Dover Welcomes Outback Steakhouse

October 5, 2016 by Melissa

I’m not sure what a juicy steak, a deep fried onion or chicken tortilla soup have to do with Australia but I do know they all taste so so good at Outback Steakhouse. A new restaurant has opened in Dover, DE, and their opening day was one to be proud up. On October 3rd Outback Steakhouse donated a portion of the restaurant’s sales to the Food Bank of Delaware.

The Food Bank of Delaware distributes millions of pounds of products each year to its network of 575 hunger-relief program partners throughout the state and also provides thousands of meals a month for children through the After-School Nutrition Program, the Summer Food Service Program and the Backpack Program. The Food Bank’s hunger-relief programs provide for Delawareans at risk of going without meals each year. The Culinary School at the Food Bank of Delaware, the Food Bank’s workforce development arm, provides training for adults interested in careers in the food service industry.

As new comers to the neighborhood the support Outback Steakhouse is showing towards the communities needs is astounding. It’s gestures like this that make brands and businesses stand out and make us keep going back.

This restaurant will feature a “Modern Australia” design with décor that mirrors the indigenous flora and fauna, adventure, geography and leisure of modern day Australia. Guests will also enjoy a spacious, energetic bar area that includes two community tables – a great place to meet up with friends and enjoy specialty beer, wine and hand-crafted cocktails. The bar will also feature customized seating and furnishings.

We welcome Outback Steakhouse for many delicious years to come and want to celebrate with our readers with a $50 Outback Steakhouse Gift Card.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Restaurant Choices for Kids #kidsinthekitchen

June 6, 2014 by Melissa

I’m a pretty good cook but there are sometimes when I like to leave the cooking up to someone else. That then leaves us to decide where to eat out with kids. At home I have complete control over portion size and veggie options, but recently we discovered some well known eateries that have approached this topic with healthful and much more flavorful ideas in mind. Doing this gives parents a little ease of the mind. Giving kids and parents some healthier options than chicken fingers and fries makes going out a fun experience instead of the chore it was turning into.

Red Lobster-not my idea of a fancy seafood dinner but you can’t debate that the food is pretty tasty. Their kids menu offers broccoli or oranges as a side and has main entrees that include broiled fish, grilled chicken and garlic grilled shrimp.

T.G.I.Friday’s has always been a favorite. Today they have not only gluten free options for kids but they cater to a more enhanced palate with their Kid’s Chicken Skewers, meat marinated in soy-garlic and served with papers and onions on pita bread.

Panera-soup and sandwiches can be a great meal. All the nutrition information for your sandwiches, salads and soups are available as you order. Kids meals come with choice of yogurt or apple and there are juices and milk options to drink as well as seasonal fruit cups to choose from. Kids can choose All Natural Low Fat Chicken Noodle Soup for just 80 calories or a heartier Baked Potato soup for 230 calories.

Chipotle-my new fave Mexican style restaurant. While I like to offer chicken as a safe meal for my kids the chicken at Chipotle is a tad on the spicy side. The Carnitas on the other hand is moist, flavorful and just right for my kids. Loading a burrito with rice, beans, corn salsa and cheese makes this a meal in a hand and a great way to get the kid’s bellies full.Try the kid’s taco kit where they can build their own.

P.F. Changs-Asian style food with a touch of sophistication, no paper boxes here. Their food is always light, delicious and filling instead of that icky overstuffed feeling that typical take out Chinese food leaves you with. P.F. Changs kids menu boasts items that kids are bound to enjoy like Lo Mein noodles with chicken, the veggie filled Buddha’s Feast and Honey Chicken. Since all meals are cooked to order allergy restraints are no issue as long as you inform your server so the meal can be adjusted accordingly.

Cheesecake Factory is the ultimate indulgence dinner with so many options to choose from. Kids can pretty much have things their way when ordering pizza and quesadillas. Other favorites are the Roadside Sliders and Southern Fried Chicken Sliders. Check out their Small Plates & snacks menu for an even wider variety of food in smaller portions. Kid sized desserts on on the menu but no cheesecake can be found. They should fix that.

