It is not too often that I get to write a review of a place that only accepts cash. We tend to review establishments on the higher end of the spectrum and cash-only joints usually don’t make the cut for this distinction.

But our “mini honeymoon” in New Orleans allowed us the time to eat at a variety of different establishments and Café Maspero in the French Quarter was one of the unique places.

The café, which is located near the river, is a sandwich place that is perfect for a quick bite to eat. In an open setting that looks like it used to be a brick warehouse, there is a bar and 30 or 40 tables for tourists and locals alike to grab one of the generous sandwiches.

My wife ordered a muffaletta sandwich that had generous portions of meats and olive salad. I had a Swiss and corn beef sandwich that was tasty, although I would say falls one or two notches below the deli sandwiches of New York. There were a variety of New Orleans staples on the menu (e.g. red beans and rice) for those that wanted to make sure they had that exposure.

While I am not a beer drinker myself, I do live in one of the country’s “beer lovingest” regions: The Pacific Northwest…specifically, Portland, Oregon. People in Portland love their beer, and they are incredibly proud of all of the local microbrews that are available here. Sometimes it seems like you can’t walk more than a block without finding yet another restaurant, bar or club that brews its own brand of beer.

Portlanders (and Oregonians) love their local beers so much they have created an annual event called The Oregon Brewers’ Festival (or Brewfest to the locals). This event took place over the course of four days at the Tom McCall Waterfront Park in Portland. Breweries from all over Oregon were represented as well as a few out of state brands.

Admission was free, but in order to sample the local brews, you had to buy a mug for this year’s festival (using last year’s mug only would get you laughed at) for $5. Mugs could be filled for four tokens (worth about $1 each—you could trade your cash for tokens at the same time that you bought your mug) or you could have a small sample of beer for free. The good news about the tokens is that they are recyclable—if you have any left over from this year’s festival they’ll work next year…and the next year…and…you get the idea.

For those who don’t like beer, don’t drink, or were forced to be the designated driver, there was a root beer garden with complimentary root beer and other flavored sodas. There were also booths for several restaurants on hand to supply non-alcoholic beverages and food. These restaurants only accepted cash, so it was a good thing I hit the ATM before I went in to the festival!

This event takes place annually, so don’t worry if you missed it this year! The next one will be here soon enough!

July is full swing, and the dog days of August are almost upon us. What’s a cook to do when the kitchen is sweltering – and the oven isn’t even on?

Grill it. Smoky, chargrilled dinners are a summertime staple. Invest in a grill pan and some skewers, and you can cook almost any food over a fire. When the food’s done, make s’mores by roasting marshmallows over the coals for a fun, summertime dessert. (If you have never made s’mores, read the how-to article on our sister site, Outdoors Eagle.)

Use a slow-cooker. It’s not just for cheese dip anymore! The internet abounds in recipes for the slowcooker, and almost any recipe, including bread, cakes, and casseroles can be adapted. It’s a very forgivable method of cooking, and food will stay hot, without getting burned, if that baseball game runs long. For an even cooler kitchen, set up a table outside on the patio or in the garage, and cook there. All you need is an electrical outlet!

Cook once, eat lots. When you do bake in the oven, make extra. Baking an extra fillet of salmon or some chicken breasts won’t make the kitchen any hotter but will save heating up the oven later. Use the extra for cold dishes such as sandwiches, chicken salad, or topping a bagel.

Eat raw. Salads are a natural fit for summertime. Get some ham, chicken, or turkey from the deli, open a can of beans, and wash up some greens to make a meal of it. Canned tuna and cannellini beans, or black beans and corn are great combos packed with protein. Put a stack of plates in the refrigerator to chill and enjoy a healthy, refreshing meal.

With these tasty ideas, there’s no reason to sweat your way through meals ever again. Happy summertime eats!