Restaurant: Lee's Kitchen in Raleigh, NC

Dish:  Smothered Fried Chicken, Creamy Mac-N-Cheese, and String Beans

Critique:  "Darling I, I can't get enough of your love babe..." What's more soulful than Barry White?  Lee's Kitchen that's what.  For those who don't feel like slaving over a stove after a hard days work, but still would like to have a taste of home- Lee's Kitchen is your answer.  The Hotness would like to report that due to the secret elves, the string beans were exceptional.   Yes, the mac-n-cheese rocked with the creamy cheese, I wouldn't expect anything less from Lee.  In addition, Lee gets high marks for the smothered fried chicken...UMMMM is the only word that comes to mind.  I don't know who Lee is but I demand that he gives us the recipe for that smothered chicken gravy.  Greetings Lee! Smothered gravy recipe petition will be forthcoming.

Score: 4 out of 4 Hotties.

Dish:  Red Velvet Cake

Critique:  Icing. Sweetness on top goodness.  If you're looking for a super sweet cake, well this ain't it.  Lee's Red Velvet cake will be appreciated by dessert admirers for sticking to the basics when it comes to cakes.  Sweet, moist, and tasty.  What more can a foodie ask for in cake?  Good stuff!

Score:  3 out of 4 Hotties!

Restaurant:  Guasaca Arepa & Salsa Grill

Dish:  Mechada Bowl

Critique:  Mechada.  The Mechada makes us want to do the La Bamba.  No doubt.  This baby is packed with shredded beef, black beans, pico de gallo, cheese, and spicy red sauce.  When you think about Guasaca think FRESH and DELICIOUS.  We chose the brown rice to accompany the shower of South American flavors on our taste buds.  The bowl was quite delicious on it's own, but what took it over the top were the SAUCES!! We had the cilantro sauce on the side...and by the end of the first bite, the cilantro sauce was poured all over the Mechada.  Good times indeed.  La la la Bamba!  

Score:  3 1/2 Hotties out of 4.


Dish:  Cilantro Sauce, Red Spicy Sauce, and Guasaca Sauce

Critique:  Sure, do I really need to dedicate time to write about sauces?  (Using my Thor voice) "Ummm, yes I do."  If you are a fan of cilantro you will want to literally drink the Cilantro Sauce like it's water.  No lie, it was so good I had to get a second helping to satisfy the cilantro monster growing inside of me.  Feed me Seymore!  Not to be out done, the Guasaca Sauce was created by the best avocado specialists this side of the Northern Hemisphere.  Guasaca contains juicy chunks of avocado, bits of tomato, and secret seasonings.  It should be a crime for avocados to taste that good.  Shame on you avocado!

Score: 4 out of 4 Hotties!

Restaurant: Only Burger in Durham, NC

Dish: The Mushroom Melt

Critique:  Feel like eating a hot juicy burger?  Feel like having a good reason for grease running down your arm as you bite into lusciousness?  Well ladies and gents, Only Burger gives you that reason plus more.  Yes, this burger has the usual naughtiness-sauteed mushrooms, onions, bacon, cheese, and topped with a ranch sauce.   Did I mention bacon?  If you are a burger lover, trust me- this burger will love you back like a long lost love.  Only Burger uses fresh hormone free beef so diners can feel less guilty about enjoying the lusciousness which proves why Only Burger is one of the best burger joints of North Carolina.

Score: 3 out of 4 Hotties.





Dish:  Bacon Wrapped House Made Mac-N-Cheese Squares

Critique:  Did I mention bacon?  Why yes I did! Who has ever heard of deep fried mac-n-cheese squares? My belly that's who!  Do I need to go into detail about the wondrous partnership between bacon and macaroni-n-cheese? Of course I don't! Just know that these yummy delights are worth doing those extra three sit-ups...trust me :)     

Score: 3 1/2 out of 4 Hotties.

Restaurant:  Flights at North Hills

Dish:  Crab Cake Stack

Critique:  First of all, let me state that finding a truly delicious crab cake is hard to find—mainly because some put too much breading on the cake itself.  I really like next to nothing on my crab cake so I can taste the sweetness of the succulent crab meat.  With that said, this crab cake was prepared perfectly! Not only was the crab meat fresh from the Arctic Ocean, it was served over a smoked cheddar cheese biscuit topped with a fried egg, drizzled with jalapeno hollandaise' sauce.  Oh yea babe! And Yes! It taste as good as it looks, go get you some!!

Score:  3 1/2 out of 4 Hotties!!


