Gene & Jude's Review

Gene & Jude's in River Grove, Illinois
Photo Credit: Gene & Judes Gallery/geneandjudes.com

After being on the road for several hours en route to the Chicagoland area, the guys and I decided we wanted a proper homecoming involving food. This could only mean one thing: hot dogs. No matter where you live, whether it be in the city or somewhere in the suburbs, nothing says Chicago quite like a quality dog. If you are looking for a great hot dog close to the city, look no further than Gene & Jude's.

Gene & Jude's-Style Hot Dog
Photo Credit: Ryan Magnuson/Mealtime With Mags

Gene & Jude's has been serving up their take on the Chicago-style hot dog since the mid-1940s at the original and only location at 2720 River Road River Grove, IL 60171. When I say "their version", I mean they do not incorporate everything that is on a typical "dragged through the garden" Chicago-style dog. If you order a dog with everything, you would get a steamed, natural-cased dog with mustard, relish, onion, sport peppers, and a healthy helping of fresh-cut fries, all piled on a fresh, seedless bun. Yes, the fries do come on the hot dog. If you are looking for ketchup for any reason at all, you better try elsewhere, because you will not find any in the establishment. If ketchup is a "must have" for you, I have it on good authority that the McDonald's next door will sell you some for a small fee.

The menu is as simple as it gets. You can get a dog or double dog with or without any of the toppings listed above, a side order of fresh-cut fries, tamales, and Coke products. That's it. They keep it simple and quick at Gene & Judes, which is the way people have enjoyed it for years. Whenever I go, which used to be a lot more when I worked in River Grove, I get two dogs with everything but relish. This is more than a full meal and I spend less than $6, maybe around $7 if I feel like washing it down with an ice cold Coke. Talk about a bargain. The dog itself has great flavor and a nice snap to it, which is the sign of a quality dog. The condiments compliment the flavor of the dog quite well. The fries are the kicker to me. Not only are they fresh and flavorful, but they give each bite a rich, fulfilling texture. There are some who choose to eat the fries off the hot dog, which is their choice, but I highly recommend eating the whole thing as one. All the flavors blend together quite well if you give them a chance.

Gene & Jude's was a great way to end a great trip and summer. If you are ever in the area, or even if you are not, give this River Grove spot a try. I promise you will enjoy it. All things aside, I am so grateful that I got to experience new places with some of the best friends I could ask for. A huge thank you to Brandon Magnuson, Chris Stielow, and Brad Baron for trying all these new places with me. I hope you enjoyed them as much as I did.

Ryan Magnuson is a Baseball/Food Writer from the Chicagoland Area

Holtman's Donuts Review

Holtman's Donuts in Cincinnati, Ohio
Photo Credit: Bridgett Raffenberg/365 Things to do in Cincinnati

They say that all great things must come to an end, which is sad, but true all at the same time. As we neared the end of our annual road trip, we wanted to leave the city of Cincinnati with a smile on our faces. What better way to start a five and a half hour drive back home than by eating some great donuts? Cue Holtman's.

A Magnificent Dozen
Photo Credit: Ryan Magnuson/Mealtime With Mags

Holman's Donuts is a family-opened, local donut shop with three locations in Ohio, and has been serving up freshly made, extremely tasty pastries since 1960. Their downtown Cincy shop, located at 1332 Vine Street Cincinnati, OH 45202, is in a very nice location and has tons of charm. One of the coolest things about the location is that you can see the donuts and ingredients being made fresh right in the window. Seeing everything being made right in front of you may cause you to stop in your tracks, but the intoxicating smell of hot, fresh donuts will force you to go in and pick some up.

Not only are they fresh, but the variety is outstanding as well. You can choose from different types of dough, fillings, glazes/icings, and toppings, which was difficult to do for me, but I managed. After scouring the options, the four of us purchased a dozen, each person choosing their own three. We selected four original glazed, four vanilla-iced with sprinkles, a cinnamon twist, a key lime-filled, a red velvet, and a maple-iced topped with bacon. The total for the dozen came out to $13, which may seem steep, but the quality alone was worth the price. I personally had an original glazed and two vanilla-iced with sprinkles and I felt like I died and went to donut heaven. Each sweet, airy bite was better than the next, making me want to go up to the counter to purchase three more. I resisted because we had to get back on the road, but Holtman's was everything I was looking for and more.

