I met the nicest donkey today. Really got me thinking about getting one for our farm. Did you know donkeys are used to protect sheep from predators?
Every time I’m in Fort Worth- my hometown- I make a trip to Pendery’s. Pendery’s has been selling spices, chilis and chili powder blends since the 1800s. They have more than 20 different chili powder blends and umpteen jillion chilis, plus bar-b-que rubs, taco seasonings and hundreds of dried herbs and spices. Everything they sell is fresh and crazy good.
Today I stocked up on two of my favorite Pendery’s blends- the Fort Worth Light Chili Powder and the Taco Spice blend. I use a whole lot of both of them in my kitchen and they keep me from being so lonesome for home. Pendery’s does have a website- please don’t let it’s lack of refinement keep you from ordering. The spices are well worth it!
I picked up a three extra bags of Taco Seasoning and three of Fort Worth Light to giveaway to three spicy blog readers. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post telling me about the “don’t miss” spots in your hometown. Couldn’t be simpler, right? One entry per person please! All entries must be in by 7:00 pm, CST on Sunday, May 24th.
Good luck, y’all!
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Oh my gosh, where to start?
Hmmm…Kramarczuk’s Eastern European deli and meat market…Kiev Foods Russian market…United Noodles Asian market…El Burrito Mercado Hispanic market…and the always delectable Don Pancho’s Bakery, home to the best guava-cheese turnovers.
Tiverton, RI
Don’t miss the Provender for awesome lunch sandwiches and cookies, and Coastal Roasters for a delicious coffee!
In my actual home town there is one-it’s called Yotty’s ice cream. It is the best little ice cream shop in town, and the only plage (other than the gas station) that is open on Sunday’s. Therefore, a lot of people hang out there on nice summer Sunday evenings.
If you ever make it to Glover, Vermont, don’t miss out on Parker Pie, the village pizza place with good beer on tap; or Currier’s Market, with a remarkable display of preserved animals; or the famous Bread & Puppet Theater. Put the three together, and you’ve got a great day.
Can’t miss from my current town would have to be Lola Cookies. She makes a chocolate chip ginger cookie that is just amazing (and she has a web site).
The don’t miss spot in my hometown…..that’s easy: Kay
s Quilters Stash – oh, yeah, that’s MY store! Lots and lots of colorful cotton fabric! And on the web at kaysquiltersstash.com
Canelakes — the best homemade chocolates and candies
My hometown is Brooklyn, NY. Don’t miss Sahadi Trading Company on Atlantic Avenue in Downtown Brooklyn — mid-Eastern spices, delicacies and the best smell in the world! Fresh pita, olives, bulgar, dried fruits, hummus, feta, and on and on.
Mmmm! Don’t miss freshly harvested oysters from the Farmer’s Market in Arcata, CA!
Don’t miss 1. Kalustyan’s Market for international specialty foods at 123 Lexington Ave in NYC (an amazing place), 2. Penzey’s Spices in Grand Central Market – inside the terminal at Grand Central Station NYC (they have a website for ordering too.)
3. Also, don’t miss Jaipore Royal Indian Cuisine Restaurant on Rte 22 in Brewster NY for VERY delicious Indian food. I’m salivating just thinking about it. OK I’ll stop now!
Liz (newsas on Rav)
well, our hometown is very eclectic and on the water (if you are a reader of debbie macomber and her cedar cove series, well i live in the real cedar cove. We are known for our farmers market, oldest and largest on the peninsula. Our seagull calling contest draws quite the crowd as well! Yummy, will have to go and see what HOT and spicy they have!! (it can never ever be too hot)
This is tricky… my hometown is very uninspired suburbs, I’m not sure what you could call “don’t miss”. There is one really awesome 50′s style burger joint, Kip’s, that is pretty excellent, and my favourite local greasy spoon is the Sunset Grill. I think those count!
Maybe it’s the potential for taco spice seasoning, but I really miss “El Azteca” back in my hometown. It’s so much better than the Mexican I can get here. And the waiters are all so friendly. I eat there every time I go back.
In Edmonton, I have a few favourite places. There is of course this little vegan bakery beside the yarn store Ewe Asked for it (naturally I love places that sell food.. beside places that sell yarn..). They have really delicious cinnamon buns. Not the most decadent but really healthy but ACTUALLY good cinnamon buns. There is also a restaurant called Vi’s for Pies that sells… really extravagant pies and cakes but also does a nice light lunch or dinner. I love their amazing Chocolate Caramel Cake. Or their Peanut Butter Mousse Pie. I also really love this greasy spoon hole in the wall called Pharohs. A pizza place that makes the BEST vegetarian Lasagna ever. Though I think they are closing down this summer. It is the saddest thing in my life right now (Thankfully the saddest.. though it IS really sad..). Anyways. If you’re ever in Edmonton, I vote for these places.
