tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51828226137090276252024-03-15T20:10:12.392-05:00You Care What We ThinkReviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11421315992349490587noreply@blogger.comBlogger1068125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182822613709027625.post-4201751866385066582023-10-06T09:24:00.001-05:002023-10-06T09:24:58.746-05:00Tori (Ramen) - St. Paul, MN<p>This old train car (literally an old railway passenger car)
has been a few restaurants in the past. Probably more than I even know. I know I went here when it was <a href="https://youcarewhatwethink.blogspot.com/2010/12/chris-and-robs-chicago-taste-authority.html" target="_blank">Chris and Rob's</a>. But, Tori (formerly Tori Ramen when they were up in the Summit Hill area of St.
Paul) has taken it over and given a totally new vibe and menu. They consider
themselves noodle specialists and it shows in the menu they have put together. I
know this opened up during the pandemic in this location, but for some reason,
it has taken me a bit to get here.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The inside is… unusual… in that it has a sort of dining room
in the train car portion, then a very small bar area – apparently housed by local
regulars – and then there’s this unusual area with one of those open-atmosphere
garage doors that sort of spreads out onto the sidewalk. Not complaining at
all, but I just didn’t want you to walk in expecting a traditional 90-degree-angles
everywhere situation. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbbPN2243xf7gpOcodpFF1eW8GrGyl7em6WWBQS1XqnH276y6E62tjT27u8cQ1-5BUfNLFSsRYsWlye5oHB-vhUJOq_c6cEr7W1VlX65IRcDtmLNig61wMZTtgOmGUcpLErmw7Q60mQao1JURQu5sXI2fE2rxon4ydQ0bZxskHD3hkIyGtS5JdEwgeaxv/s2016/Tori2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbbPN2243xf7gpOcodpFF1eW8GrGyl7em6WWBQS1XqnH276y6E62tjT27u8cQ1-5BUfNLFSsRYsWlye5oHB-vhUJOq_c6cEr7W1VlX65IRcDtmLNig61wMZTtgOmGUcpLErmw7Q60mQao1JURQu5sXI2fE2rxon4ydQ0bZxskHD3hkIyGtS5JdEwgeaxv/s320/Tori2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">We were seated pretty quickly and spent some time
deciding what we were going to get. The menu has a handful of delicious
sounding starters, a list of various ramen dishes – the items in red are the
ones that are spicy – and then some add-ins. Super easy to understand. They’re
also known for pretty advanced cocktails, so I went with the tiki-est of the
drinks “Will There Be Rum?”, and the server assured me that yes, it DOES have
plenty of rum. D got a strawberry lemonade. We opted for some cold sesame
noodle to start and then D got the Dra(MN) – which is the chicken noodle, miso,
and bali ramen’s combined – and I got the Com Saw Mi Da, which is chili crisp,
gochujang, chicken, and a soft egg.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Drinks were fantastic. The strawberry lemonade was sweet, but
not too sweet, and downright refreshing. The Will There Be Rum drink was an
excellent tiki-style drink and it was a challenge not to drink it down in like
three drinks. Would highly recommend this one.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh15A3-z-AnCqYERiWK6OzsLGNEFi_xoGcqAp6k1GVAXmYavwKkwfg7njo_2R7Fo3OIL56VN4-eChQVS2h2ETeViGvWGwAu4-0sYxQjMro-HeDYwfonlv0hH6zSKY3hVcfaKzM93Agbc8Pz061D4igR2_8Ws1eiTDZNSEtOWyeTm6TzS53UAgDvDAtrv1Vr/s2016/Tori1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh15A3-z-AnCqYERiWK6OzsLGNEFi_xoGcqAp6k1GVAXmYavwKkwfg7njo_2R7Fo3OIL56VN4-eChQVS2h2ETeViGvWGwAu4-0sYxQjMro-HeDYwfonlv0hH6zSKY3hVcfaKzM93Agbc8Pz061D4igR2_8Ws1eiTDZNSEtOWyeTm6TzS53UAgDvDAtrv1Vr/s320/Tori1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The sesame noodles were perfect. A nice tall pile of noodles and red cabbage and cucumbers with tahini and black sesame seeds (the most evil of the sesame seeds). Not necessarily spicy, but there was some zing there somewhere. We slopped tahini sauce all over table by sharing this one, but fighting over a dish just means its really good and fight-worthy. You should try this one.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1J2ZIJtfaFlJEhqe_xiRdUGf0IwpL6Q2jnbMjCAFEthLrY4Wjyzd0cT0fhX-bYAXixUlK67G4AayLyL3uidmFheYUTEpdIARKeUG1J1T2Q2wtFE8PvV9mVt8j0-gaWdb3ET57jaDyN367d1Im4ZDOCw3ctSEm5U2yQkEtw52q2IyXN_fJiRKyv1tQg_F2/s2016/Tori3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1J2ZIJtfaFlJEhqe_xiRdUGf0IwpL6Q2jnbMjCAFEthLrY4Wjyzd0cT0fhX-bYAXixUlK67G4AayLyL3uidmFheYUTEpdIARKeUG1J1T2Q2wtFE8PvV9mVt8j0-gaWdb3ET57jaDyN367d1Im4ZDOCw3ctSEm5U2yQkEtw52q2IyXN_fJiRKyv1tQg_F2/s320/Tori3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The ramen arrived more quickly than I expected, which ruled.
The rich broth in both of our bowls looked the same, but this proved to NOT be
the case. The Dra(MN) had a little bit of heat (it was in the spicy section of
the menu) and had really good flavor. Lots of tahini flavor from the bali,
without it being too peanut butter-y, and a surprisingly generous portion of
noodles. Really good dish. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwRiNh_oWq-xXadT9c682VrVRl18CPN7-ZIgai6J9F7Fm-7VyWrGMOpG8-U4pmTfVJbkbrIyc5kxVddXMTDdePJZ4bvV-49n9IbsYOAX7V_NDMYdhnsLzyhhOtxd_IuQemn36rIu53dGhqGpNtYQWxRxER1NbbESkgHZHBEbua6A8GlsgtxaoSogbAuTWY/s2016/Tori4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwRiNh_oWq-xXadT9c682VrVRl18CPN7-ZIgai6J9F7Fm-7VyWrGMOpG8-U4pmTfVJbkbrIyc5kxVddXMTDdePJZ4bvV-49n9IbsYOAX7V_NDMYdhnsLzyhhOtxd_IuQemn36rIu53dGhqGpNtYQWxRxER1NbbESkgHZHBEbua6A8GlsgtxaoSogbAuTWY/s320/Tori4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The Com Saw Mi Da was incredible, though. Plentiful
noodles and lots of chicken, but the broth was so tasty and spicy. Growing
heat, too. By the end, I was sweating. This place doesn’t mess around. Both
ramen dishes were some of the more memorable ramen dishes I’ve had, so we will definitely
go back here again.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ17D2VlzNrxmGBbq5Q0hyphenhyphenOPzY7er5sJ2T7aDKsEkIBfcO5XLUgUoV_gKe0gUHVjaedjo-Uh5XsjB8dK8yq8rTfcKfU3ZeRXAwP2jDUAVXnG1LR0F-gPfhtt_zF676I6Vk_-nGB362sxCPaX4GxfI6LHhYxrBZbO9isPTScBvfxPWUJQmVv-tEBnQVQNtb/s2016/Tori5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ17D2VlzNrxmGBbq5Q0hyphenhyphenOPzY7er5sJ2T7aDKsEkIBfcO5XLUgUoV_gKe0gUHVjaedjo-Uh5XsjB8dK8yq8rTfcKfU3ZeRXAwP2jDUAVXnG1LR0F-gPfhtt_zF676I6Vk_-nGB362sxCPaX4GxfI6LHhYxrBZbO9isPTScBvfxPWUJQmVv-tEBnQVQNtb/s320/Tori5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A couple of random notes about this place:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>This place is great for vegans and vegetarians, and they’re
willing to make changes to dishes to make sure you’re happy. </li><li>I heard the table next to us say they had called “bullshit”
on the heat level and ordered the Fire Shoyu and the Vegan Fire Shoyu. Both of
them commented to the server that they may have ordered outside of their
expectations and it definitely wasn’t Minnesota hot. Hahaha</li><li>This place has a reallllllly weird vibe. Like Portlandia
almost-jokingly quirky atmosphere. Apparently, on weekends, they’re open until
2am still serving ramen, but they have a DJ and it turns into a club
atmosphere. Super out-of-the-box. Just didn’t want to forget to mention that it
won’t be a chill Japanese restaurant vibe here.</li></ul><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Neither of us could finish our ramen, and we brought a whole additional meal of leftovers home. You can also have them throw in some extra noodles for like $4 and bring
some home to reheat with your leftovers. …which I did. And they were so good
the next day.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I would definitely recommend this place and I’m looking forward
to going back and trying some different dishes, but I doubt anything is going
to beat what I got this first time. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://toriramen.com" target="_blank">https://toriramen.com </a></p>Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02000483621794575045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182822613709027625.post-22463400141056783802023-08-24T21:08:00.006-05:002023-08-31T09:23:15.410-05:002023 Minnesota State Fair - St. Paul, MN<p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQBhp5c7Gj_5fH7bIScgLb5XGGdRxLaJEh0BPzg79kRGKTfNSDLcARZaljNxBPF2GRUGJUQnJuB_fZheGT7YoE_wy7SOqPOCcb9GH3Z0kKmPYNGOd2z7CqfAvZIh_Z2BFbOGnYb4AiwHqUQKvnQYYAoB5gaX3nwpjjjr52oKn1XP_kkgTBdRxbzQPc9cFY/s4032/2023StateFairIMG_0049.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQBhp5c7Gj_5fH7bIScgLb5XGGdRxLaJEh0BPzg79kRGKTfNSDLcARZaljNxBPF2GRUGJUQnJuB_fZheGT7YoE_wy7SOqPOCcb9GH3Z0kKmPYNGOd2z7CqfAvZIh_Z2BFbOGnYb4AiwHqUQKvnQYYAoB5gaX3nwpjjjr52oKn1XP_kkgTBdRxbzQPc9cFY/s320/2023StateFairIMG_0049.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The 2023 Minnesota State Fair saw me doing a lot more prep than I had in a while. I had things printed out; a definitely list and a maybe list; a map with stars on it; went to bed early so I could wake up on time; and probably some additional things that I’m too embarrassed to write about. But, good news for you, this year’s visit was a raging success (AGAIN). I’ll give some pretty quick descriptions of things I tried and then try to leave you with a top 3 or 5 list to help some of you out that have asked for my favorites. Reminder that these are my opinions and I’m not trying to run anyone out of business or upset anyone. Just my personal thoughts on the specific day that I went in the specific mood I was in.<span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_WBcg46rik_hJBE0p6JBqhT9z4XGT5AOoYetiUn5m7NBsiMH_-kGJwJaFhozHioZv44eAAS65qccStl02SCaz0dbwa9yQe4EV8HI1EZEpJTyTyfa3kdYpybH-HQoSCu9vIjzO4OrmbdkXZ1VTQHgYMfUuGslA9Ycju63uO7XElMlsvyU4QR-RfGjaKzz/s4032/2023StateFairIMG_0032.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_WBcg46rik_hJBE0p6JBqhT9z4XGT5AOoYetiUn5m7NBsiMH_-kGJwJaFhozHioZv44eAAS65qccStl02SCaz0dbwa9yQe4EV8HI1EZEpJTyTyfa3kdYpybH-HQoSCu9vIjzO4OrmbdkXZ1VTQHgYMfUuGslA9Ycju63uO7XElMlsvyU4QR-RfGjaKzz/s320/2023StateFairIMG_0032.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Bacon-wrapped waffle dog from Nordic Waffles. Really fantastic. French fried onions and pickles really made this thing pop. Note: the bacon was super floppy, which is how I LOVE my bacon, but I heard some people with differing opinions about crispiness complained. Better than expected.<o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQfRzfbAcwAmuuFhJXBgnb6kg9t5--codsWvnMww-yPzshuMNplr8ff8LlYqxaadsZSErvzHUxepWxhs0DECah_REAdAaCuScwWkmuj5HvgFitXw0KeJWZhXbst0V_mLKCdMjcqyhqQ1ujt9Cjso_BVtSmCuKoUK_DhxK9S6mvP_I6lxf19Jt9xWUwFQrB/s4032/2023StateFairIMG_0033.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQfRzfbAcwAmuuFhJXBgnb6kg9t5--codsWvnMww-yPzshuMNplr8ff8LlYqxaadsZSErvzHUxepWxhs0DECah_REAdAaCuScwWkmuj5HvgFitXw0KeJWZhXbst0V_mLKCdMjcqyhqQ1ujt9Cjso_BVtSmCuKoUK_DhxK9S6mvP_I6lxf19Jt9xWUwFQrB/s320/2023StateFairIMG_0033.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Hot honey sticks from Blue Barn. Pretty good, but not magical (which is what the Blue Barn generally delivers to me every year). This is fried halloumi cheese cut into fry shapes. Little bit of honeycomb crumble, and also maybe some honeycomb cereal? It also had some spicy dust and honey. Not as good as I wanted them to be. <o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6BIEBKntQCcqTRQMIUzO3UvRRiVud92L66hbG_h1uTOLFI3xSaydqY-cxCUBw_WZjmkZONstv0_r_rQqeO8uehulH2JvPT6p5gKmJs_G8n5LjYVwtgmV3D3TjBeGntVSnIKw3SB27wV68f_FWNpYzkoq0Ldt3aG6hYaIlesQdbYBs4qJG7NCPDTWe0Vs2/s4032/2023StateFairIMG_0034.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6BIEBKntQCcqTRQMIUzO3UvRRiVud92L66hbG_h1uTOLFI3xSaydqY-cxCUBw_WZjmkZONstv0_r_rQqeO8uehulH2JvPT6p5gKmJs_G8n5LjYVwtgmV3D3TjBeGntVSnIKw3SB27wV68f_FWNpYzkoq0Ldt3aG6hYaIlesQdbYBs4qJG7NCPDTWe0Vs2/s320/2023StateFairIMG_0034.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Dill pickle cheese curd tacos from Richie’s Cheese Curd Tacos. Cheese and lettuce in a fried shell – I mean what’s not to like? You get to choose between a drizzle of ranch or raspberry sauce. I got one of each but wish I got two raspberry ones. These were really good. Better than expected. If you like plain stuff get the ranch. <o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXUTLaemVdVjQ0XE6HPz8hw5FHhtQ5mwNv24w_zFkmwyKst8cKyP0UlC7oyhj9K3L35lgGEbRGZNbSmd9Db85iOFsu3QfYiELpEm1cudD6MpE3fBWWJt43z0flawQXZ1O3pv5MtIdo3hkLchWppkcYNfQCFpdpu0cf6r6WTAwR60VTHJM1QFh17iZa_urc/s4032/2023StateFairIMG_0035.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXUTLaemVdVjQ0XE6HPz8hw5FHhtQ5mwNv24w_zFkmwyKst8cKyP0UlC7oyhj9K3L35lgGEbRGZNbSmd9Db85iOFsu3QfYiELpEm1cudD6MpE3fBWWJt43z0flawQXZ1O3pv5MtIdo3hkLchWppkcYNfQCFpdpu0cf6r6WTAwR60VTHJM1QFh17iZa_urc/s320/2023StateFairIMG_0035.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>MinneCookieDough pie from Minneapple Pie. I’m going to preface by divulging that I’m not a pie eater. I don’t like the crust. I’m weird, I know. So, the crust already put me off. That being said, I’m a cookie dough fiend. The cookie dough was warm and gooey, but a little boring. Not sure if it wasn’t well-mixed or floury or something. The ice cream was standard, but went well with the hot cookie dough. Not the worst thing, but don’t need it again. <o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtG0u82y98X1EfcYodTrh0xp4hFLDmtOC-yZ_u4NyHIUf65qQUZv-6LrnOtBvayX8P2nlGBt-_NHiv8zqu3ou_930_sY7BTsKmFNLcBaDRsH-hTLa2V2M67wHOzWJM53XLcb6Uc7bo4s367VZDpauTEP0vzaTSmD5d0KDZGtobVgjFdQY5IJ3c5Mk66yB/s4032/2023StateFairIMG_0036.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtG0u82y98X1EfcYodTrh0xp4hFLDmtOC-yZ_u4NyHIUf65qQUZv-6LrnOtBvayX8P2nlGBt-_NHiv8zqu3ou_930_sY7BTsKmFNLcBaDRsH-hTLa2V2M67wHOzWJM53XLcb6Uc7bo4s367VZDpauTEP0vzaTSmD5d0KDZGtobVgjFdQY5IJ3c5Mk66yB/s320/2023StateFairIMG_0036.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Chicken momo with tomato chutney from MomoDosa in the Midtown Global Market area. If you haven’t had momo before, they’re like little steamed dumplings filled with various minced vegetables or meats – these had chicken. I was a little bummed that these started out a little plain-tasting. But then, the chutney adds some pop and then you realize the chicken has delicious flavor and seasoning. This was a slow build, but I ended up really liking this. It’s like getting through the first couple of episodes of a tv show before you realize it’s incredible and you’re hooked.<o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTaANA0steXw7Ab_llgC5S7CohC24aPoWBGi4ZzfaFWhNgopw8vOcWTVOp-QK5MFuDYspUvqABhZgdpRocGcrRugYMFMe9EAHSS4LHpfPVEXyOspLtvtHbUPBaxrlBDIBGw8fAfS05pXN0xuN707r296enWPdXAZ14GrdCeFDGfR4zIlosYZvwymqntvW2/s4032/2023StateFairIMG_0037.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTaANA0steXw7Ab_llgC5S7CohC24aPoWBGi4ZzfaFWhNgopw8vOcWTVOp-QK5MFuDYspUvqABhZgdpRocGcrRugYMFMe9EAHSS4LHpfPVEXyOspLtvtHbUPBaxrlBDIBGw8fAfS05pXN0xuN707r296enWPdXAZ14GrdCeFDGfR4zIlosYZvwymqntvW2/s320/2023StateFairIMG_0037.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Crispy lutefisk steamed buns from Shanghai Henri’s. This was going to be my maiden voyage into the realm of gelled and lyed fish – sounds delicious, right? A lot of Scandinavians think so, so I had to give it a shot. The smell was enough, honestly. I should have stopped there. And, there are FOUR steamed buns in this box they give you – that’s generous even for state fair standards. The first bite tasted like fish for a second before it ruined everything in my mouth. Then I couldn’t get the smell off my hands and kept burping it up until I drowned the flavor with like six beers. Glad I tried it, but no thank you, Swedes. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9YeoCBd8HN70cGR2DnB9gCd5WQ5w2-nRt7DWNKH3DGteCjt3jhrqI2OvPfVp_xhe1pveYDSZpF_a9KCX7rJbs_f2pdLuUCaPyxVyenxGQ-u2wzKwV_MtlLl0V53nQiA7HtPgQ-XhzrufLXg9GmQB-VAlBH7xRzSE8Bmo4GUz-zdo2znBThvTRQ55nmjC/s4032/2023StateFairIMG_0038.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9YeoCBd8HN70cGR2DnB9gCd5WQ5w2-nRt7DWNKH3DGteCjt3jhrqI2OvPfVp_xhe1pveYDSZpF_a9KCX7rJbs_f2pdLuUCaPyxVyenxGQ-u2wzKwV_MtlLl0V53nQiA7HtPgQ-XhzrufLXg9GmQB-VAlBH7xRzSE8Bmo4GUz-zdo2znBThvTRQ55nmjC/s320/2023StateFairIMG_0038.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Pickle fries from Mike’s Hamburgers. Meh. These were pretty floppy and the batter wasn’t very flavorful. The dipping sauce was good, though. I think I had just built these up in my head, since I’ve had some pretty stellar pickle fries before.