Meat lovers can begin their sojourn into the cosmopolitan parts of the US with their New York strip steak, an eight-ounce USDA choice strip steak, aged and marbled so that the flavors are distinct, instead of the bland kind served at cheap joints. For the elitist, the filet mignon comes hand-trimmed and grilled-to-order then is wrapped in crisp bacon. Food for the upper crust at Burgoo, of course, doesnt come at very snobbish prices the strip steak retails for P395, as does the filet.
Move on to the Italian region one imagines Brooklyn restaurants with third-generation Italian cooks behind the counter and sample the Grilled Chicken Americana, a hearty dish of herb-seasoned grilled chicken breast on a bed of angel hair pasta drenched in alla oglio pomodoro sauce (which is essentially a tomato-based sauce). For that distinctly all-American dish, there is the cheesy beef baked macaroni, a twist on the tried-and-tested version perfected by working mothers in the suburbs during the 70s, made of oven-baked penne with a beef and alfredo sauce topped with mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.
The Tex-Mex flavors come to the fore with dishes like their quesadilla, a straightforward affair of baked tortilla wraps filled with a choice of grilled chicken, pepperoni or Italian sausage with cheddar and mozzarella, and chimichanga, a fried tortilla filled with meat, lettuce, green onions and cheddar cheese topped with salsa and sour cream.
There is, of course, a homage to places like Chinatown with Burgoos oriental chicken salad, a mixture of greens, red cabbage, water chestnuts, crab meat, mandarin oranges and fried chicken cubes tossed with oriental dressing. No self-respecting state can claim culinary greatness without an authentic Chinese takeout shop or two to add some spice.
Children, or those who enjoy eating with their hands, can take a gander at the subs n burgers portion of the menu, filled with dishes like the Hamburgoo, a play one supposes on the restaurants name, made of char-broiled patties with some chicken, beef and pork and served with tomatoes, caramelized onions and Monterey Jack cheese on a sesame bun. Not for the faint of stomach. The chicken Parmesan sandwich is a less meaty dish for those opting out of the red meat category. Chicken tenderloin is marinated in a special dressing and grilled according to taste, then topped with coleslaw and crisp bacon.
In the mood for a mid-western doozy of a dish? A platter filled with baby back ribs, shrimp and sausage with a side of french fries and corn on the cob is like the fourth of July on a plate: hearty and tasty.
My particular favorite? The seafood Caesar supreme, a generous plate of traditional Caesar salad tossed with some fried calamari, grilled baby prawns and large crisp croutons drenched in a delicious, creamy Caesar dressing. Its not exactly a dish for dieters, but as far as taste goes, it certainly hits the spot.