West Crust Pizza: Lubbock

It's no wonder the Food Network Magazine named this place one of the best pizza places in Texas--it's delicious! I have heard of this place and have passed it as I went down 82nd but never ventured inside. I decided to finally try it. 

A cute, quaint, clean pizza shop with down-to-earth decor--it's definitely a place to check out on 82nd. It's in a shopping center and you may see other eateries in the area, as across the street you see Funky Door. But if you're in the mood for a cool, chill place to take a friend or to even go to on a casual date, I definitely recommend it. The surfboard-adorned ceilings match the "chill" California-feel this place tried to capture. It reminds me of California Pizza Kitchen. Ordering was simple, they have their signatures like pizzas such as The Beast (a meat-lovers dream) or Veggiepotomus (a vegetable-laden pizza if you could imagine) but I decided to try the Hill Country. Along with this, I also ordered the spinach-dip which also comes with more bread. The soda fountain machine has a very interesting collection of soda as they are made with pure cane sugar. It seemed like an environmentally-conscious establishment as cups and straws were also compostable.  

The Hill Country was the pizza mentioned on the Food Network Magazine and the toppings sounded interesting: glazed pecans, red onion, feta, mozzarella, turkey bacon with olive oil ($15.95). I wish I could have remembered to take a picture of this thing but it was simply amazing. I'm always a bit dubious about thin crust because some places it seems that there is a crunchy mess but here, the bread had a very nice bite of crunchy and soft, and the toppings created a mouth heaven of different textures! The sweetness of the glazed pecans complemented the saltiness and slightly crunchy texture of the turkey bacon. The feta cheese added the creaminess one enjoys on pizza, and it still felt very light. It was definitely a two-thumbs up!

Prices range from $12-$18.95 but I would check their website for a most updated menu. They also offer a gluten-free crust if that's your preference. 

Would I go back--yes! Great environment and delicious food.

Information:

West Crust Pizza

6012 82nd Street, Suite A

Lubbock, TX 79424

806-771-WEST (9378)

http://www.westcrust.com/

The Cakery: Lubbock

This review is only based on the sweet treats they have available for the day. This cute little bakery in Lubbock, TX has cupcake, brownies, and cookies but their main attraction are their wedding and specialty cakes. Prices start at $35 (for an 8-inch square cake), but they have different prices and customizations. More information is available on their website.

I tried the Snickerdoodle ($2.00) and chocolate brownie they had available ($2.50). They packed my treats in a little box. The cupcake was nicely decorated, with a creamy white topping crusted with cinnamon sugar, and a little dollop of extra frosting. The icing was perfectly textured, but excessively sweet. However, the cupcake was lightly sweetened and complemented well with the icing. It was not difficult to devour this cupcake, because the texture was just so moist and I very much enjoyed the flavor of the cake. I did have to remove some of the frosting. I've tried other cupcakes before, and I think I just prefer a sweetness that is not too overpowering for the cupcake. Moving on, I starting with a few bites of the brownie.

The brownie had an interesting texture, slightly chewy, slightly tough. It wasn't as sweet, which I appreciated, but I didn't particularly find it amazing as it resembled a Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Brownie which I love, but I expected something a little better from a bakery dedicated to cakes and desserts.

The staff was friendly, the location is accessible and the the interior is very chic. There are cute decor of a mix of elegance and contemporary design. I think it would be a great little cafe as well because of the treats and if they had coffee or other types of drinks.

They seemed very flexible and willing to try any combination in terms of baking cakes. If an occasion were to arise, I would probably opt in ordering a cake from here and possibly noting a slightly less sweet frosting.

I'd be curious to try their other flavors.

The Cakery

6301 82nd Street

Lubbock, TX

806-783-9091

http://www.cakerylubbock.com/index.html

The Bistro: Lubbock

I am reviewing The Bistro cafe in Lubbock, TX. If you happen to pass by the area, which is pretty much of a stretch outside of town, located near 98th and Slide, have a look and stop by this newly opened bistro-type cafe. The location is in the Firstbank Centre and is very clean, with good parking and a relatively calm location. I can't say the view is amazing, but the location is far from the chaos of college-student ridden restaurants, but still accessible enough to not feel too insecure about entering.

Entering and looking around, you see a wide range of people. A lot of people were in suits, some in casual-wear--it seemed pretty diverse and not too intimidating. There are a few businesses around it seems like a good place to have lunch. The menu is simple, with signature salads and sandwiches listed on the wall, as well as a coffee/drink selection. They have some desserts on display which looked delicious--ranging from Boston cream pie, chocolate croissants, brownies, muffins, cookies, and other sweet delectable delights. They also had some buns that they said were stuffed with ground beef, potatoes, jalapenos and other items. The staff seemed very friendly and attentive, and were willing to answer the questions I had. They had an online ordering system which is pretty convenient if you're on the go and need to pick something up fairly quickly.

