I'll be honest, it took me a while to try this place. Not because I wasn't curious, but because I was angry. You see, my wife and I used to LOVE to go to Little Italy, which was the building's previous occupant. It was our favorite Italian place in Salt Lake. We went to visit it for dinner one night and found that it had turned into Tin Roof Grill, and were so upset we vowed to never give this evil place that stole our Little Italy so much as a single dollar.
Well, time heals all wounds, and eventually curiosity got the better of us, so off we went. We were pleasantly surprised and have been back once or twice. My most recent visit was sans wife. I had been talking with a couple of my favorite guys, both of whom I used to coach, and we decided that we ought to grab a bite sometime. Since this place is so close to my house, it was a nice convenient meeting place.
The inside is very cozy. It has a sports bar feel while still feeling like a restaurant. The TV screens are usually tuned in to the big sporting event of the day, so it's a nice place to kick back for that action. Here's the thing though: This is, like, borderline gourmet-quality food at cheap prices in a chill kind of setting. It's just unique that way. I'll be honest, I was surprised how good the food was. Small plates (tapas) are getting much more popular, and are a specialty at Tin Roof. There are two you HAVE to try. The first one is the flatbread. Not quite as exquisite as Trio's, and sometimes a bit oversalted, the bread is nonetheless very yummy. The star of the three spreads is the White Bean Puree. Sounds boring, but it's not. Creamy goodness would be a better description. The Basil Pesto is strong but great flavor, and the Tapenade is solid but comes in third behind the other two. The other item you must try is the croquettes. These are deep fried balls of goodness. The filling changes by the day, so look up to the chalkboard for the latest. On this day it was sausage, mushroom, and cheese with fantastic spicy marinara and aioli for dipping. Healthy? Hardly. Delicious? Hell yes! If you cannot find culinary enjoyment from a Tin Roof croquette you need to please leave the country, cause we don't want people that weird. Among other menu highlights are the Pulled Pork sandwich (don't expect authentic BBQ flavor, but the pork is plentiful, moist, and sweet due to the spicy asian BBQ sauce, and the bun is very nice), the Chicken Pesto sandwich, and the Patatas Bravas, which accompany the sandwiches or can be ordered from the Tapas menu. Pizzas, pastas, and noodles are also available, but again seem to go more the gourmet route than the sports bar route - this is a good thing! The best thing: Every single thing on the menu is under $10. Can you say the same about Applebee's, whose food is dismal by comparison? Thought not. Oh, one more thing...along with a nice selection of beer, this place has a better wine selection than a lot of much fancier places I've been. That's right: Good food, good wine, unique menu, all in a sports bar-type setting. Who knew?
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
The stars at night are big and bright....
OK, maybe I've seen Pee Wee's Big Adventure too many times, but if you finished that line in your head - or better yet out loud - you know we are talking about Texas. I'll be up front, I don't care too much for Texas in general. I really don't see what the locals think is so neat about this place. Not saying it sucks, I just don't get the big deal...except...if they are talking about the food! I think the saying that "Everything's bigger in Texas" is a direct reference to the size of people's waistlines. Cause, damn, these folks can eat. I present for my case three cities as evidence of culinary triumph.
San Antonio
This happens to be my favorite Texas city. It's pretty, it's remarkably clean in that almost creepy way that people think of Salt Lake, and there's lots to do. Plus, the people are really nice. Oh, and this is going to sound weird but I love the freeway system. Real easy to get around. I had two outstanding meals here. I'm talking all-time fave neighborhood. Here goes!
Rudy's Country Store
This place is actually spread across three states now, but the original in S.A. is where we ventured. This is the way BBQ should be: unpretentious, ordered by the pound, and uncomplicated by any of the other "restaurant stuff" that doesn't make the food taste any better anyway. It is ALL about the food here. Everybody is lined up in what looks like a big red barn, waiting to place their order at a meat counter behind which smoky, seductive smells tease the senses. One word of advice: go here with a friend (or 20) so that you can try everything, becuase everything is good, but there is no way you can get it all on one plate when the smallest serving size is a half pound. Brisket, THE Texas specialty, Turkey, Pork Loin, Chopped Beef, Baby Backs, Chicken, Hot Link. We came, we saw, we conquered. We tried them all, and loved them all. I'll put this as a tie for #2 on the all-time BBQ cuisine I have had, and I have had a lot (more on the other #2 later...I'll keep you in suspense on #1 for a while). I think the sides were good, I don't remember. The BBQ, which we ate on cheap tables covered in butcher paper, was just too good to leave room in my memory for anything else.
La Fogata
Neat place, great patio dining if you want it but the inside is cool too. This review will be short but sweet. Basically, I know three things: 1. The food was utterly fantastic. 2. Since we followed our host's suggestion and ordered some of the more unique items on the menu, I cannot tell you exaclty what is was that we ate. Seriously, it was different but it was spicy and amazing. 3. They have the best Magarita I have ever had. Ever. It's one of those dangerous drinks that sneaks up on you because it is so smooth that you swear there is no alcohol in the thing, until...well, you get the idea. Rumors that this has anything to do with my memory loss on what we ate have been greatly exaggerated. Just let them suggest the dishes for you, sit back and sip on one of those delicious Margaritas, and enjoy a great night!
Non-food related tip: Whilst enjoying the Riverwalk, a must if you go to S.A., poke your head in to Howl At The Moon, a rockin' duel piano bar that can best be described as a just barely under control party. Good times.
Dallas/Ft. Worth
Two cities right next to each other so there's bound to be some good food. I have actually found that Fort Worth is the better culinary destination. Here are a few highlights:
Pappasito's
I am going to save a full review for Houston since that is the first place that I encountered Pappasito's. Just take note that there is one in Fort Worth
Angelo's
The (not so)long wait is over! This is the aforementioned "tie for #2 BBQ" with Rudy's. I'm still not revealing #1 yet but will tell you it is not in Texas. Like Rudy's, this place is unapologetically unpretentious. Low light, meat counter style ordering, styrofoam and paper containers, and butcher paper on the tables. Also like Rudy's, it is easy on the wallet. Each meal comes with the following: Sauce, beans, potato salad, cole slaw, pickle, onion, bread. All are good, with extra points to the tasty pickle and the bread for its excellence as a sauce delivery device. First bit of advice here is to GET THE TURKEY. BBQ turkey has become one of my favorite foods, and Angelo's should be lauded for its ability to get the least traditional and least naturally flavorful meat to its position at the top of the menu. It's the best BBQ turkey I have ever tasted. After the turkey, order everything else, because everything is good. Delicious smoky goodness. The only problem is stopping before you explode, cause you're not going to want to.
Cafe N'Awlins
You may notice that this is the first Cajun restaurant reveiwed on this blog. That is not for a lack of interest in the cuisine. It's simply, and sadly, a statement of how few good cajun restaurants there are in the places I have been too. Most disappointing is that the lack of these fantastic eateries extends to Salt Lake, where I am sad to report I have never really found a Cajun place worth mentioning to others.
This place, on the other hand, IS worth mentioning. We started with a shared appetizer of fried seafood and moved on to Jambalya. Both were outstanding. We sampled some other fare as well and found the etouffee, often the measuring stick for how truly great a cajun chef knows his stuff, to be very good. Red Beans and Rice were a perfect compliment to good Blackened Catfish as well. One of the nice things about the three other people I was with is that we are all food-sharers. Life is too short to dine with people who won't share their food. After all, how else is one supposed to sample all of life's delicious dishes if he has to order them all himself? I would have long since seen the better side of 300 pounds were that the case!
Anyhow, we decided that no visit to a place calling itself "N'Awlins" would be complete without a few pounds of crawfish. So, we ordered 3 pounds...and then another 3 pounds. They were so good we would have ordered more had our stomachs been able to expand further! After all of the head and tail sucking was completed and our appetites thoroughly satiated we decided to call it a day with some excellent beverages. Should I find myself in Dallas again those beautiful little crawfish will be calling my name...ahhhhhhhhh.
Houston
Pappasito's
OK, I've mentioned this place a couple of times. Once in my Best Of section and once in this posting. Strange that I would be so fond of this place seeing as how its a pretty big chain and there are other places that get better reviews. Then again, my tastebuds say to hell with that logic, it's really good food! The fajitas are heavenly. Get the combo, because the chicken and steak are equally moist, tender, and melt in your mouth delicious. Veggies and accompaniments are very good, as are the fresh-made tortillas (I prefer corn myself). Finally, use plenty of the warm butter sauce that comes with them, it ties the dish together. If I had to choose one dish only to have for the rest of my life these would merit serious consideration. But, not a fajita fan? That's OK, we all have our own little problems. And not to worry, there is plenty else here to tantalize your tastebuds. Ceviche, one of my favorite reasons to eat anywhere near the gulf coast, is primo here. If you are unfamiliar with Ceviche, it is a dish where the seafood has been "cooked" by letting it simply marinate in lemon or lime juice. Pappasito's version comes with shrimp, scallops, and fish marinted with lemon, lime, and cilantro, and finished off with avocado. The perfect, refreshing way to beat the Texas heat, not to mention the perfect starter to a meal. I've tried a few other dishes and nothing disappoints. The food is a hair pricier than standard Mexican fare. But then again, there is nothing standard about this place, including the relaxing cantina-style setting which makes you almost think that you are in one of those Corona commericals. Trust me, it is WAY worth an extra buck or two to eat here.
Ninfa's
When my travels take me on a return trip to Houston, I had better have enough time to eat at least two meals. That's because not only do I refuse to miss the chance for Pappasito's Fajitas, but I equally refuse to miss a return visit to this place. We were in Houston to watch an NFL game featuring a large friend, whom we took out to dinner that night (the night before the game). He wanted Mexican and, having already visited Pappa's on the trip, we opted for somewhere different. Thankfully the concierge at the hotel was knowledgable on the local scene and, once he understood we were foodies, told us we would be foolish not to try this place just off the beaten path from downtown. I almost laughed when the valet attendant approached our car, because there could hardly be a less-likely place to find valet service. This place is a hole in the wall. It was also packed, so we knew we may be in for something good. This is the original Ninfa's, which I was told makes all the difference. Inside I found it to be cramped, noisy, and aromatic, not in the least due to the enormous tortilla-making operation going on to your left as you enter.
Our guest, who is shy and would much rather be anonymous, was nonetheless recognized by a few people, who were brave enough to come say hi but also nice enough to let him enjoy his dinner without constant hounding. This was probably made easier by the fact that he played for the visiting team, not the Texans. Follwing an excellent Shrimp and Halibut Ceviche, we proceeded to order. I was thrilled to find Cochinita Pibil on the menu (third time for those who have been counting!) and my decision was easy to make. The other two were more indecisive so our server, who seemed so genuinely excited to be serving us, suggested Mixtas. These are basically HUGE combination plates. Now, I can eat, but I was out of my league on this night. The Sage ordered Mixta Rio Grande, which consisted of Shrimp, Fajitas, and Carnitas. Not to be outdone, our large friend began stocking up energy for the next day's game by ordering the Parilla Mixta, which contains Fajitas, Carnitas, Ribs, Shrimp, and Chile Relleno. It is an order meant to serve two. He polished it off...by himself!
Quick food report: Pibil - heavenly, as always :) Shrimp, Fajitas, Carnitas, Ribs, Relleno - All fantastic. This place rivals the very best Mexican food I have ever had. Everything was amazing, and our waiter is one of my all-time memorable people. What a hoot this guy was! We got pictures with him at the end of the night and it didn't even seem weird. Just a nice, fun guy to have for a server. I think he knew our guest was someone important, but had no idea why and yet had this giddy attitude that came off as innocent and charming, which is sometimes easier to do when you don't speak much English and have very little idea what the game of football even is. This is one of my favorite meals. The combination of great food, great service, and great times with people you care about is pretty hard to beat.
As a side note, our friend had an interception and helped lead his team to victory with a great game, but all he wanted to talk about after the game (I could not make this up if I tried) is the place we ate the night before! How's that for an endorsement?