Cheers,
Leah
-ravid burnt3rain
If you ever make it to Warren, CT you must visit Lake Waramaug, it’s our little slice of super pretty!!
Best place in my town is MY HERO, they make the best hero sandwiches on Long Island, and therefore the world since no one else knows how to make a proper hero sandwich once you leave New York
My favorite place is Marshall’s Farm, it’s a orchard with a petting farm, restaurant & store. Great place to spend a lovely place.
You can’t miss the City Market in downtown Saint John, NB. Fresh produce and seafood and everything else you need. Mmmmmm
In my home town everyone is always thrilled to go to Krispy Kreme since Winston-Salem, NC is where the company started.
But where I live now, Hillsborough, NC, (my new “home”town) I’d say the farmer’s market is one of the best things to visit, if you are in town during the market season. We have several farmers markets but the best one is about 15min south in Carrboro (our neighboring small town). Though the town is only 4sq miles its one of the best farmers markets in the region!
My hometown has my favorite bagel shop–David’s Bagels in New City, New York. While I’m at school in Chicago I dream of poppy bagels with veggie cream cheese and toasted everything bagels with butter. Mmm…
In the Kansas City area you must stop by Christopher Elbow Chocolates. Not only are they wonderful chocolates, but they are also miniture pieces of art. It’s almost a sin to eat them, almost. I encourage you to google him and take a look see. I think that he also opened a shop in CA somewhere, but we had him first!
get the donkey, they have a bad reputation, but are great guardians and such characters!
so, my hometown highlights, eh? well, my “hometown” is not where I grew up. I left my heart in England, where my kids were born. so, if you’re ever in Surrey, England. Go to Guildford. It’s an old market town. walk up the steep High Street, cobbled and old, check out the Guildhall ( a craftswoman will understand the significance of the guilds!), take a short drive and visit the Guildford Cathedral – modern, but breathtaking (did you ever see “The Exorcist”? You might recognize the area. Take another short drive (4 miles) or take the train…you’re going to the villages of Blackheath or Chilworth. If you take the train, walk up from Chilworth station – stop in at the Friary of the Holy Spirit, my oldest was baptised there, and then continue into the village. At the crossroads, go left. Enjoy a pint or a glass of your favorite tipple at “The Villagers” pub. It’s not so good now as it’s not our home and someone else is the publican, but it’s still the gorgeous country pub, lovely walks in the heather from that pub and a relaxing pub garden…ah…HOME is where the heart is…guess where mine is!
Okay, can I have three home towns?
Carbondale IL: MaryLou’s–an old fashioned diner where you get the best breakfast the world, served up with energy and attitude to start your day just right.
Oklahoma City. Java Dave’s Coffee A truly local entepreneur who goes out to the fields and buys his own beans from the farmers. They have the BEST hamburgers and cinnamon rolls–not to mention the coffee is superb.
Okinawa–I can’t reproduce the Japanese script here, but my friends and I call it the Orange Soba Restaurant. No, the soba (okinawan noodle soup with hearty pork slices, ginger, and kamaboko) isn’t orange, the restaurant is. Added bonus, it faces west on the seawall and overlooks the East China Sea, so the views are stupendous.
In my original hometown (Montreal) my childhood “don’t miss” spot was the Fairmont Bagel Bakery (open 24 hours a day!). My adopted hometown (Toronto) is so eclectic I’ve never been able to settle on just one “don’t miss” — it’s more about trying a little bit of everything — from the empanadas, amazing coffee, spices and fresh seafood (and great yarn) in Kensington Market to the souvlaki at Astoria, from the Dim Sum at Dynasty (or out in Markham) to Ethiopia House, from Bacchus Roti to the chicken saag at half-a-dozen places on Gerrard East, from… well, you get the picture and my stomach is growling just typing this!
Coincidentally, I just bought two bags of chile powders at the grocery for tonight’s dinner – powdered New Mexican chiles and powdered Pasillos. We’re grilling skewers of shrimp and scallops and I’m thinking dip them in lime juice and sprinkle with lime zest and a mix of the chiles. Hmm, I’m still working on that.
My home town is Peoria, IL. It sits there in the heart of Illinois, with not that much to do. Course I haven’t been there for 40 years. There could be some changes. I do remember some wonderful meals, though. Hunts drive-in, John’s Barbeque. Food.