I had been searching for quality, fresh-made donuts near home for weeks, but never came across anything worth writing about. No, Dunkin Donuts is not worth writing about. Holtman's answered my call and satisfied my craving, proving to me that the places I was looking for did indeed exist. I will continue to search for great donuts closer to home, but will be counting down the days until I can get back to Holtman's. You can count on that.


Ryan Magnuson is a Baseball/Food Writer from the Chicagoland Area

Eli's BBQ Review

Eli's BBQ in Cincinnati, Ohio
Photo Credit: Ryan Magnuson/Mealtime With Mags

With the Pittsburgh skyline at our backs, the last part of our summer road trip started in the journey to Cincinnati, OH. After spending the whole morning driving, our group got BBQ fever. Rather than stopping at the Montgomery Inn, which is one of the most popular BBQ spots in Ohio, we decided to try a lesser known spot called Eli's BBQ.

Pulled Pork Sandwich Plate
Photo Credit: Ryan Magnuson/Mealtime With Mags

Eli's has been serving up great food and great times to Cincy natives for the past several years. Their simple menu does not overwhelm anyone, as you have a few meats and several sides to choose from, which hints that they are all about perfecting what they do best. Their single location, at 3313 Riverside Drive Cincinnati, OH 45226, is minutes away from the Ohio River and is just far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Both the indoor and outdoor seating were packed, clearly their great food was not a secret to anyone, so it did take a little while for our food to get to us. Was it worth the wait? You bet it was.

Rib Tips
Photo Credit: Ryan Magnuson/Mealtime With Mags

With the menu being smaller, only pulled pork, hickory smoked turkey, ribs, and Nathan's All-Beef Hot Dogs to choose from, I went with the classic pulled pork sandwich, which had a base price of $5. I decided to make it a plate for an additional $3, getting mac and cheese and coleslaw as my sides. I washed it all down with an ice cold coke, it was bottled, which I was a huge fan of. Soft drinks always taste better in a bottle to me. My meal was right around the $10 mark, which is pretty much the norm for BBQ no matter where you go. The most important thing to me is the quality, and Eli's was not lacking in that department. The pork was juicy, had a nice crust and smoke ring, and a great smoky flavor. I doused my sandwich in their tangy BBQ sauce, which  only made the sandwich better. The mac and cheese was hearty and flavorful, displaying all the classic signs of a great side from a quality BBQ establishment. In addition to my meal, I finished the rib tips my brother ordered, which were a special for the day. I don't eat rib tips often due to their reputation as being fatty, but these were not fatty at all. The slow cooking process melted the fat away. They were very meaty, had excellent flavor, due to the dry rub that was applied previously, and the BBQ sauce was an excellent contribution as well.

My first ever meal in Cincy was a success, and it was a great addition to my ever-expanding list of quality BBQ places. If you are in town on business, visiting family, or just checking out a Reds game like we were, make sure you give Eli's BBQ a visit. You will thank me later.

Ryan Magnuson is a Baseball/Food Writer from the Chicagoland Area

Primanti Bros. Review

Primanti Bros. in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Photo Credit: Ryan Magnuson/Mealtime With Mags

In a city known for it's food, Pittsburgh brought us weary, Illinois travelers a variety of quality food. Being college-aged kids, we are always looking to get good food in mass quantities without cleaning out our wallets, so we made sure our next stop in the Steel City would involve just that. Venturing to the heart of the University of Pittsburgh campus, we walked into Primanti Bros., a favorite among Penn natives.

Primanti Bros. has been serving up super-sized sandwiches since the early 1900s, but these are no ordinary sandwiches. A Primanti sandwich is like a full meal stuffed between two slices of thick Italian bread, served with heaps of fresh cut fries, coleslaw, and tomatoes, in addition to your choice of meat and cheese. The sandwich was created to cater to those who either did not have the time or money to squeeze in a full meal, so Primanti's made sure their guests did not leave hungry or broke. A version of these sandwiches are made in Chicago at Lucky's Sandwich Co., a favorite spot of mine closer to home.