Kenny & Ziggy's Deli
Good enough that we had two meals there...on the same day! We woke up on game day and headed out of our hotel to grab some breakfast. New York-Style delis are nice to find because besides having great sandwiches they usually also serve a mean breakfast. Breakfast was good. I mean, I've had better but were we in the Houston area together I would feel fine about taking you here for some early morning grub. We then decided that the lunch menu looked so good that we ought to take a to-go order for lunch instead of paying ridiculous prices at the stadium. I cannot tell you the exact name of the order since my computer freezes up every time I try to pull up the online menu, but I can tell you that they were double-decker sandwiches of Pastrami and Corned Beef and that I could not fit a whole bite in my mouth because they were so big (see the actual picture at the top of this posting). We were barely able to finish these delicious sandwiches in the car before the game due to their immensity, which was good since they needed to keep us full for an entire NFL game. We need a place like this in Utah.
All in all, a very tasty state. I think I gained weight just writing about the food. Um, I'm gonna go for a jog.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Tasty Thai, Pho Green Papaya
OK, I missed a couple of places. These are two places that I ate at in the past week, and I remember promising to my devoted followers that I would write about every place I went! So, here we go:
Tasty Thai
I heard about this place from none other than The Sage, so we decided to grab lunch there earlier this week and sample the goods. I'm noticing a lot of places have gone to the "open kitchen" look, where you can literally see all of the cooking going on as you sit. It's like watching Iron Chef without the cheesy, overdramatic commentary! We ordered an off-menu special for an appetizer: shrimp, crab, and pork wrapped in a thin tofu wrapper and fried, served with plum sauce for dipping. Pretty tasty (yes, I will be making puns at the restaurant's expense...that's what they get for putting the word "Tasty" in the name of their establishment). Next, and this took a while because somehow there was only one server for the 20 or so patrons(!) we had the standard Pad Thai and Panang Curry. Standards for us becuase when you are comparing something against other places it is nice to go dish-by-dish and then branch out later if you decide you like it. The Panang was very good. Nice flavor, good kick, mighty tasty (that's 2 if you're counting). I would put it right behind Thai Orchid's, which is quite a compliment. 2-for-2 so far on the dishes. The only thing I did not like about the curry is that it did not have nearly enough sauce with the dish and we had to order a little more on the side. The Pad Thai on the other hand was, well, not so tasty. The flavor was good but the noodles were overcooked and chewy, and the chicken was dry and bland. I was assured by The Sage that it was inferior to the week before when he had tried the same dish. So, not a bad find. I would still go to Thai Orchid were I going out of my way to get Thai, but it is definitely worth dropping in if you are near the Liberty Park area. Just get something other than Pad Thai for you noodle fix.
Pho Green Papaya
This space by the E-Center has been about 20 different restaurants but I this one is actually sticking. It's nicer inside than its previous occupants. The Sage and I happened upon this place as a 4th option. We were going to go to La Izalquena (El Salvadorian food) for some pupusas but found it is no longer there. Undaunted, we ventured down to East Sea for some Dim Sum before being informed that they are now only open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Third time was not the charm, as we found that Thai Paradise, an old hole in the wall secret place of mine, is also no longer there. So, Vietnamese it was! Lesson #1 in Vietnamese cuisine: Pho. This noodle - and usually meat - soup is THE staple. Ours was chicken though it is more common to have it with various incarnations of beef. The Pho was pretty dang good, nice complex flavors that are unique to this type of food. We had an appetizer of Fried Quail and found it to be OK. Good sauce, good spices, average meat. Again, just OK. We had small helpings of 4 dishes: Vermicelli noodles with chicken were good once we figured out which sauce was poured over them. Beef short ribs were tender and pretty flavorful but really small even for "short" ribs. Panang (we couldn't resist) curry is better left to Thai places. It was good, but nothing to get excited about. Thai basil stir fry with chicken was about the same. So, decent food, nothing to shout from the rooftops but nothing to complain about either. Just a pretty solid place, although if I do go back, which I might if I'm in the neighborhood again, I am ordering ALL Vietnamese. Lesson learned.
Texas coming soon, I promise! (Houston, DFW, San Antonio)
Tasty Thai
I heard about this place from none other than The Sage, so we decided to grab lunch there earlier this week and sample the goods. I'm noticing a lot of places have gone to the "open kitchen" look, where you can literally see all of the cooking going on as you sit. It's like watching Iron Chef without the cheesy, overdramatic commentary! We ordered an off-menu special for an appetizer: shrimp, crab, and pork wrapped in a thin tofu wrapper and fried, served with plum sauce for dipping. Pretty tasty (yes, I will be making puns at the restaurant's expense...that's what they get for putting the word "Tasty" in the name of their establishment). Next, and this took a while because somehow there was only one server for the 20 or so patrons(!) we had the standard Pad Thai and Panang Curry. Standards for us becuase when you are comparing something against other places it is nice to go dish-by-dish and then branch out later if you decide you like it. The Panang was very good. Nice flavor, good kick, mighty tasty (that's 2 if you're counting). I would put it right behind Thai Orchid's, which is quite a compliment. 2-for-2 so far on the dishes. The only thing I did not like about the curry is that it did not have nearly enough sauce with the dish and we had to order a little more on the side. The Pad Thai on the other hand was, well, not so tasty. The flavor was good but the noodles were overcooked and chewy, and the chicken was dry and bland. I was assured by The Sage that it was inferior to the week before when he had tried the same dish. So, not a bad find. I would still go to Thai Orchid were I going out of my way to get Thai, but it is definitely worth dropping in if you are near the Liberty Park area. Just get something other than Pad Thai for you noodle fix.
Pho Green Papaya
This space by the E-Center has been about 20 different restaurants but I this one is actually sticking. It's nicer inside than its previous occupants. The Sage and I happened upon this place as a 4th option. We were going to go to La Izalquena (El Salvadorian food) for some pupusas but found it is no longer there. Undaunted, we ventured down to East Sea for some Dim Sum before being informed that they are now only open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Third time was not the charm, as we found that Thai Paradise, an old hole in the wall secret place of mine, is also no longer there. So, Vietnamese it was! Lesson #1 in Vietnamese cuisine: Pho. This noodle - and usually meat - soup is THE staple. Ours was chicken though it is more common to have it with various incarnations of beef. The Pho was pretty dang good, nice complex flavors that are unique to this type of food. We had an appetizer of Fried Quail and found it to be OK. Good sauce, good spices, average meat. Again, just OK. We had small helpings of 4 dishes: Vermicelli noodles with chicken were good once we figured out which sauce was poured over them. Beef short ribs were tender and pretty flavorful but really small even for "short" ribs. Panang (we couldn't resist) curry is better left to Thai places. It was good, but nothing to get excited about. Thai basil stir fry with chicken was about the same. So, decent food, nothing to shout from the rooftops but nothing to complain about either. Just a pretty solid place, although if I do go back, which I might if I'm in the neighborhood again, I am ordering ALL Vietnamese. Lesson learned.
Texas coming soon, I promise! (Houston, DFW, San Antonio)
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Men (and women) in the field
Far be it from me to think that I am the only one with some good things to say. Therefore, I will from time to time be posting some thoughts from some other reliable sources. Here are a few of them (though I may be adding more, who knows?)
The Sage - A wise old fart, this contributor has accompanied me on several excursions and, as he is a bit ahead of me in years, has an encyclopedia of eating knowledge.
The Gambler - So named because the man can't be within 10 miles of a poker table without getting an antsy little twitch. His expertise will be filling us in on the culinary nuggets of small-town Utah
The Spicy Sicilian - She tends to be a bit sassy, which is a fantastic quality, and also happens to be a terrific cook, so we'll trust her judgement on how others cook as well - especially in regard to Italian food.
The Chicken Wing - This is an old inside joke because he got mad at someone for taking the last wing from the buffet...you just had to be there. Well-traveled, and may fill in some of the places I have not been
The Sage - A wise old fart, this contributor has accompanied me on several excursions and, as he is a bit ahead of me in years, has an encyclopedia of eating knowledge.
The Gambler - So named because the man can't be within 10 miles of a poker table without getting an antsy little twitch. His expertise will be filling us in on the culinary nuggets of small-town Utah
The Spicy Sicilian - She tends to be a bit sassy, which is a fantastic quality, and also happens to be a terrific cook, so we'll trust her judgement on how others cook as well - especially in regard to Italian food.
The Chicken Wing - This is an old inside joke because he got mad at someone for taking the last wing from the buffet...you just had to be there. Well-traveled, and may fill in some of the places I have not been
Monday, August 17, 2009
Burger Joints
Wow, how do we narrow this one down? There are as many places that serve these standbys of American cuisine as there are opinions at a Health Care Town Meeting! No politics here, though, except the politics of food. I proudly present the best places in Utah to bite into some beef:
1. In-N-Out Burger
OK, this exists only in St. George for now but is on its way - finally! - to Northern Utah. Guess we'll have to come up with a new excuse to go to Vegas now that we can get our fix here, but that shouldn't be too difficult to do:) Double Double with cheese, and I strongly suggest grilled onions as a topper. Course, you could always make it "Animal Style", the not-so-secret secret order: pickles, extra sauce, grilled onions, and mustard fried into each patty. Regardless of how you like 'em, they taste amazing. I'm not even sure you could classify the patty as beef, since this burger seems to have some sort of otherworldly quality which causes it to melt right into your tastebuds upon contact, seemingly not requiring chewing so much as allowing it to just become a part of you. Mmmmm. Only caveat here: the shoestring-style fries are just OK, and unlike the burgers can be inconsistent from location to location. But we're rating burgers, and I say that California has been greedy with this chain for long enough. Bring it on!
2. Five Guys Burgers & Fries
This Baltimore-area transplant started serving em up last year, and has immediately made its mark. No drive-thru. You have to get off your lazy rear end and go inside people! It's worth the short trip. Upon entering, you will notice a few things. First, you will see bags of potatoes for making fries stacked everywhere. These are not just decorations, they actually use these. Second, there are little paper trays into which you can put peanuts. Like, in-the-shell peanuts, which are of course addictive to much on while you wait for your food. But please wait until after you have ordered to grab them. No one likes to look at a slob eating their peanuts in line. Third, you will hear a lot of yelling. That is the staff, who do not believe in intercoms and instead prefer to yell your order number throughout the restaurant. It's kinda cool, actually.
OK, the food. Their name pretty much says it: Burgers and Fries (plus a small selection of hot dogs if you are a pansy and are scared of a burger). Oh, and a regular burger is a double, so if you are not very hungry order the "Little Burger" if you can live with saying that with a straight face. All joking aside, the Little Burger is not little, just one patty instead of two. The burgers are fantastic. Were it not for In-N-Out's burger this place would easily be #1. Trust me, this is better than anything you can grill up at home. Choose from 16 free toppings to put on your burger, which is always fresh because Five Guys never freezes ANY of their food. And the best part? The burgers aren't even the star of the show. That distinction belongs to the fries, which are quite simply the best fries I've ever had. Thick cut, skin-on, and made from Idaho potatoes, they may just be the perfect fry. Order a regular unless you have a LOT of mouths to feed, because the regular is really big, and the large is just ginormous. Cool fact: Ginormous is now a recognized word by the Merriam-Webster dictionary. That makes me laugh probably more than it should! Anyway, back to the fries. They rock. I know we are rating burgers here but get some fries when you go here or you may insult the food gods who will probably then proceed to give you Botulism. OK, time to move on because this post is bordering on ridiculous. Just go and enjoy this place.
3. Cotton Bottom Inn
See that nice big fancy restaurant that looks like a chateau and has valet parking? That's called Tuscany. Go just west of that and turn in to a little dive bar. Don't worry that it looks unsavory, the people here are actually quite nice and just happen to possess a legendary Garlic Burger. Don't overthink it. Walk in, sit down, order the legend that this place has been serving up since, well, way before yours truly was born. While you are contemplating Garlic Burger nirvana, enjoy the faded signs of Bugs Bunny that adorn the place (Cotton Bottom, get it?) and see if the waitress can't rustle you something to drink. I'm sure they can oblige :)
4. Crown Burger
I have two words for you: Pastrami Burger. This thing is so good the New York Times wrote about it! The burger and bun by themselves would be worth ordering, but don't you dare get one here without pastrami. It amounts to sacrilege around these parts. Just enjoy the juicy pastrami which is good enough that it could probably sneak its way into a New York deli or two without anyone noticing the difference. Not bad for a bunch of Greek guys!