I can’t help it, just read all the comments, and every one lists food! We all have the same definition of don’t miss spots, I guess, though you didn’t say it had to be food.
ok, i was born in panama canal zone…so you would have to go see the hospital. just outside is panama city, ..go to the sprite where you can get zomies and then a banana splits.or the bar in the hilton that used to have an organ that was incased in one whole wall.
san antonio is one of cites that i live in the longest – you have to go to the san jose mission! and you have to see the rose window from the outside and then go into the chapel. you don’t have to be catholic to feel pax there.
in coppell? o, i would have to show you a wee, very wee cemetary by the side of the street sort of in 2 people’s back yards.
that won’t take long so we can have lunch at 7 salsas.
I have to second my Mom’s mention of My Hero, mmmmmm, and also add in Galleria Pizza for their oh my god good pizza…. sorry, but pizza outside of the NY metropolitan area leaves a lot to be desired!
The village I grew up in has no ‘sights’, so I’ll throw in one of the cities I’ve lived in since: Tucson.
ASDM=The Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. Not your typical museum. It’s a ‘zoo’ of flora and fauna indigenous to the region. No polar bears or elephants. Plenty of butterflies, prairie dogs and sea otters. And in environments conducive to their betterment–no cages unless absolutely necessary. Go early in the morning and watch as the desert awakens around you. I go everytime I visit my parents.
In Fairbanks, Alaska, my hometown, don’t miss Hot Licks Ice Cream. In a place where the average temperature in January is -10, this joint is hoppin’ all summer (June through August). Try the Alaska Blueberry ice cream (made with wild berries collected by locals) — tart, sweet and creamy. The perfect preparation for the long winter ahead.
Sno Castle! It’s the best place ever with the best Sno Cones ever! It’s a small chain in our area but this one, in my home town, it the best. Summer hasn’t started until I get a Sno Cone!
Oh please, please, please get a donkey for the farm. They rock. The big excitement in my hometown is the post office. No…I am being serious. Population is 117 people living in 45 housing units. About 10 years ago they had to add a bathroom to the building so that doubled it size but I think it’s still the smallest PO this side of the Mississippi.
Hey! First commenter Amy is from my area! I recognize those places as awesome spots in St. Paul, MN. To her list, I’ll add Grand Old Creamery for ice cream, A Bakers Wife in Minneapolis, and Red’s Savoy pizza in St. Paul- devastatingly good!
I grew up in La Crosse, WI. There was a beer brewery.
And outside of it was this tall king. I loved driving by.
That is the one that stands out the most. It’s a beautiful city, right on the Missippi river..
OMG, I’m going to drive up to Fort Worth (from Austin) to go visit there. I’m a PenZEY’s spice fanatic, but chilis!! Hell yeah!
One extra not to miss spot in Pittsburgh is Beehive Coffeehouse. It’s got all sorts of strange things dangling from the ceiling and extra weird paintings. I highly recommend it. Many a night have I spent in that place, downing endless cups of coffee. Oh how I miss it!
Austin has awesome coffee shops, but nothing like my Beehive.
Hillsdale Bank BarBQue. A barbque restaurant in an old bank building. The bathroom is in the old vault! and the barbque is pretty tasty! jsample on ravelry
I count two places as hometown. The first where I was born and most of my family live is Albuquerque. My parents retired back there and Sandia Crest is one not to miss pace, Olde Town another. For me my mom’s kitchen is the third. I grew up in Toledo and there you can’t miss Tony Pacos, the original restaurant on the East side with their hungarian hotdogs and stuffed cabbage among some delicacies, and the hot dog buns that are autographed and hanging on the wall of all the celebs, politicians etc. And a Mudhens baseball game, both made famous by Jamie Farr (aka Klinger on M*A*S*H) both real and great.
Mmmm taco seasoning.
Lets see – “don’t miss” spots in my hometown. Don’t miss the outdoor activities that make this area popular among outdoor enthusiasts. My hometown seems to have been placed right in the middle of it all. Hike the Table Rocks (2 flat-topped mountains) in the spring to see the lovely wildflowers (watch out for rattlesnakes). The Rogue River is a favorite for rafting, fishing, and kayaking (be careful, they don’t call it Rogue for nothing). Visit the Shakespearean Theatre in the neighboring town (does that count?). There are several wineries scattered around the valley; RoxyAnn winery is at the edge of my hometown and not far from the house I grew up in.
I think I got carried away.