Turkey and Cheese with Bacon Stuffed Sandwich
Photo Credit: Ryan Magnuson/Mealtime With Mags

With locations all over the Pittsburgh area, one does not have to travel far to find an establishment. I visited the Oakland location, at 3803 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15213, which was right near the Pitt campus. We walked right in and got our food fairly quickly, which was great because we were hungry. I ordered a turkey breast and cheese with bacon, which costed me in the neighborhood of $9. The turkey was thinly cut with tons of flavor and the bacon was thick and crispy. The fries were freshly cut and added more substance to the sandwich. The bread was light and airy, yet held in the contents of the sandwich quite well. All menu items, including the 20 plus other sandwiches, wings, salads, soups, and sides, will run you around $10 or less. Caution: whatever you end up ordering, expect to leave full. It is a lot of food.

In comparison to Lucky's, the Primanti sandwich had a head up to me. It had more meat, both turkey and bacon were loaded on, whereas meat seemed less ample on the Lucky's sandwich. The fries were more to my liking also, fresh cut and russet potato-like, where as Lucky's uses more of a steak-cut. Both sandwiches are delicious, but I favor the original in Pittsburgh. If you are ever in Pittsburgh, make sure to visit the birthplace of the stuffed sandwich, Primanti Bros., at one of their many locations. You will not regret it.

Ryan Magnuson is a Baseball/Food Writer from the Chicagoland Area

Dave and Andy's Homemade Ice Cream Review

Dave and Andy's Homemade Ice Cream in Pittsburgh, PA
Photo Credit: Ryan Magnuson/Mealtime With Mags

There is no better way to end a solid night than with some good ice cream, so that is what my group and I decided to search for after walking the Pittsburgh downtown all day. About a mile or so from our hotel, near the heart of the University of Pittsburgh campus, we found Dave and Andy's Homemade Ice Cream.

Dave and Andy's has been serving locals and visitors homemade ice cream creations and hand rolled waffle cones to since 1983. They are known for their fresh and unique selection of your favorite treat, only having five regular flavors (vanilla, chocolate, cookies and cream, chocolate chip cookie dough, and birthday cake), with the rest of the line up changing often. In addition to ice cream, they serve up various frozen yogurts and sorbet, which gives people a lighter option to enjoy. One can expect to spend $5 or less for a typical treat here, the fresh and house-made ingredients worth every penny.

The atmosphere of Dave and Andy's provided me with a blast from the past, as I felt like I was in one of those old school ice cream shops you only see in the movies. The black and white checkered floor, the bright colored, picture covered walls, and the chalkboard menu gave the space a warm, nostalgic feel. The fact that it is near a busy street in a college town makes it accessible to Pitt students and residents of the Oakland neighborhood.

Double Scoop in a Homemade Waffle Cone
Photo Credit: Ryan Magnuson/Mealtime With Mags

Ice cream has always been one of my guilty pleasures, so I had to make sure I got some while I was on my road trip. I'm a fan of the frozen treat in all its different forms, whether it be soft serve or hard packed, but its not often when I come across a place that does everything fresh and isn't a chain. Walking through the door at Dave and Andy's was an experience in itself, as I was blasted with the heavenly aroma of freshly made waffle cones. From that instance I knew I was getting a cone, the smell was too good to pass up, but then came the dilemma of which flavors to get. I decided on two flavors, double chocolate and mint chocolate chip, and I did not regret my decision. The ice cream itself was creamy and packed with tons of chocolate, which I was a huge fan of. The waffle cone was sweet and crunchy, and held the ice cream in quite well. There was even a red M&M at the bottom of the cone to ensure no ice cream leaked on my hands, a cool trick that not many places think to do. For two scoops of fresh ice cream in a homemade waffle cone, I paid $5, which may seem a little steep compared to many of the chains around. When you look at the hard work that goes into what you're eating, the little extra is worth it.