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill is one the top of our list for a great night out. As parents we love love love it and love love love that our kids love it too. My kids order the fish or smoked wings and the lobster & spinach fondue as an appetizer. There are great side dish choices to like carrots with ranch, fruit salad and green beans. It’s a bit spendy as a family but the food is so worth it.

Romano’s Macaroni Grill offers kids a wide variety of sauces to go with classic spaghetti or the kids can switch it up with cheese ravioli. Classic Italian is always a hit but they offer plenty of selections for the pickier eaters too.

Eating out can be fun again by visiting the restaurants that cater to growing taste buds. Where are your favorite places to eat?
Come join me and my co-hosts, Sarah of Play to Learn with Sarah, Paula at Frosted Fingers and Sara at Sensibly Sara, each week linking up a post, new or old, that feature the theme Kids in the Kitchen. It doesn’t matter what you are doing as long as you are doing it together, enjoying it and learning something along the way.

preparing healthy snacks
having a tea party
counting skills with m&ms
pouring from measuring cups
discovering a local restaurant that your kids love
creating new family friendly recipes

You’ll find so many more ideas on the #KidsintheKitchen Pinterest Board.

Follow Melinda Babiak’s board #KidsintheKitchen on Pinterest.

An InLinkz Link-up

Avero Bar Italiano Relaunch Dinner

February 24, 2014 by Melissa

A couple weeks back I was invited to a restaurant relaunch. Avero Craft Pizzeria was changing to Avero Bar Italiano. It seems the Pizzeria in their name was giving the community an impression of just that, a pizzeria when in fact they are so much more than that.

The night started with a variety of wines, beers and a specialty cocktail, Pineapple Blueberry Limoncello Martini. This alone was delicious and I would’ve loved to have more than one but I was the driver.

Appetizers were available too. I’m not a prosciutto fan, I find it too salty but when it’s wrapped around Buffalo Mozzarella with a drizzle of Basil Oil I can eat it all day. In fact I had about 4.

The meal continued with 4 other courses each explained by Executive Chef, Chris DeFeo. Chef DeFeo is a Philly Native with years of experience at Striped Bass, Nectar, Bar Savona and other well known establishments in the area. His understanding of local, in season and high quality ingredients only made the menu at Avero Bar Italiano stand out instead of blend in with the influx of surrounding casual restaurants.

I am not brave when it comes to trying new food, I’m a creature of habit and have been known to repeatedly order the same item while out because I know it is something I already know I’ll enjoy. I was given a preview of our tasting menu and was completely dreading the first course, Charred Baby Octopus. The thought of chewy tentacles with suction cups turned me off. Even at the restuarant I was stressing out with another blogger about the upcoming meal. I didn’t want to insult the restaurant, chef or host. The meal came out and it was beautiful and it smelled wonderful. My best friend dug right in and commented on how her 8 year old son would love it. Was she shaming me? Daring me?

I took a bite and was surprised. I enjoyed it. Did I enjoy it enough to order again? I’m not sure but it was good and I’d recommend to anyone that enjoys seafood and fish. I was proud of myself.

I think the main reason I went that night was the Berkshire Pork Belly with Wild Mushroom Fricasse. It was heaven, best thing I’ve eaten in a long time. Tender but not soft, meaty but not heavy. I ate mine and the rest of my friends.

Avero Bar Italiano has gone to great lengths to achieve a specific atmosphere. While this is fine dining the experience isn’t snobbish. The interior feels comfy and warm and the staff are welcoming and informative. Having a sommelier and beer expert on hand is incredibly valuable for people like me who know what I like but don’t know what to order.

Avero Bar Italiano is not what I would call family friendly. With such a strong attention put on the food & wine pairings it isn’t a place I’d bring children under 12 years old unless they had phenomenal palates and were willing to try new foods no questions asked. Their pasta and pizza are fantastic but prepared and priced for a more adult experience. This is a date night or girls or guys night out spot for sure. Relax, order a cocktail or craft beer and soak in the ambiance without the hassle of bibs, cheerios or kid’s menus (which are available).

