Our Cheese Fries Addiction: Rib City

by Alisha Diaz
Photos by Moises Diaz

Moises and I had been working very hard. We both started new jobs on the same day, and we finally wanted to treat ourselves with a date night. We immediately agreed on going to Rib City! We love Rib City, but we hadn't been there for quite some time. We had a great time, we had great food, and we had great service. Let me tell you all about it.

When we go to Rib City, about 90% of the time we go to the Estero location. We came in and got seated right away. Someone did tell us that they had some new employees, but everything went smoothly and everyone seemed to be doing a great job. This Rib City gets a lot of customers, but they are great at seating everyone. I have only had a wait one time throughout the years, and it was a very short wait.

When we decided that we wanted to do out date night at Rib City, we knew we wanted to blog about it. We don't have the funds to go to restaurants whenever we want to blog, but we try to blog about the places that are special to us. That being said, we knew exactly what we wanted to order when we got there. Our lovely waitress let us put in our drink, appetizer, and dinner order all at once. Wow! We got our orders very quickly as well. It was great!

Moises', who has been living in SWFL way longer than me, always orders his Rib City drinks in a "To Go" cup. I have followed his habit in this as well. They are huge! Moises got a sweet tea, and I stuck with lemon water. His sweet tea was great! My stomach gets mad at me when I drink sweet tea, but the sip I had was delicious. My water was fresh and tasted good as well.

Now Moises and I have a bad habit of ordering the same thing every time here. Knowing we were going to blog and take pictures, we wanted to try a couple new things. Naturally, I went to Facebook. I asked a big food group, Foodies Unite! My Local SWFL, what their favorite Rib City foods were. I was pleasantly surprised! Many agreed with what our favorites were, but we also got many new suggestions. We did follow those suggestions, and we were very happy we did. Moises and I usually get the cheese and bacon fries with ranch and spicy ranch as an appetizer. Then we usually each get a half pound of chicken tenders. Moises does not eat spicy so he would get the mild, and I would get the hot ones. This does work nicely for us, but we wanted to reach outside of the box.

This time, as suggested, we got the onion rings. WOW! I expected a few, but the portion is huge! That is a great quantity for what you pay, and they tasted great too. Moises got the big fish sandwich with a side of macaroni and cheese. He loved his sandwich, and he shared the macaroni with me. It was good, but not my absolute favorite. I would eat it again though. That is not a complaint. I did still get my hot chicken tenders though. I wanted to include them since they are our favorite. It sounds crazy to love the chicken at a rib joint, but it's true! Rib City has even won awards for them. We highly recommend them.

Our food was crazy delicious as usual, and we were completely happy with our service. We had absolutely no complaints at all. We really enjoyed trying a couple new things as well. If you haven't tried new foods at your favorite restaurants in a while, I would certainly try it. We were missing out! Next time we will try the ribs!

Do you love Rib City? Comment below about what your favorite meal is. Maybe we will try it next
time!

Rib City Link: https://ribcity.com/

It's Everywhere and Rightfully So: Royal Scoop

by Alisha Diaz

In SWFL you may see Royal Scoop ice cream sold at random places. You may also see a food truck or a booth set up at a local event. Royal Scoop makes homemade ice cream in tons of different flavors, and it deserves to be well known. It's delicious! My husband is from Immokalee, Florida, so he never had Royal Scoop before. I was finally able to take him on Valentines Day, and it was a great experience. 

On Valentines Day, we really just wanted a relaxing evening together. We went and got subs and ate them outside at a local restaurant. Right after we made our way to Royal Scoop, and wow! We got there just in time. By the time we sat down, there was a line out the door. What a popular place! I forgot how packed it would get here. I guess it is season too. 

When you walk in, you will see all the options you are able to order. We decided that we each wanted a big scoop in a bowl. There are tons of flavors, and  I definitely had a hard time choosing which one to get. I did get hot fudge on mine as well. Though Royal Scoop sells regular food as well, we were simply way too full to try something. 

When placing an order, you will tell the cashier on the left what you would like. You will pay there as well. Then you will walk along the coolers, and there is a pickup area at the end. 

Moises and I were very happy with our icecream selections. They were very yummy! We look forward to going back soon and trying some more flavors that are available. We would also like to try one of their ice cream cakes sometime as well. Royal Scoop does a great job sending out coupons to the community and having special promotion days. I would definitely recommend them, but keep in mind that they may have a line. 

