If you’ve ever been to New York, or known anyone from New York, you’ve probably heard of the unappetizing-sounding dish called the ”garbage plate.” The garbage plate was created in 1918 by a genius (in my book) named Nick Tahou, who owned Nick Tahou Hots in Rochester, N.Y. Although no one will ever be able to recreate it completely, as Tahou was smart enough to trademark his signature dish, T-Bones has added a N.Y. “Garbage Plate” Burger to their menu; along with 19 other new dishes. The Garbage Plate Burger is made with two slices of pan-seared meatloaf topped with fried potato “wheels,” coleslaw, red onion, Buffalo sauce, and American cheese, sandwiched within a grilled roll.

The original garbage plate, however, is defined as a combination of a hamburger, red and white hots, Italian sausage, Haddock, chicken tenders, grilled cheese, ham OR eggs; and two sides of either baked beans, French fries, home fries, or macaroni salad. This mess of a plate is then topped with one or more of the following, depending on your preference: ketchup, mustard, onions, and/or hot sauce, and served with bread.

How do you think T-Bones’ “Garbage Plate” Burger measures up to the original classic?

25 years is a long time, so why not celebrate such an achievement for an entire 12 months? Well, T-Bones and Cactus Jack’s have done just that. The local chain continues to celebrate its quarter century anniversary by allowing all kids under the age of 12 to eat free at their restaurants the last week of summer. Starting August 23rd and ending August 30th, participating locations include T-Bones in Bedford, Derry, Salem, Laconia and Hudson, as well as Cactus Jack’s in Manchester and Laconia. Items on the kid’s menu include the standard grilled cheese, hot dogs and the kid’s cheeseburger, as well as a roast turkey dinner for those with bigger appetities.

Bread Bowl Pasta

Some local chain restaurants are offering new menu items, and some sound a lot better than others. Let’s start with the yummy-sounding treats: Dairy Queen, with various locations including Nashua and Hudson, is showing off their new Nut & Fudge Waffle Bowl sundae for the upcoming summer season. Made with DQ’s rich and creamy vanilla soft serve ice cream, smothered in peanut butter, hot fudge and peanuts, this sundae is served in a homemade, chocolate-dipped waffle bowl; for under $4. Another local ice cream shoppe, Coldstone Creamery, is now offering iced and blended coffee drinks for a limited time only, starting at the tiny price of $1.99. Raspberry Truffle Mocha Latte, Sweet Cream Latte, and Milk Caramel Latte are the chilled flavors offered, and are also available “light” with 1/3 fewer calories. While picking up a latte, I also recommend trying one of their new ice cream cupcakes. The final, and most unfortunate, new menu item at a chain is the Bread Bowl Pasta at Domino’s. Starting at $5.99, these entrees look like a carb-lover’s dream, but also express everything that is wrong with “fast food.” Not only do the advertisements show that Domino’s could care less about an actual serving size of pasta, but the size of the thick pizza crust it lies in seems just downright wrong. Anyone who’s tasted these new carb-a-holic meals and liked them…please prove me wrong.