Poki Poki, Escondido, California

Poke is one of those things that when my husband first suggested it, I had no interest. When the Poki Poki opened here in Oceanside, my husband saw a post from a coworker, and immediately suggested we go and try it. I was having none of it. I did not want to try it, my suggestion was that he go and try it when I wasn't with him. 

Yes, I do eat sushi, but I do not like any of the raw tunas. Actually, most of the raw fish I do not like. I guess that I am one of those with a texture issue with sushi, not an issue with the fact that it is raw fish. 

Finally, my husband got me to try Poki Poki when they grand opened in San Marcos, and I have been a huge fan ever since. I even suggest it for my husband when he has to work. I go pick it up and take it to him. 

I like that Poki Poki is fast casual. The recent trend of more and more fast casual restaurants opening is really something that we have definitely enjoyed. Whatever you like, you can get it on your food, exactly how you want it. Try something different each time you visit. Get a salad, get a rice bowl, get a poke burrito, try it all. 

I am the type of person who does not like anything hot or spicy, where my husband wants all the spice he can get. Fast casual places allow us to customize exactly what we want.

When we visited Poki Poki in Escondido, it was during their grand opening. They were organized to keep up with the long line. My only note was that there were things at other stores that was not available, and there were things that are not an extra charge that they were charging an upcharge. 

South Carolina BBQ?????

South Carolina Barbeque??????

I honestly, I never knew there was such a thing. 

We were traveling day one, going from Virginia to Georgia. We stopped for BBQ for lunch. 

It was only when we got in the place did we realize that it was South Carolina BBQ, whatever that is. 

Memphis style is known for the sweeter sauce

Kansas City is known for its dry rubs

North Carolina style is known for a vinegar based sauce

Texas BBQ is usually beef

So South Carolina is .................. ?????????????????????

MUSTARD

WHAT?

No, I am not kidding. This is not a joke. These crazy people coat and I mean COAT their meat in MUSTARD. 

It is the weirdest thing I have ever seen. We stopped in SC for lunch and I tell you, my taste buds were going WTF????

They take a pulled pork and smother it in mustard, and then serve it with this thing they call HASH, which is disgusting. 

The first picture is my plate, the roll was on top of the pulled pork. That large serving of SLOP was the "hash". 

I wouldn't feed this crap to my worst enemy. 

The bottom is my husband's brisket. Disgusting. They ruined a nice chunk of meat with mustard. 

Avoid Piggie Park if you have any taste buds or want to keep what you have. 

Steak Time!

I know, I know. Steakhouses are practically on every corner, and chain steakhouses are everywhere. 
Typically, they are trendy, overpriced and low on the service end because they are a chain and well, no one really expects amazing food from a chain. 
But honestly, one of our favorite steakhouses in Virginia is a chain. So we randomly decided for lunch today that we were going to go to one of those "chain steakhouses" for lunch. 
We went to Longhorn in Atlantic City, NJ.

As you can see from the picture below, My husband loved his steak.
The service was a little slow, but I think it was due to only 2 servers. The place wasn't that busy to warrant a full staff. 
I got the steak dinner that was on special. It came with a 6oz, a side, a salad and an appetizer. Honestly for me the best part was the appetizer. We got the corn fritters and OMG, they were so good. My husband loved the red chilli sauce that came with them. 
I personally do not eat anything remotely hot, so I didn't try it after he warned me.  
So overall the steaks were good and the everything else was good too. 
Would we go back to Longhorn? Probably
Will it be our new go to chain steakhouse? I doubt it.