5. Salt City Burger Company
Two of the women in my life would vehemently disagree with this ranking. My wife, whose stomach did not take a liking to this place, would probably advise me to take it off entirely. My sister, on the other hand, will be outraged that it is not #1. I think it works nice right here. This is more of a gourmet burger place. The meat is very good on its own. Really flavorful. Then come the toppings, which sadly will cost you extra (one reason why this is not ranked higher). Toppings are great though. Of course bacon, blue cheese, and sauteed mushrooms are available, but that is only the tip of the iceberg. I'd like to point you to the carmelized grilled onions, which can overwhelm the whole thing but that's OK because they taste like candy. No joke, they're delicious. You can also get avocado slices, fresh guacamole, onion rings, pastrami, pineapple, or chili. OK, random thought. Did you know that when you rearrange the letters in "pineapple" you get "ape nipple"? You just tried that, didn't you! Sicko. I can't take credit for that discovery, but it's a great story (thanks, Sara!)
Anyway, they also have sweet potato fries on the menu which is a plus, and they will let you go half and half with any combo of regular fries, sweet potatoes, and onion rings. Kind of nice for indecisive chaps like me.
Honorable Mention
Lots of places to narrow down to five, so here are some others worth trying: Fat's Grill & Pool, The Counter (neat idea, but too many options), JCW's, Triple Prime Burger at Ruby Tuesday, and, as much as it pains me cause I hate this place, The Surf & Turf Burger at Applebee's.
1. In-N-Out Burger
OK, this exists only in St. George for now but is on its way - finally! - to Northern Utah. Guess we'll have to come up with a new excuse to go to Vegas now that we can get our fix here, but that shouldn't be too difficult to do:) Double Double with cheese, and I strongly suggest grilled onions as a topper. Course, you could always make it "Animal Style", the not-so-secret secret order: pickles, extra sauce, grilled onions, and mustard fried into each patty. Regardless of how you like 'em, they taste amazing. I'm not even sure you could classify the patty as beef, since this burger seems to have some sort of otherworldly quality which causes it to melt right into your tastebuds upon contact, seemingly not requiring chewing so much as allowing it to just become a part of you. Mmmmm. Only caveat here: the shoestring-style fries are just OK, and unlike the burgers can be inconsistent from location to location. But we're rating burgers, and I say that California has been greedy with this chain for long enough. Bring it on!
2. Five Guys Burgers & Fries
This Baltimore-area transplant started serving em up last year, and has immediately made its mark. No drive-thru. You have to get off your lazy rear end and go inside people! It's worth the short trip. Upon entering, you will notice a few things. First, you will see bags of potatoes for making fries stacked everywhere. These are not just decorations, they actually use these. Second, there are little paper trays into which you can put peanuts. Like, in-the-shell peanuts, which are of course addictive to much on while you wait for your food. But please wait until after you have ordered to grab them. No one likes to look at a slob eating their peanuts in line. Third, you will hear a lot of yelling. That is the staff, who do not believe in intercoms and instead prefer to yell your order number throughout the restaurant. It's kinda cool, actually.
OK, the food. Their name pretty much says it: Burgers and Fries (plus a small selection of hot dogs if you are a pansy and are scared of a burger). Oh, and a regular burger is a double, so if you are not very hungry order the "Little Burger" if you can live with saying that with a straight face. All joking aside, the Little Burger is not little, just one patty instead of two. The burgers are fantastic. Were it not for In-N-Out's burger this place would easily be #1. Trust me, this is better than anything you can grill up at home. Choose from 16 free toppings to put on your burger, which is always fresh because Five Guys never freezes ANY of their food. And the best part? The burgers aren't even the star of the show. That distinction belongs to the fries, which are quite simply the best fries I've ever had. Thick cut, skin-on, and made from Idaho potatoes, they may just be the perfect fry. Order a regular unless you have a LOT of mouths to feed, because the regular is really big, and the large is just ginormous. Cool fact: Ginormous is now a recognized word by the Merriam-Webster dictionary. That makes me laugh probably more than it should! Anyway, back to the fries. They rock. I know we are rating burgers here but get some fries when you go here or you may insult the food gods who will probably then proceed to give you Botulism. OK, time to move on because this post is bordering on ridiculous. Just go and enjoy this place.
3. Cotton Bottom Inn
See that nice big fancy restaurant that looks like a chateau and has valet parking? That's called Tuscany. Go just west of that and turn in to a little dive bar. Don't worry that it looks unsavory, the people here are actually quite nice and just happen to possess a legendary Garlic Burger. Don't overthink it. Walk in, sit down, order the legend that this place has been serving up since, well, way before yours truly was born. While you are contemplating Garlic Burger nirvana, enjoy the faded signs of Bugs Bunny that adorn the place (Cotton Bottom, get it?) and see if the waitress can't rustle you something to drink. I'm sure they can oblige :)
4. Crown Burger
I have two words for you: Pastrami Burger. This thing is so good the New York Times wrote about it! The burger and bun by themselves would be worth ordering, but don't you dare get one here without pastrami. It amounts to sacrilege around these parts. Just enjoy the juicy pastrami which is good enough that it could probably sneak its way into a New York deli or two without anyone noticing the difference. Not bad for a bunch of Greek guys!
5. Salt City Burger Company
Two of the women in my life would vehemently disagree with this ranking. My wife, whose stomach did not take a liking to this place, would probably advise me to take it off entirely. My sister, on the other hand, will be outraged that it is not #1. I think it works nice right here. This is more of a gourmet burger place. The meat is very good on its own. Really flavorful. Then come the toppings, which sadly will cost you extra (one reason why this is not ranked higher). Toppings are great though. Of course bacon, blue cheese, and sauteed mushrooms are available, but that is only the tip of the iceberg. I'd like to point you to the carmelized grilled onions, which can overwhelm the whole thing but that's OK because they taste like candy. No joke, they're delicious. You can also get avocado slices, fresh guacamole, onion rings, pastrami, pineapple, or chili. OK, random thought. Did you know that when you rearrange the letters in "pineapple" you get "ape nipple"? You just tried that, didn't you! Sicko. I can't take credit for that discovery, but it's a great story (thanks, Sara!)
Anyway, they also have sweet potato fries on the menu which is a plus, and they will let you go half and half with any combo of regular fries, sweet potatoes, and onion rings. Kind of nice for indecisive chaps like me.
Honorable Mention
Lots of places to narrow down to five, so here are some others worth trying: Fat's Grill & Pool, The Counter (neat idea, but too many options), JCW's, Triple Prime Burger at Ruby Tuesday, and, as much as it pains me cause I hate this place, The Surf & Turf Burger at Applebee's.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Eggs In The City
Continuing our theme of all things breakfast today; and if Ruth's is comfort food then Eggs in the City counters with a bit of a hip, casual air befitting its location near Emigration Market. And it works just fine thank you. This is one of those places that you would expect to find in a big city with lots of liberals talking politics (are we in Salt Lake?). The digs, like the parking lot, are not what you would call spacious. Then again, you can only do so much with a converted service station. Speaking of the former occupants, the garage door still works, which is a plus since it opens to some cool patio dining. The servers are younger and very nice, and will not balk at you admiring the colorful tatoos which cover a great deal of some of their bodies.
The food is excellent. They serve the standard breakfast fare, of course, and do it quite well. Vegan or vegetarian? They've got you covered with many excellent possibilities. I am far from being either, but one thing that I've learned is that places that will cater to V/V's make good food, becuase they have to rely on quality, fresh ingredients and inventive preparations to carry the meal in lieu of natural flavorings from meats. Thankfully this carries over into ALL of their dishes, thus making the carnivorous ones that much better. The menu seems to have a little bit of a Mexican influence too, always a plus for breakfast, and can be seen in delicious Huevos Rancheros - my fave on the menu - and a Mexican skillet which looks tasty but has yet to be sampled by yours truly. The breakfast burrito is big and yummy, helped out by the same Chili Verde that makes the Huevos so good. Omelettes are consistently good, and have many options to choose from (you get any three ingredients to create your own, including Chorizo...you could see that coming couldn't you?). They also offer a good Salmon Benedict and hit a home run with the breakfast potatoes that come as a side to most meals. The most interesting thing about this place, though, is that it is the only place that I know of where people come just for the oatmeal. If you like oatmeal, you will love their version which is called Oatmeal Brulee. Made with carmelized brown sugar, walnuts, and bananas, along with high quality steel-cut oats, it is easy to see why people fall in love with it after one bite.
Great food, and a bit of cool that is much-needed in this state. Plus, almost everything on the menu is under $10. The only question is why are you reading this instead of eating there?
The food is excellent. They serve the standard breakfast fare, of course, and do it quite well. Vegan or vegetarian? They've got you covered with many excellent possibilities. I am far from being either, but one thing that I've learned is that places that will cater to V/V's make good food, becuase they have to rely on quality, fresh ingredients and inventive preparations to carry the meal in lieu of natural flavorings from meats. Thankfully this carries over into ALL of their dishes, thus making the carnivorous ones that much better. The menu seems to have a little bit of a Mexican influence too, always a plus for breakfast, and can be seen in delicious Huevos Rancheros - my fave on the menu - and a Mexican skillet which looks tasty but has yet to be sampled by yours truly. The breakfast burrito is big and yummy, helped out by the same Chili Verde that makes the Huevos so good. Omelettes are consistently good, and have many options to choose from (you get any three ingredients to create your own, including Chorizo...you could see that coming couldn't you?). They also offer a good Salmon Benedict and hit a home run with the breakfast potatoes that come as a side to most meals. The most interesting thing about this place, though, is that it is the only place that I know of where people come just for the oatmeal. If you like oatmeal, you will love their version which is called Oatmeal Brulee. Made with carmelized brown sugar, walnuts, and bananas, along with high quality steel-cut oats, it is easy to see why people fall in love with it after one bite.
Great food, and a bit of cool that is much-needed in this state. Plus, almost everything on the menu is under $10. The only question is why are you reading this instead of eating there?
Ruth's Diner
THE place to go to breakfast around Salt Lake, as evidenced by the sometimes hour wait on weekends. If you've been there you know the wait is worth it however. I love this place. The setting, just up Emigration Canyon, is beautiful. Inside feels like an old dining car and outside is about the best patio dining anywhere, including the live music that can so often be heard. Ruth's recently got renovated and while I don't really like the new, modern look of the outside I am reserving judgement until I see the rest of it (I was only driving by). Plus, I'm sure a place so old needs a bit of a facelift every now and then.
But if the setting is what draws people initially, the food is what keeps them coming back. And though I have heard rumors of tasty fare on the lunch and dinner menus, this is first and foremost a breakfast place. And oh what a breakfast place this is. The first thing you need to know about are the biscuits. Huge and delicious, these homemade staples come with every meal, which means it is impossbile to have a bad meal here. One will almost certainly fill you up, but you will want more. Then the rest of the menu. My personal favorite, which cannot always be found on the menu, is the crab cake benedict, which is made with real lump crab and is simply exquisite. Benedicts are one of the specialties at Ruth's also coming in Salmon, Pulled Pork, Florentine, and Traditional varieties. The rest of the menu runs the gamut from a healthier section called "The Lighter Side" to old-time favorites like biscuits and gravy and numerous eggs-and-meat dishes, to rare finds such as Red Trout and Eggs or the Chinese Chicken omelette. Rest assured though that not only can anyone find something they like on the varietous menu, but that it will most likely bring back wonderful memories of comfort food at mom's. Especially if mom lives in the mountains!