Dish:  The Hot Cheesecake

Critique:  Now I know why this dessert is called "The Hot Cheesecake" because there is no other cheesecake on earth that compares.  Even if you aren't a fan of cheesecake, you will be after one bite.  I decided to try the regular hot cheesecake and Sweetly opted for the Gingerbread one and OMG! The Gingerbread was where the party was at- The Hotness had to beg Sweetly just for a tiny spoonful of the gingerbread goodness.  How is it possible that this dessert has escaped as one of the Seven Wonders of the World?! We hear by declare Flight's Hot Cheesecake to be the Eighth Wonder of the World! You should have been got you some!

Score: 4 out of 4 Hotties.

Restaurant:  From the Kitchen of The Hotness

Dish:  Merry Christmas Dinner!

Critique:  During Christmas celebration, my sisters and I put on a spread that is worthy for Kings and Queens visiting from other nations.  In other words, we throw down extra hard during this festive occasion just because we like to cook and eat....all at the same time. Yes, there is some serious competition involved and it definitely shows in the food.  Let's get the party started! Going clockwise at 1:00- we have homemade Macaroni & Cheese made with Cracker-barrel (it's the best cheese), Green Beans, slow roasted homemade Honey Baked Ham, at 6:00 we have Barbecue Ribs, Southern Style Turkey Legs, Dressing with Dark Gravy, Mustard Potato Salad, and bringing it home at 12:00 are Collard Greens with Smoked Turkey Necks.  This plate was so good, it made me want to "smack my mama" TWICE!! But I'm too afraid to do such a thing, matter of fact I'm scared to write anything about smacking my mama, but the food was just THAT good.

Score: 4 out of 4 Hotties!!


Dish: Ambrosia de la Hotness

Critique:  The last time I truly enjoyed ambrosia occurred when my mother prepared it, I was a wee tiny lassie.  I recently had a craving for it and figured, how hard could it be to make?  After Googling a few recipes that I thought were similar to mom's, I gave it a shot and voila! It taste just like it did when I was a wee tiny lassie.  I did add a few fresh strawberries to give it the Ambrosia 2.0 feeling.  This dish was quite the hit since numerous attendees helped themselves to three and four plates of Ambrosia Heaven...obviously they couldn't stop themselves.  Is there such a thing as an Ambrosia overdose?  Calm down people, I'm not taking anyone to the emergency room!  "Ain't nobody got time for that!"

Score: 4 out of 4 Hotties!!

Restaurant: Bahama Breeze

Dish: Seafood Paella

Critique:  I've always had a weak spot for Spanish foods, usually because these dishes are so deep, rustic, and oh so colorful...just like a rainbow.  Packed with shrimp, scallops, chicken, fish, and mussels over savory yellow rice this paella is officially worthy of its title. The only way this fantastico dish could get any better is if Antonio Banderas personally adds his special seasonings from Spain.  Not only does the flavor pack a "paella punch"-but the dazzling presentation deserves kudos too.
Score: 3 out of 4 Hotties!


Dish: Buttermilk Fried Chicken Breast

Critique:  Okay, I'm a firm believer that fried chicken should only be eaten with collard greens and macaroni & cheese. BUT...BUT after eating this delectable fried chicken meal served with spinach, tomatoes, and melted cheese over mash potatoes, we amended the fried chicken constitution to include these yummy new sides.  This dish was such a surprise hit that someone (not The Hotness) had melted cheese dripping down her chin.  I was like..."What the?? Is it Really that Good?"  Yes, it was!  There is a picture of this debauchery taking place with buttermilk chicken, however I've been threatened not to share so other chickens won't get upset.
Score: 4 out of 4 Hotties!

Restaurant: The Yard House

Dish: Spicy Jambalaya

Critique: This wonderful dish lives up to its name of spiciness.  Filled with jumbo shrimp, chicken-andouille sausage, and sweet crawfish- one bite of this New Orleans is just like eating one Lay's potato chip. You can't stop the madness of the fiesta taking place in your mouth.  The bonus with this dish is that the Yard House offers brown rice for the health nuts who want to walk on the dark side of jambalaya.

Score: 3 out of 4 Hotties!


Dish: Salted Caramel Butterscotch Pudding

Critique:  DELICIOUS! We won't lie, we literally had to close our eyes with each spoonful of this goodness from Heaven.  We have no idea what manna tastes like, but after devouring this dessert...YES! Oh taste and see that the Lord is good and this Salted Caramel Butterscotch Pudding is proof! Yummy!!

Score: 4 out of 4 Hotties!