Here's Johnny!

When I really don't feel like eating campus food, I walk about 10 minutes through campus and across the street to a hidden gem called Johnny's Bar and Grille. When walking inside, it may seem like just another Applebee's, but in my opinion it's delicious.

The menu here doesn't disappoint. The most expensive options are only $18 for either a 16 ounce New York Sirloin or Yellow Fin Tuna. The rest are extremely affordable for people like myself who want to escape campus food for a night without having my wallet regret it.

For my friends and I, the highlight of Johnny's is their baked brie - which according to their website is "a delicate and flaky puff pastry filled with the finest brie and baked to perfection. Served with garlic crostinis and apples." Basically, if you like cheese even a little bit, you are almost guaranteed to like this.

The desserts at Johnny's can often be...unique to say the least, although usually I'm too full from dinner to actually have any. Recently a friend of mine ordered deep fried Oreos, which came with ice cream. I tried one, and to me it tasted like a mushy Oreo inside of fried chicken, but to each his own I guess? Other more normal desserts include a seasonal fall pumpkin cheesecake, or a brownie sundae. They vary each day, however.

There is also live music at Johnny's on Friday and Saturday nights, so it's definitely worth checking out!

Photo credit:

top: http://www.johnnysbarandgrille.com/

middle: http://www.rd.com/home-garden/baked-brie-recipe/article33725.html

bottom: http://dunkincookingthesemi-homemadeway.blogspot.com/2009/04/deep-fried-oreos.html

The Teapot Hits the Spot

I hope you visit Northampton at some point after reading all of these posts, because I recently tried another great restaurant in town. The Teapot Restaurant, located at 116 Main Street, is a great place to enjoy some Japanese and Chinese cuisine, in addition to some excellent sushi.

The restaurant is cozy with a great vibe. According to a review on Urbanspoon, "[The] Teapot is by far the best Asian place in the area... From the ginger to the fish, all was high quality and extremely fresh... Service was good, and has perhaps the best quality/value ratio of any restaurant in the area. Food is delivered quickly, with generous portions and is consistently tasty."

They have an extensive menu that makes it difficult to choose just

one. I started off with some crab rangoons and then tried the Sushi Regular, which consisted of eight pieces of sushi with a choice of tuna or California rolls - I chose the California rolls. If you're feeling creative, here's how you can make your own California roll.

Pricing depends on what you get. A dish with 20 pieces of sushi will cost you around $30, but a dish like sliced pork and

vegetables is a mere $8.95.

This restaurant is great if you're up for trying something new. And if raw fish isn't your cup of tea, the Teapot has a lot more to offer.

Photo credit: top left: http://www.ambitiousdeliciousness.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/california-rolls5.jpg

bottom right: http://www.sodahead.com/fun/who-here-likes-seafood/question-772559/?link=ibaf&imgurl=http://www.chinainbombay.com/imgupload/CrabRangoon.jpg&q=crab%2Brangoons

The Sierra Grille Gets Things Cooking

If you feel like getting a little dressed up and going out to dinner, then the Sierra Grille in Northampton is the perfect place to eat. I went there on Saturday night for a nice dinner with my family and the atmosphere was perfect. The

waitstaff was very friendly and attentive, and the food was delicious.

We started off with some appetizers: wings, bread and crackers with some tasty hummus, and some french fries. Each a little different, but perfect for the various cravings my family had that night.

Moving on to the main course. You have the option to choose a protein - which could be duck, steak, filet mignon, salmon, pork, shrimp, tuna, chicken or the vegetable option, tempeh - and add a sauce, either hot or cold, with a list of the options such as a cold citrus salsa topping, or a thai hot basil coconut sauce. After you choose the basics, you can choose two side dishes which can range from "smashed" potatoes, as they refer to them, grilled asparagus, or Belgian fries.

For my main course, I chose chicken with a Mediterranean sauce,

which has tomatoes, feta cheese, Kalamata olives, roasted garlic, and basil. A side of Asian style green beans, which were deliciously stir-fried in peanut oil with sesame and ginger, and some Belgian french fries, completed my meal.

The prices for some of the entrées may be a little above the typical budget of a college student, but for a nice night out they aren't unreasonable.

Next time you're in the area and looking for a classier night, check out the Sierra Grille!

Photo Credit: top: http://thesierragrille.com/gallery.htm

middle: http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2009/08/stir-fried-green-beans-recipe.html

bottom: http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2010/07/tgi-fry-day-belgian-fries-at-pommes-frites-east-village-manhattan.html

Froyo - Go Berry style

Frozen yogurt is not your typical dessert, at least when you consider the popularity of ice cream. But while it's not the traditional sundae with hot fudge, it does offer up a healthy and still delicious alternative to ice cream.

Not sure what it is exactly? Here's a brief history. According to that website, frozen yogurt is described as "Somewhere between a sherbet and ice cream, the dessert is tangy in flavor and smooth in texture."

If you have your doubts about frozen yogurt, at least give Go Berry a try.

Also residing in Northampton, Go Berry is a local business that only serves frozen yogurt. They have three different flavors, original, mango, and strawberry, with a surprising number of toppings to choose from. Toppings vary from

chocolate chips, granola, kiwis, blueberries, graham crackers, crushed almonds and cookie dough, just to name a few.

The prices are affordable, and the location is, ironically, next to a candy store. But don't get distracted by the sugary concoctions to the left of Go Berry, and go experience a frozen yogurt the way it should be - fresh, healthy, and local.

Photo credit: top right: http://buyyogurt.com/2009/08/washingtonpost-com-frozen-yogurt-roundup/

middle left: http://astrideats.tumblr.com/

middle right: http://www.all-about-dessert-sauces.com/IceCreamSundaeParty.html

bottom left: http://www.pataygutom.com/category/desserts/frozen-yogurt/