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8tFF_c-r5oWCPTJ3WkNfPs5pJmiY5fYfUaHOIR17Agm084FV6isnb9duv9f7WIDebjXaL_Wp4tDJ9QUOWYPmRWzPrtU8bNPj_WzYe85_zRxaijsEUERqAARkpFCQ24I7V4AXJpMF1reXkdAg3C21y49_f7OMpjo_TkJbbhWGkLDUFy14I6VIROVNAZYO/s4032/2023StateFairIMG_0039.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8tFF_c-r5oWCPTJ3WkNfPs5pJmiY5fYfUaHOIR17Agm084FV6isnb9duv9f7WIDebjXaL_Wp4tDJ9QUOWYPmRWzPrtU8bNPj_WzYe85_zRxaijsEUERqAARkpFCQ24I7V4AXJpMF1reXkdAg3C21y49_f7OMpjo_TkJbbhWGkLDUFy14I6VIROVNAZYO/s320/2023StateFairIMG_0039.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Birramisu cream ale by Indeed Brewing. Not the best. It needed more of every flavor. Was supposed to have coffee, chocolate, and vanilla, but I only tasted a hint of those things.<o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNliHjoxfHA3Hl7DvcwPnHVbM3IC6MZHhV8vneNpZYl4jkgEJC658ewyVOvCTYCuxK7shlujIiTy-xKTRus6Vm_fBX1f1RbSoVSRjjXXOMrVlUonXwSjLMu8lFtXf7arD6eBbk2qBcqcNAWE38gxzv_RiJ1P_QU77zKNiiApFE52_H-CcdWGbCn1D_k3w/s4032/2023StateFairIMG_0047.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNliHjoxfHA3Hl7DvcwPnHVbM3IC6MZHhV8vneNpZYl4jkgEJC658ewyVOvCTYCuxK7shlujIiTy-xKTRus6Vm_fBX1f1RbSoVSRjjXXOMrVlUonXwSjLMu8lFtXf7arD6eBbk2qBcqcNAWE38gxzv_RiJ1P_QU77zKNiiApFE52_H-CcdWGbCn1D_k3w/s320/2023StateFairIMG_0047.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Walleye fritter pops from Giggles. Sadly, just ok. Something you’d get in a bar up north and then you’d say “sadly, just ok”. Again, the dipping sauce is the most noteworthy part. That was pretty stellar and I want that on a couple of other things.<o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4cxH6MAnA0cc1FkJLi0f80iaNMtJxRSpQk589FSp65yroA_c5mkPASX2_QX4LwmhawhEJHySFHQmT8nuKcAxUGET2RDyUxKdMn4NXG6eAyL-RVQKHk-KCk3r2yjQ2HoWreuKrTALwdVE6QkgGycviizxT9LJDwS4Kf_rtaoZPBy5Q-ttWUNWBbW4KepG7/s4032/2023StateFairIMG_0041.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4cxH6MAnA0cc1FkJLi0f80iaNMtJxRSpQk589FSp65yroA_c5mkPASX2_QX4LwmhawhEJHySFHQmT8nuKcAxUGET2RDyUxKdMn4NXG6eAyL-RVQKHk-KCk3r2yjQ2HoWreuKrTALwdVE6QkgGycviizxT9LJDwS4Kf_rtaoZPBy5Q-ttWUNWBbW4KepG7/s320/2023StateFairIMG_0041.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Kirby Pucker lemon blueberry sour ale from Eastlake Brewing. This is just a really good beer. It was a pretty hot day, so this went down reallllllll smooth.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgth-V8xFo40cmSlHWxN-_2sSRHj8FvXv2-xTBAtkUJm46fknVx4CqYIfxgB5u11Dbg63hBDG3m54j9UnLTNmFgTI9fm3Rg5nS2KZ6q_gs4h2aju2TJzR7wm6P3H5sKrmGRUqaAPi8t02L2QyTsMv_S49n-yYo9GXlHQwFdB934c2NzNnJ3msX7SDC9CxQz/s4032/2023StateFairIMG_0040.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgth-V8xFo40cmSlHWxN-_2sSRHj8FvXv2-xTBAtkUJm46fknVx4CqYIfxgB5u11Dbg63hBDG3m54j9UnLTNmFgTI9fm3Rg5nS2KZ6q_gs4h2aju2TJzR7wm6P3H5sKrmGRUqaAPi8t02L2QyTsMv_S49n-yYo9GXlHQwFdB934c2NzNnJ3msX7SDC9CxQz/s320/2023StateFairIMG_0040.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>MN Brew Together IPA collab from Modist Brewing and Fair State Brewing. This is a pretty decent west coast IPA. I’m not a beer snob, but I did like this one a lot.<o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguo_lprmFWnw0kuyR_ccyVjOX5-3mUuPmyVMSgitL0Dv8fDoDAa4BeK-d2seLSMk_jbbS-Cl84RjU70em9quZPOufgeZQnshg5xsdLxxFF-hufLj5NVpKz9b87xgaI_qVbClqVmJwy932apU-GLB0r2V7tA7-xkFzQqq9xyeim8dZHj4Ftnu7Qp_IHdJt1/s4032/2023StateFairIMG_0043.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguo_lprmFWnw0kuyR_ccyVjOX5-3mUuPmyVMSgitL0Dv8fDoDAa4BeK-d2seLSMk_jbbS-Cl84RjU70em9quZPOufgeZQnshg5xsdLxxFF-hufLj5NVpKz9b87xgaI_qVbClqVmJwy932apU-GLB0r2V7tA7-xkFzQqq9xyeim8dZHj4Ftnu7Qp_IHdJt1/s320/2023StateFairIMG_0043.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Strawberry Short Cake’d Up lager from Mankato Brewing. Great beer! You can taste the strawberries and again, in the heat, this beer was absolutely perfect. <o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie3Bm71Xo_8RREBmvGJr_BOPKyCucPUQLRStdu6TElJflI-_9CauZJrKVySi-d2NOLB8XIfH3pYRlo7OF_mdqrCflAM8grmAcEdhyBchKAS3UzaP-aCmBZ1lwFUbaHXTSOuUnCOAGV8ZUiQgyE8Qn5B-wNp9oLYV2F8E4rsZ_pXZ4fPh4mwfsknz0BikCO/s4032/2023StateFairIMG_0046.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie3Bm71Xo_8RREBmvGJr_BOPKyCucPUQLRStdu6TElJflI-_9CauZJrKVySi-d2NOLB8XIfH3pYRlo7OF_mdqrCflAM8grmAcEdhyBchKAS3UzaP-aCmBZ1lwFUbaHXTSOuUnCOAGV8ZUiQgyE8Qn5B-wNp9oLYV2F8E4rsZ_pXZ4fPh4mwfsknz0BikCO/s320/2023StateFairIMG_0046.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Root beer float from 1919. Delicious. It just always is. This is pretty much the one place that I return to every year at the fair. It doesn’t take up much room, and I love 1919. <o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qpVladzAtgL4ZSkTB4_De50Nz-RfhRuoxGr0hPo6MTH2iC93jQtWOwnBLCRfWJlcLA5E1NAQSqSDYLXUcOXWWqFzKAU79YVp2nQRZZbocDRcudU5zwq9kGbnBUnKGeaHsAkJb5x1K3dx4d9O3cB7NeFRCyWNjNjfYby7Q5eqw8seaRj0rYzUtS3GmvSj/s4032/2023StateFairIMG_0051.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qpVladzAtgL4ZSkTB4_De50Nz-RfhRuoxGr0hPo6MTH2iC93jQtWOwnBLCRfWJlcLA5E1NAQSqSDYLXUcOXWWqFzKAU79YVp2nQRZZbocDRcudU5zwq9kGbnBUnKGeaHsAkJb5x1K3dx4d9O3cB7NeFRCyWNjNjfYby7Q5eqw8seaRj0rYzUtS3GmvSj/s320/2023StateFairIMG_0051.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Duck Duck Blue Duck boozy blueberry lemonade from Surly Brewing. Super good and comes with a salted foam top and a tiny blue duck souvenir. It was a good showing, and I am glad I got this one. <p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwkhRf-orvAaZPDaq27m-tCYkwDB52bpeejC4hn-lBhICrEKNuGy5mjugE1yA-8tFGFoqWjIhbL5Y9UWPdqI1IKRSz_TCqH0RaCkm22ir_3N33nltJcrm_TxXv-_obk4Az888mX-6cE8y27ClIeG9WdCDqOb7_2G3IlTfUYM46JDsbIhLer60yR2GhsX4/s4032/2023StateFairIMG_0044.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwkhRf-orvAaZPDaq27m-tCYkwDB52bpeejC4hn-lBhICrEKNuGy5mjugE1yA-8tFGFoqWjIhbL5Y9UWPdqI1IKRSz_TCqH0RaCkm22ir_3N33nltJcrm_TxXv-_obk4Az888mX-6cE8y27ClIeG9WdCDqOb7_2G3IlTfUYM46JDsbIhLer60yR2GhsX4/s320/2023StateFairIMG_0044.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><o:p>...And, a quick visit to pet some dogs. </o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHigOWMyTBRZcVyCBfGBxcqEvak15hLm4ezcvTSphtsZKIaDmobk_gkZ-1xHgUGvjLyXKWQWzX29l-klOqKITJ9CIjl3mMKcMkgyxVqW0KKyeyzv8-mVKh9kdjnGSlvoNDJ-pHxH2DKxomGjIKgR6IiPBuf7DN4H87JAsE2t7V9mDYNc0DlbmEBIq92Gx3/s4032/2023StateFairIMG_0052.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHigOWMyTBRZcVyCBfGBxcqEvak15hLm4ezcvTSphtsZKIaDmobk_gkZ-1xHgUGvjLyXKWQWzX29l-klOqKITJ9CIjl3mMKcMkgyxVqW0KKyeyzv8-mVKh9kdjnGSlvoNDJ-pHxH2DKxomGjIKgR6IiPBuf7DN4H87JAsE2t7V9mDYNc0DlbmEBIq92Gx3/s320/2023StateFairIMG_0052.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Maui-Sota Sticky Ribs from RC’s BBQ. These ribs had a really good sweet glaze, rather than sauce. I’ve got to say, the ribs are always good here – I don’t know why I forget that, but I’ll try to be better about it. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQn95A6DNHWpQf84pdrx0Y8HSPaKQJgITe-GGVEL9eD9jJ4zgczNhoWY2kqR4yTw3FHZTH-E2f0BO8G2Fu-hc0px_ldzp2UQZP51bZg9vTGXMQO3NU-cbHiUZTah9dAiugb-Oi2yZbcpqgd3jDg6Q5n0rb0Caibs-A5iFzyUAZtn3s6yUtoVg556gxmt-/s4032/2023StateFairIMG_0054.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQn95A6DNHWpQf84pdrx0Y8HSPaKQJgITe-GGVEL9eD9jJ4zgczNhoWY2kqR4yTw3FHZTH-E2f0BO8G2Fu-hc0px_ldzp2UQZP51bZg9vTGXMQO3NU-cbHiUZTah9dAiugb-Oi2yZbcpqgd3jDg6Q5n0rb0Caibs-A5iFzyUAZtn3s6yUtoVg556gxmt-/s320/2023StateFairIMG_0054.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Ginger Suntan from Schell’s Brewing. This is a sort of strawberry rhubarb mule-style beer. Interesting and refreshing. I like it when Schell’s gets adventurous.Speaking of adventurous…<o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6ESUfRcAl8vdD2SYPS9Z6uc2okm2VUdhqn8ShlKwbUUIhPUnvBEfakcJC_XQdPI-ufgwHgTNr81tM9o9BuNkaIBHPWooDbYFxnU9myHibEnFJf-JUK20WvYpeh0IX9kvT6brkeMu7uHjcLffGR7ymc1UR13yF6eEru1x-lTNsZv5aGcRaJylh725ch-B/s4032/2023StateFairIMG_0055.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6ESUfRcAl8vdD2SYPS9Z6uc2okm2VUdhqn8ShlKwbUUIhPUnvBEfakcJC_XQdPI-ufgwHgTNr81tM9o9BuNkaIBHPWooDbYFxnU9myHibEnFJf-JUK20WvYpeh0IX9kvT6brkeMu7uHjcLffGR7ymc1UR13yF6eEru1x-lTNsZv5aGcRaJylh725ch-B/s320/2023StateFairIMG_0055.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Peach-E-Keen Berliner Weiss sour ale by Schell’s Brewing. Very good beer with just the right amount of sour and tons of peach flavor. This one is hidden behind LuLu’s Public House right next to the Schell’s booth – don’t miss it!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3nhnL7ApRKenisiq9-4jTJn2rkIBeUPja74yWTZgKKQMhkXI_SSRRmYrnPTFNM2CHIfrZ99PmuP8Z3nQMVWjw7cBUvmfX36NeLnWjhwvADlOnxFY94-p0lEUjjJWjhRp59eQ1b3HEt9rWpOavZUlkkdjmKPMSoUMJbXJ2R9tSxkmQDvat7etOEcEVHex/s4032/2023StateFairIMG_0053.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3nhnL7ApRKenisiq9-4jTJn2rkIBeUPja74yWTZgKKQMhkXI_SSRRmYrnPTFNM2CHIfrZ99PmuP8Z3nQMVWjw7cBUvmfX36NeLnWjhwvADlOnxFY94-p0lEUjjJWjhRp59eQ1b3HEt9rWpOavZUlkkdjmKPMSoUMJbXJ2R9tSxkmQDvat7etOEcEVHex/s320/2023StateFairIMG_0053.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Cheescake Curds from LuLu’s Public House. These were really quite good and come with some powdered sugar and a killer strawberry dipping sauce. <o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYaPsugm9-h9sfWkXPvSMM4RrudNYQj1CTS5dOx_smPWNvGGfjo7JO1SBzVzoIdM0ouo97OAIHCBPnKN8-hgw98OjaJAshURCmLm7Gy2WpgRePLEx6OngfkYGAo5fms73f9bg4ILjvrZ9DkUnq919oiGFpbOdI6u4KkoTOUd6rRi--aFpAoYi2iprMukg/s4032/2023StateFairIMG_0057.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYaPsugm9-h9sfWkXPvSMM4RrudNYQj1CTS5dOx_smPWNvGGfjo7JO1SBzVzoIdM0ouo97OAIHCBPnKN8-hgw98OjaJAshURCmLm7Gy2WpgRePLEx6OngfkYGAo5fms73f9bg4ILjvrZ9DkUnq919oiGFpbOdI6u4KkoTOUd6rRi--aFpAoYi2iprMukg/s320/2023StateFairIMG_0057.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Cocobanana (chocolate banana ale) from Modist. Super good, especially with a chocolate rim. A lot going on in this one – pineapple, banana, coffee, chocolate, vanilla, and sugarcane. This was a very welcome surprise.<o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrRbTHLshrb484lvV8Ow9JwPY2LLNx-G92zM9oAF9KrHSSM_zs4bUZnNutVfpZgl7J3QOAJPM7Bha6wGagOvovwvf4e_jkX91Joiox6HcHkvxd--tdGFWsyvFcZkfEDvRCZPFoYG78xAgPxAjAvuoq8y_1JkSaIn5MsL8T0to7Vm8yzAoJ0bNhK-bJYfr9/s4032/2023StateFairIMG_0064.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrRbTHLshrb484lvV8Ow9JwPY2LLNx-G92zM9oAF9KrHSSM_zs4bUZnNutVfpZgl7J3QOAJPM7Bha6wGagOvovwvf4e_jkX91Joiox6HcHkvxd--tdGFWsyvFcZkfEDvRCZPFoYG78xAgPxAjAvuoq8y_1JkSaIn5MsL8T0to7Vm8yzAoJ0bNhK-bJYfr9/s320/2023StateFairIMG_0064.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Galabao steamed bun from Union Hmong Kitchen in the Midtown Global Market area. Hmong-style buns are different than other countries’ buns and are a little larger. These were filled with spiced pork and egg (like hard-boiled egg, so be ready for that). It was very good, but too much bun – maybe I just didn’t want the filler, since I had limited belly real estate at this point. The sauce was ridiculously good and had some heat (the people at the booth were warning the Minnesotans – probably wise). These were good, but I ended up eating the filling out and less than half of the bun. <o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj40_BqRbvuKCIINMfGPqLmlF5Z3KddYFokhzFyFZYtCjUv13sBn4-LyV-8PEHEnJ8noDefck-2bMU_jMcnCETMRCMrJ6DmsavtdQR36X83VRFBcUzgBaGmKn-K8Q3KrecMM4SP-u6o6HqbaKXmEz6EEwvl3o5rt_0OyhbMNOfmfc2cIq0xO9IXCN0WqWNt/s4032/2023StateFairIMG_0062.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj40_BqRbvuKCIINMfGPqLmlF5Z3KddYFokhzFyFZYtCjUv13sBn4-LyV-8PEHEnJ8noDefck-2bMU_jMcnCETMRCMrJ6DmsavtdQR36X83VRFBcUzgBaGmKn-K8Q3KrecMM4SP-u6o6HqbaKXmEz6EEwvl3o5rt_0OyhbMNOfmfc2cIq0xO9IXCN0WqWNt/s320/2023StateFairIMG_0062.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Babe’s Blueberry & Maple golden ale from Spiral Brewery. This one DOES, in fact, taste like blueberry pancakes. Not sure what I expected, but that’s what it is.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUqXBYbxcyvoqOL5pRMH-MbyKC0llV5gvFDr9pi6umidngjl5J8RVYGkKOumkXTOzceWr_fkp_8fGtsEUmlLkYzFwISepzlUtMyOH2f2Q8NomqycDGqPlhrbBPn3qJ2lJnfraUpzKMdbx8tOMiEx5iVNS4nVCfdiN0jOzNSe_0oRURyJoLbAlw8Ir55dd/s4032/2023StateFairIMG_0060.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUqXBYbxcyvoqOL5pRMH-MbyKC0llV5gvFDr9pi6umidngjl5J8RVYGkKOumkXTOzceWr_fkp_8fGtsEUmlLkYzFwISepzlUtMyOH2f2Q8NomqycDGqPlhrbBPn3qJ2lJnfraUpzKMdbx8tOMiEx5iVNS4nVCfdiN0jOzNSe_0oRURyJoLbAlw8Ir55dd/s320/2023StateFairIMG_0060.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidE-gJNq0cxE5QtB1WXAUr3aCJSyLwhyt6mShOMHJbOgPDl7y8ZpWm7muYQUg5YJzBHAn1VgOPyGnAvqjyjY-oPYqmtV8Bv7t__qLB8Xv-Mxe8vU3Ec6AORdaiAT_GU1fYAX4BhQ6Da2hiA51opEXSZcUjjfmrJ-UuPgh669Rs0HxNixp4C2OxKNPCXjme/s4032/2023StateFairIMG_0061.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidE-gJNq0cxE5QtB1WXAUr3aCJSyLwhyt6mShOMHJbOgPDl7y8ZpWm7muYQUg5YJzBHAn1VgOPyGnAvqjyjY-oPYqmtV8Bv7t__qLB8Xv-Mxe8vU3Ec6AORdaiAT_GU1fYAX4BhQ6Da2hiA51opEXSZcUjjfmrJ-UuPgh669Rs0HxNixp4C2OxKNPCXjme/s320/2023StateFairIMG_0061.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The Funnel Never End strawberry funnel cake beer from Elm Creek Brewing. I loved everything about this beer, especially the strawberry goo and powdered sugar-rimmed cup. Just really good. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYuFufNMPS8nLg53EizsRMHbrTik0kLkyEvS1qC-6HbTj7bVw-qTOOBKrny1wCgJ_i8WzrYS1_6w4t1CGdijMlVN4PLp4v-sShN0knn61YwWHezTjXGoRBhsKPIyX-GFXM8pMxhCM6xp-GCIsglUY9CiwBOboxx_LdBbPYBBOuik2Pmwc6bFPjIX0Q3wCB/s4032/2023StateFairIMG_0065.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYuFufNMPS8nLg53EizsRMHbrTik0kLkyEvS1qC-6HbTj7bVw-qTOOBKrny1wCgJ_i8WzrYS1_6w4t1CGdijMlVN4PLp4v-sShN0knn61YwWHezTjXGoRBhsKPIyX-GFXM8pMxhCM6xp-GCIsglUY9CiwBOboxx_LdBbPYBBOuik2Pmwc6bFPjIX0Q3wCB/s320/2023StateFairIMG_0065.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Al Taco Baba from Baba’s. These aren’t like a taco, so be open to this. These are little puffed pita pillows on a stick in a bowl of delicious hummus, harissa, spiced barbacoa, corn, queso fresco, chili dust, and some hot sauce. This was actually REALLY good. Better than I’ve had in some restaurants! Speaking of which, Baba's just opened a brand new restaurant in Minneapolis, so go check them out.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">After having written this all out, I realized I went heavy on the strawberries and pickles this year (thankfully, not together). But overall, I feel pretty good about this showing. I got to try a lot of different things and even a few things I stepped outside of my comfort zone on. Though, the state fair does bring out my adventurous side – and also breaks the part of my brain that tells me to stop eating, also.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0CWy64Qqfiz0b-Gu5NcRQkv3JW0h1xe4qRlCCsVfXw-L5JWLnxskoPzF8HZ7VsaGnr4Zp-3wuylExB64Oo5L4fzajSdybjKQVI0PaubsTqZTvFgHWWMFmlG0stQaa5TaHY3Z0fXZMrwLDmIuK2_hNvRACu2AguAI7O0M-UEQ8EDm8Hc8ddoe2RB8s8vJ/s3129/2023StateFairIMG_0067.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2096" data-original-width="3129" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0CWy64Qqfiz0b-Gu5NcRQkv3JW0h1xe4qRlCCsVfXw-L5JWLnxskoPzF8HZ7VsaGnr4Zp-3wuylExB64Oo5L4fzajSdybjKQVI0PaubsTqZTvFgHWWMFmlG0stQaa5TaHY3Z0fXZMrwLDmIuK2_hNvRACu2AguAI7O0M-UEQ8EDm8Hc8ddoe2RB8s8vJ/s320/2023StateFairIMG_0067.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Happy to debate any of these opinions with you over a beer that you’ve bought for me!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Top 5 food items at the 2023 Minnesota State Fair (that *I*tried)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">1) Bacon-wrapped waffle dog from Nordic Waffles<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">2) Dill pickle cheese curd tacos from Richie’s Cheese Curd Tacos<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">3) Al Taco Baba from Baba’s<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">4) Chicken momo with tomato chutney from MomoDosa<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">5) Cheescake Curds from LuLu’s Public House<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Top 5 beers I had at the Minnesota State Fair<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">1) The Funnel Never End strawberry funnel cake beer from Elm Creek Brewing<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">2) Cocobanana (chocolate banana ale) from Modist<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">3) Strawberry Short Cake’d Up lager from Mankato Brewing<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">4) Peach-E-Keen berliner weiss sour ale by Schell’s Brewing<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">5) MN Brew Together IPA collab from Modist Brewing and Fair State Brewing. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Estimated numbers from the day:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Food items: 12</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Beverages: 11</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Calories consumed: +10,000?</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Pounds gained: 16.4<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Blood sugar: 592<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Money spent… let’s not talk about it<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Cholesterol: 750<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Blood pressure: 115/75, if my doctor asks<o:p></o:p></p>Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02000483621794575045noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182822613709027625.post-43222800222544414442023-06-20T11:49:00.001-05:002023-06-20T11:49:00.144-05:00Cannon Beach Hardware & Public House - Cannon Beach, OR<p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">I read about this place in Cannon Beach, Oregon, that has combined a hardware store with a bar & grill situation. It sounded too good to be true, but when QuarterBoy and I were out on the Oregon coast, I knew I could get him into a hardware store pretty easily. If they had beer and food there, he’d be up for that kind of pleasant surprise. The place is a legit hardware store complete with all kinds of drill bits, screws, saws, belts, clamps, clothing, cords, and everything else you might need in a hardware store. It isn’t a large store, but I would for sure shop here if I lived in town. The appeal of having someone get up from their table while you looked through various drill bits and tools is really appealing to me.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrkczQ0Wh7wfPBb7WlPItpkoU9S5MKgsdP_0vGgw05cVkkxSnpiwMyK2ZGyL3aaTMNovv4C2v5P0FbV6FT69g5AjYGPHOxsCI5uHYkmMagUoDAwltQjik_NYR2lxcFil00cTaa0CBQV57vPk5PzFYs-V3-nQSt8AzcdrXpLSxLBMgeDRQN_G5IDdNwPw/s4032/CBHardwareIMG_8980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrkczQ0Wh7wfPBb7WlPItpkoU9S5MKgsdP_0vGgw05cVkkxSnpiwMyK2ZGyL3aaTMNovv4C2v5P0FbV6FT69g5AjYGPHOxsCI5uHYkmMagUoDAwltQjik_NYR2lxcFil00cTaa0CBQV57vPk5PzFYs-V3-nQSt8AzcdrXpLSxLBMgeDRQN_G5IDdNwPw/s320/CBHardwareIMG_8980.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693334px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693334px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">QuarterBoy and I needed some beer, which is handy because this place is also known as “Screw & Brew”. I got a Lug Nut Lager from Tap 29, and QuarterBoy got a pFriem Pilsner. Both great lighter beers and both welcome after the drive from Portland in the rain. The food menu is bigger and more appetizing than you might expect – especially from a hardware store. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1iXw2rapl5gePs6AXgpGp7PXcwWhgC_GFLWgJWt6MTcTAd48KxzdvXtDYajZ1bsP3v6_VphOW8V_7bjafRLin2D_3R6hVIv70J2PQfw7GH23ZwC1oNRlVGwwTdVCCoMkWanpIlAbVWUw8VQyOxHv-OEv0RYsxeCWwTZFWL8Dkgqlsuj1Cnpwq3DbCg/s4032/CBHardwareIMG_8981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1iXw2rapl5gePs6AXgpGp7PXcwWhgC_GFLWgJWt6MTcTAd48KxzdvXtDYajZ1bsP3v6_VphOW8V_7bjafRLin2D_3R6hVIv70J2PQfw7GH23ZwC1oNRlVGwwTdVCCoMkWanpIlAbVWUw8VQyOxHv-OEv0RYsxeCWwTZFWL8Dkgqlsuj1Cnpwq3DbCg/s320/CBHardwareIMG_8981.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693334px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">QuarterBoy wanted a Ecola Burger (named after Ecola State Park up the road, not the virus) and I needed a hot pastrami sandwich, with tots. These lunches were no joke and we both commented about how we shouldn’t try to finish these sandwiches. Only one of us listened to that advice…. I tried to stop and even the tots filling me up weren’t enough to stop eating this large pastrami sandwich. It was really tasty and had some delicious melty provolone on it. QuarterBoy’s burger was covered in Tillamook cheese and he made plenty of approving sounds as he ate as much as he could. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693334px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6sHBhTQaao0c_pCkRLgIXsbIb3mKslH2_UTBFmDFlYMZ0e2oVQZQVcEMGUkjCtAwc91ysleydPk-g4biw8ugQtdsZj_eiM-zXB_yjHL67jTZOoTQH1jSN5shPTdFFBfk7MeXxyvmEMWJBZ7jOU4QKKDs1ABQ1txb1MKVKa5BeNnXQ8bJWQwMwMvUbcg/s4032/CBHardwareIMG_8983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6sHBhTQaao0c_pCkRLgIXsbIb3mKslH2_UTBFmDFlYMZ0e2oVQZQVcEMGUkjCtAwc91ysleydPk-g4biw8ugQtdsZj_eiM-zXB_yjHL67jTZOoTQH1jSN5shPTdFFBfk7MeXxyvmEMWJBZ7jOU4QKKDs1ABQ1txb1MKVKa5BeNnXQ8bJWQwMwMvUbcg/s320/CBHardwareIMG_8983.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This place is really great food – I might even say the restaurant is better equipped than the hardware part of the store, but even the hardware part has plenty of items. It just isn’t a big box store with absolutely everything. Plus, there’s the whole “can you get up from your lunch while I look at these tape measures, please?” situation that cracks me up. Still, worth the visit to tell people you ate in a hardware store and loved it. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjUTM5d1w5XoMcmEz80pDEE7p6rH23meUabF9JJ1U9fcgcDOLohqWKCE06FqT-iNHkDwx60YWkfBkh43Cpy593U4aaaqQse8I_M81EdtJzrcPI-PDzFAQIxuq87okg2M50Px7likiu0F0dKcb1yBSsAIYfsuFpBq0K3FnIXv2wrcSZB2xZXCrq83xbw/s4032/CBHardwareIMG_8982.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjUTM5d1w5XoMcmEz80pDEE7p6rH23meUabF9JJ1U9fcgcDOLohqWKCE06FqT-iNHkDwx60YWkfBkh43Cpy593U4aaaqQse8I_M81EdtJzrcPI-PDzFAQIxuq87okg2M50Px7likiu0F0dKcb1yBSsAIYfsuFpBq0K3FnIXv2wrcSZB2xZXCrq83xbw/s320/CBHardwareIMG_8982.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693334px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">And, as a bonus, it's basically a block from the beach where Haystack Rock is - the rock in the ocean that you see in The Goonies!<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdt20APodmXqZ4vP0PG5d3YPrceaPgMOunqpXN3857IYaiYtf3AByOM9PRLZFs1gopUqRowwgd1gNabT7zii53H0tBiTliA2mPP8HVzhTwvrQ7Y1Q6Fu7UuL_oPvrcMceFUeUCZ8mm7iYOATsgyISdElBN-loyYadPvzTyUBhUS-6pVYU2GvrRM9PcA/s3024/CBHardwareIMG_8985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdt20APodmXqZ4vP0PG5d3YPrceaPgMOunqpXN3857IYaiYtf3AByOM9PRLZFs1gopUqRowwgd1gNabT7zii53H0tBiTliA2mPP8HVzhTwvrQ7Y1Q6Fu7UuL_oPvrcMceFUeUCZ8mm7iYOATsgyISdElBN-loyYadPvzTyUBhUS-6pVYU2GvrRM9PcA/s320/CBHardwareIMG_8985.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693334px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><a href="http://www.cannonbeachhardware.com" target="_blank">Cannon Beach Hardware & Public House</a> <br />1235 S. Hemlock St.<br />Cannon Beach, OR 97110<o:p></o:p></p>Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02000483621794575045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182822613709027625.post-22996934572194364922023-06-16T10:50:00.002-05:002023-06-16T10:50:42.982-05:00Dead Man's Isle - Astoria, OR<p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">As most of you know, I love a tiki bar. Anything that encourages rum and fruit juices to flow down my throat is going to be a winner every time. Dead Man’s Isle wasn’t open the last time I was in Astoria, evidently because they opened in 2022. The décor and the feel are pretty fun and the staff were perfect!!! We happened to be there on the chef’s birthday, so he was sitting at the bar sharing drinks with friends and seemed like a great guy to have around (or a round with).</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSaZrqgOdxKuUW2uNESCE-R0qE47pPuzFL3pbo6Y_9ZIgM9W0X1IPcQf4OcM9SCRcLp5b6Qc9iJ-eKIhAb8KK0mbX61EIMpvzm0Hkqj_J98CDWXB-CbBjN9MDU2TGgsa5xDPPvxW3pftH0v_Rgi7nn-lmE3GbzfL97kZrHTkidly6gEEb-1Xo3fFGjTQ/s4032/DeadMansIsleIMG_9163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSaZrqgOdxKuUW2uNESCE-R0qE47pPuzFL3pbo6Y_9ZIgM9W0X1IPcQf4OcM9SCRcLp5b6Qc9iJ-eKIhAb8KK0mbX61EIMpvzm0Hkqj_J98CDWXB-CbBjN9MDU2TGgsa5xDPPvxW3pftH0v_Rgi7nn-lmE3GbzfL97kZrHTkidly6gEEb-1Xo3fFGjTQ/s320/DeadMansIsleIMG_9163.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693334px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693334px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">The menu is pretty extensive, both with drinks and even with the food items (more than just appetizers). I started with a Rum Barrel. As often happens, the bartender warned me this was for like 2 or 3 people, to which I replied “yup”. It does have 4 or 5 shots of rum in it, but it also has a bunch of juices and ice and garnishes, so it’s basically healthy. It really was delicious, and I’d recommend this one to anyone.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3Ox3lZTOYBXosMqgNR1WUNhIMIgoRu2JVr5c7NNjPzPEKzJVKQctb6_wW6a17W1iZzFC8NwIvGED1_tTgrokrTp4lemFwjcpCzGVIJE_FEHTYuBPQYxUH5vhW789bhjjRnc_rfFsYqU1218OQKgMgnY7n3g4YeS3NBynPE8Meg9ZyWOyT6vM9bkapA/s4032/DeadMansIsleIMG_9158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3Ox3lZTOYBXosMqgNR1WUNhIMIgoRu2JVr5c7NNjPzPEKzJVKQctb6_wW6a17W1iZzFC8NwIvGED1_tTgrokrTp4lemFwjcpCzGVIJE_FEHTYuBPQYxUH5vhW789bhjjRnc_rfFsYqU1218OQKgMgnY7n3g4YeS3NBynPE8Meg9ZyWOyT6vM9bkapA/s320/DeadMansIsleIMG_9158.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693334px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">Since I wasn’t driving, I opted for a second drink – Nielsen’s Blood – rum, brandy, blood orange, falernum, and ginger beer. I was looking for something unusual, and the bartender (Audrey, I think) recommended this. It was fantastic and I enjoyed it so much. Just a few bubbles form the ginger beer and the combo of rum and brandy is always delicious. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7WV2iVReNSfWX-BJqPG_sj3dUfrLaaf7h6TzeT1U0FlFBldN_nCnsASg0y5aDDadTs5EnZmBXNwkUWYQ_v82AnD_NSDmmd6-tYNUniBcd3cl4YvOc-XLLvL9QccD9AIqrBA0p4t6rV-1NM5QaCuKJ07VHtiOqfL4dexrdxB0116B70D-XRCdQ348l1w/s4032/DeadMansIsleIMG_9162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7WV2iVReNSfWX-BJqPG_sj3dUfrLaaf7h6TzeT1U0FlFBldN_nCnsASg0y5aDDadTs5EnZmBXNwkUWYQ_v82AnD_NSDmmd6-tYNUniBcd3cl4YvOc-XLLvL9QccD9AIqrBA0p4t6rV-1NM5QaCuKJ07VHtiOqfL4dexrdxB0116B70D-XRCdQ348l1w/s320/DeadMansIsleIMG_9162.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693334px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">The place has an impressive collection of merch, including t-shirts and tiki mugs – including in a tiki vending machine! Be sure to stop next doo at Muntiki for some seriously upscale and unique tiki mugs. You won’t be sorry you did. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693334px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">Looking forwarding to hitting this tiki bar up every time I’m in Astoria! Gold star for you fine folks!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693334px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">Dead Man’s Isle<br />1239 Duane St.<br />Astoria, OR 97103<o:p></o:p></p>Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02000483621794575045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182822613709027625.post-7353214619543722282023-02-16T11:00:00.000-06:002023-02-16T11:00:00.179-06:00 Apostle Supper Club – St .Paul, MN<p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">We finally booked a double date with SVB and the Weathermatologist, after months of me forgetting to check my calendar and confirm days that actually worked for all of us. I take full responsibility. There’s a new supper club in downtown St. Paul, right across from the Xcel Energy Center, and somehow we accidentally managed to pick a night where nothing was going on at the X, so we pretty much had the whole place to ourselves. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The website says it is a 1960’s Palm Springs inspired supper club, piano lounge, and tiki bar. And it’s also a funny coincidence that D and I were recently in Palm Springs at various tiki bars, so we have a close comparison. But it definitely has that feel once you get inside. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The first thing you’ll notice is that there isn’t a parking lot. I’m not sure why people get so bent out of shape about that, especially since this is a downtown metropolitan area, where tons of restaurants exist perfectly fine without parking lots. There’s multiple parking ramps right across the street, so just suck it up and park there. If it’s an event night, you’ll just have to suck it up. Welcome to the big city. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_jLHkZgaVL4jRer6KsR_s9-6bRHXPGdKVzq5xlWmj0EkkZESgL9Mmj5AeTXRkf-KF_IswfZiYe6qfO5TExBSbJ00x5ntXHzkYI25OE8-1RZRrJ9cts4wQAjKamOKZe4LDitOOVWvv6NpVPgoruTbtBDZZYvz-QatLESms8uMeUM5ntMVzgtg6-VG0w/s4032/ApostleIMG_6714.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_jLHkZgaVL4jRer6KsR_s9-6bRHXPGdKVzq5xlWmj0EkkZESgL9Mmj5AeTXRkf-KF_IswfZiYe6qfO5TExBSbJ00x5ntXHzkYI25OE8-1RZRrJ9cts4wQAjKamOKZe4LDitOOVWvv6NpVPgoruTbtBDZZYvz-QatLESms8uMeUM5ntMVzgtg6-VG0w/s320/ApostleIMG_6714.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Once you walk inside, you’re already getting vintage vibes. Tufting on the green leather door and some seagrass behind a modern tiki painting. I’m already digging it. You’ll walk into a lavish and beautifully dark piano lounge. There are multiple rows of chairs and stools circling the piano player (who was slaying the night we were there). <p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_36hQ9zK6Ze5716tuS8fVoIy0FKpHxtUUNArKR2M40cJvgXyEIMrit3L3IJVOcpDlZpMNhgTbkSitsYBRHCaf1hQA1AfKrL2zUI5uebFknrgLMSATnJaBjihAcyslxYpZl23gtnV1WrWuH3YLK_Q1OBvX4hLENg6d8pSJCOyUlm5PTM9ofFK4nbQiQ/s4032/ApostleIMG_6718.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_36hQ9zK6Ze5716tuS8fVoIy0FKpHxtUUNArKR2M40cJvgXyEIMrit3L3IJVOcpDlZpMNhgTbkSitsYBRHCaf1hQA1AfKrL2zUI5uebFknrgLMSATnJaBjihAcyslxYpZl23gtnV1WrWuH3YLK_Q1OBvX4hLENg6d8pSJCOyUlm5PTM9ofFK4nbQiQ/s320/ApostleIMG_6718.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">You can see the tiki bar on the side as you walk in, as well. There are rolling garage doors that undoubtedly lead out to an outdoor space. In the rear of the restaurant, there’s more of a dining room feel and you can also sit near the kitchen area and watch the goings-on there. Just make sure you get reservations, as this place fills up. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwmAktULd9t535V-RuaHimcWdwOhPlENoeGLZG8JjeP1Zd4gP7yh6t2hhyf4aiP_YEL7mgzTIyJvz-zmf4-pgOkwJPu2hRY5Q-8WbnoCO0q2S7F4GH5oC3qKvcR0ISuWnJWMTJzxBAgN885J9rfdCepZds2HFANM14ftjB6egS2uSUVJdUSnF1fJ8GA/s4032/ApostleIMG_6725.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwmAktULd9t535V-RuaHimcWdwOhPlENoeGLZG8JjeP1Zd4gP7yh6t2hhyf4aiP_YEL7mgzTIyJvz-zmf4-pgOkwJPu2hRY5Q-8WbnoCO0q2S7F4GH5oC3qKvcR0ISuWnJWMTJzxBAgN885J9rfdCepZds2HFANM14ftjB6egS2uSUVJdUSnF1fJ8GA/s320/ApostleIMG_6725.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><o:p><br /></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">D and I got there early (intentionally), so we could check out the tiki bar, called False Eyedoll. The drink menu is slim, but does have a good showing – better than some bars that sort of have a tiki offering. They’ve also got a small snack menu that had some delicious sounding dishes (wings, smokies, tacos, pickle roll ups, etc.). I started with the False Eyedoll – rum, lychee, peach, pineapple, lime, and mango. D got the Pain Killer – rum, pineapple, coconut, lime, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Both drinks were actually quite delicious and didn’t come from a mix. The bartender did a heck of a job and kept us entertained, too. I blew through mine too quickly and had to order a Glove Drop – jalapeno-infused tequila, pineapple, and lime. I’m not a fan of “spicy” drinks (but I AM a fan of spicy food), but this was actually really good. Lots of jalapeno flavor, without the spiciness. I really liked this one more than I expected. Then our friends showed up, so we went over to our reservation-booked table – eatin’ time!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1S67qDkZhoJ6RiVxfW2R-ozXHjtgyqnGfYo_6bK1PRsIRTZ2NUl9yqskuyRxNCYyzt8TOVr5hTIZqEZiBkelEwr5sRxXnx2aTLCpt257ExYXuMqJgkIj4AD8ugDIgISwQLTQXqqoa6JZTjbND2b5nywl5MnOkHMDsA8KUe1q44jKC1tSLX-BBFuG4Q/s4032/ApostleIMG_6717.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1S67qDkZhoJ6RiVxfW2R-ozXHjtgyqnGfYo_6bK1PRsIRTZ2NUl9yqskuyRxNCYyzt8TOVr5hTIZqEZiBkelEwr5sRxXnx2aTLCpt257ExYXuMqJgkIj4AD8ugDIgISwQLTQXqqoa6JZTjbND2b5nywl5MnOkHMDsA8KUe1q44jKC1tSLX-BBFuG4Q/s320/ApostleIMG_6717.