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Bellissimo Gelato
We had a great picnic at the park for dinner today and afterward decided to check out a gelato place in Murray we have heard about: Bellissimo Gelato. It's in a strip mall on 700 E. right by Sports Authority. I have developed a new love for gelato, an Italian dessert which differs from ice cream in three ways: 1. It has less butterfat than ice cream (a little under 10% compared to 25-30%) resulting in less fat overall. 2. It is denser than ice cream, meaning that serving sizes are usually smaller because it will fill you sooner. 3. It is slightly warmer than ice cream due to a different freezing point, so when you eat it it feels like it just melts in your mouth. I have found that good gelato has better flavor than ice cream does, which dispels the traditional thought that fat adds flavor. I wouldn't call gelato healthy per se, but if you are craving a frozen treat it is a better alternative for your waistline than ice cream.
The place was pretty packed when we went in and it was easy to see why. They must have had 40 flavors of the stuff in there! The special flavor of the night was marshmallow, which my wife decided to pair with chocolate - they will gladly fix you a half and half serving if you are indecisive. They were both very good, but amazing when eaten together. I opted for Donatella, which is chocolate-hazelnut, and cheesecake. The Donatella was amazing. I will definitely get it next time. The cheesecake flavor was bland and disappointing, and I regretted not getting the coconut flavor that I was considering instead. All in all, a good place. And the ladies behind the counter were really friendly and happy to boot. I think I'll be back pretty soon.
The place was pretty packed when we went in and it was easy to see why. They must have had 40 flavors of the stuff in there! The special flavor of the night was marshmallow, which my wife decided to pair with chocolate - they will gladly fix you a half and half serving if you are indecisive. They were both very good, but amazing when eaten together. I opted for Donatella, which is chocolate-hazelnut, and cheesecake. The Donatella was amazing. I will definitely get it next time. The cheesecake flavor was bland and disappointing, and I regretted not getting the coconut flavor that I was considering instead. All in all, a good place. And the ladies behind the counter were really friendly and happy to boot. I think I'll be back pretty soon.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Red Iguana
If you live in Utah and have a pulse, you have not only heard of this place but have probably eaten there as well. This is as much of an institution as we have around here, and it pretty well speaks for itself, so I won't take much time selling everybody's favorite hole in the wall. Instead, since the menu is fairly big and quite varied, I'll talk about some of my favorite dishes...they may just give you a new idea next time you eat there. Oh, and if you live outside of Utah, you need to eat here when you visit. If you live here and have not tried it, um, hurry and go before I find you and beat some sense in to you!
Fantastic Dish #1 - Cochinita Pibil
I first discovered this dish on my honeymoon. We were on our way back from a trip through the jungle to see the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza, one of the new 7 Wonders of the World. Magnificent! But I digress, this is not an archealogical forum. We drove our little Dodge Attitude (this was really the name of the car, I am not making this up!) into the plaza at the center of a modern Mayan city called Valladolid. After parking right behind the Bimbo ice cream truck (also true) we crossed the plaza, which reminds me of a miniature Boston Common, to an open-air restaurant which led in to a hotel. In Mexico, sometimes if it looks clean and cool, it is good enough! We sat down and with a nice breeze blowing through took a peek at the portion of the menu which was (thankfully) translated into English. My eyes kept coming back to dish described as "Yucatan-style pork, slow-roasted and marinted in its roasting juices, wrapped in a banana leaf." I couldn't resist, so after ordering a Sol, which is a terrific mexican beer, I proceeded to sample the Pibil. Heaven on a tortilla. I couldn't stop thinking about it. I vowed that I would search the menu of every Mexican restaurant back in the states and if I saw it, there would be no decision on what to order. Imagine my delight, then, when I saw it on the menu at my favorite Mex joint back home. No banana leaf at the Iguana, but there is an abundance of moist, mouthwatering shredded pork that comes tantalizingly close to that first heavenly encounter. So good, I may never order anything else here. As a side note, I have found this dish only one other place: Pancho's in Manhattan Beach, CA. Outstanding there as well.
Fantastic Dish #2 - Mole
Mole is one of those love it or hate it kind of flavors. There really isn't much inbetween on this stuff because the taste is so distinct. For those of you who are Mole virgins, it is a sauce made with, among other things, dried chilis, spices, herbs, nuts, and quite often, chocolate. The flavor of the mole depends greatly on the type of chilis used, and the Iguana has a guide to all of them and the Mexican regions from which they hail. There are 7 different varieties here and, being one of those people who loves mole, I have tried most of them. They all come with a different pairing of meat and are all outstanding, although you have to be a TRUE mole lover to like the Mole Negro, which can be a bit strong. My favorite is the Mole Poblano, which can also be found with the avocado-and-sour-cream Enchiladas Suizas, although as I said all of them are good.
Fantastic Dish #3 - Gringas
I'll borrow from the menu here: "Tender tips of carne adobada grilled with pinepple, sliced green, red and yellow bell peppers, tomatoes and onions, folded in a warm flour tortilla." That pretty much says it all. The meat is tender, spicy, and delicious. The other items compliment it perfectly. Just come hungry, because the serving is HUGE.
Fantastic Dish #4 - Everything else!
You really cannot go wrong here unless you do not go at all
Fantastic Dish #1 - Cochinita Pibil
I first discovered this dish on my honeymoon. We were on our way back from a trip through the jungle to see the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza, one of the new 7 Wonders of the World. Magnificent! But I digress, this is not an archealogical forum. We drove our little Dodge Attitude (this was really the name of the car, I am not making this up!) into the plaza at the center of a modern Mayan city called Valladolid. After parking right behind the Bimbo ice cream truck (also true) we crossed the plaza, which reminds me of a miniature Boston Common, to an open-air restaurant which led in to a hotel. In Mexico, sometimes if it looks clean and cool, it is good enough! We sat down and with a nice breeze blowing through took a peek at the portion of the menu which was (thankfully) translated into English. My eyes kept coming back to dish described as "Yucatan-style pork, slow-roasted and marinted in its roasting juices, wrapped in a banana leaf." I couldn't resist, so after ordering a Sol, which is a terrific mexican beer, I proceeded to sample the Pibil. Heaven on a tortilla. I couldn't stop thinking about it. I vowed that I would search the menu of every Mexican restaurant back in the states and if I saw it, there would be no decision on what to order. Imagine my delight, then, when I saw it on the menu at my favorite Mex joint back home. No banana leaf at the Iguana, but there is an abundance of moist, mouthwatering shredded pork that comes tantalizingly close to that first heavenly encounter. So good, I may never order anything else here. As a side note, I have found this dish only one other place: Pancho's in Manhattan Beach, CA. Outstanding there as well.
Fantastic Dish #2 - Mole
Mole is one of those love it or hate it kind of flavors. There really isn't much inbetween on this stuff because the taste is so distinct. For those of you who are Mole virgins, it is a sauce made with, among other things, dried chilis, spices, herbs, nuts, and quite often, chocolate. The flavor of the mole depends greatly on the type of chilis used, and the Iguana has a guide to all of them and the Mexican regions from which they hail. There are 7 different varieties here and, being one of those people who loves mole, I have tried most of them. They all come with a different pairing of meat and are all outstanding, although you have to be a TRUE mole lover to like the Mole Negro, which can be a bit strong. My favorite is the Mole Poblano, which can also be found with the avocado-and-sour-cream Enchiladas Suizas, although as I said all of them are good.
Fantastic Dish #3 - Gringas
I'll borrow from the menu here: "Tender tips of carne adobada grilled with pinepple, sliced green, red and yellow bell peppers, tomatoes and onions, folded in a warm flour tortilla." That pretty much says it all. The meat is tender, spicy, and delicious. The other items compliment it perfectly. Just come hungry, because the serving is HUGE.
Fantastic Dish #4 - Everything else!
You really cannot go wrong here unless you do not go at all
Sushi in Joy
Remember what I said on my post about Thai Orchid and it feeling like home? Well, I get the same thing here. My wife and I used to go to the Mikado in Cottonwood for sushi, even though we found the prices to be a little high. When it left Latitude Restaurant Group and we could no longer get good deals, we decided to look elsewhere. One day, we happened upon a small little place in a strip mall right next to Hopper's. We had gone to Hopper's for lunch and noted the Sushi Restaurant next door so we vowed to make it our next Sushi destination. Wow, what a great decision.
You can't help but feel good when you go in here. The owner and servers were excited to see us and ready and willing to take care of us the first time we visited, and if anything they have become even more friendly as we have become regulars. They always remember us, even after our first visit, and like to recall how we were one of their first sets of loyal customers when they were struggling and did not have much business. They have plenty now, partially because we have told all of our sushi-loving friends about this place. The people here are so nice that they have, on more than one occassion, offered to take and hold our fussy baby so that we can enjoy our meal for a few moments. It is telling of our comfort level with them that we have actually allowed them to do it! How is that for service?
Great service, however, only goes so far of the food isn't up to par. No worries here. This is better sushi than I have had at much more expensive and higher-rated places. If you are at all inclined toward tuna, you must try the Double Tuna Roll. Soft, delicious, buttery tuna on the inside, and the same in big, and spicy, layers on top. It just seems to melt away in your mouth. That's what get me about this place. The ingredients are always fresh and always top-notch. They don't try to hide flavors with all kinds of other add-ons, they just let superior quality stand on its own. The Playboy is another star, with shrimp tempura, tuna, and spicy sauce. Like your entire roll tempura fried? Try the Volcano Roll, it is decadent. Not your style? Try the Red Dragon, or choose from about 40 other varieties, some not even on the menu. You can never run out of options here. You will also not run out of cash, as the sushi here is about $4-$8 cheaper than what you would pay elsewhere! Make sure you check the daily specials, too. We almost always order at least one of these, and some of them (like the Double Tuna) make it on to the menu permanently. In review, I will state categorically that we have tried about 20 different rolls/preparations here and have NEVER been disappointed. That is the mark of a true find. That, and the fact that after 9 months without sushi this was my wife's first post-pregnancy meal. We had planned this for months and I went and grabbed a to-go order, which we ate right in the hopspital! The staff still gets a kick out of that story as well. And they have been pretty good about keeping a couple of my clandestine solo visits during the pregnancy a secret from my wife. Oops, guess I spilled the beans. Hey, some places are just too good to stay away from :)
You can't help but feel good when you go in here. The owner and servers were excited to see us and ready and willing to take care of us the first time we visited, and if anything they have become even more friendly as we have become regulars. They always remember us, even after our first visit, and like to recall how we were one of their first sets of loyal customers when they were struggling and did not have much business. They have plenty now, partially because we have told all of our sushi-loving friends about this place. The people here are so nice that they have, on more than one occassion, offered to take and hold our fussy baby so that we can enjoy our meal for a few moments. It is telling of our comfort level with them that we have actually allowed them to do it! How is that for service?
Great service, however, only goes so far of the food isn't up to par. No worries here. This is better sushi than I have had at much more expensive and higher-rated places. If you are at all inclined toward tuna, you must try the Double Tuna Roll. Soft, delicious, buttery tuna on the inside, and the same in big, and spicy, layers on top. It just seems to melt away in your mouth. That's what get me about this place. The ingredients are always fresh and always top-notch. They don't try to hide flavors with all kinds of other add-ons, they just let superior quality stand on its own. The Playboy is another star, with shrimp tempura, tuna, and spicy sauce. Like your entire roll tempura fried? Try the Volcano Roll, it is decadent. Not your style? Try the Red Dragon, or choose from about 40 other varieties, some not even on the menu. You can never run out of options here. You will also not run out of cash, as the sushi here is about $4-$8 cheaper than what you would pay elsewhere! Make sure you check the daily specials, too. We almost always order at least one of these, and some of them (like the Double Tuna) make it on to the menu permanently. In review, I will state categorically that we have tried about 20 different rolls/preparations here and have NEVER been disappointed. That is the mark of a true find. That, and the fact that after 9 months without sushi this was my wife's first post-pregnancy meal. We had planned this for months and I went and grabbed a to-go order, which we ate right in the hopspital! The staff still gets a kick out of that story as well. And they have been pretty good about keeping a couple of my clandestine solo visits during the pregnancy a secret from my wife. Oops, guess I spilled the beans. Hey, some places are just too good to stay away from :)
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Some of my favorite dishes ever
If you read the Pittsburgh post you know that I had an epiphany about naming some of my all-time favorite dishes. I kind of borrowed this idea from my new favorite show, "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" on Food Network. I'm sure I'll post a few of these as my memory gets jogged some more, but here we go. Note: These dishes are not to be missed if you are anywhere conceivably near the location and do not have to break more than two laws to get there.