Royal Scoop's Website: http://www.royalscoop.com/

His First Rodeo:Fort Myers Pro Rodeo

by Alisha Diaz

I'm so excited! I could scream! The Fort Myers Pro Rodeo usually happens every February. Knowing it was coming up I was constantly checking online and on Facebook to see when it was coming. I kept coming up with nothing. I couldn't find anything on Facebook, and the website hadn't been changed since last year. I was sooooo bummed. I figured that the place was too damaged by the hurricane that they couldn't have the rodeo. BUT YESTERDAY IT HAPPENED! They posted that the rodeo is going to be in March, and it has been announced on Facebook. I was so stoked. I sent a bunch of my friends the advertisement, and I can't wait to go.

LINK: https://www.fortmyersprorodeo.com/

Last year was Moises' first ever rodeo. We went all out! I "made him" put on his cowboy jeans, his country styled t-shirt, his cowboy hat, and last but not least, his boots! He looked great, and I dressed accordingly as well. For those who know me well in person... I talked this thing up as I always do! I told him all about the horses, the cowboys, the bulls, the sheep, the food! Everything! It's one of my favorite events all year, and I was so excited to share this experience with my love, especially since it was his first time. I wanted to write about our experience before, but I was not about to post about an event that wasn't going to happen anymore. Since that changed, I would love to share our experience with you and give you an idea of what to expect when you go to a rodeo. Let me give you a few tips first.

My main suggestion is to ARRIVE EARLY. I can not emphasize this enough. You will get first dibs on parking, be able to get your tickets smoothly, and be able to pick the best spot for your group. The bleachers will fill up before you know it, and you do not want to have to split up your group. That is a big mood killer. It should be a fun night out with your friends and family, and it shouldn't be a time to stress. Also, keep in mind, there are two sides where you can sit. In the picture above you can see how the other side is getting packed, but our side is fairly empty at the time. The bleachers are not the most comfortable seats, so if you bring a bleacher pad or something to sit on, it will help.

Bring cash! There will be gifts, games, and food available. Many vendors do not accept cards, so be prepared. I like to come prepared, because you can get the best-fried Oreos you've ever tasted! Seriously, the Oreos are amazing. You also might want to buy a hot chocolate if it happens to be freezing out, as it has for past rodeos. (Maybe not since it is in March)




Come expecting a good time. We always do! The entertainment is amazing. It's generally very clean fun and family approved. There is a rodeo clown and he's a hoot. There is a possibility of a dirty joke or two. Everyone is very respectful, and we start the night off with the national anthem and a prayer.

If you have never been to a rodeo before, you might be in for a shock! Most of the animals are huge! We start the night off with the cutest event. Mutten bustin! Little kids will be timed on how long they can ride a sheep. It may sound a little dangerous, because it is! All the kids are required to wear helmets. It's not actually worse than riding a bike. During the night there will be thrilling competition such as barrel racing, bull riding, steer wrestling, team roping, bareback, and saddle bronc. These athletes and trained professionals, and they are in a real stiff competition for a money prize. They risk their safety to compete, but they love doing it.

The animals are not being hurt during the process. The bulls buck due to a belt on their belly. It is pulled tight, and they hate that. I think we would too! It does not hurt them though. You may also think, these poor animals... they have to live in fenced in yards without being free. It is way better than being butchered into a hamburger. All jokes aside these animals are loved and well taken care of.

DO NOT let your kids hang on the fence or stand directly behind the fences. This goes for adults too. You will probably hear the announcer mention it a few time when he sees people doing it. This is for your own safety. Sometimes the bulls like to use the fences to knock the cowboys off. Though it might be a better view, the possibility of getting hurt is not worth it.

Moises had so much fun at the rodeo, and I'm glad it lived up to the expectations I put in his head. We were talking about it for weeks! This year we are hoping to get a large group to go and having a good time. You should go too! Check out the website for ticket information. It's $20 per adult and $10 per kid. You'll have a great time, and you'll see how impressive these competitors' skills are!

Who Would Have Known: Koreshan State Park

by Alisha Diaz

Do you know the local history of your town? Estero, Florida has a state park set up to preserve some of their town's history. The park has a nice river, trails, and a camping area, but they also have history displays and buildings. Koreshan State Park not the biggest park, but it is a fun place to get out and enjoy the outdoors.