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><o:p> <br /></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Before I go further, let it be known there is a fuzzy wall on the way to the restroom. I love a good fuzzy wall, ever since Get Him To The Greek came out. This one is pretty spectacular.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImBBGfVa0RgqWB3gkqcA9SSXLxm0HRbPyFqsJGEems52yF8igk0HqyH5Eizfrsk1_yT7S3jyOYiHm0l3ZYTSYDyVJ6CrbG-ilMkF0Mqi86qDgmCwBhou8qT6KKpVPu7vNd169CycfmvZOvdiAHAC1TeuRAUxeBQ5hiXwpIgVE4B4MX_rpoZPqDjm_Sw/s4032/ApostleIMG_6719.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImBBGfVa0RgqWB3gkqcA9SSXLxm0HRbPyFqsJGEems52yF8igk0HqyH5Eizfrsk1_yT7S3jyOYiHm0l3ZYTSYDyVJ6CrbG-ilMkF0Mqi86qDgmCwBhou8qT6KKpVPu7vNd169CycfmvZOvdiAHAC1TeuRAUxeBQ5hiXwpIgVE4B4MX_rpoZPqDjm_Sw/s320/ApostleIMG_6719.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The menu is pretty interesting. Lots of upscale and cheffy dishes to choose from. We had heard the portions aren’t large, so we kept that in mind. D and I started by splitting the coconut miso noodle salad. We also ordered some crinkle fries, because why not? D got the halibut & caviar and I caved and went with the waygu manhattan steak (our Lyft driver asked me if I was getting a steak as soon as he heard we were going to a supper club, so he is to blame for planting the seed). The waiter kept getting a bit confused with our order for some reason, which was weird, since it was pretty straight forward, both ours and our friends. He came back to our table no less than three times asking what we had ordered. Hmmmmm. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The server brought us a small table relish tray – various things like peppers and pickles and such. Good colorful showing to start with. We waited a bit for our food, which is fine, since we had plenty to get caught up on (see the aforementioned delay on me booking dinner with these wonderful people). The coconut miso salad arrived and it was FAR better than either of us expected. Noodles, herbs, cucumber, cabbage, carrots, edamame, and sesame seeds all combined into a pleasant hillock. And we both thought it was a pretty reasonable portion size. This was absolutely the best thing we ate at Apostle. Would recommend highly. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSj66yOBI633IIq0v0STH8GByHZN2SCDNR_VMJi6syEpmUuSeZwU084M-yX13NDd2k1Bg7bIu9wXYBUNdGHImZelaTrlSqDnB9A6oJ6NxobCV-rm1cQsA_CTuurD0TlckvbbYPU_M4P3OVqKk_6QZqVEEwQdmFiosvTLGPMJG0sgqSvFiec48L2JYr_g/s4032/ApostleIMG_6720.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSj66yOBI633IIq0v0STH8GByHZN2SCDNR_VMJi6syEpmUuSeZwU084M-yX13NDd2k1Bg7bIu9wXYBUNdGHImZelaTrlSqDnB9A6oJ6NxobCV-rm1cQsA_CTuurD0TlckvbbYPU_M4P3OVqKk_6QZqVEEwQdmFiosvTLGPMJG0sgqSvFiec48L2JYr_g/s320/ApostleIMG_6720.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><o:p> </o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">I had to order another drink (since we took a Lyft), and went with the Passionfruit Collins – vodka, passionfruit, lemon, and soda water. Since I usually just get a Collins with vodka, I can’t tell if they’re usually separated like this one was, but the passionfruit puree was settled at the bottom and hard to stir, so I either got a mouthful of goo or a mouthful of straight vodka. Not sure I’d order this one again, even if that’s how the presentation is intended to be. Just weird.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrXc37DlNmW_yWo5oQGV3SpP2qKqpfZmJRQPeTJhQe8eIIhnHj_Ch4Z-2SDv7YLNUz3glysxIf0YjxeEfZTfeAk8C7gjnUPYSQITEgTefZiPcyPZfGVjxEBFCHVrp3Vuki6rCkpIcxair3kZHqSjVGJX7Jgle97w9cu1teSQNOlUsjtdGoZjAV1a2wA/s4032/ApostleIMG_6721.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrXc37DlNmW_yWo5oQGV3SpP2qKqpfZmJRQPeTJhQe8eIIhnHj_Ch4Z-2SDv7YLNUz3glysxIf0YjxeEfZTfeAk8C7gjnUPYSQITEgTefZiPcyPZfGVjxEBFCHVrp3Vuki6rCkpIcxair3kZHqSjVGJX7Jgle97w9cu1teSQNOlUsjtdGoZjAV1a2wA/s320/ApostleIMG_6721.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><o:p><br /></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">We waited a bit more, and they brought everyone’s food out, but mine was not what I ordered, so they sent it back and said they’d start on my steak right away. Remember all the confusion at the beginning? That was part of it, although we had a pretty lengthy discussion of what temperature the steak should be cooked at, so I know what I ordered. D’s halibut was pretty small, especially for a pricey entrée. And it came with two asparagus sprigs. I know caviar is expensive, but I don’t get the impression this is the million-dollar stuff. The halibut was cooked about right, but even with the caviar and herb butter, the dish left a little bit to be desired. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSX2tr65DXV0JZUNQcOm1YCdfG79falP5rNrAxUx1Jemitzlkzeo9umFgnS-RK7kIg5TOUR0cewY89FHkVoefqoxlZR_6IBg6-VHhVzuC2R8hBldDTqLgFn_Vh4dYQ8wfb0i6j6NqQxMUxBs1kH-0hnC5O24ijZ94SqydqRnBAWeDN34IAsWJfIL_PqQ/s4032/ApostleIMG_6722.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSX2tr65DXV0JZUNQcOm1YCdfG79falP5rNrAxUx1Jemitzlkzeo9umFgnS-RK7kIg5TOUR0cewY89FHkVoefqoxlZR_6IBg6-VHhVzuC2R8hBldDTqLgFn_Vh4dYQ8wfb0i6j6NqQxMUxBs1kH-0hnC5O24ijZ94SqydqRnBAWeDN34IAsWJfIL_PqQ/s320/ApostleIMG_6722.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">A little while later, the waygu steak showed up. I’ve had waygu steak a few times and this one was the ok-est of the ones I’ve had. It was cooked like I requested (thankfully), but there wasn’t a ton of flavor with it. The two baby bok choy stalks didn’t really add much to the presentation and the “chron sauce” that was supposed to be topped with herbs and capers (which it wasn’t) was unremarkable enough that I honestly couldn’t figure out what it was made of. The meat flavor was perfectly fine, but the most expensive item on the menu should probably knock my socks off, or at least make them itch.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJR60miWv_j8d-ZkZIwP4Fg5Up2MoWv0ws6iIc-3NXl5IafBCSkXU-UqPu2OYYS4M43dzA1ijGGVHGyv9g5Ipo0K3opyC1TG1MoLnxCq-1phk0zpZnP21cfxsVP2x11VNoTD-gK74l2Os-syYxeMZDYNfxY3UwDcqVK5ERj_Izfgqx3Zd4Ia0HXcXfVg/s4032/ApostleIMG_6723.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJR60miWv_j8d-ZkZIwP4Fg5Up2MoWv0ws6iIc-3NXl5IafBCSkXU-UqPu2OYYS4M43dzA1ijGGVHGyv9g5Ipo0K3opyC1TG1MoLnxCq-1phk0zpZnP21cfxsVP2x11VNoTD-gK74l2Os-syYxeMZDYNfxY3UwDcqVK5ERj_Izfgqx3Zd4Ia0HXcXfVg/s320/ApostleIMG_6723.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">We had to remind the waiter that our fries had never arrived. So, we ate those for dessert instead of ordering anything additional. The fries were actually cooked really well and perfectly crispy and salty, but I didn’t know until just now what the dip was supposed to be until I looked it up to remind myself. It didn’t taste like much, so I wasn’t sure if it was supposed to be cheese or honey mustard or bechemel – it was supposed to be horseradish hollandaise, for what it’s worth.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuhTVN_KxfQOQG8s0SJ0IsPHbKRowEAQ3VrtE5FYLJKiXZvNDqjzC8znFAdV8SQ7puAAZoMCBnE61JmVdLlHV53_ylzWAEk4lX7A17NOqjjrsuCmnbhrxF9O57tW7aTW0JbRJqxLyfsgGvbjhpRBEUiA7GtAjDb6JnN_WAmPlpyJo7YCJdnG-IWoMN7Q/s4032/ApostleIMG_6724.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuhTVN_KxfQOQG8s0SJ0IsPHbKRowEAQ3VrtE5FYLJKiXZvNDqjzC8znFAdV8SQ7puAAZoMCBnE61JmVdLlHV53_ylzWAEk4lX7A17NOqjjrsuCmnbhrxF9O57tW7aTW0JbRJqxLyfsgGvbjhpRBEUiA7GtAjDb6JnN_WAmPlpyJo7YCJdnG-IWoMN7Q/s320/ApostleIMG_6724.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">We thought we were done with the mix-ups, until the waiter brought the bill which again, we thought was straight forward and didn’t have shared dishes, but had swapped some of our items. We didn’t even bother bringing it up and just figured it out amongst ourselves. We’re pretty easy going couples and just rolled with it and didn’t complain. But, when we left, the waiter said he hoped we enjoyed our meals and he hoped we got a better waiter the next time we were in. hahahaha. I’ve never actually had any staff say something like that before. I wasn’t even sure how to respond or if he was joking. But, probably an appropriate finisher to this extraordinarily lengthy and pricy meal that we could have expected. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a href="http://www.apostlesupperclub.com">http://www.apostlesupperclub.com<o:p></o:p></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Apostle Supper Club<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">253 Kellogg Blvd. W.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">St. Paul, MN 55102<o:p></o:p></p>Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02000483621794575045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182822613709027625.post-39778785270595746322023-02-09T11:00:00.032-06:002023-02-09T11:00:00.179-06:00The Rib Co. - Twentynine Palms, CA<p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">I had read about this BBQ place when I was planning our trip out to Joshua Tree, and it got really good reviews. It was, of course, a hundred degrees when we stopped by this place and there was a guy working the grills with a smile standing outside in the heat. That’s a good sign. Plus the folks working the dining room inside were also very happy to see us.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfgckiE27s2qGqt0e9L0joupB1xKkEtT1BwZZqQWQxdtsKTn5uwZteKPxNASBb8hfiD9_tTV0josb9qgWaR8MLKHmhiJJoiT4NU7MMvHqpaJP-_5uBKlObJ3kccGqNeg_2RLkyf2SX7XXnuc1fOYF8DpRXPWwvWle9b4dlmjsTgAkD_B4F7Ajb-afYnA/s4032/RibCoIMG_5699.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfgckiE27s2qGqt0e9L0joupB1xKkEtT1BwZZqQWQxdtsKTn5uwZteKPxNASBb8hfiD9_tTV0josb9qgWaR8MLKHmhiJJoiT4NU7MMvHqpaJP-_5uBKlObJ3kccGqNeg_2RLkyf2SX7XXnuc1fOYF8DpRXPWwvWle9b4dlmjsTgAkD_B4F7Ajb-afYnA/s320/RibCoIMG_5699.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdA7UZdJslemkME2IKtG-ZdnWjezPfDIBvY1nxpsrI8GNEkV7fr-6xw37lfoTvrXf9yI9dt_J9QxhvmimdMfoDNd9mifEZFwS3nRJCQlg8aBmt5_wHkJearAYg8Jup6QgbwioYA5fFlCVUUINt8q-yk5xiT7riJsspWMcis4Sj4hAgmPmxUR0KSHj9g/s4032/RibCoIMG_5700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdA7UZdJslemkME2IKtG-ZdnWjezPfDIBvY1nxpsrI8GNEkV7fr-6xw37lfoTvrXf9yI9dt_J9QxhvmimdMfoDNd9mifEZFwS3nRJCQlg8aBmt5_wHkJearAYg8Jup6QgbwioYA5fFlCVUUINt8q-yk5xiT7riJsspWMcis4Sj4hAgmPmxUR0KSHj9g/s320/RibCoIMG_5700.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The menu is more expansive than most BBQ places I’ve seen. Tons to look at, so when I saw there was a rib sampler on the menu, I decided to go with that, even though I knew it was going to be way too much food for me. It comes with a half rack of each of the five types of ribs, some sides, and corn muffins (with honey butter) – I got baked beans and mac and cheese. D ordered a combo meal with a half rack of triple threat ribs and pulled pork. She also got fries and mac and cheese for the sides. Well played.</p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSv8URF2m-OjUXZ6xcxbWvIIBFbrK1OVnsTzuPJ3Q0OrrAgPDBa6K8VVeP2bVj17pnMAIVNqT51MKYyuGddTYvzxzz1Cii4_DQvNdC8q82UX0euGpGNVysnmo50weC1yRftwS9E7uVdCAEAbfoKXjQPVnbNva-6dwTmvq6sr7OaJJa_qq9IxocBq0qA/s4032/RibCoIMG_5701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSv8URF2m-OjUXZ6xcxbWvIIBFbrK1OVnsTzuPJ3Q0OrrAgPDBa6K8VVeP2bVj17pnMAIVNqT51MKYyuGddTYvzxzz1Cii4_DQvNdC8q82UX0euGpGNVysnmo50weC1yRftwS9E7uVdCAEAbfoKXjQPVnbNva-6dwTmvq6sr7OaJJa_qq9IxocBq0qA/s320/RibCoIMG_5701.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The orders came out and they were massive. The rib sampler was piled high with meat. I’ll show you two photos, so you can get a good perspective. The overhead shot doesn’t do it justice until you see how high the stack is. I know what I read on the menu, but I still assumed it was going to be two or three of each kind of rib, not a half slab. It was, in fact, a half slab of each kind. In order of my favorite style: Triple Threat, Baby Back, Beef, St. Louis, House Rub. And please understand that fifth place on this list is still way better than most ribs I’ve had. These folks know what they’re doing. No wonder that guy working the smokers and grill was so happy. The baked beans were better than average and the mac and cheese also above average. Nothing here was meh, truly.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKFxtb5oqJ1apFkFOOic8_fcJOSp4_JjDBbQ-XT5bKbmJkRwbmUzA6oHKGddh4l2ZSqB77SHx9gmRtXcFOBDkzT-yNzxIL77jRMqcGk9kDRTEfHn_eNg85ghjLhdnb927X5cjNAIG0NRyB41QvoC4cOzClE-IFt3iHt28lMDAYYlIbqUaMxuyAe6Rvw/s4032/RibCoIMG_5702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKFxtb5oqJ1apFkFOOic8_fcJOSp4_JjDBbQ-XT5bKbmJkRwbmUzA6oHKGddh4l2ZSqB77SHx9gmRtXcFOBDkzT-yNzxIL77jRMqcGk9kDRTEfHn_eNg85ghjLhdnb927X5cjNAIG0NRyB41QvoC4cOzClE-IFt3iHt28lMDAYYlIbqUaMxuyAe6Rvw/s320/RibCoIMG_5702.jpg" width="320" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc020LTc9cpQWGH4LD910LFeyHnQJoKmaurpmsIFz1uiK7hkvHCWNLrLiWNSRQcHa1-aE1m-dFWYYRx7_EJpJFus0PJgejAYslT1rDZhOc7iRxlfreRLSbtYKPIhmLVrBaRM8209BWNr1TDJtkS9lNTbrUQe8E9skFvuTZd1GCyVQyTaNv7VWiTGjXZg/s4032/RibCoIMG_5704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc020LTc9cpQWGH4LD910LFeyHnQJoKmaurpmsIFz1uiK7hkvHCWNLrLiWNSRQcHa1-aE1m-dFWYYRx7_EJpJFus0PJgejAYslT1rDZhOc7iRxlfreRLSbtYKPIhmLVrBaRM8209BWNr1TDJtkS9lNTbrUQe8E9skFvuTZd1GCyVQyTaNv7VWiTGjXZg/s320/RibCoIMG_5704.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p><span style="font-size: 11pt;">D was happy with her Triple Threat half slab and the pulled pork was really flavorful with no gristle or fatty parts at all. And her fries were pretty solid, as well. Nothing out of a bag here. </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPUEEN5BgO6gxb0igojbWquffogVG8schzTtvl1GmWE6zUE8I66dex_Q--RwTeL4nhkiLlUJh9-WUEBYo1U2Dtjx4j9U-vjOdG4XcpP-OkjuLh4Y_4lqxDyIbpPh6KM2TChyfRtI_vFChc1tidKf3SjWxChbeKVO0-bz0uCyxO6cNzmSmH_UUixgwjw/s4032/RibCoIMG_5706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPUEEN5BgO6gxb0igojbWquffogVG8schzTtvl1GmWE6zUE8I66dex_Q--RwTeL4nhkiLlUJh9-WUEBYo1U2Dtjx4j9U-vjOdG4XcpP-OkjuLh4Y_4lqxDyIbpPh6KM2TChyfRtI_vFChc1tidKf3SjWxChbeKVO0-bz0uCyxO6cNzmSmH_UUixgwjw/s320/RibCoIMG_5706.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Tremendous showing all around here. And the best part was we literally had enough food left over for two additional meals. So three meals-worth of food for one visit – the other option might be to bring 6 of your closest friends to help you out. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">I would absolutely recommend this to anyone who likes BBQ and I look forward to heading here again the next time I’m in town. It was way better than expected!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a href="http://www.theribco.com/" style="color: #954f72;">The Rib Co</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">72183 Twentynine Palms Hwy.<o:p></o:p></p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693334px;">Twentynine Palms, CA 92277</span>Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02000483621794575045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182822613709027625.post-24268573455535517402023-02-02T10:30:00.017-06:002023-02-02T10:30:00.183-06:00Croft Kitchen - Crosby, MN<p> <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">D and I were in the neighborhood and looking for a quick snack (not a full dinner), so we decided to pop into this local bar and grill we’d been in a few years back. This place has gotten a recent remodel and looks fantastic inside. New floors, tables, and booths go a long way into brightening this place up and refreshing it. There’s also a really surprisingly improved menu available. Super impressed with the offerings here – including the tap list.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Additionally, they do some special menus. I’m very interested in the Cajun menu special nights and an upcoming Italian menu special nights. Looks like this refresh didn’t stop at the front of the house – well done, whoever helped upscale this place!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">We ordered the Armadillo Eggs and Spicy Cauliflower. And a couple of beers, obviously. The Vikings game was on, which meant they had half price appetizers, so we accidentally timed it really well, showing up when we did. And to kill time, D got to check out some claw machines, which is a hilarious draw, but apparently, it works.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKuDxdUcT9aGYRiq1hsdA8idbQvIYb1pf3T0vtC__oq2KEkClsUpVvvEQY097x7KfC2Y_iFTmxdEhUxB5NwFvMMeuseZ7M_U8gMtyQFKzUBG74UrWKN0mIrKlUNUMgH-7K3D0sTyc0zwOFIOtbV8O3ehw6uvbYq1kcb_A3iQagQBSGqGxVNHhRONvzSw/s4032/CroftKitchenIMG_7120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKuDxdUcT9aGYRiq1hsdA8idbQvIYb1pf3T0vtC__oq2KEkClsUpVvvEQY097x7KfC2Y_iFTmxdEhUxB5NwFvMMeuseZ7M_U8gMtyQFKzUBG74UrWKN0mIrKlUNUMgH-7K3D0sTyc0zwOFIOtbV8O3ehw6uvbYq1kcb_A3iQagQBSGqGxVNHhRONvzSw/s320/CroftKitchenIMG_7120.