Prime Rib at The Feedlot (Shepherd, Montana)
Shepherd is what you would imagine a small Montana town to be like. I think the cows outnumber the people...and it's not even close. I found this place when I was in college in Billings. A teammate of mine told me it was worth the 20-minute drive east of town so I took the plunge. This place looks like a big cabin in the middle of nowhere. I have eaten many a Prime in my day, but I have never had anything like this. Cooked to my exact specification of medium rare by the cook, this piece of meat melts in your mouth. I could only describe the texture as "butterlike". I don't think I even used a knife! This is one of those meals where your internal dialogue is at odds with itself because you can't decide whether to shove it in as fast as you can because you can't stand a moment without the succulent beef on your mouth, or savor each bite longinly because you never want the experience to end. I suggest the latter if you can summon the willpower. Quite simply, perfect prime. Oh, and as a bonus, the French Onion soup is darn good to boot.
Pumpkin Curry at Thai Tom Yum Kung (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
See Pittsburgh write-up below for details
Flatbread at Cafe Trio (Salt Lake City, UT)
So good, we had our rehearsal dinner there! Trio is kind of a cool, hip place. It is casual Italian with a twist (or ten). The menu is very good, as is the wine list, but there can be some pitfalls along the way. And they have an outstanding Flourless Chocolate Cake that almost made this list.
But...we're here to talk flatbread. Trio's comes prepared in long strips that are simultaneously firm and soft. Perfectly cooked and thin, it can stand on its own with its buttery, light, olive flavor with a little crunch of sea salt. However, it would be a shame not to load it down with one of the three friends that accompany it. We'll go worst to best here. The White Bean Puree is nice and smooth. Kind of a subtle flavor. I've actually has better at Tin Roof Grill, but nothing wrong with this one. Next is the Basil Pesto. Basil is one of my favorite herbs and it is splendid in pesto on flatbread at Trio. So much flavor you might slap the person across from you! The star, though, is the olive tapenade. This is a dish that is easy to screw up, and I find that the tapenade at most places is a little too tart and overwhelming for my taste. Not this. It is so blissfully balanced that patrons can be witnessed skipping the flatbread entirely and eating it with a spoon (not that my lovely wife would know anything about that kind of behavior...)
The perfect starter to what is usually a quality meal.
Fajitas at Pappasito's Cantina (Houston, Texas)
Pappasito's is actually a Texas chain, so you can find one in most of the big cities. I'm going to do a review of Houston in the near future so I will keep this one brief. Just get the damn fajitas! They melt in your mouth. Get the combo (chicken and beef) and enjoy the ride. I could eat these every day.
I have some more ideas but I'm not going to turn this post into a novel, so we'll end it with dessert.
Chocolate Bag at Jake's Famous Crawfish (Portland, Oregon)
Jake's is a very good seafood restaurant in Portland and is part of the McCormick and Schmick's family of restaurants. By all means, go for the entrees and you probably won't be disappointed. Just save some room for dessert! The chocolate bag is, well, a bag made of chocolate. Sinfully good chocolate, nice and thin but strong enough to hold a treasure trove of goodies. Said goodies include creamy White Chocolate Mousse, Fresh Berries (raspberries, blueberries, and plump Columbia River blackberries), topped with fresh whipped cream and drizzled with a raspberry coulis. This is heaven. It is decadent. It is the perfect way to end a meal, and thus the perfect way to end this posting.
psst...I didn't think words could do this one justice, so check out the pic at the top of the post and wear a bib to catch all the drool
Macaroni Grill
Went to Macaroni Grill last night on a whim. I had not been there in years and my wife had a yearning for it, so off we went with the boy in tow. The dining room always strikes me as odd at this place, becuase it is open. Completely open. i don't mind the company of other people, but this is kinda weird. The kid in me loves the tables though, which are covered in paper and complete with crayons to let your imagination run wild...which may get me thrown out of there if I get carried away.
The first part of the meal is my favorite: the bread. Fantastic bread. I could eat 5 loaves of this crusty on the outside, warm and soft on the inside, herb-flavored bread. This was also the first place that I ever had the now-popular bread bread dip with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and it is still as good as ever. A perfect compliment to the bread.
The entrees were a bit of a mixed bag, however. I ordered my favorite here, Penne Rustica, which is consists of 3 huge shrimp, generous helpings of chicken and smoked prosciutto, and a parmesean cream sauce. All of this is tossed with penne and then baked together to form one scrumptious heart attack on a plate! This dish (and the bread) is the reason I go back, because the rest of the menu just seems average. Last night, the Penne Rustica was nothing to complain about, but didn't quite live up to the lofty expectations I have had from former visits. My wife ordered Capellini Pomodoro and she and I both found it to be just OK. The tomatoes were a bit overcooked, whereas good Pomodoro keeps the full flavor of the tomatoes by letting off just a little. Because we were in a celebratory mood due to some good news earlier in the day, I thought a beverage might be in order. After perusing the drink menu I decided on the Italian Margarita, which was supposed to have substituted Italian Gran Gala for Grand Marnier. Makes sense, they are both essentailly the same thing. What they should have said is, "We have substituted Sprite for Grand Marnier" because that it what it tasted like. Terrible drink...but at least there was still some bread left to finish the night off right.
The first part of the meal is my favorite: the bread. Fantastic bread. I could eat 5 loaves of this crusty on the outside, warm and soft on the inside, herb-flavored bread. This was also the first place that I ever had the now-popular bread bread dip with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and it is still as good as ever. A perfect compliment to the bread.
The entrees were a bit of a mixed bag, however. I ordered my favorite here, Penne Rustica, which is consists of 3 huge shrimp, generous helpings of chicken and smoked prosciutto, and a parmesean cream sauce. All of this is tossed with penne and then baked together to form one scrumptious heart attack on a plate! This dish (and the bread) is the reason I go back, because the rest of the menu just seems average. Last night, the Penne Rustica was nothing to complain about, but didn't quite live up to the lofty expectations I have had from former visits. My wife ordered Capellini Pomodoro and she and I both found it to be just OK. The tomatoes were a bit overcooked, whereas good Pomodoro keeps the full flavor of the tomatoes by letting off just a little. Because we were in a celebratory mood due to some good news earlier in the day, I thought a beverage might be in order. After perusing the drink menu I decided on the Italian Margarita, which was supposed to have substituted Italian Gran Gala for Grand Marnier. Makes sense, they are both essentailly the same thing. What they should have said is, "We have substituted Sprite for Grand Marnier" because that it what it tasted like. Terrible drink...but at least there was still some bread left to finish the night off right.
Pittsburgh
I have had the opportunity to visit the Steel City twice in the past year, and while I can't say I care for the town itself, especially when trying to get somewhere on the terrible road system, I did find some rather nice spots to grab a bite.
Thai Tom Tum Kung - Over the years I have learned one very important thing about dining: The axiom of "Don't judge a book by its cover" applies to restaurants every bit as much as it does to people. Good thing, because I might otherwise have passed this place up. That's one of the things I love though - finding little holes-in-the-wall with killer food. So, adventerous palettes in tow, Dad and I pulled up to a tiny little strip mall that would be very easy to mis to the casual passerby. We stepped inside the smallest sit-down restaurant I have ever been to in my life. There are two tables (for two), a take-out counter, and a shelf with some magazines and newspaper reviews. That's it. Except for the kitchen, which was partially visible through a beaded doorway behind which sat a little old Thai lady casually stirring a pot with some seductive smells escaping.
Who should step out of the doorway but a dead-ringer for David Carradine, if David Carradine were dressed as a leftover hippie from the 60s! This guy was great! Soft-spoken and lovingly descriptive of his food, he acted like all he wanted to do was impress us with his little restaurant that could. Kind of like a kid looking for approval for one of his futile but well-intentioned exploits. I half expected a dissertation on peace, love, and flowers to follow, but thankfully he stuck to the food. THE FOOD. OMG!!! If you have read other parts of this blog, you know what I am about to say is a huge statement. This is the BEST Thai food I have ever had. Who would have thunk it?
We began with an appetizer of two different types of samosas. Samosas are an Indian dish but they looked good so we tried them. If you don't know what they are, they are basically pastries stuffed with veggies or meat. I cannot remember what was in them, but we had two different kinds of the meat filled ones and both were delicious. Better, in fact, than at some of the better Indian places I have been. Then, the curries. We had our usual favorite Panang, and then also opted to try the Pumpkin curry at out host's urging. The Panang was very excellent. Every bit as good as at my local favorite Thai Orchid, and it was soon devoured. The Pumpkin...quite simply the best curry I have ever had anywhere. Were we not afraid of offending the host, and were the space big enough, fisticuffs may well have ensued over who got the last helping. As it was, the big guy was kind enough to let me finish it off :) One of the top three dishes I have ever had anywhere. (Lightbulb moment! Coming soon, top dishes - any cuisine, any locale. I'm excited!) We also had Pad Thai which was also excellent. This was a different preparation on the familiar dish. Wide noodles instead of thin ones, and a little bit different sauce. Lots of nice chicken, shrimp, tamarind, and peanut flavors. Mmmmm. Requisite sweet sticky rice for dessert (did we have mangoes or custard? Wow, my memory is going) was outstanding. And the bill...$32!
If you are within a day's drive of Pittsburgh, find a way to get here! It is just east of the Squirrel Hill neighborhood. Magnificent find.
Sun Penang - Good Malaysian food in Squirrel hill area. Malaysian can best be described as a mix of Thai, Indian, and Chinese cuisines. How could you go wrong? The food pales a bit when compared to the above review, but was good enough that I went there on both trips. They have a nice selection of Dim Sum, and we opted for Shiu Mei (steamed shrimp and pork dumpling) and a steamed shrimp bun. Both were quality items. On the entree side of things, Beef Rendang had good flavor but the beef was uneven; tender the first visit, tough the next. Char Kway Teow, a Malaysian noodle dish, was tasty on both visits and Seafood combination delight was good but a hair overpriced. I would go back, but probably not too far out of my way.
Cozumel - Another Sqiurrel Hill eatery (this neighborhood is really neat too, kind of a hip and party atmosphere, but not "clubbish", the emphasis is more on the restaurants). Non-descript place but cozy nonetheless. Excellent mole, excellent fajitas, and everybody else seemed to enjoy their dishes also. Just an all-around good spot for Mexican food.
Tandoor Indian Grill - Probably the best Indian I have had outside of Palo Alto/Bay Area, CA. Little place, surrounded by all kinds of other Indian restaurants in the Oakland district right by the U. of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University. We opted for the buffet with a side of Chicken Makhani since we did not see it out there. The beauty of this place is that even dishes which would usually be an afterthought or filler on a buffet were very good, as was the Makhani. Not a bad dish on the whole spread, and that is saying something!
Plea for Utah: Can we please get the following restaurants here? Panera Bread and Buffalo Wild Wings (or BW3 as its called in the Great Lakes area). These are two chains definitely worth having, and they even have BW3 in Boise, ID and Billings, MT. WTF? While I'm at it, we could also use a Dave & Buster's and a Trader Joe's! If you have been to any of these above places you know what I am talking about.
Thai Tom Tum Kung - Over the years I have learned one very important thing about dining: The axiom of "Don't judge a book by its cover" applies to restaurants every bit as much as it does to people. Good thing, because I might otherwise have passed this place up. That's one of the things I love though - finding little holes-in-the-wall with killer food. So, adventerous palettes in tow, Dad and I pulled up to a tiny little strip mall that would be very easy to mis to the casual passerby. We stepped inside the smallest sit-down restaurant I have ever been to in my life. There are two tables (for two), a take-out counter, and a shelf with some magazines and newspaper reviews. That's it. Except for the kitchen, which was partially visible through a beaded doorway behind which sat a little old Thai lady casually stirring a pot with some seductive smells escaping.