(Link: https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Koreshan)

   

If I explain this correctly, it was actually the property of a self-sustaining cult. A cult!? That sounds scary! It wasn't so bad, at least from what was recorded. They believed the earth is contained on the inside of a sphere, instead of believing the earth is a sphere in the universe. They did not communicate with the outside world. They built, sew, and grew everything they needed. They did not use money either. Everyone worked for the common goal, and someone was in charge of distributing the good according to each family's needs. They had a leader, and he prophesied that he would resurrect when he died. They kept his body in a tomb hoping it was true. A Florida hurricane swept it away, and their leader never did return. (This is my personal opinion/summary, and I tried to explain as well as possible.)

Throughout the park there are old preserved buildings on display. You can enter some of them and see how they lived and worked in them. They are actually quite beautiful and many people visit the park for photography purposes. One of the buildings has a television set up with a documentary of the cult. Another one of them is actually used a lot for performances or concerts.

My favorite part of the park is the trails. They are mainly walked by the locals. It runs along the river and is a beautiful sight. There is a section of bamboo that many people have carved their names or initials into. It's nice to see how many people have been at this same spot. Remember to bring your bugs pray when you head out on these paths. Watch your step as well. You could come across a snake or a tortoise.

Though I have never done it, paddle boarding, kayaking, and canoeing is available. The prices are very reasonable, and I know many that have tried it. This park also doubles as a camping site. There are bathrooms, open areas, playgrounds, and everything you'd need to have a camp out. You would need to provide your own tent or camper, of course.

The cost to enter the park is $5.00 per vehicle. That is pretty standard for a Florida park. I think that is a reasonable price to be able to explore the outdoors and view some beautiful scenery. Moises and I love to go there every once in a while to stretch our legs and go for a walk. Some great friends of ours are wanting to check it out, and hopefully we can plan a day there soon. If you are looking for more specific information, I suggest checking out their website. We hope you give the park a shot.

Date Night with the Best Cheesecake: The Cheesecake Factory

by Alisha Diaz

Today's blog is going to be a little different. It's going to be more like a mini blog. Though the Cheesecake Factory is pretty well known, I've noticed quite a lot of our friends have never been there. We only have one in our area, I believe. It is located in Naples at the Coastland Center Mall. It's a little fancy, has great food, and is perfect for a date night. Here's what we think you would need to know before going to the Cheesecake Factory for the first time.

(Link: https://www.thecheesecakefactory.com)

When you walk into the Cheesecake Factory, the atmosphere is amazing. The restaurants are generally very large and full of customers. Every part of the restaurant is highly decorated with beautiful details. Though you do not have to dress up, many people do to match the fancy atmosphere. I would not bring a group of more than 6 people. The Cheesecake Factory is quite a popular restaurant, so they like to have many smaller tables to keep the flow of people going. This does not mean they run you out or try to push you out of the door. This concept helps them to seat all their guest without having to have a crowd of people waiting at the door.


They do not only serve cheesecake. They have a full menu. It's actually huge! They have tons of options, and they have a wide assortment as well. One friend of mine likes to order the Grilled Cheese, and another one of my friends always orders the Thai Lettuce Wraps. Though I do really enjoy the Thai Lettuce Wraps, I also get the Chicken Bellagio pretty often. Appetisers are an option, but you will get a bread basket and butter for the table. The food portions are VERY large, so we usually skip the appetizers, unless we are "starving."

You can't have your meal without a drink. My favorite is the Strawberry Lemonade. It has been my favorite from the beginning. It is real lemonade, and it is made with real strawberries. They even step it up with decorating the rim of the glass. Thankfully these drinks still have free refills or I would spend way too much.

The Cheesecake Factory lives up to its name when it comes to cheesecake. It should be illegal to leave this restaurant without having a slice. They have a menu just for their desserts. They have so many choices, and it's hard to pick just one. I would say each slice is about $8, but it is so worth it. They are so rich in flavor. The slices are quite large. I recommend asking for it to go ahead of time since you will probably eat half of it like we do. I usually get a cheesecake that has caramel and chocolate incorporated in it, but Moises' favorite is plain. It's his favorite thing to have with a nice cup of coffee.

When planning your night out at the Cheesecake Factory, keep in mind the prices are a little more expensive than usual. We tend to only go there for a special occasion since it is a little more pricey than we would like to spend on a regular basis. It is a little far from our home as well. This is not a dump on them at all though. Their prices are completely worth it! They have huge portions, and I usually use my leftovers for 2 additional meals. The cheesecake is so full of ingredients, and that cost adds up. I highly recommend the Cheesecake Factory, especially for a date night. It's perfect for Valentines Day coming up!

Tell us what your favorite cheesecake is below! Do you have a favorite meal? Let us know. Maybe we will try it next time!