Hmmm.. I love the donkey and the spices! I guess the place to see in my town is the pretty colonial village and the beautiful beaches! Heavenly places to swim and kayak!
Well, my childhood hometown of Newton, Mass I would have to go with Rosenfeld’s Bagels and if you go to Boston you have to ride on the Swan Boats since they are a piece of Boston history and remind me of my childhood.
Here in Indianapolis there is the City Market, where every Wednesday from May through October there is a farmer’s market with produce, plants, and prepared goodies from tamales to hickory syrup. During the rest of the year there is a winter farmer’s market with produce and prepared food, wonderful apple cider and the best canoli ever!
Well, being from Mystic, CT, as in Mystic Pizza – I’d have to say…Mystic Pizza
. It’s not actually stellar pizza, just regular take out, and it won’t be what you saw in the movie (which was filmed all sorts of around Mystic, but not very much *in*), but it IS a family owned pizza place that’s been in the same building the whole time it’s been in Mystic. It was first the small side of the two store-fronts in the building, then both sides (taking over what was a laundromat) and has now taken over what was an upstairs apartment. Oh, and they changed their slogan to “a slice of heaven” after the film 
.
Second on the list – Abbott’s Lobster. You can get a whole lobster and do that whole experience, or if you’ve done that before and learned it’s not actually fun, you can get the meat of an lobster in a lobster roll – less work, all the delicious. Plus, you sit outside and get enormous bibs, so if you’re not easily embarrassed you’re great entertainment for the locals
After that there are great places in the area, but Mystic itself is very tourist trap-y. Mystic Seaport and Mystic Aquarium are both ok, but don’t really warrant re-visits.
I love the Monical’s Pizza in Avon, Indiana. Its part of a chain, but there is just something about the place that draws our family back again and again!
Oh my goodness… In a city like Toronto… That could be a huge huge list… But I’ll narrow it down to 2 of my current favourites. There is SOMA Chocolatier in the distillery district, amazing chocolate and their kitchen is behind glass walls so you can watch them do everything while you shop and enjoy their chocolate. The second is Smoke’s Poutinerie which is hands down some of the best and craziest poutine I have ever had outside of Montreal. Mmmm now I am craving poutine, it’s been so long… Ooops.
That’s awesome! Don’t miss spots are Simbala in Rowland Heights and Cham Sut Gol Korean BBQ in Garden Grove. Both in Southern California. Simbala has really excellent Taiwanese shaved ice. I love it with peanuts, red and mung bean and boba. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, then you need to try it!
hmmmmm…..in my hometown (fitting that it’s jersey!) don’t miss the yummy indian restaurant in parsippany called chand pallace: http://www.chandpalace.com/
where i live now we have a pretty good indian place called taj (ventura ca) but i really do miss being able to get all the indian spices and treats @ the market right next door (in nj)
thanks for yet another contest susie
and that is a really sweet donkey
you should get one on the farm
yay!
love
rona
Wow…I have three hometowns tho
In Woods Hole, the chowdah at the Cap’t Kidd bar is worth it. And in the summer, the ice cream from the Fishmonger’s window (if it’s still there!) is the tase of summer for me.
In Camden ME, the chowdah at Cappy’s is nomable. But the good cheap eats? The hot dog stand down at the harbor, where you can sit and watch the windjammers.
In Dublin, well…Beshoff’s fish and chips. Pints almost anywhere (Neary’s is good, and the local brews from teh Porterhouse are worth it). Hop House for sushi. And if you can get out of Dublin, go to Dun Laoghaire, and get an ice cream at Teddy’s while walking along the seafront.
I’m going to put in a plea here…they have no idea what mexican or texmex is here. Help a sistah out.
Love the donkey.
Such a kind sweet face.
A perfect addition to your menagerie.
This one’s easy. In my home town of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, there’s a popcorn shop next to the falls. It used to be a mill run by water power. How do I know? I used to climb around the rocks up there and get into the basement of the shop. There were huge mill stones left behind. It fascinated me how all that worked -the same way I feel about looms today. I go for the popcorn to remember, but don’t do the climbing any more.
Hmm, don’t miss spots in Ottawa Canada…. it depends on what time of year you come by. In the Winter, you can’t miss skating on the Canal and eating a delicious Beavertail pastry. In the Spring, the tulip festival is booming and it looks stunningly beautiful. Summertime includes the very popular Bluesfest music festival. As for Fall, well Canada just becomes wonderfully spectacular with all the trees turning red/orange/yellow; viewing the Gatineau hills is a treat.
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