Who should step out of the doorway but a dead-ringer for David Carradine, if David Carradine were dressed as a leftover hippie from the 60s! This guy was great! Soft-spoken and lovingly descriptive of his food, he acted like all he wanted to do was impress us with his little restaurant that could. Kind of like a kid looking for approval for one of his futile but well-intentioned exploits. I half expected a dissertation on peace, love, and flowers to follow, but thankfully he stuck to the food. THE FOOD. OMG!!! If you have read other parts of this blog, you know what I am about to say is a huge statement. This is the BEST Thai food I have ever had. Who would have thunk it?
We began with an appetizer of two different types of samosas. Samosas are an Indian dish but they looked good so we tried them. If you don't know what they are, they are basically pastries stuffed with veggies or meat. I cannot remember what was in them, but we had two different kinds of the meat filled ones and both were delicious. Better, in fact, than at some of the better Indian places I have been. Then, the curries. We had our usual favorite Panang, and then also opted to try the Pumpkin curry at out host's urging. The Panang was very excellent. Every bit as good as at my local favorite Thai Orchid, and it was soon devoured. The Pumpkin...quite simply the best curry I have ever had anywhere. Were we not afraid of offending the host, and were the space big enough, fisticuffs may well have ensued over who got the last helping. As it was, the big guy was kind enough to let me finish it off :) One of the top three dishes I have ever had anywhere. (Lightbulb moment! Coming soon, top dishes - any cuisine, any locale. I'm excited!) We also had Pad Thai which was also excellent. This was a different preparation on the familiar dish. Wide noodles instead of thin ones, and a little bit different sauce. Lots of nice chicken, shrimp, tamarind, and peanut flavors. Mmmmm. Requisite sweet sticky rice for dessert (did we have mangoes or custard? Wow, my memory is going) was outstanding. And the bill...$32!
If you are within a day's drive of Pittsburgh, find a way to get here! It is just east of the Squirrel Hill neighborhood. Magnificent find.
Sun Penang - Good Malaysian food in Squirrel hill area. Malaysian can best be described as a mix of Thai, Indian, and Chinese cuisines. How could you go wrong? The food pales a bit when compared to the above review, but was good enough that I went there on both trips. They have a nice selection of Dim Sum, and we opted for Shiu Mei (steamed shrimp and pork dumpling) and a steamed shrimp bun. Both were quality items. On the entree side of things, Beef Rendang had good flavor but the beef was uneven; tender the first visit, tough the next. Char Kway Teow, a Malaysian noodle dish, was tasty on both visits and Seafood combination delight was good but a hair overpriced. I would go back, but probably not too far out of my way.
Cozumel - Another Sqiurrel Hill eatery (this neighborhood is really neat too, kind of a hip and party atmosphere, but not "clubbish", the emphasis is more on the restaurants). Non-descript place but cozy nonetheless. Excellent mole, excellent fajitas, and everybody else seemed to enjoy their dishes also. Just an all-around good spot for Mexican food.
Tandoor Indian Grill - Probably the best Indian I have had outside of Palo Alto/Bay Area, CA. Little place, surrounded by all kinds of other Indian restaurants in the Oakland district right by the U. of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University. We opted for the buffet with a side of Chicken Makhani since we did not see it out there. The beauty of this place is that even dishes which would usually be an afterthought or filler on a buffet were very good, as was the Makhani. Not a bad dish on the whole spread, and that is saying something!
Plea for Utah: Can we please get the following restaurants here? Panera Bread and Buffalo Wild Wings (or BW3 as its called in the Great Lakes area). These are two chains definitely worth having, and they even have BW3 in Boise, ID and Billings, MT. WTF? While I'm at it, we could also use a Dave & Buster's and a Trader Joe's! If you have been to any of these above places you know what I am talking about.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Denver
Well, I am having a rare but not unheard of sleepless night thus far, so what better way to pass the time until I get tired?
Denver is one of my favorite places. I almost moved there - I would like to thank Sara for keeping me in Utah :) - and I am a huge Broncos fan. Plus it's less than a day's drive. Denver reminds me a lot of Salt Lake not only in geography and outdoor recreation, but the cleanliness of the outlying areas, the nice people, and of course the fantastic food:
Toast - My favorite breakfast spot is in Littleton, and it is a can't miss if you are in the area. Huge portions, relaxed coffee-house feel, and great people running the joint. I have been there twice and have not been able to finish my meal either time. Quite a shame for food this good to go to waste, but as I said, those portions! Start with the pancakes: varieties like Cheesecake, Bananas Foster, Lemon Blueberry, and Carrot Cake. Something for everybody here and good enough to be named denver's best in 2008 and 2009. Then there's my fave, Santa Fe French Toast. Described thusly: "Thick cut toast stuffed with egg, chorizo, green chilies, mixed cheese, topped with queso anejo, pico de gallo, avocado sauce, and our smoked chili sour cream." OMG! The breakfast burrito, which really should be called burro for those who understand Spanish, is also incredile. Check out the menu on their website and try not to salivate on your keyboard - www.toastygoodness.com
Lime - Disclaimer: do not go to Lime if you do not want to get a little wild. A few locations, but you HAVE to go to the downtown one in the famed LoDo district. This is mexican food with a twist. Do's: Fajitas, Sweet Corn Tamales, and Huevos Rancheros. All excellent food. Do Not's: Scorpions. These spicy jalapeno chipotle cheese stuffed flash fried jumbo shrimp (whew!) sound delicious but were very disappointing. Bonus to this place for choosing not to ignore chips and salsa, which are mighty good here. But that, folks, is only half the story. You see, Lime's trademark is to bring a complimentary plate of Limes, sliced in half, and filled with Tequila. And at 4 Lime "shooters" per person, things can get rowdy pretty quick. Not to worry though, this place comes complete with a dance floor that just kinds of sprouts up all of a sudden, along with some of the most delectable looking, um, dishes that Denver has to offer. For those pansies with a tamer side, the same food (and Limes) can be enjoyed South of the city in Greenwood Village without the hoppin atmosphere. But then again, did you really go to Denver to play it safe?
Fado - Is there a trend here? What the heck is up with the one-word restaurants? I thought pretentious people only lived in Aspen? Hey, I just eat and review. Tough life. This place is actually a national chain that has not seen fit to come to Utah. I attended the downtown location, in the shadows of Coors field. Neat decor in this place, which advertises, and delivers, itself as an Irish pub with great food. After a nice smoked salmon appetizer my dining companion and I each ordered Boxty, an Irish specialty consisting of various fillings wrapped inside a gingantic potato pancake and covered in sauce. I had the steak boxty with sauteed mushrooms and onions with a whiskey garlic sauce, while big sis opted for the traditional corned beef and cabbage in a creamy mustard sauce. If I could find boxty as good as either of these around here I would paint myself green and dance a jig. Delicious! A glass of Bushmill's 16 was the perfect ending to a tasty meal. Oh, and if you're in the mood for a little revilry, check out Sing Sing, a dueling piano bar right next to the restaurant sure to offer some late-night fun.
U.S. Thai - West of downtown in a run-down kind of neighborhood. That neighborhood where you know everything is authentic because you feel like you have been transported into 10 different countries depending on which door you go in. Little place, simple and nondescript, and very good. Lots of spice and lots of flavor, I would rate it just below some of my all-time favorites, but not by much. Maybe not worth going all the way across town for, but definitely worth the time if you are near the area.
Denver is one of my favorite places. I almost moved there - I would like to thank Sara for keeping me in Utah :) - and I am a huge Broncos fan. Plus it's less than a day's drive. Denver reminds me a lot of Salt Lake not only in geography and outdoor recreation, but the cleanliness of the outlying areas, the nice people, and of course the fantastic food:
Toast - My favorite breakfast spot is in Littleton, and it is a can't miss if you are in the area. Huge portions, relaxed coffee-house feel, and great people running the joint. I have been there twice and have not been able to finish my meal either time. Quite a shame for food this good to go to waste, but as I said, those portions! Start with the pancakes: varieties like Cheesecake, Bananas Foster, Lemon Blueberry, and Carrot Cake. Something for everybody here and good enough to be named denver's best in 2008 and 2009. Then there's my fave, Santa Fe French Toast. Described thusly: "Thick cut toast stuffed with egg, chorizo, green chilies, mixed cheese, topped with queso anejo, pico de gallo, avocado sauce, and our smoked chili sour cream." OMG! The breakfast burrito, which really should be called burro for those who understand Spanish, is also incredile. Check out the menu on their website and try not to salivate on your keyboard - www.toastygoodness.com
Lime - Disclaimer: do not go to Lime if you do not want to get a little wild. A few locations, but you HAVE to go to the downtown one in the famed LoDo district. This is mexican food with a twist. Do's: Fajitas, Sweet Corn Tamales, and Huevos Rancheros. All excellent food. Do Not's: Scorpions. These spicy jalapeno chipotle cheese stuffed flash fried jumbo shrimp (whew!) sound delicious but were very disappointing. Bonus to this place for choosing not to ignore chips and salsa, which are mighty good here. But that, folks, is only half the story. You see, Lime's trademark is to bring a complimentary plate of Limes, sliced in half, and filled with Tequila. And at 4 Lime "shooters" per person, things can get rowdy pretty quick. Not to worry though, this place comes complete with a dance floor that just kinds of sprouts up all of a sudden, along with some of the most delectable looking, um, dishes that Denver has to offer. For those pansies with a tamer side, the same food (and Limes) can be enjoyed South of the city in Greenwood Village without the hoppin atmosphere. But then again, did you really go to Denver to play it safe?
Fado - Is there a trend here? What the heck is up with the one-word restaurants? I thought pretentious people only lived in Aspen? Hey, I just eat and review. Tough life. This place is actually a national chain that has not seen fit to come to Utah. I attended the downtown location, in the shadows of Coors field. Neat decor in this place, which advertises, and delivers, itself as an Irish pub with great food. After a nice smoked salmon appetizer my dining companion and I each ordered Boxty, an Irish specialty consisting of various fillings wrapped inside a gingantic potato pancake and covered in sauce. I had the steak boxty with sauteed mushrooms and onions with a whiskey garlic sauce, while big sis opted for the traditional corned beef and cabbage in a creamy mustard sauce. If I could find boxty as good as either of these around here I would paint myself green and dance a jig. Delicious! A glass of Bushmill's 16 was the perfect ending to a tasty meal. Oh, and if you're in the mood for a little revilry, check out Sing Sing, a dueling piano bar right next to the restaurant sure to offer some late-night fun.
U.S. Thai - West of downtown in a run-down kind of neighborhood. That neighborhood where you know everything is authentic because you feel like you have been transported into 10 different countries depending on which door you go in. Little place, simple and nondescript, and very good. Lots of spice and lots of flavor, I would rate it just below some of my all-time favorites, but not by much. Maybe not worth going all the way across town for, but definitely worth the time if you are near the area.
Coming tomorrow
My first out of town posts (I am thinking Pittsburgh, Denver, and maybe another). Plus, a review of my dinner at Macaroni Grill tonight.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Top Places list (continued)
OK, here are some categories I didn't get to yesterday. Again, we're still talking Utah here. Out-of-state will be posted later.
Breakfast
1. Ruth's Diner [Emigration Canyon] I know, I know, me and half the city! Love it. **Review to come**
2. Eggs in the City [Sugarhouse] **Review to come**
3. Over the Counter [Holladay/Millcreek] Best little greasy spoon around. If you are not on a health kick and enjoy the great entertainment you can get from watching fast-order cooks on an open grill in the middle of the restaurant (love it!) this is your place. Get an omlette and a big helping of hash browns, just expect to wait a bit before you're seated.
