Place.

Scores:
Harry's = 184.5
Cowboy's = 171.5
Meat = 158
King of the Grill = 155
Gregory's = 151

We also tried sides from each restaurant, but due to an allergy, I was unable to partake in all of the offerings. So I am hoping one of my cohorts will share what the sides were for each restaurant and which one won.

All I know is that this girl is looking forward to Wednesday night ribs at Harry's Place!

Taco's E Mas

Taco's E Mas

801 W. Thomas L Parkway

Lansing, Michigan

http://www.tacosemas.com

After a fun day visiting a few of our favorite places in and around Lansing we found ourselves on the westside, hungry and tired. I remembered reading about a new Mexican food restaurant opening (just north of Saginaw, a little west of Waverly, behind the Tuffy and Midas muffler shops). On our way home we stopped at Taco’s E Mas for take out (dine in is an option and they deliver). Scott and I ordered their tacos, beef and chicken with a side of refried beans. Delish! The salsa, while not spicy (we did get the mild), was fresh and the tacos were so very good and stuffed with chicken/beef, lettuce, tomatoes and cheese! The refried beans were yummy, too. We will definitely being going back and soon!