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The Armadillo Eggs were surprisingly delicious. I thought they were going to be a simple jalapeno popper, but they weren’t. Hear me out: the jalapeno is stuffed with brisket and cream cheese, then wrapped in Italian sausage and bacon, and then smoked and glazed with BBQ sauce. Honestly, this was leaps and bounds better than a jalapeno popper. They’re an appetizer, so everything is small, but don’t let that fool you – it’s about balance. Sure, if it was softball-sized and deep fried like a state fair monstrosity, it would be some sort of food challenge, but this has great ratios where you can taste everything. Loved how well put together these things were. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL1ulZ1WSarRqcSVErMgluVjsIdEiIOnersFQzhvXFIns3Rpk2693Ns8N3l4WT4r0x4i9wmukoeFuFT32CA9hx79QpigqZrfX1uLeHBSRK_T8qGQOQ2e2IvP7mnWF7OoLqggeil4mrMrV0x4YFdjaXbazE0_faYFKV5hCHFzk0CccUsIYkNZ26A9vQyw/s4032/CroftKitchenIMG_7126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL1ulZ1WSarRqcSVErMgluVjsIdEiIOnersFQzhvXFIns3Rpk2693Ns8N3l4WT4r0x4i9wmukoeFuFT32CA9hx79QpigqZrfX1uLeHBSRK_T8qGQOQ2e2IvP7mnWF7OoLqggeil4mrMrV0x4YFdjaXbazE0_faYFKV5hCHFzk0CccUsIYkNZ26A9vQyw/s320/CroftKitchenIMG_7126.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><o:p><br /></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The spicy cauliflower is like deep fried buffalo cauliflower, so don’t mistake this for healthy. The fry on this was impressive and there’s plenty of buffalo sauce all around the cauliflower inside. It’s served with a side of avocado ranch, which I could have drunk by the gallon. It’s the perfect dip for these little gems. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjxvyZiLFlX4QQIWCFmAdRH7LLiTWBe5EEJtKFnTf85NXRFORpu_34ZU6z0-1S68eGTU713RYKemGVchBT5HW_AX-plMFRBpCogy1ktVlnULRBH72iCXLK36h83SYw8oe1DMx1TDE2ypwKOPmtQ46icCD-DUiCBUc0lP3tOq3BaBB71KEXofGovQ2Eg/s4032/CroftKitchenIMG_7125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjxvyZiLFlX4QQIWCFmAdRH7LLiTWBe5EEJtKFnTf85NXRFORpu_34ZU6z0-1S68eGTU713RYKemGVchBT5HW_AX-plMFRBpCogy1ktVlnULRBH72iCXLK36h83SYw8oe1DMx1TDE2ypwKOPmtQ46icCD-DUiCBUc0lP3tOq3BaBB71KEXofGovQ2Eg/s320/CroftKitchenIMG_7125.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><o:p> </o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">I’m really impressed with the apps we got here. It’s clear the menu has been elevated and there’s some care that goes into the food prep (including plating, which D cares about more than I do). I’m glad to recommend this place now to friends that are up in the Cuyuna Lakes area for mountain biking or disc golf or camping. It’s got so much more going for it now, and we’re looking forward to going back and trying out some larger menu items. Great job on the update, Croft Kitchen!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/people/Croft-Kitchen/100063739923244/" target="_blank">Croft Kitchen</a></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">7 1<sup>st</sup> Avenue NW<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Crosby, MN 56441<o:p></o:p></p>Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02000483621794575045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182822613709027625.post-33330329785300084312023-01-26T11:00:00.017-06:002023-01-26T11:00:00.197-06:00Quick Review: Nova Bar - Hudson, WI<p><span style="font-family: arial;">This less of a review than a plug to go check out this place. The former Nova Wine Bar and Restaurant in Hudson has opened up as a local drinking establishment called Nova Bar. It’s in the same building as Casanova Liquors (also known as the beer cave), so many of you already know where it’s at. So get this – liquor store in the same building, DQ 200 feet away, Air B&B across the street, and beach walkable. Sounds like we’re going to be spending a lot more time here…</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">It’s got a great cocktail list (the owner and his wife can pour a kick-ass Painkiller), has wine by the glass, robust whiskey/bourbon/scotch collection, and offers a really impressive craft beer list. They also have Miller High Life on tap at all times, for those of you that partake. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693334px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW2h-7x35_EAXYix8YjYE7ifpbWYEwpBVFRYrJ0ATQaXOb2BcXPBxUzbYf1pGy1VP1P8zMK22vl76VFNzfErCGIM7N7acv_4VifjUp-pSImmepu7SMHAf_nrfgup8awW4bSKJutQ4MDZmuLLlVptI-cof82INz8ByU7wSkvNmA3rBPCKBq3hBHpQDm1g/s4032/NovaBarIMG_7177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW2h-7x35_EAXYix8YjYE7ifpbWYEwpBVFRYrJ0ATQaXOb2BcXPBxUzbYf1pGy1VP1P8zMK22vl76VFNzfErCGIM7N7acv_4VifjUp-pSImmepu7SMHAf_nrfgup8awW4bSKJutQ4MDZmuLLlVptI-cof82INz8ByU7wSkvNmA3rBPCKBq3hBHpQDm1g/s320/NovaBarIMG_7177.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.693334px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The place is decorated in a pretty whimsical and fun way (just use the same decorations for the holidays up through mardi gras!) and everyone in the place is genuine and fun. They also offer various food trucks and pop-up situations, so you can often grab a bite to eat there. Check out their Instagram page for updates – that seems to be the best and most often updated. No full-time kitchen offerings, but they’ll feed you once in a while and you’ll just have to focus on drinking. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHIjiQq1YQot-v4qhFAYNxiLMDx9gjfJiUG_l0_941BXz5eUKy-Hun61fblSai5yBTfoSWY47XXq1TgK03ECV5kc-CLeP28APAJTNMiDm-3yefkHdgePTWOsJ0_XuWv9YOWqUTPf9nflDoTiHFLjbYiwdUR6gDYPaB_saJ540veexCjThaDvmBNhBVQ/s4032/NovaBarIMG_7172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHIjiQq1YQot-v4qhFAYNxiLMDx9gjfJiUG_l0_941BXz5eUKy-Hun61fblSai5yBTfoSWY47XXq1TgK03ECV5kc-CLeP28APAJTNMiDm-3yefkHdgePTWOsJ0_XuWv9YOWqUTPf9nflDoTiHFLjbYiwdUR6gDYPaB_saJ540veexCjThaDvmBNhBVQ/s320/NovaBarIMG_7172.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.693334px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Go support this business. Check out their cocktail list and drink specials. I bet if you bring them a funny story or video on your phone, they’ll be happy to return the favor. They’re great folks!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693334px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><o:p></o:p></p>Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02000483621794575045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182822613709027625.post-4874027399072160852023-01-19T10:30:00.014-06:002023-01-19T10:44:52.161-06:00Phi Chay Thai Cuisine – St. Paul, MN<p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.693334px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">D and I wanted to check this place out, since we saw it had changed names/ownership. It used to be called <a href="https://youcarewhatwethink.blogspot.com/2011/06/supatras-thai-cuisine-st-paul-mn.html " target="_blank">Supatra’s</a> and we really liked that place. So, we had high hopes as we went into check out this new iteration. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693334px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVeoWRj0G6oR0VMyDJFGZFB52woZEZOrqWmUpr4vTi8NhWOKi2mLxZ2YPPwUQzRYuh7GDJSMdILuiD1qrmnR-nxpWkLtkseY7bTYQEAyky8A0UrzaZ2shc7QekjpoFgAy42tDVQVJIh5mMYNza9qKgB8XTcwb47a7t9h8B0-b0Q-wKxxdRcyfKeNxBVQ/s4032/phichayIMG_7006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVeoWRj0G6oR0VMyDJFGZFB52woZEZOrqWmUpr4vTi8NhWOKi2mLxZ2YPPwUQzRYuh7GDJSMdILuiD1qrmnR-nxpWkLtkseY7bTYQEAyky8A0UrzaZ2shc7QekjpoFgAy42tDVQVJIh5mMYNza9qKgB8XTcwb47a7t9h8B0-b0Q-wKxxdRcyfKeNxBVQ/s320/phichayIMG_7006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The person working the register and hosting was really polite and helpful. And the interior of the restaurant looks like they didn’t change it a huge amount, so it still felt home-y. The menu is very large, so it took some time to narrow down what we wanted. We went the adventurous route today and tried some things we wouldn’t normally get. </span></p><o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.693334px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We ordered the Salt and Pepper Tofu Puffs, Coconut Curry Noodles with Chicken, and Pad Woon Sen, (stir-fried silver thread noodles) with pork. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.693334px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The tofu puffs arrived quickly, and piping hot. The little cubes of tofu were fried crispy and came with some peppers and onion, and also two dipping sauces – one was a rice wine vinegar sauce and the other was a peanut sauce. The tofu was seasoned with salt and pepper and the fry on them was perfect. I liked the peanut sauce a little more than the other, but both were very good. Really a much better appetizer than we expected. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZCGXxP45FmojpdiclZ-799lRxFoNfftbiC3Jn_E7kG6Z72JjRR4vxpvfMKbbAmODGz4fohrU8ppQ0EoDI_j6dslWBdtgcPIcgCACGbRQ1-t1YneUpFs-XecCoF_lEVSfP6eC67WNSiJ4DmRKG2IVgz-uBvJzQv1PeYYFLR_pgvL51sMxHtw8D_qmXA/s4032/phichayIMG_7007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZCGXxP45FmojpdiclZ-799lRxFoNfftbiC3Jn_E7kG6Z72JjRR4vxpvfMKbbAmODGz4fohrU8ppQ0EoDI_j6dslWBdtgcPIcgCACGbRQ1-t1YneUpFs-XecCoF_lEVSfP6eC67WNSiJ4DmRKG2IVgz-uBvJzQv1PeYYFLR_pgvL51sMxHtw8D_qmXA/s320/phichayIMG_7007.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.693334px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.693334px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The coconut curry noodles were different than we expected. D took a bite and said, it’s sort of like the Thai version of macaroni and cheese. The noodles were in a very mild and light curry sauce with a couple pieces of broccoli and chicken. The sauce was good, but didn’t have much kick, despite us ordering it medium. However, D added a scoop of the dried pepper that was on the table and it totally changed this dish. Made it much better and more flavorful. Even seemed to bring out more of the curry flavor. This dish ended up being really good, after we massaged it a little bit. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9L7VObM_B4pPuXbCQbv1CCjUcUCsdmbyKjZtqAfJZqfAL5Syl5f7ui1PbjniNR15J5cZeEg6yYMXQwEiXpHdiAugne5rt40YI0drnlJpPscCb45Ao-g0BS6vsbs5rube4ccSV59-Z7ze9illUdUlJvv4AlCXZErHnu71y6bNv3qCEmwPGQ54-AvM4g/s4032/phichayIMG_7008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9L7VObM_B4pPuXbCQbv1CCjUcUCsdmbyKjZtqAfJZqfAL5Syl5f7ui1PbjniNR15J5cZeEg6yYMXQwEiXpHdiAugne5rt40YI0drnlJpPscCb45Ao-g0BS6vsbs5rube4ccSV59-Z7ze9illUdUlJvv4AlCXZErHnu71y6bNv3qCEmwPGQ54-AvM4g/s320/phichayIMG_7008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.693334px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Pad Woon Sen was perfect right off the bat. A rich brown sauce coated all the silver thread noodles and vegetables. It had good spice level to it and the pork was really delicious, as well. I always wish there was a ton more when I’m done eating it, even though I was super full. This is one of those dishes that I would probably order again and I’m not usually an -order-the-same-thing-twice kind of person. Really good. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlmJ5tNFuokzcdzGOY1fRZwEDlDWO5e-Ba6V-nMc_HUui2Uo4oh7oY0gyDEC59vbba0wqyu1ARhd8BSVCsObA63i1mbfz9Ne2p8KevwbEbMAByR6vsVmJ8HQeA0RH3q9en1MqnQdvF2YRvl7OesEBoCAnXDBQQ_FgShp6TvsTeNzugF4c1Plj7rjdp-Q/s4032/phichayIMG_7009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlmJ5tNFuokzcdzGOY1fRZwEDlDWO5e-Ba6V-nMc_HUui2Uo4oh7oY0gyDEC59vbba0wqyu1ARhd8BSVCsObA63i1mbfz9Ne2p8KevwbEbMAByR6vsVmJ8HQeA0RH3q9en1MqnQdvF2YRvl7OesEBoCAnXDBQQ_FgShp6TvsTeNzugF4c1Plj7rjdp-Q/s320/phichayIMG_7009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.693334px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Overall, an impressive showing from Phi Chay and an excellent replacement for a restaurant we really loved when it was around. We’ll be back here again. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02000483621794575045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182822613709027625.post-39693522262578692102023-01-12T11:00:00.001-06:002023-01-12T11:00:00.174-06:00Latte Stone Brewing Co. - Wisconsin Dells, WI<p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">On a recent road trip, we felt like a brewery pit stop in Wisconsin and fortunately, Latte Stone Brewing opened during the pandemic in Wisconsin Dells and looked like a good place for brews and bites. It looks like a small taproom from the road, but once you get inside, there’s a back room, a small gift shop, and a sort of front porch, as well. One of the owners is from Guam and wanted to show Guam culture to the US. What better place than the hodge podge melting pot of cultures that is the Wisconsin Dells.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdV-HnevgmFqq1EEjiQ0NQ07NOI2hGk356YG0pVuQYr1f2QO_n5Xs34ujT_2iV8Ww_EZgF-a0rz3EgKam8c_gr3ZGjFMTuTxkglQoTpdOayQwefnkqhhn56-Mis_8t0wb2etBxbnjwaEnOkwvYgIpVHsQ0Mc8d7N_n6wlANWWBW5VSalhDfEUc-ZejQ/s4032/LatteStoneIMG_6942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdV-HnevgmFqq1EEjiQ0NQ07NOI2hGk356YG0pVuQYr1f2QO_n5Xs34ujT_2iV8Ww_EZgF-a0rz3EgKam8c_gr3ZGjFMTuTxkglQoTpdOayQwefnkqhhn56-Mis_8t0wb2etBxbnjwaEnOkwvYgIpVHsQ0Mc8d7N_n6wlANWWBW5VSalhDfEUc-ZejQ/s320/LatteStoneIMG_6942.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><o:p> </o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">We found a table in the main tap room and scanned the printed-out beer list and food list. The menu today was small (the owner apologized), but it sounds like it changes from day to day, so sometimes, there’s a lot and sometimes there’s only a few items. It worked out perfect for us and we ended up ordering both food items. We ordered the Fried Rice Bowl and the Lumpia. The beer list is really nice – lots of Wisconsin brews, some other smaller microbrews, and six or seven of their own brews. I got a flight so I could try a few different things. The owner Ryan is able to answer any questions about the beer or food that you have, so don’t be afraid to ask. Supremely nice guy!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">I got the Taotao mo’na douple IPA, the Coco’s Island Kolsch, the Sinahi Black Coffee Stout, and Westallion Brewing’s Generale Scottish Ale. All of these were solid beers, but the Sinahi Black Coffee Stout was the stand-out performer. Smelled deeply of coffee, but the flavor wasn’t overpowering. Really delicious beer here.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnwuDXThh8SQEbv0hWbk_jSKCOH7gxFRpOxmqKegixodXGi9SfIWuEGLmMEktvh46mO9ZkKpPbWhiK6JH4x1aYoTfLfZYzNJdfpXpUa8ks9usIP1Nkqz63qC-OSJhJD1eFCgC8pcYbWwOmGq0MTrjCE3N7hCTQp0pcdTNV1mcQpKlo7xmuHVLQ5YplA/s4032/LatteStoneIMG_6941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnwuDXThh8SQEbv0hWbk_jSKCOH7gxFRpOxmqKegixodXGi9SfIWuEGLmMEktvh46mO9ZkKpPbWhiK6JH4x1aYoTfLfZYzNJdfpXpUa8ks9usIP1Nkqz63qC-OSJhJD1eFCgC8pcYbWwOmGq0MTrjCE3N7hCTQp0pcdTNV1mcQpKlo7xmuHVLQ5YplA/s320/LatteStoneIMG_6941.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The food arrived pretty quickly and for those who are environmentally conscious, it comes on palm leaf eco plates with bamboo cutlery. The fried rice was simple, but surprisingly flavorful. It's fried rice with ham, bacon, and smoked sausage, onions, and scrambled egg. It also comes with this Guam version of soy sauce called fina’denne’ – it’s sooooo good. One of those dishes that’s more filling than you want it to be since you just want to keep eating it. Really good work on this and no wonder it’s on the menu – easy to make, a little salty, and fills you up!<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPxzUGjiJrkdlHNk2eld-0jt52Gh9DoKjveIrza5KkobRE9jHwkuX-Q7G285N6dthx9XwDjjPRlR9OIO2bW5TJyDhMdsNfUc0Wo9wqtT-fDXrw6QA1CWaPePf3z4icfvwMdO3S7ruZMw0U-HdL4FnU0nS35GwJg9-2qYrMX5gp1yqWOgJFA9c0J4JGKQ/s4032/LatteStoneIMG_6944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPxzUGjiJrkdlHNk2eld-0jt52Gh9DoKjveIrza5KkobRE9jHwkuX-Q7G285N6dthx9XwDjjPRlR9OIO2bW5TJyDhMdsNfUc0Wo9wqtT-fDXrw6QA1CWaPePf3z4icfvwMdO3S7ruZMw0U-HdL4FnU0nS35GwJg9-2qYrMX5gp1yqWOgJFA9c0J4JGKQ/s320/LatteStoneIMG_6944.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The Lumpia is a sort of Filipino deep fried eggroll. It has ground beef, ground pork, carrots, and cabbage. It comes with an apple mustard which is great, but it also comes with that fina’denne’ sauce, so we basically fought over that. It’s the perfect accompaniment to these crispy little eggrolls.