FOOD-DAY, TUESDAY!

The other day my husband and I went to Michael's Charcoal Grill for lunch, located at 723 W. Wadley in Midland.

Serving Midland for over 25 years, Micheal's is a local staple for burgers, the 'Texas-sized salad bar,' and BBQ.

My husband both ordered the chopped beef sandwich and tater tots.

This was the small sandwich and it was plenty of food. I like to add red onions and pickles to my sandwich, along with the 'hot' BBQ sauce. The meat is tender and almost melts in your mouth. I typically have to get a knife and fork to eat this sandwich because they give you so much meat. My favorite way to eat their crispy tater tots, also know as 'gator bait,' is to cover them in the 'hot' BBQ sauce. Wash it all down with fresh brewed, iced tea and it is a wonderful meal.

For a quick lunch, that's not fast food, check out Michael's Charcoal Grill in Midland.

FOOD-DAY TUESDAY!

One of my favorite Mexican food places in Midland is Tampico Spanish Inn, located at 2411 W. Wall Street.

When my husband and I were starting our married life together we would meet our close friends for lunch at Tampico's every Sunday for Bloody Mary's, Coronitas, and great food.

Once you are seated, you are greeted with wonderful, fresh salsa served with warm chips. I don't know about you, but for me, if the salsa is fresh and home-made, the meal is off to a fantastic start. There is just something wonderful about salsa that tastes like actual tomatoes, and onions, and garlic, and peppers.... YUM!

The dish I order 90% of the time at Tampico's is the beef chili rellenos with no batter. I love, love, love these chili rellenos and this is the only place I will order rellenos. There is something wonderful about their ground beef mixture that when mixed with the peppers and melted cheese, that no other place can match. I usually opt for charro beans, which are delicious, in lieu of re-fried beans. I have never left Tampico's not satisfied.

For all the great memories and good food Tampico Spanish Inn will always hold a special place in my heart. Make sure you stop by 2411 W. Wall Street in Midland and try the delicious food.

FOOD-DAY, TUESDAY!

My favorite dive in Midland has to be Tater World located at 802 S. Garfield in Midland.

I always feel like I am at home when eating there. They have great breakfasts with huge breakfast burritos, made to order any way you want. And the blueberry pancakes are to die for, with more blueberries than cake. 

Our last visit was for lunch and I ordered my usual Philly cheese steak with twisters. 

The steak is so tender and juicy, accompanied by sweet grilled onions and bell peppers. The whole sandwich is topped with melted, gooey Swiss cheese... so delicious. Tater World's signature tater twisters are homemade potato chips, and they are perfection. I always have twisters left over to take with me for an afternoon snack. 

My husband and I have had just about everything on the menu, and have never found anything we didn't like. The burgers are juicy, the baked potatoes are huge, the home-made salsa is fresh and served with homemade chips, and on Fridays you can find the best catfish in town. If you are looking for a great American food experience, try Tater World, it is fantastic!

FOOD-DAY, TUESDAY!

Having grown up in Midland, I could eat Mexican food everyday of the week and not get tired of it. One of my many favorite local Mexican restaurants is Jorge's Cafe, located at 3323 N. Midland Drive, Suite 100 in Midland.

Founded by Jorge Lopez and opened since 1981, the location on Midland Drive is the original location in Midland. Many patrons have grown-up with the restaurant which now includes locations in Amarillo, Austin and Dallas. 

Once seated, the friendly staff makes sure you have chips and a bowl of Jorge's famous salsa to start your meal off right. The salsa is made fresh daily and it is apparent in the taste. Jorge's salsa is one of my favorites around town.

I decided on the 'Flautas de Pollo' - two chicken grilled flautas topped with salsa espanola. The shredded chicken is rolled in corn tortillas and grilled till crispy. The salsa espanola is a tasty sauce of stewed tomatoes, onions, and peppers. The crispy corn tortilla shell soaks up the juices of the salsa making every bite full of flavor and seasonings. For another layer of flavor, the flautas are accompanied with a small taco bowl full of guacamole for topping. The flautas are served with the usual rice and beans, but as the salsa espanola mixes with these sides it makes yet another layer of flavor for this dish. 

Needless to say my husband and I left Jorge's Cafe full stomachs and very happy.

FOOD-DAY, TUESDAY!

One my family's favorite places for a casual breakfast or lunch is Lori's Cafe, located at 2201 W. Wall Street, Midland. With a comforting, diner feel, eating at Lori's Cafe feels like coming home. The restaurant focuses on the freshest ingredients from the surrounding area.

We started our meal with an appetizer playfully named "Mouse Bait." Wedges of buttery brie are breaded and fried to create a light crust. Served on a small, wooden block, the wedges are accompanied by a tart raspberry spread.

For lunch, my husband and I both choose to pot roast melt with sweet potato fries. The slow-cooked pot roast is served on toasted, buttered sour dough bread. The roast is very juicy, and topped with sweet grilled onions and Swiss cheese. The sweet potato fries have the perfect ratio of crispy skin and buttery middle.

After hearing the pie selections, I couldn't help but order a slice of chocolate cream pie. The light and fluffy topping is topped with chocolate shavings. The chocolate filling is  light and airy, and not too sweet. And the pie crust, oh the pie crust was delicious, buttery, and flaky,

Lori's Cafe is a great, family-friendly establishment for Midland. 

FOOD-DAY, TUESDAY!

Last week my husband and I decided to try Harvest Caffe, located at 2101 W. Wadley, for lunch. We were pleasantly surprised by the table service, being that last time we ate there we ordered with the cashier. With eclectic decor and a roaring fire, Harvest Caffe is a cozy place for a cup of coffee, breakfast, or lunch.

I choose the Southwest Blackened Chicken Salad. The nicely seasoned grilled chicken was served on a bed of romaine lettuce with a black bean corn salsa. The lettuce was crisp and crunchy which accompanied the grilled chicken well. The salsa, comprised of black beans, corn, red onion, and red bell pepper is the perfect topping. Two pieces of flat-bread crackers topped with sesame seeds are served alongside the salad, perfect for scooping lettuce and vegetables on your fork. I also am a fan of serving food on simple white plates so that the food is the star.

Now since I had a salad for lunch, I decided that I could treat myself to one of Harvest Caffe's massive lemon squares, after-all isn't that how calorie math works? The lemon filling is the perfect blend of tart and sweet, sitting on top of a flaky crust.

Harvest Caffe is a great place to get a light lunch with friends, or curl up in front of the fireplace with a warm cup of coffee and god book.

FOOD-DAY, TUESDAY!

Every Tuesday I want to highlight local food, being where to find the best local delicacy or a feature on a local restaurant.

Today I pose a question.... Where do you go to get the best hamburger in Midland?

For me, I go to Bob's Better Burger at 3417 Thomason Ave. to get a small jalapeno cheeseburger.

Bob's opened 50+ years ago with the same sign that stands today. A simple drive-in, where you get out of your car to order, pick up your food after hearing your number, and take it back to your car to eat. The recipes have changed very little with everything still being made to order. The hamburgers are simple with toasted buns, juicy meat, simple vegetables, and my personal favorite, very fine chopped jalapenos. The perfect partner for this delicious burger, the extra crispy fires or tater tots. Finish it off with a milkshake and I am one happy girl.

Let me know where to get your favorite burger, I might be persuaded.