Avero Bar Italiano
821 W Lancaster Ave
Wayne, PA 19087

come photos are courtesy via Stephanie Glover Photography

Firebirds Grill Recap and Giveaway

October 10, 2011 by Melissa

If you read our blog or our Twitter feed you already know Melinda and I are huge fans of Firebirds Grill. There is one very close to our house in Delaware that we often frequent for dinner or to just enjoy happy hour.

Recently we were asked to overview a new location in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania that has been open for about a month now. Like I mentioned we are huge fans so of course we took Firebirds up on the offer and took the whole family to the Chadds Ford, PA location for a very nice Friday night dinner.

The Chadds Ford location is very similar to the one in Delaware which is nice because I do enjoy that feeling of comfort I get when I walk into Firebirds Grill. Once we were seated I went to the bar to get a beer for myself and water for Shaun as he wasn’t feeling well from the car ride. Funny thing is when I went to the bar the gentlemen who served me remembered me from the Delaware location. Now is that a good or bad thing? I will let you decide, LOL. After we sat down it took a little while for our server to come over but I attribute that to two things: one is was 7pm on a Friday night and two when we went for dinner this location was only open for ten days so the staff was probably still trying to get a feel for everything. When our server arrived it was the same server we had last time Melinda and I went to Firebirds in Delaware just a few weeks earlier. Now I am going to be honest here I am starting to feel like Norm from Cheers. We go to Firebirds so often they are going to know Melinda and I on a first name basis.

The kids were starving so we ordered the ranch rings and the lobster spinach queso as appetizers. These two appetizers are my two favorites. After we devoured that we moved on to dinner. I ordered the bleu cheese filet, Melinda ordered the ribeye, Sabreena ordered the crusted flounder special and the kids ordered pasta from the kids menu. Every meal we order was awesome. This is now the second time that I have had the blue cheese filet and yes it is because it is that good. Another thing I order often but not on this visit is the buffalo meatloaf. Trust me when I say this is better than your mom’s meatloaf and something you must try when you visit Firebirds. To be honest with you Melinda and I have been to Firebirds over 15 times in the last year and I can say that we have not had a meal that we haven’t loved. After dinner we order dessert because there is no way the kids would let us leave without dessert. I ordered the carrot cake, Melinda ordered key lime pie, Sabreena and Shaun shared the big daddy chocolate cake and Shae ordered a kids sundae. All of the desserts were great and things that I would definitely order again.

a family dinner at Firebirds

If you ever have the opportunity to visit Firebirds Grill make sure you do. The atmosphere is upscale but inviting the service is great and the food is out of this world. Trust me when I say you will not be disappointed with anything you order and if you are let them know because they strive to make sure every guest is 100% satisfied.

I am happy to say that Firebirds Grill has been nice enough to offer one Look What Mom…and Dad too! reader a chance to win a $50 Firebirds Grill gift card. Head over to Firebirds Grill and tell me one thing you would have to try if you ever visited Firebirds.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry above. Please note the changes to the entries and frequency, entries that don’t follow rules will be disregarded/ignored/deleted.

Subscribe to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! via email or RSS feed, bottom of page
Follow this blog on Google Friend Connect, bottom of page
Follow Us on Networked Blog, bottom of page
Follow Mom and Dad and Firebirds on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway 1 time per day, please leave your twitter link each time, tweet a form of this message: #Win a $50 @Firebirdsgrill GC from @lkwhtmomfound & @anddadtoo http://bit.ly/nTN0Yq
SHARE this giveaway on YOUR Facebook wall (easy to use widget at top of post)
Like Firebirds Grill
Enter another Giveaway – let us know which one in the comment (one extra entry per giveaway you enter, just leave separate comments)

Your entries must follow the rules or they won’t be eligible for prizes. This contest ends 11:59 pm, Monday, October 31, 2011. The winners will be emailed and will have 24 hours to claim their prize. This contest is open to Continental US residents only. For complete rules please read our contest rules page.

Avero Bar Italiano 821 W Lancaster Ave Wayne, PA 19087

Read Something

Kids in the Kitchen Linky Party

Find it Here

How To Cancel?

What’s Mom Found Now?

Avero Bar Italiano
821 W Lancaster Ave
Wayne, PA 19087