4. Original Pancake House [Sugarhouse] Recently reviewed (see below).
5. Belgian Waffle [Midvale] I've been going here since I was a kid. The namesake waffles are fantastic, especially topped with seasonal fruit. The omlettes are enormous and delicious - my favorite is the Spanish with sausage added. Best of all, the SAME PEOPLE still work there from when I was little and they are open 24 hours and are a great stop after a night of less-than-responsible decision-making...not that I would know *hiccup*
Soapbox Moment: In the realm of "I do not get this" I present Blue Plate Diner. Send me all the nasty comments you want, I keep hearing about how great this place is, and I keep getting talked in to giving it just one more try, and I keep getting disappointed. I don't know what kind of spell everyone is under with this place, but this food is terrible. Period. End of discussion. It's like Dave Matthews Band. The guy's voice sounds like nails on a chalkboard. What am I missing here? How does everybody just go along with this? Weird.
Pizza
1. Setebello [Downtown] **review coming soon**
2. The Pie [University] No review needed here I'm sure. They have a Midvale location but c'mon, THE Pie is the only place to go. As much about the setting as the food, and the pizza still manages to stand out. Customize all you want (my last creation of smoked gouda, andouille sausage, and, yes, smoked oysters, was mouthwatering and delicious). The college crowd always adds some good unintentional entertainment too.
3. Smoky Mountain Pizza [Sandy] This Idaho transplant is a recent discovery, but I was pleasantly surprised. **review coming soon**
4. California Pizza Kitchen [Gateway] Trendy chain, I know, but when I bit into a Thai Chicken Pizza there I simply do not care.
5. Nevole's [Sandy] Pretty good New York-style pizza. Solid choice if you're in the South end of the valley.
Chinese
1. Asian Star [Sandy] Some would say this is not authentic Chinese. My wife says all the dishes taste the same. I say boo to both of them because this cuisine is bursting with flavor. Although I cannot say I am a big fan of the prices, which seem to increase every other year, I AM a big fan of the sinfully rich Walnut Shrimp. Ponpon chicken, Tangerine beef, and Green Beans in Garlic Sauce are also good. The food here is a little sweeter (read: American) than some, but tastes great just the same. The people are VERY friendly and the boys in the back will cook about anything you like, even if it is not on the menu.
2. Schezuan Garden [Sandy] Hey, our most recent governer was just appointed ambassador to China, and this is his favorite place to eat. Who am I to argue? Pretty good - and pretty spicy - food. They have two menus: a more familiar American-Chinese type menu, and an authentic menu with not-so-common dishes like Chinese loofah and a few containing various types of "fungus".
3. Little World [South Salt Lake] Small, sometimes dirty, authentic, and pretty dang good. This is what the restaurants are like in Chintown in some other cities. No frills, no apologies, just good food prepared by natives of China whose grasp of culinary skill is much stronger than their grasp of English (you can just point to what you want if you get one of these guys as your server). The best part? The prices! Which are a steal for the tasty food on your plate.
4. Mandarin [Bountiful] This used to be #1 for me but it has been disappointing the last couple of times I have been there. I think they may be sitting on their reputation a bit. The Five-taste shrimp are still really good though.
5. China Platter [Bountiful] I have only been here once, or else it may be higher. Usually when places try to branch out to include several cuisines, the entire menu just becomes really average. Therefore, I usually try and steer toward places that specialize. That said, a friend introduced me to this place and its Chinese/Thai menu (actually they have separate menus for each). Both cuisines were sampled, and both were very good. Much better than I thought they would be. Not my FAVORITE Chinese, or my FAVORITE Thai, but both are executed pretty dang well and are deserving of that return trip I've been thinking about.
Breakfast
1. Ruth's Diner [Emigration Canyon] I know, I know, me and half the city! Love it. **Review to come**
2. Eggs in the City [Sugarhouse] **Review to come**
3. Over the Counter [Holladay/Millcreek] Best little greasy spoon around. If you are not on a health kick and enjoy the great entertainment you can get from watching fast-order cooks on an open grill in the middle of the restaurant (love it!) this is your place. Get an omlette and a big helping of hash browns, just expect to wait a bit before you're seated.
4. Original Pancake House [Sugarhouse] Recently reviewed (see below).
5. Belgian Waffle [Midvale] I've been going here since I was a kid. The namesake waffles are fantastic, especially topped with seasonal fruit. The omlettes are enormous and delicious - my favorite is the Spanish with sausage added. Best of all, the SAME PEOPLE still work there from when I was little and they are open 24 hours and are a great stop after a night of less-than-responsible decision-making...not that I would know *hiccup*
Soapbox Moment: In the realm of "I do not get this" I present Blue Plate Diner. Send me all the nasty comments you want, I keep hearing about how great this place is, and I keep getting talked in to giving it just one more try, and I keep getting disappointed. I don't know what kind of spell everyone is under with this place, but this food is terrible. Period. End of discussion. It's like Dave Matthews Band. The guy's voice sounds like nails on a chalkboard. What am I missing here? How does everybody just go along with this? Weird.
Pizza
1. Setebello [Downtown] **review coming soon**
2. The Pie [University] No review needed here I'm sure. They have a Midvale location but c'mon, THE Pie is the only place to go. As much about the setting as the food, and the pizza still manages to stand out. Customize all you want (my last creation of smoked gouda, andouille sausage, and, yes, smoked oysters, was mouthwatering and delicious). The college crowd always adds some good unintentional entertainment too.
3. Smoky Mountain Pizza [Sandy] This Idaho transplant is a recent discovery, but I was pleasantly surprised. **review coming soon**
4. California Pizza Kitchen [Gateway] Trendy chain, I know, but when I bit into a Thai Chicken Pizza there I simply do not care.
5. Nevole's [Sandy] Pretty good New York-style pizza. Solid choice if you're in the South end of the valley.
Chinese
1. Asian Star [Sandy] Some would say this is not authentic Chinese. My wife says all the dishes taste the same. I say boo to both of them because this cuisine is bursting with flavor. Although I cannot say I am a big fan of the prices, which seem to increase every other year, I AM a big fan of the sinfully rich Walnut Shrimp. Ponpon chicken, Tangerine beef, and Green Beans in Garlic Sauce are also good. The food here is a little sweeter (read: American) than some, but tastes great just the same. The people are VERY friendly and the boys in the back will cook about anything you like, even if it is not on the menu.
2. Schezuan Garden [Sandy] Hey, our most recent governer was just appointed ambassador to China, and this is his favorite place to eat. Who am I to argue? Pretty good - and pretty spicy - food. They have two menus: a more familiar American-Chinese type menu, and an authentic menu with not-so-common dishes like Chinese loofah and a few containing various types of "fungus".
3. Little World [South Salt Lake] Small, sometimes dirty, authentic, and pretty dang good. This is what the restaurants are like in Chintown in some other cities. No frills, no apologies, just good food prepared by natives of China whose grasp of culinary skill is much stronger than their grasp of English (you can just point to what you want if you get one of these guys as your server). The best part? The prices! Which are a steal for the tasty food on your plate.
4. Mandarin [Bountiful] This used to be #1 for me but it has been disappointing the last couple of times I have been there. I think they may be sitting on their reputation a bit. The Five-taste shrimp are still really good though.
5. China Platter [Bountiful] I have only been here once, or else it may be higher. Usually when places try to branch out to include several cuisines, the entire menu just becomes really average. Therefore, I usually try and steer toward places that specialize. That said, a friend introduced me to this place and its Chinese/Thai menu (actually they have separate menus for each). Both cuisines were sampled, and both were very good. Much better than I thought they would be. Not my FAVORITE Chinese, or my FAVORITE Thai, but both are executed pretty dang well and are deserving of that return trip I've been thinking about.
Thai Orchid
OK, here is my first review of an old favorite. And I do mean FAVORITE. I love this place! The first thing that sets this place apart are the people. I remember the first time my dad and I (the old man is also a huge Thai fan) went to eat there. It is easy to miss, settled in a Holladay parking lot right next to a pet store, and just across from Snider's Meats. We were immediately greeted by a very sweet and very excited owner, Sue. She took great care to make sure we were tended to and asked all kinds of questions so about us and about what kind of food we liked. I got the same feeling as when I would visit one of my grandmothers, who would proceed to make a big fuss, say I looked hungry, and immediately whip something wonderful up from the kitchen.
After a great meal we returned about three weeks later to find that Sue, still excited, remembered our names and what we had ordered last time, even remembering our preference for extra sauce with our curry. How many places have you ever eaten where you get treated like family after 1 visit? Needless to say we soon became regulars. Every visit the same excitement, the same personal attention, and the same great food. When one of us was absent, there was always an inquiry into where they were and how they were doing. Life, however, can be cruel at times, and I am very sorry to report that Sue lost a long battle with cancer earlier this year. A nicer and more genuine person you could never find, and even though the food has always been good enough to stand on its own, she always made sure that we kept wanting to come back because it just felt like home.
Her nephew, always a stalwart back in the kitchen, has decided that the best way to honor her memory is to keep the place going, so after a brief closure to take Sue back to Thailand, he has returned and I am happy to report that the food, and the personal attention (now given by said nephew) are just as good as they have always been.
Were I not so attached to the other aspects of this place, I would still call it the best Thai food in Salt Lake, because it is. First thing to know about my Thai preferences: Curry, curry, curry. If the curry isn't good, I won't be returning. This is what shines the brightest at Thai Orchid. Although I like all curries, my favorite is Panang, and this place has the BEST Panang I have ever had, in state or out. Fiery enough to satisy the palette of many a spice-hound, it is wonderfully balanced with the perfect amount of coconut milk, kaffir leaf, and about 20 other flavors that all seem to hit the tongue simultaneously in a triumphant symphony that I often find in my better dreams. The chicken (I always get chicken but of course all the standard meats are available) is thinly sliced, all-white, and tender, and the pillowy rice makes a perfect mixing platform for that wonderful sauce. Other curries shine just as brightly, especially the Yellow (my sister's personal fave).
Other dishes on the menu fall in line - but not too far - behind the curry. Pad Thai, the most popular Thai dish, is good. I've had better at a few places, but it is certainly nothing to complain about. Nice and solid. Pad Gra Prow, a stir-fry dish with veggies and meat (I usually go pork here) in a spicy garlic basil sauce, almost always finds its way to my plate. Like the curry, let the rice soak it up. Mmmmmm. Not in the mood for Pad Thai but still want some noodles? Try Pad Woon Sen - aka glass noodles. Popping with flavor, Thai Orchid does a great version of this dish. Appetizers are nice here as well, especially the calamari and the satay, the latter coming with great versions of the traditional spicy peanut and cumcumber sauces. To top it off, Thai dessert staple Sweet Sticky Rice is done very well here, and is served with Mangoes (they will steer you away from these if not tasty and in season, another personal touch) or Thai Custard which is my favorite seeing as mangoes are one of the few foods I do not enjoy. If you have never had this dessert, you are missing out. It is fantastic!
So, in review: Great people, to-die-for curry, and a good menu of compliments. What more do you need? Knowing my afifnity for Thai food, my friends are constantly suggesting other places, and while I've found some good spots, nothing beats Thai Orchid. (Note: I have trips to two new Thai restaurants planned in the coming weeks. I'll post em when I try em!)
After a great meal we returned about three weeks later to find that Sue, still excited, remembered our names and what we had ordered last time, even remembering our preference for extra sauce with our curry. How many places have you ever eaten where you get treated like family after 1 visit? Needless to say we soon became regulars. Every visit the same excitement, the same personal attention, and the same great food. When one of us was absent, there was always an inquiry into where they were and how they were doing. Life, however, can be cruel at times, and I am very sorry to report that Sue lost a long battle with cancer earlier this year. A nicer and more genuine person you could never find, and even though the food has always been good enough to stand on its own, she always made sure that we kept wanting to come back because it just felt like home.
Her nephew, always a stalwart back in the kitchen, has decided that the best way to honor her memory is to keep the place going, so after a brief closure to take Sue back to Thailand, he has returned and I am happy to report that the food, and the personal attention (now given by said nephew) are just as good as they have always been.
