Alright, so let's start out on a positive note! Today, we're going to talk about Angelo's Italian restaurant in Harriman, NY. For more info, go  HERE.

If you haven't been there yet, you should. They cook Italian food right. As a person of (mostly) Italian heritage, I NEVER go out for Italian (there's no way to beat my Mom's cooking, after all). But, this place cannot be denied. The wait was longer than most places once you order (and, really, it wasn't that long of a wait, IMO), but there's a reason for it. They cook to order. [GASP!] -- Cook to order?!?!?! Yeah, that's right, Jerky -- something all of you other jokes-of-a-restaurant are SUPPOSED to do, but don't. Everything we ordered was outstanding. Everything. 

There's really no point in elaborating on the food, because it's all great, and tomorrow might have a different menu, anyway. Listen up, now, because this next part is important: great dishes, using great ingredients, prepared with great care. It's really quite a simple concept, isn't it? What more would you want? This is all you should expect from a restaurant, and all you should get, regardless of genre. If you can't deliver that, close up shop and go into a different line of work.

You know what? Forget everything I said. I want this place all to myself. Nah, I can't do it -- I'd be doing a disservice to the community. GO THERE. MANGIA. BE HAPPY.

Game On!

Alright, kiddies, it's GAME ON!

Welcome to the maiden voyage of "What You Eat Doesn't Have To Suck". The purpose of this blog is to let people know that, well...read the title again. I'm not going to tell you what you should eat, what's good for you, what's not -- that's not for me to decide. But, I do want to talk about some things that irk me. Starting with the dearth of good food in my area, which is lower Orange County, NY.

My wife and I watch a lot of food-related TV shows. All over this country, I see great places to eat. Everywhere -- big cities, tiny towns, North, South, East, West. So, why is it that I can't find a decent place to eat? Ok, there are a few, but I am shocked at the level of suckiness that most places settle for. You know the kind of place I'm talking about: boring menu, soggy fries, servers that don't know customer service, and a general "I can't believe you expect me to feed you quality food!" attitude that is oh so prevalent.

Heck, maybe it's ME. Maybe I'M the problem! Maybe I expect too much from my local eatery! Maybe I expect too much from my neighbors, because the only places that seem to do well here are the chain places -- Chili's, Outback, etc. I've got nothing against them, really, and do eat there from time to time. In a sense, those places are exempt from my tirades, as they are at least consistent in their corporate mediocrity. 

No, I will be directing most of my vitriol to the local joints. The ones that half-ass it and expect to cash in. Those are the food sellers (really, I can't call many of them "restaurants", as they often don't measure up to that)  that will fall squarely in my virtual reticule. And ridicule.

And, I will be naming names. Stay tuned...