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_3GRaKX-qp_Gu9pQK9HI4JImbigZzkdXmV4LSDUc69yTQK6FzFMy_7j18VGVy2G6t1pIOTZ82VBsbFK5fO37y2s2iJsHL3BPOricz4mKzc29zLtoNTCn-6pLUiSEZvmA_o2ebzerlwwhz6PJUHXtcATENtMsut508gns9lmeG0mVgrgjIHG7-EtNnQ/s4032/LatteStoneIMG_6945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_3GRaKX-qp_Gu9pQK9HI4JImbigZzkdXmV4LSDUc69yTQK6FzFMy_7j18VGVy2G6t1pIOTZ82VBsbFK5fO37y2s2iJsHL3BPOricz4mKzc29zLtoNTCn-6pLUiSEZvmA_o2ebzerlwwhz6PJUHXtcATENtMsut508gns9lmeG0mVgrgjIHG7-EtNnQ/s320/LatteStoneIMG_6945.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The vibe here is good. The beer is good. The food is good. The story and history is good. Do yourself a favor and when you’re driving anywhere near the Dells, just go here. You won’t regret it. If it helps, there’s a Carr Valley Cheese shop across the street, and a Root Beer Museum across the street in another direction. I’m glad we stopped, and we’ll be back there again soon!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">http://www.lattestonebrewingco.com<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Latte Stone Brewing Co.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">514 Broadway<o:p></o:p></p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Wisconsin Dells, WI </span>Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02000483621794575045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182822613709027625.post-43786908781053498372023-01-05T11:00:00.051-06:002023-01-05T11:00:00.175-06:00Hala Khaki Lounge - River Grove, IL<p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">As many of you know, D and I enjoy the Polynesian culture and have found ourselves at more tiki bars than we ever admit to anyone. When we were in the Chicago area recently, I knew we needed to check out Hala Kahiki Lounge. I wasn’t sure what we were getting into, but I’m glad we went.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9O4PVvcmIBuxXCOpPgj-lw_LU-89vtvY3p_f6xZWsdaTnk57T3AePSm15cdJ7viHDc7msmF-qwryf07jdC1TqOozSfZPGqm6krqKM2sPj2ZTRlXcRoTsEt5lS87hPIe5CSGcPyetwsRW0JS0vcC7zf2181Ul2sRBJzcKZNN7fsVcfNa7Ig6SYoar5g/s4032/HalaKahikiIMG_6910.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9O4PVvcmIBuxXCOpPgj-lw_LU-89vtvY3p_f6xZWsdaTnk57T3AePSm15cdJ7viHDc7msmF-qwryf07jdC1TqOozSfZPGqm6krqKM2sPj2ZTRlXcRoTsEt5lS87hPIe5CSGcPyetwsRW0JS0vcC7zf2181Ul2sRBJzcKZNN7fsVcfNa7Ig6SYoar5g/s320/HalaKahikiIMG_6910.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><o:p> </o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The lounge is in a relatively residential area along the Des Plaines River and it’s an expansive building. Thankfully, it also has an expansive parking lot. People have commented that there are only two windows and you don’t actually know which door to go in – all of that is true, but do your best to find the entrance (the “front” is off the main road, if you consider the parking lot the back – that might help). The bar owners got out of the funeral business and into the tiki culture accidentally buy buying cheap paneling that looked like bamboo. It all makes sense when you walk in the door.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjDARpvZQCe2lUFd5iK6cyesqatzGs8aT7Oe6H_PfuoevKpsWKEGiguyjWE0FnjwC7s8NLPhwNL2ulXO-jCocBx0DvIB4CZWMBsjtp6B4sgtD94I72dcVqx_nV93yT-F6GbLH99x8Zgj9Vc3ikxM-x-jPSIXW7nNPCzLbImQz3i_rl6zJezxoOdun_NQ/s4032/HalaKahikiIMG_6913.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjDARpvZQCe2lUFd5iK6cyesqatzGs8aT7Oe6H_PfuoevKpsWKEGiguyjWE0FnjwC7s8NLPhwNL2ulXO-jCocBx0DvIB4CZWMBsjtp6B4sgtD94I72dcVqx_nV93yT-F6GbLH99x8Zgj9Vc3ikxM-x-jPSIXW7nNPCzLbImQz3i_rl6zJezxoOdun_NQ/s320/HalaKahikiIMG_6913.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Hala Kahiki doesn’t take reservations, so you may have to wait. But, as I said, it’s huuuuuuuge. It just keeps going back. There’s a back room that apparently is sort of private like an event center, and there’s a heated outdoor space (not open when it’s crazy cold, but that makes sense), so just when you think you’re at the back of the building, it just keeps going a little further. You can peruse the small gift shop at the front if you have to wait, but I’d suggest getting your hands on a menu. It’s the largest list of tiki drinks I’ve ever seen. It’s maybe 25 pages and split into 17 different sections. There’s an impressive selection of non-alcoholic tiki drinks, so please bring your sober friends and family here. There are traditional and old familiar tiki drinks, and then there’s a large number of drinks they’ve either invented or borrowed from other famous places. There’s a number of ice cream drinks. And, to no one’s surprise, they are also known for their Malort cocktails – it’s the Chicago Handshake, if you didn’t know. hahaha<o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">While you’re headed back to your table, check out the decorations on the walls and ceiling. There’s an incredible number of unique pieces on the walls (and a ton of Will Farrell Elf cardboard cutouts during the holiday season, which is hilarious). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p>My wife matches the decor. She rules.<br /></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-s2TSSKDreWezCMSol9KlMxXekiostULbubG_53gHn8YnG1PBljCwJwRG9IM_GmEPBkXoZxIxH7sFODbmv4eZBLqNJDuwWEebztLu5_zAVuokEj7f7ZgVEW4KHTyZbs9c0ceNTH8omBwiWwlFGnEyDJxhq75PEg_vMBnIwjIDXHzIerj4waigIxBqMg/s4032/HalaKahikiIMG_6915.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-s2TSSKDreWezCMSol9KlMxXekiostULbubG_53gHn8YnG1PBljCwJwRG9IM_GmEPBkXoZxIxH7sFODbmv4eZBLqNJDuwWEebztLu5_zAVuokEj7f7ZgVEW4KHTyZbs9c0ceNTH8omBwiWwlFGnEyDJxhq75PEg_vMBnIwjIDXHzIerj4waigIxBqMg/s320/HalaKahikiIMG_6915.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">It looks like they have a limited food menu on weekend, and maybe some sort of chips and dip offering during the week, so be ready for that. But hopefully, you had a chance to look at the menu ahead of time. It’s really difficult to narrow down the list, but thankfully, we were able to. Also, make sure you’re familiar with the little icons on the menu. A skull and cross bones means it’s strong. A pineapple logo means it’s sort of a lounge favorite. They also go the extra mile and put other notes on the drinks that indicate if something Is spicy or cinnamon-y or floral. Really considerate. I got the Hala Kahiki – I try to get the namesake when I can – and D got the Kokomo with banana.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisavuHz1P3B3MbSc7xyDSQz-oyJsN7pkpvwwEA8CH1HgLMlPcXpAG--Ed-zn-oLiG7Kg_m1Kh6DAj7JOWya42zsaCibznHaE_ZwnYOSd4FWaUF7UFO8KdzMWayZTQG0Ffw23BIso6yF8RIQkcBXWQsqRguvkM6eQAvwdqbZW9-pvWGygE2cc-h_sZOfg/s4032/HalaKahikiIMG_6916.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisavuHz1P3B3MbSc7xyDSQz-oyJsN7pkpvwwEA8CH1HgLMlPcXpAG--Ed-zn-oLiG7Kg_m1Kh6DAj7JOWya42zsaCibznHaE_ZwnYOSd4FWaUF7UFO8KdzMWayZTQG0Ffw23BIso6yF8RIQkcBXWQsqRguvkM6eQAvwdqbZW9-pvWGygE2cc-h_sZOfg/s320/HalaKahikiIMG_6916.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The Hala Kahiki is a combination of a zombie and a scorpion – two of my favorite drinks. What it actually means is that it’s a bunch of rums and a bunch of tropical juices and then topped with overproofed rum. It’s also got a skull and cross bones next to it on the menu, so it’s reeeeeally strong. The juice cuts the bite of the booze and it really is a fantastic drink. I’d highly recommend this drink if you’re new to tiki drinks. It’s what other drinks hope they become when they grow up. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">D got the Kokomo, which is sort of a pina colada style drink. DiSaronno, cocoa rum, coconut cream, and non-dairy cream. And, she got it with banana, so it comes blended up and topped with whipped cream. It’s like a banana coconut milkshake and not like most standard tiki drinks. We keep talking about this one, since it’s so good.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2er1pgZeKLTpjklW0caJbgjNpcY-MRwlj6vr3tjFht05EYDXm5Q0i85_OIKF86K9yioTGZ_jeQ2dh0YypwbTs0qwLF1MBvEhVx8SCqPKnO7HdF5fxYzd4nnMvTnesujxdVXpFvFH5EUJylDBQFI0UvqF4NCUwb0DdupY43IhDzg8FPyekKeMqMePYMQ/s4032/HalaHakikiIMG_2239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2er1pgZeKLTpjklW0caJbgjNpcY-MRwlj6vr3tjFht05EYDXm5Q0i85_OIKF86K9yioTGZ_jeQ2dh0YypwbTs0qwLF1MBvEhVx8SCqPKnO7HdF5fxYzd4nnMvTnesujxdVXpFvFH5EUJylDBQFI0UvqF4NCUwb0DdupY43IhDzg8FPyekKeMqMePYMQ/s320/HalaHakikiIMG_2239.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">I knew I needed (at least) one more drink before we left. Since D’s blended drink was so darn good, I decided to go against my norm and check out the ice cream section of the drink menu. So many of them are good, and my favorite part is they really don’t steer too far from traditional tiki flavors. I decided to check out the Lava Flo – dark rum, coconut cream, bananas, strawberries, pineapple juice, vanilla ice cream, and topped with whipped cream. It was top-notch! Even better than I expected it to be. It even comes with a giant straw so you can suck up the strawberries and not get all clogged up. All the flavors go well together and it’s one cohesive drink, not 5 different flavors. Super glad I got this one as a finisher. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmeXKgxa-GewWH_zWtcWt5arxmEKA53kM5estTVCD3MTUvbfqZPxkup3NfYHBoScjx4kLFbXdGdZqpi5_FfE_UfDtaDCl_AYAqISavko85iOUFnL4GuFi9YG4vCwJEftgEvY2UyBzSOx3wK4ZJm7uPWyDyFj3LFHLdbuLVzaE5xP6d4d4uz44DoFAA0A/s4032/HalaKahikiIMG_2246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmeXKgxa-GewWH_zWtcWt5arxmEKA53kM5estTVCD3MTUvbfqZPxkup3NfYHBoScjx4kLFbXdGdZqpi5_FfE_UfDtaDCl_AYAqISavko85iOUFnL4GuFi9YG4vCwJEftgEvY2UyBzSOx3wK4ZJm7uPWyDyFj3LFHLdbuLVzaE5xP6d4d4uz44DoFAA0A/s320/HalaKahikiIMG_2246.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">This tiki bar is absolutely worth a special trip out of your way and I’ll be back here for sure. I know there are other tiki bars in the Chicago area, but this one is my kind of vibe – exactly what I was looking for.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">http://www.chicagotikibar.com<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Hala Kahiki Lounge<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">2834 River Road<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">River Grove, IL 60171<o:p></o:p></p>Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02000483621794575045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182822613709027625.post-30304997211675973012022-12-30T10:05:00.008-06:002022-12-30T16:11:05.479-06:00Bump's Burgers - Iron River, MI<p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsSoc-YOjJd7Pk3hCApbZaOiJvNJd4BK-QCD7joWn4rWHXkx9UBGv4fOhILT7UB96fXYt8_HNoJdc0zDTBCF_OkF-pp6QXF-9xN7S9KH2EpBsdFV_wFK0xbah2QvRd7PEewUJCVFEMG9wYwJ_Wc3eRM7sTZwSAmAcseTH5HsNUrOehaFpfPxCJkLAFQ/s4032/BumpsIMG_6775.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsSoc-YOjJd7Pk3hCApbZaOiJvNJd4BK-QCD7joWn4rWHXkx9UBGv4fOhILT7UB96fXYt8_HNoJdc0zDTBCF_OkF-pp6QXF-9xN7S9KH2EpBsdFV_wFK0xbah2QvRd7PEewUJCVFEMG9wYwJ_Wc3eRM7sTZwSAmAcseTH5HsNUrOehaFpfPxCJkLAFQ/s320/BumpsIMG_6775.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">D and I hopped in the car and made an impromptu trip to Michigan. Pretty much spontaneous and last-minute. We needed some cabin/non-people time and also we wanted to surprise our friend Chef Greg who opened up a sort of second-shift family restaurant in Iron River, Michigan. Chef Greg is a wizard in the kitchen and we knew his place was going to be top-notch. People think that the Upper Peninsula (UP) or Michigan is super far away, but it's really only about 5 hours to Bump's!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Boy, was he surprised when we walked back to the window that looks into the kitchen!!<span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSkcuForG7xphYhWD00a9Nrk_n0B9H0ORYQNaDln0b34doVnDuTUvGi-541vLAqqSuyiGwPm95E6qroIVTheZ8---_L_DLE0tNwmB63PzOCJwtFYGHBtqF-tzhVk_nfQutx_J1Ikv3ZwoQpdEPpbGzwPSq9QhsW0ZG6urck9y9BIQMTIezrNehm2obTA/s1613/BumpsIMG_6780.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="1613" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSkcuForG7xphYhWD00a9Nrk_n0B9H0ORYQNaDln0b34doVnDuTUvGi-541vLAqqSuyiGwPm95E6qroIVTheZ8---_L_DLE0tNwmB63PzOCJwtFYGHBtqF-tzhVk_nfQutx_J1Ikv3ZwoQpdEPpbGzwPSq9QhsW0ZG6urck9y9BIQMTIezrNehm2obTA/s320/BumpsIMG_6780.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><o:p> </o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Chef Greg took an interesting approach to opening up his place. There were already good pizza places in town, and already good breakfast places in town, and a handful of other good spots for food and drink during normal hours. He saw that Iron River needed a burger place with a little “extra” and also thought the town needed something open different hours than the rest of the establishments. Bump’s Burgers is right downtown and open Thursday through Saturday from 4pm until midnight. Absolutely NAILED IT with the time slot!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYgPAnYPMqTOJnr0T1DLsKPw5M4O_Hs1p1cI0P7Ejv12KSWc73F1udD4DvP1A4iseTtn-xX9ogJ1AUe2kf0heChTuINmIdz--YimEp7P3-0re6P3PROhl93tyCP5Tv2unCwtdqp4Gpg6FGy9tfh8hJo4u3UHEyoECIfSW8JtlKhf-hR8Is0UJf1nt4Qg/s4032/BumpsIMG_6784.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYgPAnYPMqTOJnr0T1DLsKPw5M4O_Hs1p1cI0P7Ejv12KSWc73F1udD4DvP1A4iseTtn-xX9ogJ1AUe2kf0heChTuINmIdz--YimEp7P3-0re6P3PROhl93tyCP5Tv2unCwtdqp4Gpg6FGy9tfh8hJo4u3UHEyoECIfSW8JtlKhf-hR8Is0UJf1nt4Qg/s320/BumpsIMG_6784.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">I won’t go into ALL the details of the menu at Bump’s Burgers, but it’s really more than just burgers. In fact, there’s only one burger on the menu, but it has a ton of topping options, so you can customize it however you want. But there’s a bunch of other sandwiches that you need to try. We went a <u>little</u> overboard and ordered a cheeseburger, a chopped & cheese beef sandwich, and the BBQ pulled pork sammie. The sides are also super creative and elevated way beyond any food you deserve to eat, but we ordered the firecracker corn, grandma’s casserole, and the corn bread with honey butter. And because we’re insane, we also ordered the oreo pudding dessert supreme and the golden caramel pudding surprise. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">[Note: Bump's doesn't have fries. But the number of people that ask about it is really impressive. The staff at Bump's are masters of recommending the right side for you, though, so don't be alarmed. You're going to get a side that's even better than fries. Promise.]</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Cheeseburger - I mean you pretty much HAVE to get this when you're here. It's so juicy and delicious. I knew it would be good, but I didn't know it would be this good. And the bacon always helps, too. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsRrf0EFreZkTz2RdkasQkxtydijTRLPMK-dXBLLgf97eTz4wcaDs8kfRSP_l_A35VD_8fomQsKgA1h8P8qsrqYzly7kjuyJx7dCa93FoRlxxD6ENTnvHyV5dkwCJSCgENDqZTLWwFIjmaQrEOVf51-KP7qWjHRWCXcOHv-7VntNSzok9bL56Q76tbRQ/s4032/BumpsIMG_2058.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsRrf0EFreZkTz2RdkasQkxtydijTRLPMK-dXBLLgf97eTz4wcaDs8kfRSP_l_A35VD_8fomQsKgA1h8P8qsrqYzly7kjuyJx7dCa93FoRlxxD6ENTnvHyV5dkwCJSCgENDqZTLWwFIjmaQrEOVf51-KP7qWjHRWCXcOHv-7VntNSzok9bL56Q76tbRQ/s320/BumpsIMG_2058.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">BBQ Pulled Pork Sammie – killer flavor and plenty of meat. The bun is nice and moist and stands up to the sauce. We got it with some pickles and extra sauce, as well. Perfection.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvb84ns4E8h5VadPpeYZqUjhreWEo8Pj-aYBAml7ljNNg_vgqoy8Ttt4r4G086aG5DUMJk84NoXPwn41213Sz6N4xyDNq0d0VG4vOZl3I4FqEFqGhCJVZS6YgEw17L_MLcMtcvN7m2PjfDRcc2aw8slwp9oDgSOQBZMNSfqPkXf09c5UBuvUJDY1rK_g/s4032/BumpsIMG_6785.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvb84ns4E8h5VadPpeYZqUjhreWEo8Pj-aYBAml7ljNNg_vgqoy8Ttt4r4G086aG5DUMJk84NoXPwn41213Sz6N4xyDNq0d0VG4vOZl3I4FqEFqGhCJVZS6YgEw17L_MLcMtcvN7m2PjfDRcc2aw8slwp9oDgSOQBZMNSfqPkXf09c5UBuvUJDY1rK_g/s320/BumpsIMG_6785.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The Chopped & Cheese Beef Sandwich – one of the best sandwiches I can remember. I got a little gluttonous on this one and ordered it with a fried egg and some roasted peppers. And some garlic aioli, as well. This thing is loaded with meat and covered in a nice layer of cheese. I was bummed when this one ended. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUHO01-we5WkNp5TG-cVfzR1gDZtCASdiCBxO_o-QVB2cLiKt42rfPgOhW1oLoM4gA0hanQ2GXLSP_oE8quUBbcU02gx2eNgwioGDx8Lq987BDqOk6Kz6B39-hALGoRv4m3RqNRQS5WQRo7qlWY0RvJfdtJeBtLcKQDuTj3wAQK6eYvwv9WZ-RHXDiQ/s4032/BumpsIMG_2062.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUHO01-we5WkNp5TG-cVfzR1gDZtCASdiCBxO_o-QVB2cLiKt42rfPgOhW1oLoM4gA0hanQ2GXLSP_oE8quUBbcU02gx2eNgwioGDx8Lq987BDqOk6Kz6B39-hALGoRv4m3RqNRQS5WQRo7qlWY0RvJfdtJeBtLcKQDuTj3wAQK6eYvwv9WZ-RHXDiQ/s320/BumpsIMG_2062.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0devd8dGkKNmYalvQjBjwS0QOrupTkkJLp3DriJrgm2RENjQipFDfX7aMYXT9223pXpv7E4O-cIFikWyRjGNIg6JnRPS1KCb39bpLOA1ulLxtJOmG6m6klWh-vd9dtV4nwkRqJeLtsvKipwaWFL_LbhMfXEz7LtQOhuTbHCneXmqcVBg1nvEayfDRAQ/s4032/BumpsIMG_6786.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0devd8dGkKNmYalvQjBjwS0QOrupTkkJLp3DriJrgm2RENjQipFDfX7aMYXT9223pXpv7E4O-cIFikWyRjGNIg6JnRPS1KCb39bpLOA1ulLxtJOmG6m6klWh-vd9dtV4nwkRqJeLtsvKipwaWFL_LbhMfXEz7LtQOhuTbHCneXmqcVBg1nvEayfDRAQ/s320/BumpsIMG_6786.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7XilkA5CMILJT6_XcLWeFTOUzq-wzfG6QZJtKVkJpqMofgWp2NhTYqSfftPm9l_Omg9yCYRScUUl2klQExotTsZtEdQCC3t8JMO5cNBQ7xBcrpfCCEm24t60OHxbGQO2Dv92j6wD1GQ-apJpj5On7akohSqQz0PL_DgJ8-PPX2fhCZJp4ooga_k2Tg/s4032/BumpsIMG_6787.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7XilkA5CMILJT6_XcLWeFTOUzq-wzfG6QZJtKVkJpqMofgWp2NhTYqSfftPm9l_Omg9yCYRScUUl2klQExotTsZtEdQCC3t8JMO5cNBQ7xBcrpfCCEm24t60OHxbGQO2Dv92j6wD1GQ-apJpj5On7akohSqQz0PL_DgJ8-PPX2fhCZJp4ooga_k2Tg/s320/BumpsIMG_6787.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div>Grandma’s casserole was like a delicious potato-ey cream of something concoction that sticks to your ribs and not too salty or peppery. Just right. It's like a nod to tater tot hot dish, but sort of a soup/stew.<o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjihUMnAHpjm16XZIcLwvBVmvkr3Zkug8kDKomHgEGaSXpydrhnuyttIpbrSFV8K2RBc5A3UG-Vo20Oxh4eKe4X-sr7VKR1C5mj1L3H-l46RJettoWheJx6eaWQ1RCi1Ff3jGrsP7nP8ddUgv3T_B7plW9E7rDv5V7SAzQ7Gnu8CryMC1jiS-K524VIjw/s4032/BumpsIMG_2059.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjihUMnAHpjm16XZIcLwvBVmvkr3Zkug8kDKomHgEGaSXpydrhnuyttIpbrSFV8K2RBc5A3UG-Vo20Oxh4eKe4X-sr7VKR1C5mj1L3H-l46RJettoWheJx6eaWQ1RCi1Ff3jGrsP7nP8ddUgv3T_B7plW9E7rDv5V7SAzQ7Gnu8CryMC1jiS-K524VIjw/s320/BumpsIMG_2059.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><div><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>The firecracker corn is sort of like elotes (Mexican street corn), but has some seasoning in it that makes it taste good, but won’t blow you away with heat.</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV7lQq9a_l6UZyrwfm8WsIm8QcbQBV_c8HqgW0alp77MHlQOjT2CnIguJa_AVDAoefhW9el4dkLobQjW0IjjEDyirJLXU4kGg_ZbRbbcqUGXXBoxf6KOm5HNZgS0xRRZTT5sTXnJ9EL9iz7B6S4CCXGhNbiCR4MOhltOOqVZH6NnHRIv6ylo--nQ76RQ/s4032/BumpsIMG_2061.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV7lQq9a_l6UZyrwfm8WsIm8QcbQBV_c8HqgW0alp77MHlQOjT2CnIguJa_AVDAoefhW9el4dkLobQjW0IjjEDyirJLXU4kGg_ZbRbbcqUGXXBoxf6KOm5HNZgS0xRRZTT5sTXnJ9EL9iz7B6S4CCXGhNbiCR4MOhltOOqVZH6NnHRIv6ylo--nQ76RQ/s320/BumpsIMG_2061.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><o:p><br /></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The cornbread is a super solid showing – and my family is from the south, so we’re crazy picky about it. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghMb8KLQDSDtNsWETISAeQ4yiyn9Am8OlIQ8_5HWRcxvCkZxHMSn1mLuDmD-_LswjS9Ckbg55ALCEjzBhw_Ouj8lDLc9HvKGXzc6EbNTetL8a5WmeD4cud8550et8BGfKRJdL9tfu9yrWIy7uRE1LgTuD2og3HPr7zRBzqy1tcY7i2Vjb_TtV-wxxp4Q/s4032/BumpsIMG_2060.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghMb8KLQDSDtNsWETISAeQ4yiyn9Am8OlIQ8_5HWRcxvCkZxHMSn1mLuDmD-_LswjS9Ckbg55ALCEjzBhw_Ouj8lDLc9HvKGXzc6EbNTetL8a5WmeD4cud8550et8BGfKRJdL9tfu9yrWIy7uRE1LgTuD2og3HPr7zRBzqy1tcY7i2Vjb_TtV-wxxp4Q/s320/BumpsIMG_2060.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The desserts were in the surprisingly-simple-but-perfectly-executed category. Both are pudding based and both are just what the doctor ordered. Sort of a cookie surprise built into a pudding structure with whipped cream. Not crazy sweet, but just what you need to fill in any cracks left in your stomach when you’re done with the mains and sides. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47laCP0QZqkVDQTDOINe6twQUq9SQvnuSQxUh33KMqYq0RiwhLNhI0RxI5t_7iRlAJKJ_vVFtd4VSvsPtevhrxj_kUzEHw7NBrzP5JCtqKizVuoykHeQ9gi-LUPtqmpCZdetY-JliGH3iPIPJ4UbQF_ywzmDyzPEGTwwXpuK1HSXmtqzpLuSkXck1Bw/s4032/BumpsIMG_6783.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47laCP0QZqkVDQTDOINe6twQUq9SQvnuSQxUh33KMqYq0RiwhLNhI0RxI5t_7iRlAJKJ_vVFtd4VSvsPtevhrxj_kUzEHw7NBrzP5JCtqKizVuoykHeQ9gi-LUPtqmpCZdetY-JliGH3iPIPJ4UbQF_ywzmDyzPEGTwwXpuK1HSXmtqzpLuSkXck1Bw/s320/BumpsIMG_6783.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><o:p> <br />We got leftovers and might have accidentally gotten some Jambalaya to take back to our place if we got hungry in the night. hahaha. No pictures of that, though. But it was equally incredible, if that helps.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6UZJXBRhdEkNoqOI14taxyVVLYeJFf3yyQuSKB-MNBo1VoWFO7Hxng8vvKwj-qxBpQiNViM870kOTwa632poZrHyNyAiGuUr8sqOCuBKC0Qn57jcQ5t7gSm-e8iz7gwYPt_OUpI1WG-7SPreKQy51CRI8fi2bBoF4nfXj6roO6rVaL-4hdUpIgbwIg/s4032/BumpsIMG_2064.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6UZJXBRhdEkNoqOI14taxyVVLYeJFf3yyQuSKB-MNBo1VoWFO7Hxng8vvKwj-qxBpQiNViM870kOTwa632poZrHyNyAiGuUr8sqOCuBKC0Qn57jcQ5t7gSm-e8iz7gwYPt_OUpI1WG-7SPreKQy51CRI8fi2bBoF4nfXj6roO6rVaL-4hdUpIgbwIg/s320/BumpsIMG_2064.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">I know that we’re a little bit biased, but we love this guy and think he deserves all kinds of gold medals. He helps his community, he helps his friends, he helps his family, and is truly one amazing human. He can cook the pants and shirt off of anyone that’s hungry and makes you feel like family. There aren’t a ton of places I’d drive out of my way to go to for food, but Bump’s Burgers is definitely one of those places. It’s a small town with a ton of heart. And now they’ve got some delicious homemade sandwiches to warm that heart. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy7XJku8wlda68yorDTu63s4kbBDkv7e1g0bR8nWAXiweywtki6Ln2flaOLdHMR5wXaYf1Ysoj8r_v0cWTuh_u3CfyTMQAVbyUqsM0bIlAxgrug8ZAkLl0FPeOOwZSnXd2rnBe7uB6xOgTv_vwyTmxqO8lbu7iQ3vVqgT0rD0Jgy0ZcyK1yv-TMtwNZg/s3088/BumpsIMG_2067.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy7XJku8wlda68yorDTu63s4kbBDkv7e1g0bR8nWAXiweywtki6Ln2flaOLdHMR5wXaYf1Ysoj8r_v0cWTuh_u3CfyTMQAVbyUqsM0bIlAxgrug8ZAkLl0FPeOOwZSnXd2rnBe7uB6xOgTv_vwyTmxqO8lbu7iQ3vVqgT0rD0Jgy0ZcyK1yv-TMtwNZg/s320/BumpsIMG_2067.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Cheers, brother! You continue to make magic wherever you go. We’ll be back!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a href="http://www.bumpsburgers.com">www.bumpsburgers.com<o:p></o:p></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Bump’s Burgers<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">119 Genesee St.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Iron River, Michigan. 49935<o:p></o:p></p><br /><br />Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02000483621794575045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182822613709027625.post-48510660873174989922022-11-17T11:00:00.045-06:002022-11-17T11:00:00.168-06:00 Dalles House Restaurant and Lounge – St. Croix Falls, WI<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivpjdzsKhaHBlrMO7CXWp0WZ3JZr9y307V1IRiaPK-ZPXpCj71xIBzdOZtL2U32PNzvYO5y6LtWcJl1JRJIRbD5qWntrfX3iGfTwN4Z-HSphD4_wCzmI7bnsOzoyV68y7LF_OJx7VB_Ubv28r83x8WhHTvcNbbmBZX3JjNc30_ko-zR_Nz59chWfsyGQ/s4032/DallesHouseIMG_5303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivpjdzsKhaHBlrMO7CXWp0WZ3JZr9y307V1IRiaPK-ZPXpCj71xIBzdOZtL2U32PNzvYO5y6LtWcJl1JRJIRbD5qWntrfX3iGfTwN4Z-HSphD4_wCzmI7bnsOzoyV68y7LF_OJx7VB_Ubv28r83x8WhHTvcNbbmBZX3JjNc30_ko-zR_Nz59chWfsyGQ/s320/DallesHouseIMG_5303.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">D and I were up near Interstate State Park and found this fun looking restaurant – she’s quite good at picking places, so I knew I was in for a treat. It’s got that old school Wisconsin lounge feel from the outside and we were even more happy when we went and saw how fun the inside was! It’s like a magical tiki land behind the bar and there’s a huge outdoor space that would probably be fun in the summer months! There is a fancier dining room, but the bar was definitely more our speed. The bar is the kind of place where you throw some wood on top of the pool table and call it a table (I’m serious).<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">We sat at the bar so we could take in the whole tiki grotto and see what was happening around us. When in Wisconsin, you order a brandy old fashioned. State law, I think. D bucked the trend and got a margarita. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4BHoadPxVHqFaOa1wrCHoJehLqE4Djkv57T9jCIJDksHFQVHkU9k0olmwlzmYuV70-gwibjtCXJFXjMxCCwfWdzAgkpr0FH3r0fuRKbiVxMDK4BHVBrxZ2gGOcFuupon4utApgJqaelOpdkOzNmJRZdwU-u55T_QgD-bqMRaD8z6jsKAX1yxsz7jsIg/s4032/DallesHouseIMG_8385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4BHoadPxVHqFaOa1wrCHoJehLqE4Djkv57T9jCIJDksHFQVHkU9k0olmwlzmYuV70-gwibjtCXJFXjMxCCwfWdzAgkpr0FH3r0fuRKbiVxMDK4BHVBrxZ2gGOcFuupon4utApgJqaelOpdkOzNmJRZdwU-u55T_QgD-bqMRaD8z6jsKAX1yxsz7jsIg/s320/DallesHouseIMG_8385.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><o:p> </o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The menu is pretty much Americana through and through, but there are still some really good sounding items on it. We ended up splitting some raspberry chipotle wings and a honey smoked salmon salad. It all came out pretty quickly so we dove in.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5s4l17pPS-BWYIBrCnDTpCsxXhAryme1FQwvMpHI4axtW4r-0OlHdajUjKLfad8jDOu5XnCkblbZfdPZ-N9ekpM_L-_ewCyZsRytNROa0qTEImxWF4CZdVuIIJWbVGES05-siImqM84xoqzTz7kQeLzyoYJ6e8CCH9ryqNI9o4k5KWycAvjk78fx_Aw/s4032/DallesHouseIMG_8392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5s4l17pPS-BWYIBrCnDTpCsxXhAryme1FQwvMpHI4axtW4r-0OlHdajUjKLfad8jDOu5XnCkblbZfdPZ-N9ekpM_L-_ewCyZsRytNROa0qTEImxWF4CZdVuIIJWbVGES05-siImqM84xoqzTz7kQeLzyoYJ6e8CCH9ryqNI9o4k5KWycAvjk78fx_Aw/s320/DallesHouseIMG_8392.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></p>The chicken wings were really good. I know it’s hard to do wings in a way that sets them apart, but we’ve also had plenty of wings that were straight trash. These were delicious and meaty and the raspberry chipotle sauce on them was really great. Great way to kick off a meal.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFhyNt0V62OqsmbglLGV6YTWGxSGIfjoMJDbipQ0RnmmAuJqtQTnMyVpYR49kaNvM5SnXz6aVbFBEpRAy9Vz6Wt-PVTSblPBWs1U6yrYMJzDTdTJgos3uoKP6QzNeIiN7yGUnMswX8iMDNu-jhxN5tGxMA6MDOLdM0X6NHID8d7-58eKy_9Rc9e_XeWA/s4032/DallesHouseIMG_8395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFhyNt0V62OqsmbglLGV6YTWGxSGIfjoMJDbipQ0RnmmAuJqtQTnMyVpYR49kaNvM5SnXz6aVbFBEpRAy9Vz6Wt-PVTSblPBWs1U6yrYMJzDTdTJgos3uoKP6QzNeIiN7yGUnMswX8iMDNu-jhxN5tGxMA6MDOLdM0X6NHID8d7-58eKy_9Rc9e_XeWA/s320/DallesHouseIMG_8395.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The salmon salad was much bigger than we expected. Aside from lettuce, it had candied pecans, blue cheese, bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes. This all had a Caesar dressing mixed in, which ruled. We were both expecting a piece of salmon on top but this shredded version was actually much easier to deal with. The salmon had a great sweet honey taste and you could get some with every bite of salad. And despite the tomatoes being sort of out of season, all the veggies were really fresh. We had to fight over who got the buttery garlic toast, but splitting it worked just fine.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIUnnyS0Y_-p-wNJ5YVMy1fwEXmNhoUgVaZES_TOt4iDtwSUWqbSBvUyN_i27YXwjlCO3vA3-zTR1IkYnf-1O0jTqo9RFbWvpDcyaYMDQiGk3sst9GIy_NjNgS5Gt1JfgaaWPXcZive7HYWNSNAWjW_2srnST_beCWDWy_nj41UpmHFfG6dThOIKVjXw/s4032/DallesHouseIMG_8396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIUnnyS0Y_-p-wNJ5YVMy1fwEXmNhoUgVaZES_TOt4iDtwSUWqbSBvUyN_i27YXwjlCO3vA3-zTR1IkYnf-1O0jTqo9RFbWvpDcyaYMDQiGk3sst9GIy_NjNgS5Gt1JfgaaWPXcZive7HYWNSNAWjW_2srnST_beCWDWy_nj41UpmHFfG6dThOIKVjXw/s320/DallesHouseIMG_8396.jpg" width="240" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">We liked this place probably more than normal people would, but it’s got that fun kitsch that we’re always looking for. Super friendly servers and good food and drinks just makes it all the more enjoyable. Looking forward to our next trip to the <a href="http://www.dalleshouse.com/" style="color: #954f72;">Dalles House</a>!<o:p></o:p></p>Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02000483621794575045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182822613709027625.post-46330743012223805982022-11-10T11:00:00.016-06:002022-11-10T11:00:00.191-06:00Hazelwood Food & Drink - St. Louis Park, MN<p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkFhHZaS5BLfnOR3WQd5eMPF1TaHaXeDzsMD37jq5FTpIvUbgrWQmHXL-PbpOKhrW0kUyZhfQxAROTQtnYCEEfrfjp-WjIlGDAI0UWQsckeuW3Nvnf9QLHUmXafXeQLhQeQeIFAZQRrwge0E_OZRa768cVaAGUBQJpS80EMnHQyntG62olCLle8oyF9Q/s4032/HazelwoodIMG_5273.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkFhHZaS5BLfnOR3WQd5eMPF1TaHaXeDzsMD37jq5FTpIvUbgrWQmHXL-PbpOKhrW0kUyZhfQxAROTQtnYCEEfrfjp-WjIlGDAI0UWQsckeuW3Nvnf9QLHUmXafXeQLhQeQeIFAZQRrwge0E_OZRa768cVaAGUBQJpS80EMnHQyntG62olCLle8oyF9Q/s320/HazelwoodIMG_5273.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Full disclosure: I wanted to show readers that I don’t ALWAYS eat garbage food or culinary atrocities – that’s what this review is. I met Trash and M.Giant for lunch in St. Louis Park since we had many things to get caught up on. Hazelwood is a slightly upscale and modern restaurant with just-short-of-tweezery dishes. Lots of instagramable decoration and plating. I think I had something going on that afternoon and didn’t want to fill up, so I ordered one of their healthy bowls with chicken. Of course, Trash asked me if I was ok or had some ailment that I was about to explain to them during lunch. But, really, I just love quinoa.<o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">I’ll be honest, I did find it a little weird that all of the bowls have the exact same thing in them and you just pick what’s on top. But thankfully, everything in the list of ingredients sounded great and I just went along with it. Don’t most places have different flavors with different proteins? Just seemed a little simple for a place like this. Not complaining, just pointing out that I found it odd.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0EyzeIi3ENbOes6uycjhyRDPcozK_Jln1ZdRssugKwJodPSbnwUNllQz6mNojwRoAZyBYLc5fYQYIY27qCquvG5ubAYXqpTXULQWBhjft3_hxHzqIbjJF41n2-pIA4WNnof64ohipyqVhpG1FeSzOxcAKcD1uqyOQnZFnb9jysTADSRfJQ8fLJG2YcA/s4032/HazelwoodIMG_5274.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0EyzeIi3ENbOes6uycjhyRDPcozK_Jln1ZdRssugKwJodPSbnwUNllQz6mNojwRoAZyBYLc5fYQYIY27qCquvG5ubAYXqpTXULQWBhjft3_hxHzqIbjJF41n2-pIA4WNnof64ohipyqVhpG1FeSzOxcAKcD1uqyOQnZFnb9jysTADSRfJQ8fLJG2YcA/s320/HazelwoodIMG_5274.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The bowl they brought out was picture perfect, as you can see. Green beans, baby greens, edamame, toasted pepitas, cucumbers, tomatoes, quinoa, lemongrass sauce, and plum sauce. The chicken had a roasted poblano sauce on it, as well, which was quite good. Everything was fresh and tasty and there was plenty of it, as well. The quinoa actually had flavor, which sometimes, it’s just a boring grain, so Hazelwood definitely knew how to cook it properly. The lemongrass sauce wasn’t too overpowering, either. This dish, for as simple as it is, has a lot of things that could take over the dish, but that didn’t happen. So, well done, Hazelwood. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The menu has a couple of things that sound interesting, but I think what <a href="http://www.hazelwoodfoodanddrink.com/" style="color: #954f72;">Hazelwood</a> does well is take normal food and make it much prettier. They’re doing great at it, too. No complaints on my end.