Treats on the streets

If you’re a University of Akron student, you’ve likely smelled the alluring scent of freshly grilled chicken or steak coming from a small cart in front of Bierce Library.  Whether the weather calls for rain or shine, snow or sleet, this Street Treats Grill cart serves up a hefty portion of grilled meats and toppings to hungry Akron students every weekday from late morning hours through dinner time.

This cart offers a menu that’s hard to resist.  With options such as a gyro meal, grilled or cajun chicken, steak, burgers and dogs, this cart is likely to turn-out a meal that will please any growling tummy.  Not to mention the delicious sauces to choose from, such as a gyro sauce, ranch and teriyaki.  (But, if you want BBQ, don’t be shy to ask for it — it’s not on the menu, but it’s in stock.)

For those of you who do not frequent the UA campus, you’re in luck.  Street Treats Grill is also located on the Corner of Main and Broadway in downtown Akron, open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. through 2:45 p.m.  This store offers the same delicious menu as the cart on campus, and more.  The benefits of going to the store versus the cart?  When standing in line, you either get the luxury of heat or air conditioning.  And, because it opens at 7:30 a.m., the store offers breakfast options that are not available at the cart.  The store also offers delivery options, too.  Hey – I’m okay with that.  Eating shouldn’t take that much work, anyway.

To learn more about the Street Treats Grill company, its history, products, and a little about the owner, check out this video:  Street Treats

Today I ordered a grilled chicken with BBQ sauce (sans tomato and onion, obviously) and chowed down faster than you could say “Molly’s Hungry!”

Like a hobo on a ham sandwich…

So, you think you know the ham sandwich?  I’ve had more ham sandwiches in my life than any other normal 21-year-old.  Of course, I don’t like turkey, tuna, meatballs, roast beef, bologna or any other deli meat for that matter, so ham is one of my only options.  But, because of that, I have consumed a number of ham sandwiches that will only grow exponentially as I get older.  Thus, I like to consider myself the master of the ham sandwich.

Consider the disclaimer from my first post where I list the foods that I do not like and will have removed from any menu item if at all possible before consumption.  You may recall that I do not like tomatoes or onions.  Of course, I don’t eat them on my ham sandwiches, which means that I probably eat a pretty basic ham sandwich.  The typical “Molly” ham sandwich consists of ham, cheese (usually the provalone variety, but I occasionally spice it up with swiss), lettuce, mayonnaise, pickles, and alfalfa sprouts where applicable.  Nevertheless, I know where to go when I am in the mood for a ham sandwich, and I know just the spot in Akron…

The Diamond Deli.  A small spot located on Main Street in Akron.  This family owned business has been around for over 40 years and draws a crowd of people at lunch, lined-up out the door, waiting over an hour at times to get their order.  But, it maintains a steady, loyal set of customers; to wait that long must mean the food is exceptional.

So, I went there to find out.  It is at the Diamond Deli that I ordered a ham sandwich in the company of some group members from school.  I looked at the menu and was intrigued by what I saw.  Each speacialty menu item was named after a family member or employee, and each sandwich had a story to tell.  However, me being me, I ordered a basic ham sandwich, which meant I had to alter already existing sandwiches to get my basic blend.

I was far from disappointed, in the service for accepting my request, and in the deliciousness of the food.  My tastebuds were in complete control of my mouth, and I am certain that if I tried to speak while eating, they would have programmed my mouth to say “GIVE ME MORE!”  Seriously.

Voted Best Corned Beef in Akron - 2004

I learned that most of the food is made in the deli – fresh bread, meat, condiments, etc.  A family-owned restuarant with “home-made” food – who doesn’t like that?  This deli even makes its own corned beef.  As you can imagine, I don’t like corned beef, but I do respect a restaurant that takes pride in providing fresh food daily, with excellent customer service, too!

If I were you, I’d take one afternoon (probably after the lunch rush) and grab a sandwich at “Akron’s Best Downtown Deli.”  It is an experience that won’t leave you disappointed.

Reporting with a biased tongue

I say that my tongue is biased because I am what many may call a picky eater.  Of course, that means my reports here will be coming from someone who is known to cut an ingredient out of a menu item because she just doesn’t like it.  But, that doesn’t mean I can’t recognize a good place to eat or report on a food joint that is out of this world.

Before I justify this statement, I will disclose here many of the foods that I do not enjoy:

• Tomatoes (almost indefinietly, although an occasional chips and salsa dish will be consumed)
• Onions (ugh – no way, no how  – if I could strain them out of my Ragu sauce, I would)
• Sausage
• Venison (if something smells that bad while cooking, it’s got to be lethal!)
• Banana Peppers
• Fish
• Water Chesnuts
• Mushrooms
• Ribs
• Horseradish (gag me with a spoon)
• Miracle Whip
• Seafood

Okay… you get the point.  I have some picky tastebuds.  However, like I said before, I know a good food joint when I see one.  Being a picky eater must only enhance my abilities to make that call, since it is much more difficult to please my palate, right?  Right.

So, throughout the next few months, I will be reporting on local eateries around Akron, Ohio.  Whether or not the restuarant is a franchise or a family-owned business, I want to help uncover where people can go to get a good meal while also reporting on the history of the business and getting inside scoops from chefs, waitresses, bartenders, etc.

Let’s see where my tastebuds lead me.