After pondering for the longest time of what to order, I decided to order the Veggie sandwich ($5.99), a tall chai tea latte ($3.55), a beef bistro bun to go ($2.49), and a chocolate chip pecan cookie ($1.49) to go as well. Everything seemed very organized and clean, great for small and medium-sized groups. There were also sandwich/salad cards on the side in case you wanted to customize a sandwich.

I sat down, and after I heard my name called, a kind gentleman delivered my sandwich. It was nicely presented, and it came with a pickle.

The menu claimed the following: whole wheat ciabatta, tomato pesto, spinach, Boston Bibb, roasted red peppers, portabello mushrooms, cucumbers, caramelized onions, avocado, alfalfa sprouts.

The sandwich was delicious, however, I do not recall the whole wheat ciabatta (it seemed like regular white ciabatta), there were no portabello mushrooms or alfalfa sprouts. They had regular button mushrooms which were still fine, but I probably would have been apprehensive about ordering the sandwich. I was looking forward to how the alfalfa sprouts would have tasted, along with the portabello mushroom's meaty taste. Nonetheless, the sandwich was very delicious, with the blend of flavors complementing each other. It felt very fresh, the ingredients perfectly crunchy and creamy. The tomato pesto added a perfect amount of saltiness to the sandwich so it wasn't too bland.

The chai latte was fine, it wasn't anything too particularly excited as I feel it was just from a mix and nothing too extraordinary. Though I wish I could have tasted the coffee to see if I could taste what was boasted on the website in terms of using reverse-osmosis water. Lastly, I had a bit of the chocolate chip pecan cookie. It sounded a lot better than what it tasted. It was too crumbly and just fell apart. It was particularly dry, and I think it could have been too overbaked or not enough moisture was added (I'd recommend adding more brown sugar, and maybe some eggs). I think I'll try the chocolate croissant next time. I have yet to try the bun, but will update this as soon as I try it.

The seating, chairs, and arrangement was very organized and clean-looking. There was a low level of conversation, not too cumbersome, however, I think it would have been nice to have low level music that fit the location (some French/Contemporary music with low levels of jazz would have been nice). It felt too quiet.

There were a lot more things that I would try on the menu and things are very reasonably priced. I would recommend this place to others as it has a nice, relaxed environment, nice workers, and fresh food.

Information:

The Bistro

9816 Slide Road

Lubbock, TX

806-368-7740

http://thebistrolubbock.com/

Belvita Breakfast Biscuits: Apple Cinnamon

Belvita are a new type of breakfast biscuits recommended for nutritious sustained energy. On the website, it claims that they had a particular baking process which enables a slow release of the carbohydrates of the product into the body. The packaging claims there are 20g of whole grains per serving, with four biscuits enclosed that compose this serving. I thought it was interesting that they were offering biscuits for breakfast because initially in the United States, this would be considered a cookie. I am perhaps assuming that they are trying to make it similar to the British 'biscuit' idea which is a way to get more consumer appeal as it has a European-edge, per se.

At first glance the grainy appearance reminds me of Metamucil Apple/Cinammon fiber cookies, however, these are more textured and provide more of a crisp. The edges are lightly toasted, and it’s shape and thinness make for easy consumption. Before I take the first bite, I'm hope this sustains my energy throughout the busy workday. Nothing is worse than feeling hungry about a few hours later, and wishing you had eaten a more sustainable breakfast.

I start eating. The taste is delicious--slightly sweeter than I expected. It makes me want to grab some milk, which I also brought as it was mentioned that this should be consumed with a complete recommended breakfast of dairy and a fruit (banana, in this case). I’ve consumed two so far, and I’m very thirsty. It dries the palate which pushes me to drink more of my drink. I enjoy the taste of the biscuit, nonetheless. . I appreciated the subtle apple and cinnamon flavor. The packaging is fun and vibrant, with yellow and orange tints, and the packaging easily fit in my purse. It’s a good way to start the day when in a hurry. After finishing all four biscuits, I am satisfied.

By the fourth hour, I am getting a little hungry but am amazed as to how long my hunger had been sustained by these simple biscuits. Overall, I am quite satisfied with the product as it was quite enjoyable to consume however, I would preferred a less grainy texture. I can see this developing into other breakfast products with a similar idea of portability and sustained energy. This may attract more of an adult crowd, but with more innovative flavors, I can see this appealing to a younger crowd as well. It's a fun snack with a fun name. I would recommend this product.

Welcome!

Welcome to a blog dedicated to food products and restaurant reviews. It's exciting to see new food products that hit the shelves, and as a person who specialized in food science and nutrition in college, it's particularly exciting to see and try to understand the innovative process of creating these new treats.

With the rise of LivingSocial or Groupon coupons for new restaurants, I think it's a perfect opportunity to try new places and comment about them. Some places I have deeply enjoyed and have returned countless times. It's always a great experience and I have enjoyed partaking in this mini food adventures. Here I will be posting new products and restaurants I have tried. I know there are many blogs out there for that, but these are just a few of my personal experiences that may be helpful for others.

Enjoy and bon appétit!