Were I not so attached to the other aspects of this place, I would still call it the best Thai food in Salt Lake, because it is. First thing to know about my Thai preferences: Curry, curry, curry. If the curry isn't good, I won't be returning. This is what shines the brightest at Thai Orchid. Although I like all curries, my favorite is Panang, and this place has the BEST Panang I have ever had, in state or out. Fiery enough to satisy the palette of many a spice-hound, it is wonderfully balanced with the perfect amount of coconut milk, kaffir leaf, and about 20 other flavors that all seem to hit the tongue simultaneously in a triumphant symphony that I often find in my better dreams. The chicken (I always get chicken but of course all the standard meats are available) is thinly sliced, all-white, and tender, and the pillowy rice makes a perfect mixing platform for that wonderful sauce. Other curries shine just as brightly, especially the Yellow (my sister's personal fave).
Other dishes on the menu fall in line - but not too far - behind the curry. Pad Thai, the most popular Thai dish, is good. I've had better at a few places, but it is certainly nothing to complain about. Nice and solid. Pad Gra Prow, a stir-fry dish with veggies and meat (I usually go pork here) in a spicy garlic basil sauce, almost always finds its way to my plate. Like the curry, let the rice soak it up. Mmmmmm. Not in the mood for Pad Thai but still want some noodles? Try Pad Woon Sen - aka glass noodles. Popping with flavor, Thai Orchid does a great version of this dish. Appetizers are nice here as well, especially the calamari and the satay, the latter coming with great versions of the traditional spicy peanut and cumcumber sauces. To top it off, Thai dessert staple Sweet Sticky Rice is done very well here, and is served with Mangoes (they will steer you away from these if not tasty and in season, another personal touch) or Thai Custard which is my favorite seeing as mangoes are one of the few foods I do not enjoy. If you have never had this dessert, you are missing out. It is fantastic!
So, in review: Great people, to-die-for curry, and a good menu of compliments. What more do you need? Knowing my afifnity for Thai food, my friends are constantly suggesting other places, and while I've found some good spots, nothing beats Thai Orchid. (Note: I have trips to two new Thai restaurants planned in the coming weeks. I'll post em when I try em!)
Monday, August 10, 2009
First Top Places list
I'll review some of these places in more detail later, but for now I thought it would be a good idea to put a quick, handy reference in answer to the question I most often get asked (and yes, I am THAT GUY among my friends) - what are some of your favorite places to eat? I'll start with Salt Lake now. Other cities to come.
Top Thai (my favorite food!)
1. Thai Orchid [Holladay - do not confuse this with Orchid Thai in Sandy, which has TERRIBLE food, but good tapioca drinks] **Review posted!**
2. Chanon Thai [900 S. - SPICY!]
3. Thai Delight [West side just off Bangerter, always solid]
I have one word for places like Bangkok Thai, Pawit's, and Thaifoon (which is more asian fusion than Thai)....OVERPRICED!!!
Top Sushi
1. Sushi In-Joy [Midvale] **Review coming soon**
So good, it's the only place I go anymore for sushi
Top Mexican
1. Red Iguana [West of downtown] Duh! Like you can put any other place at the top of SLC Mexican. **Review coming soon of my favorite dishes**
2. Tarahumara [Midway] **Review coming soon, I'll just say it's definitely worth the drive**
3. La Calendria [Sandy, just north from Rio Tinto] This place has been renamed Loca Lizardz, kinda, cause it still says the old name also. Good little dive with big portions and more flavor than you would expect from food that looks deceivingly ordinary.
Top BBQ
1. Sugarhouse BBQ [umm...it's in Sugarhouse] **Review to come**
2. Holy Smoke BBQ & Grill [Layton] I'm trying to remember what I liked so much here. Everything is good, but I think I may have to make a return trip up here to refresh my memory! I do recall they have about 10 different sauces to try, always a plus :)
3. Goodwood [Draper] Nothing I'd recommend to out-of-towners, but consistently solid, especially the pulled pork sandwich. That said, we need a competitor in the valley for Sugarhouse. And the following do NOT fit the bill:
Q4U - why does eveyone make a big deal about this place, it is soooo average; Pat's - again, I don't get it. Just as overrated as Q4U, and I really wanted to like them both. Famous Dave's - good sauce, average meat; Rib City - maybe the worst BBQ I have ever had
Top Sandwiches
1. Moochie's [Downtown] **Review to come**
2. The Philadelphian [Sandy] Dirty place whose Cheesesteaks are the best I've ever had, which includes the famous joints in Philly and Moochie's, who gets the nod at #1 because ALL of their sandwiches are good. Get some onion rings here while you are at it. Big, fluffy, and homemade :)
3. Grove Market and Deli [Main street south of the baseball stadium] **Review to come**
4. Caputo's [Downtown] Hard to put this 4th, my wife will swear it should be #1. If you love Italian sandwiches this institution is your place. Great ingredients, amazing food and atmosphere...why is this not higher?
5. Joni's Deli [ South Salt Lake] Good Philly, even better Chicken Philly, good prices and nice people
...That's all for today, more lists and reviews to come soon!
Top Thai (my favorite food!)
1. Thai Orchid [Holladay - do not confuse this with Orchid Thai in Sandy, which has TERRIBLE food, but good tapioca drinks] **Review posted!**
2. Chanon Thai [900 S. - SPICY!]
3. Thai Delight [West side just off Bangerter, always solid]
I have one word for places like Bangkok Thai, Pawit's, and Thaifoon (which is more asian fusion than Thai)....OVERPRICED!!!
Top Sushi
1. Sushi In-Joy [Midvale] **Review coming soon**
So good, it's the only place I go anymore for sushi
Top Mexican
1. Red Iguana [West of downtown] Duh! Like you can put any other place at the top of SLC Mexican. **Review coming soon of my favorite dishes**
2. Tarahumara [Midway] **Review coming soon, I'll just say it's definitely worth the drive**
3. La Calendria [Sandy, just north from Rio Tinto] This place has been renamed Loca Lizardz, kinda, cause it still says the old name also. Good little dive with big portions and more flavor than you would expect from food that looks deceivingly ordinary.
Top BBQ
1. Sugarhouse BBQ [umm...it's in Sugarhouse] **Review to come**
2. Holy Smoke BBQ & Grill [Layton] I'm trying to remember what I liked so much here. Everything is good, but I think I may have to make a return trip up here to refresh my memory! I do recall they have about 10 different sauces to try, always a plus :)
3. Goodwood [Draper] Nothing I'd recommend to out-of-towners, but consistently solid, especially the pulled pork sandwich. That said, we need a competitor in the valley for Sugarhouse. And the following do NOT fit the bill:
Q4U - why does eveyone make a big deal about this place, it is soooo average; Pat's - again, I don't get it. Just as overrated as Q4U, and I really wanted to like them both. Famous Dave's - good sauce, average meat; Rib City - maybe the worst BBQ I have ever had
Top Sandwiches
1. Moochie's [Downtown] **Review to come**
2. The Philadelphian [Sandy] Dirty place whose Cheesesteaks are the best I've ever had, which includes the famous joints in Philly and Moochie's, who gets the nod at #1 because ALL of their sandwiches are good. Get some onion rings here while you are at it. Big, fluffy, and homemade :)
3. Grove Market and Deli [Main street south of the baseball stadium] **Review to come**
4. Caputo's [Downtown] Hard to put this 4th, my wife will swear it should be #1. If you love Italian sandwiches this institution is your place. Great ingredients, amazing food and atmosphere...why is this not higher?
5. Joni's Deli [ South Salt Lake] Good Philly, even better Chicken Philly, good prices and nice people
...That's all for today, more lists and reviews to come soon!
Original Pancake House
Just got back from a trip to the Sugarhouse area. We took the boy to see Tracy Aviary, but before things went flighty we needed the strength to walk through Liberty Park pushing a very heavy 10-month-old. My wife loves the Original Pancake House, so we decided to stop there for a "breakfast at lunchtime" kind of meal. Much to her dismay, she found that her favorite potato pancakes were no longer on the menu, and what's more our waitress had no idea what had happened to them, nor did she know if they would ever be back!
Despite the bump in the road, we pressed on. I'm not usually a fruity pancake guy, but something about the Pecan Pancakes with Sliced Banana seemed to call to me. They were quite good - pecans cooked right into the pancake so they didn't slide all over the plate and plenty of banana slices. They come in the form of 6 cakes about 5-6" in diameter and seemed the perfect serving size. The syrup was pretty ordinary, but adequate.
The wife decided to give in to her sweet tooth and ordered chocolate chip pancakes. They usually come with whipped cream and chocolate sauce as well, but she oredered them plain, just chips and cakes only. The chips were melting on the pancakes by the time they were served and the gooey topping made for pretty good grub. They are what you would imagine chocolate chips on pancakes to be like, which is not a bad thing. A side of long, thick slices of bacon were better than I have had at most places. Perfect texture straddling the line between chewy and crunchy.
The highlight of the day was provided by the boy, who was double-fisting bites of choc. chip pancakes into his piehole as fast as he possibly could. I'll let the photo describe the result!
Overall I find it to be a good, reliable breakfast place, especially if you like pancakes (hence the name of course).
Sky Box
Had a great round of golf yesterday at Fox Hollow in American Fork. My dad's buddy Steve was in town and the three of us had a blast (yours truly notching the only birdie on the day :) After spending way more than our quota of time in Utah County on a Sunday, we decided that we needed a place that we could get a beer...and maybe some decent food in the process. I have been to the Gateway location on a few occasions, but mostly just to tip back a few and watch some games, so it's never been much of an eating destination. That said, I noticed that a new one had opened up in the South part of the valley (right by Mulligan's on 10600 S.) and I knew it to be a reliable place to get a sunday drink in Utah, so off we went.
After quenching our thirst with an Evolution Amber (nice and smooth), Cutthroat (Steve - a bit hoppy for me), and Pacifico (Dad - SoCal boy, what do you expect?) our waitress informed us that the best thing on the menu was the Halibut and Chips, and 1-2-3 orders went to the kitchen. We munched on some surprisingly good fish while watching Tiger make his run at Bridgestone (is there a more competitive person in sports? I don't think so). The Halibut was flaky, moist, and tasty inside a surprisingly light and crispy batter. Three good-sized pieces was just the right amount, and I was impressed because it is hard to find good fish in Utah. A lot of places don't get it very fresh, and others tend to overcook Halibut, making it dry and flavorless. The fries were an afterthought, pretty average but made better with a little malt vinegar. A second Evolution wrapped up a meal that, to my surprise, is worth going back for.
After quenching our thirst with an Evolution Amber (nice and smooth), Cutthroat (Steve - a bit hoppy for me), and Pacifico (Dad - SoCal boy, what do you expect?) our waitress informed us that the best thing on the menu was the Halibut and Chips, and 1-2-3 orders went to the kitchen. We munched on some surprisingly good fish while watching Tiger make his run at Bridgestone (is there a more competitive person in sports? I don't think so). The Halibut was flaky, moist, and tasty inside a surprisingly light and crispy batter. Three good-sized pieces was just the right amount, and I was impressed because it is hard to find good fish in Utah. A lot of places don't get it very fresh, and others tend to overcook Halibut, making it dry and flavorless. The fries were an afterthought, pretty average but made better with a little malt vinegar. A second Evolution wrapped up a meal that, to my surprise, is worth going back for.
And...we're off!
Ok, here it is. The inaugural post. Let's all take a moment to reflect upon our lives and...WTF? We're talking about food here, so let's get down to business!
The format is going to go like this: When I eat out, whether here or out of town, I'm going to write my thoughts down on the place, so I can keep a running log of where the good, the bad, and the ugly of the culinary world resides. Plus, with my memory, I can refer back to my own posts and remind myself where the hell I have eaten! This running log will be interspersed with favorites from the past on the rare occasions that my 10-month-old allows me the time and peace to do so (I am a stay at home dad for the time being, so what better time to start a blog!)
The format is going to go like this: When I eat out, whether here or out of town, I'm going to write my thoughts down on the place, so I can keep a running log of where the good, the bad, and the ugly of the culinary world resides. Plus, with my memory, I can refer back to my own posts and remind myself where the hell I have eaten! This running log will be interspersed with favorites from the past on the rare occasions that my 10-month-old allows me the time and peace to do so (I am a stay at home dad for the time being, so what better time to start a blog!)
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