If you've ever been stuck in a rut on where or what to eat or drink, the following apps will surely come in handy. And the best part? They're all free.
Urbanspoon– This restaurant finder application is a cross between a slot machine and an eight ball. It lists restaurants in just about every city in the U.S., letting you choose the neighborhood, type of cuisine and price level to find the just the right eatery to suit your location, mood and budget. You can also see menus and reviews by Urbanspoon other users, as well as rate the restaurants yourself. This app is especially handy when you're visiting a different city and have no idea where to eat, or if you're in the mood to try something new.
Epicurious– Have the Epicurious database of over 25,000 recipes right at your fingertips. Search by main ingredient, course, dietary consideration, dish type, season/occasion or keyword. Each recipe has detailed instructions and ratings by Epicurious users. Most come with a gorgeous photo — making it a bit easier when attempting to put together that white chocolate tiramisu trifle.
– Whether you're planning your wine to go with your meal or vice versa, Hello Vino is the app to have on hand. Search for wine recommendations by food pairing, occasion, style, or region. This app is also available for the Blackberry, Droid, and Palm.
Mixology– Forget bartending school because this app has over 7,900 drink recipes including cocktails, martinis, shooters, jello Shots, hot drinks, punches and non-alcoholic drinks. Search by category, name or from the database of over 1,300 ingredients. It can even give you a list of nearby liquor stores
Last Call– Who needs a personal breathalyzer when you've got this fun little app? Last Call lets you enter the alcoholic drinks you've had and estimates your blood alcohol level, tracking it until it's back to zero. It can even track down a DUI lawyer for you if you didn't listen to the app and were caught driving over the legal limit. It's especially entertaining to use during a bar crawl.
This article appears in Jul 1-7, 2010.