The old school ice cream parlor is something I don't see much of any more, so I jump on the chance to enjoy a fresh creation in a cool, old time set up whenever I get the chance. If you are ever in the Steel City or near the University of Pittsburgh campus, be sure to stop by Dave and Andy's Homemade Ice Cream at 207 Atwood Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.

Ryan Magnuson is a Baseball/Food Writer from the Chicagoland Area

Stone Neapolitan Pizzeria Review

Stone Neapolitan Pizzeria in Pittsburgh, PA
Photo Credit: Ryan Magnuson/Mealtime With Mags

The month of August has started out with a bang, as I got to travel to cities I have never been to before for some baseball and great food. This post is the first in a seven post series, highlighting all of the great local restaurants I visited during my time in Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. On our first day in The Steel City, my friends and I traveled to the downtown area to explore. Having been in a car for several hours, we were hungry and decided to make a stop at a local pizza joint called Stone Neapolitan Pizzeria.

Wood-fired Oven
Photo Credit: Ryan Magnuson/Mealtime With Mags

Opened by Pennsylvania native Rick Werner in 2012, Stone has been serving up authentic Neapolitan-style pizza to Pittsburgh natives and out-of-towners for the past couple years, and is said to have been the first casual joint of its kind in the entire state. They are known for their fresh ingredients and insanely quick cook time, around 90 seconds to cook a pie, which gives visitors a quality meal to enjoy during the course of their busy day. Stone’s menu features a number of pizza options, including house pies and create your own pie, and non-pizza options, including sandwiches, salads, and a number of beer/wine options. One can expect to spend anywhere from $5 to $12 on any of the menu items, special or additional ingredients costing extra. The pricing is not only fair, but is more than worth it based on the quality that goes into anything you would eat.

The atmosphere of Stone was sleek and cool, with tall windows and high ceilings making the space seem larger than it was. Wood paneling on the walls and ceilings were also contributors to the unique feel of the space. The coolest thing about the space is the large wood-fired oven in the corner of the cooking area. It gives one the feeling of being in an authentic pizza place. Being in the middle of the hustle and bustle of downtown Pittsburgh with all of the businesses and such makes it accessible to the masses. Ample indoor and outdoor seating gives visitors a great view of the downtown as well.

Fresh Pepperoni and Hot Sauage Pizza
Photo Credit: Ryan Magnuson/Mealtime With Mags

I wanted my first official meal in Pittsburgh to be a special one, so I was hoping to find something unique and special. Stone was this and more. Truthfully, it changed the way I looked at pizza for the better. I selected the Create Your Own Pizza option, which was broken down into three steps. Step One, Choose Your Base, gave me three options for my pizza base: Marinara (no cheese), Margherita (sauce and fresh mozzarella), and Bianca (oil with no sauce). Step Two, Choose Your Oil, gave me the option of choosing from various oils, garlic, or chili to top my pizza base. Step Three, Choose Your Toppings, gave me a number of different topping options for $1 each (pepperoni, mild or hot sausage, salami, roasted red pepper, etc.), specialty toppings like prosciutto costing $3 each. For my pie, I went with the Margherita (fresh mozzarella, real tomato sauce, and fresh basil), fresh garlic, and pepperoni and hot sausage as toppings. The hand tossed crust was light and airy, easily the best crust I have ever had, and I could tell how fresh it was even if I had not just witnessed the worker tossing it. The cheese was fresh and ample, but not too heavy, and the sauce was light and non-acidic, standing out in a good way. The garlic was noticeable, but attributed well to the pizza’s authentic taste. The pepperoni and hot sausage were added bonuses to the already great taste, both fresh with outstanding flavor. The fact that I was able to get a pizza of this quality within 10 minutes for the minimal price of $9 was the most unbelievable part of the whole experience. I'm always looking for great food at a great price, so finding gems like Stone is special to me. 

Not having pizza like this around me makes me miss Pittsburgh that much more, but it gives me more of a reason to go back. If you are ever in the downtown Pittsburgh area and are looking for a place to get some of the best pizza you will ever eat, check out Stone Neapolitan Pizzeria at 300 Liberty Avenue, Suite 100 Pittsburgh, PA 15222.  

Ryan Magnuson is a Baseball/Food Writer from the Chicagoland Area