<o:p></o:p></p>Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02000483621794575045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182822613709027625.post-33415521220711606122022-11-03T11:00:00.011-05:002022-11-03T11:00:00.176-05:00Melt Pizza - Hudson, WI<p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Melt Pizza is sort of a pop-up Detroit-style pizza restaurant that shows up at various places we have been to. We finally showed up hungry to Oliphant Brewing and Melt Pizza was there slinging pizzas from the back room. We were with friends, so we ordered two things: Melt Sticks and also the Dream Team. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">We were drinking plenty of beer, so we have no idea how long it took, but it didn’t seem unreasonable, nor did it matter. These pizzas were fantastic. Detroit style, for those that aren’t familiar, is pizza cooked in a pan with toppings pushed against the side so they get all caramelized and crispy. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3E9_5d2WOVS5SbGjR0gGTRr1IXSDWeWKwGIczDsxqFSGOwIy0CQbc4m7dy57ZyDTeK2THZx--xDr2RLkhQUU6KnSnvohC2-tOWAGn1TZeXIttAEHK0IBPxKxgvpeKfqEz3Loun57lGg7fyMOb1eZU_5v0wtjuRwut_B-eTawKOFQ2T-unM-M6eEcRg/s4032/MeltPizzaIMG_5265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3E9_5d2WOVS5SbGjR0gGTRr1IXSDWeWKwGIczDsxqFSGOwIy0CQbc4m7dy57ZyDTeK2THZx--xDr2RLkhQUU6KnSnvohC2-tOWAGn1TZeXIttAEHK0IBPxKxgvpeKfqEz3Loun57lGg7fyMOb1eZU_5v0wtjuRwut_B-eTawKOFQ2T-unM-M6eEcRg/s320/MeltPizzaIMG_5265.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The Melt Sticks are cheesy and garlicy slices with no sauce underneath. But these do come with a couple dipping sauces, but the only I remember is the vodka red sauce. I think the other two were their house made red sauce. But the flavor of these cheese strips was truly great. Crusty pieces of cheese on each slice where it got burned up against the pan. Just awesome.<o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTlTzgQf41l9OvgpVdHEzTXR_FMI5sdlW6E90qswHZPS8mlicox1cZJg8nGIlIaJI65uigDqED2CMej3l8XFn08shYGxUt5PCT4HY84tA0_e0173th_GGrEAWOkOhLiw1DdIJoJiNQwRj9Z4NAAsQELXm095HYoE98aYb4Jj_n3JTOPPhZpj8diA6raQ/s4032/MeltPizzaIMG_5266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTlTzgQf41l9OvgpVdHEzTXR_FMI5sdlW6E90qswHZPS8mlicox1cZJg8nGIlIaJI65uigDqED2CMej3l8XFn08shYGxUt5PCT4HY84tA0_e0173th_GGrEAWOkOhLiw1DdIJoJiNQwRj9Z4NAAsQELXm095HYoE98aYb4Jj_n3JTOPPhZpj8diA6raQ/s320/MeltPizzaIMG_5266.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The Dream Team has red sauce, three-cheese coverage, pepperoni, ricotta, hot honey, and basil. Again, the caramelized cheese against the edges is what makes this, but the hot honey and ricotta really made this pizza pop, as well. So glad we got this one, despite the one we had originally tried to order being sold out right before we got there. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">If you see <a href="http://www.meltpizzacompany.com/" style="color: #954f72;">Melt Pizza</a> show up at any of your favorite drinking establishments, you should go there and order a couple of these. They know what they’re doing in the pizza world and I’ll definitely keep an eye on them. <o:p></o:p></p>Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02000483621794575045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182822613709027625.post-88728174035100786352022-10-27T11:00:00.022-05:002022-10-27T11:00:00.181-05:00Brass Rail - Grande, MN<p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">I’ve driven by this small restaurant and bar a bunch of times when headed up north to the lake. I wasn’t sure what it looked like inside (was it more bar-like or more restaurant-like?) but I knew they were known for their broasted chicken. I’m a fan of broasted chicken, but I haven’t had it in a long time. I finally convinced D that we needed to stop there recently, and it was a great decision.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The inside is decidedly more restaurant-like than we expected. It’s almost like a little country diner. Checkerboard patterns all around and lots of nick-nacks and history. All the servers are really friendly and the people eating there seem to be regulars, for the most part. Yet, we didn’t feel like outsiders when we walked in – sometimes, that’s a fear of these small-town establishments. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The menu is really full of delicious sounding things. But we knew we wanted the chicken. I went with the ¼ chicken (dark meat) and D went with the ¼ chicken (light meat). Plus, we knew we needed some cheese curds. And because, I hadn’t seen it in liquor stores for a while, or on a restaurant menu ever, I got a lime-a-rita. Hahaha<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge0WQW-3RPiTxZzTx8XzM2rGvgkmvclBim8PcTw9g_a693S0ClhdfKwV8WgZF5BlqBJnA8crraD3VSD5a1PY3E7pbPEbQwLOnMO9W6nvtX_WTXe36zWOh_C1BzomVuIb9PtSZcpOrdZsMhW0VKdGG4l4mDSssaibm3T-OzCgTsy8cYticGIZjjqDxL_Q/s4032/BrassRailIMG_7769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge0WQW-3RPiTxZzTx8XzM2rGvgkmvclBim8PcTw9g_a693S0ClhdfKwV8WgZF5BlqBJnA8crraD3VSD5a1PY3E7pbPEbQwLOnMO9W6nvtX_WTXe36zWOh_C1BzomVuIb9PtSZcpOrdZsMhW0VKdGG4l4mDSssaibm3T-OzCgTsy8cYticGIZjjqDxL_Q/s320/BrassRailIMG_7769.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><o:p> </o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The curds came out and were exactly what we expected. They came with some sort of dipping sauce – probably ranch or sour cream based, but we didn’t care. We were just shoveling them into our mouth holes. Super good.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxhvbYItUuUnMyrhf28CLnNyeUiywrDiT_eSuuoeAeY17XppNGL-kbOhkB6k4B-ARUHZRUkovGd3XzpOGIUSh6W-JLKS5nEhjlqmlL0LSzOOwm_1FGWsR4On5VyhhbjNFSy8e6OPAfeZbgplwXeyAaEhhrYi5gLfvWyoKokbFu4oZISqhqty2XOzP0lw/s4032/BrassRailIMG_7774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxhvbYItUuUnMyrhf28CLnNyeUiywrDiT_eSuuoeAeY17XppNGL-kbOhkB6k4B-ARUHZRUkovGd3XzpOGIUSh6W-JLKS5nEhjlqmlL0LSzOOwm_1FGWsR4On5VyhhbjNFSy8e6OPAfeZbgplwXeyAaEhhrYi5gLfvWyoKokbFu4oZISqhqty2XOzP0lw/s320/BrassRailIMG_7774.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">All of the chicken dinners come with coleslaw, but I’ve never seen it served like they do at the Brass Rail. The server brings out a massive tray of coleslaw for what looks like the entire restaurant (as it turns out, everyone orders the chicken dinners here, so that makes sense). Everyone gets a cup (not a little cup, either) of coleslaw with a fork stuck in the top. Simple, but something you’ll remember – and apparently tell people about if you have a blog. Thankfully, the coleslaw is really good. I did think it was a little weird to have a coleslaw appetizer, but I’m guessing normal people wait for their dinners to arrive to eat theirs. </span><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZD1T08wjlJPbB9jW_a-cVQtclCY61d5Tnrl5ztJCvM5RuKZ7YZlCmP3kS1yPKintOx-tZhbtzqxao-JiCnPkZ-NmdoZBlqQTTSmYEoTD0Si5W8A5lyRBeZyAWcKP21Sy98rX3F3hAM7ool7Jt4VQA0Vokox9teAY8vTWvU1r3DAK8xOL3AtmjbeasCQ/s3011/BrassRailIMG_7775.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2258" data-original-width="3011" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZD1T08wjlJPbB9jW_a-cVQtclCY61d5Tnrl5ztJCvM5RuKZ7YZlCmP3kS1yPKintOx-tZhbtzqxao-JiCnPkZ-NmdoZBlqQTTSmYEoTD0Si5W8A5lyRBeZyAWcKP21Sy98rX3F3hAM7ool7Jt4VQA0Vokox9teAY8vTWvU1r3DAK8xOL3AtmjbeasCQ/s320/BrassRailIMG_7775.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The chicken is every bit as good as you’d expect it. Lots of people don’t even know what broasted chicken is, but it’s basically pressure-fried chicken. Pressure cookers are a dangerous kitchen contraption meat to seal in juices and then they fry it at the same time. I don’t understand the science behind it – I just eat it. The dark ¼ chicken dinner comes with a thigh and a drumstick, buttered toast and a side, which I got onion rings. It also comes with a bowl of mashed potatoes and gravy, like a cereal bowl sized situation. This is a seriously heavy meal, in case you were wondering. The chicken is superb. Super crunchy and juicy, which is a hard combination, I understand. It’s really the star of the show. The rest of the stuff is solid, but the chicken is where it’s at. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6x_z760I21wc9TWo8XosWduOM1TcoEIzrtJI9zXq0VcG5uAvbm2ub372BFJOfuJYuRSP3xkkY791ExYW2FKxNxyoRW-I3lDln62-Zk3oaN3KQs_ZiA9Gi7eaarewAKHXch2DRuoUeLbgWwoMCmzl980Q3EtN6XVvlRAo4qaNVGlv4TD1E-UVLtTq8g/s4032/BrassRailIMG_7777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6x_z760I21wc9TWo8XosWduOM1TcoEIzrtJI9zXq0VcG5uAvbm2ub372BFJOfuJYuRSP3xkkY791ExYW2FKxNxyoRW-I3lDln62-Zk3oaN3KQs_ZiA9Gi7eaarewAKHXch2DRuoUeLbgWwoMCmzl980Q3EtN6XVvlRAo4qaNVGlv4TD1E-UVLtTq8g/s320/BrassRailIMG_7777.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSk_x7z8OFjswY6-Lq3Xb_mIwj2HRTtbGUvXVFsTJkbKclQyOxfX3hOwRuQxPudl2oKFfvWdW6TEhFDMtBTv9_W4Hxx24hvmxrksqdvGx7zLHwhjtV85Q-PhHijuDThot8Fy43SWe9HkMrPb4m0_Ympn01peqA4aEblhMOePlIQrxVX0HXprDtYvKmg/s4032/BrassRailIMG_7781.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSk_x7z8OFjswY6-Lq3Xb_mIwj2HRTtbGUvXVFsTJkbKclQyOxfX3hOwRuQxPudl2oKFfvWdW6TEhFDMtBTv9_W4Hxx24hvmxrksqdvGx7zLHwhjtV85Q-PhHijuDThot8Fy43SWe9HkMrPb4m0_Ympn01peqA4aEblhMOePlIQrxVX0HXprDtYvKmg/s320/BrassRailIMG_7781.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">It’s clear these cooks know their way around a fryer, which I respect. Generous portions and a broad menu also help push this place up the ladder of places we’ll hit on the way up north again. Looking forward to our next stop at the <a href="http://www.brassrailchicken.com/" style="color: #954f72;">Brass Rail</a>.<o:p></o:p></p>Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02000483621794575045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182822613709027625.post-42083102833987390532022-10-23T10:59:00.008-05:002022-10-23T15:16:28.721-05:00 CrunCheesse Korean Hot Dog – Minneapolis, MN (Dinkytown)<p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XTMsRwqHaONLq9BA3qbObHtUUhWbHxJrUHJL8sJIJIIA_dtlsN1KSFGU-u5W_w2W0O4X-3iU4vPQMm8ct9pABtVBqrLuO7i3CzJDWnUj0EHH3Ov70pjO1SN1sloJQ7SnI9xNIxu1T37ixIVUoXmsj653mv6y4AKUIEI-yK9JyQyTAweJQkiLYXF4Nw/s4032/CrunCheeseIMG_6039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XTMsRwqHaONLq9BA3qbObHtUUhWbHxJrUHJL8sJIJIIA_dtlsN1KSFGU-u5W_w2W0O4X-3iU4vPQMm8ct9pABtVBqrLuO7i3CzJDWnUj0EHH3Ov70pjO1SN1sloJQ7SnI9xNIxu1T37ixIVUoXmsj653mv6y4AKUIEI-yK9JyQyTAweJQkiLYXF4Nw/s320/CrunCheeseIMG_6039.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><br /> </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">A friend of mine recommended this place, but had described it in such a way that I thought I may have imagined it or made it up in some dream I had. But sure enough, this place actually exists (and it sounds like they’re trying to make a franchise go of it, since the original one is in Las Vegas – where other crazy dream-like scenarios happen). Note: I also just looked and have discovered that <a href="https://www.cruncheesehotdog.com/" target="_blank">CrunCheese</a> in Las Vegas is a block away from one of my favorite tiki bars – <a href="https://www.thegoldentiki.com/" style="color: #954f72;">The Golden Tiki</a> – so I’ll have to make that combo the next time I’m in Sin City.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">What is a Korean hot dog, you might ask? Well, it’s actually a corn dog (known as a gamja hot dog), so it’s a standard-type hot dog in a batter. So, yes, Americans would call it a corn dog. The batter is dairy free – at least at CrunCheese – and you can get it with a variety of toppings and sauces. That’s the basic explanation, just so we’re all on the same page. You know how when you get Korean chicken wings at a restaurant, they’re like chicken wings you’re used to and then they’re fried like 30 seconds longer to make sure they’re EXTRA crispy? Yeah, these corndogs are like this. But the variations are pretty slick. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">You can get a plain corn dog, sure. But why would you when you can get one that’s got some pizzazz? You can get them half hot dog and half cheese stick (mozzarella or cheddar) – keep in mind this half and half version is like top-half cheese and bottom-half hot dog, so you won’t get both flavors in one bite. Or entirely cheese on the inside. Or you can get them with sausage. Or with a squid ink batter. Or with a premium hot dog – likely pandering to American’s refined palate hahaha. Or with a rice cake instead of a hot dog.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Once you get the insides figured out, then you have to determine what’s on the outside. You can get the entire thing rolled in cubed potatoes or cubed sweet potatoes (for an upcharge that’s totally worth it). Think of it like you’re at the state fair or some street market in Korea. You want the full experience, so get the add-on. Then, while they’re frying up your magical corn dog, you can stand and stare at the list of sauces they have available to slather your crispy corn dog in. I should have taken a photo of them, so you could see them all. It’s an impressive list. Yes, they do have ketchup and mustard and even honey mustard, but go right past those. Consider cheese mustard, hot sauce, sweet chili, or garlic parmesan. Then you can continue the adventure by adding different dry seasonings to that – parmesan cheese powder, cheddar cheese dust, or honey butter seasoning. Probably a few that I’m missing. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfeKslXPIyGD5zyJ9mzNK48KR0VEi4Ub9kCFIVFsB87BkDcE8egbK_KUjJPRILoLM2mE9aUrVGEppcnu0bnp1DI1vU4ELexIWS7dIEkgffWVBF1URVcUmMhXL479B90MlOzsrixlYupLrAgkvCdx36n_VyAMCNLxGUGR3NvagesKhxq73Vnz5QGyF_lw/s4032/CrunCheese.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfeKslXPIyGD5zyJ9mzNK48KR0VEi4Ub9kCFIVFsB87BkDcE8egbK_KUjJPRILoLM2mE9aUrVGEppcnu0bnp1DI1vU4ELexIWS7dIEkgffWVBF1URVcUmMhXL479B90MlOzsrixlYupLrAgkvCdx36n_VyAMCNLxGUGR3NvagesKhxq73Vnz5QGyF_lw/s320/CrunCheese.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">I went with a mozzarella and sausage covered hot dog, rolled in potato cubes, and then covered with sweet chili sauce. And it was truly the right choice. And, like I assumed earlier, like a dream I had, but this was real life. Super crunchy potatoes and batter, cooked perfectly. The hot dog is pretty much a hot dog, so I’m not going to wax poetic on flavor profiles and nuances of textures. I’ve never had chili sauce on a corndog before but now I’m a convert. It’s just really amazingly good. I’m looking forward to going back and trying some of the other combinations. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">I wrote way too long about this corndog, but I really wanted you all to pick up what I’m throwing down on this one. You’re going to want to go to Dinkytown (or better yet, LAS VEGAS) and pick up a couple of these for your family. One was plenty for one person, even me, once you get all the attachments and accoutrements. So, keep that in mind. But, you won’t be sorry, no matter you get there. It’s a super small and efficient shop – order at the counter, go outside and wait until they call your number, go inside and tell the cashier how you want your corn dog finished off, and then pay the person. Easy.<o:p></o:p></p>Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02000483621794575045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182822613709027625.post-85880102129315437962022-09-01T11:30:00.010-05:002022-09-01T11:30:00.181-05:00Armored Gardens - Davenport, IA<p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">BIL is a beer guy, so and I’ve heard him talk about this place in Davenport, IA that has a boatload of taps AND good food. Not sure why I haven't been before this point, but D and I made a point to go check it out when we were in town visiting my family. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The beer menu is extensive. Literally, like 100 beers (maybe just shy when we were there, due to a keg or two running out the previous night). Good craft beers mostly. I was in the mood for beer, but D was in the mood for a fancy cocktail of some sort. She found the first drink on the cocktail menu and didn’t even go past it. Pineapple Tiki Punch, and when she found out they’d serve it in a giant palm tree cup, she had to have it. She’s the best.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOY4hKcE8_e_COkMtEnTubclQ4Ebiv5u6pidTUlp_mlOKqR-NqwrEwOyOwWVEyaXU55vs4XaY44h3qtZBmM8Aog_zYSGPLuQT7lJL6AbYRsVANwmUnscVo6x0hI7HWWj6F_Ms6Y8VOYAwpP5k5bVtXduHag-b6dX2mPsbUSf216R7chhOxCDhDqLq59w/s4032/ArmoredGardensIMG_8080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOY4hKcE8_e_COkMtEnTubclQ4Ebiv5u6pidTUlp_mlOKqR-NqwrEwOyOwWVEyaXU55vs4XaY44h3qtZBmM8Aog_zYSGPLuQT7lJL6AbYRsVANwmUnscVo6x0hI7HWWj6F_Ms6Y8VOYAwpP5k5bVtXduHag-b6dX2mPsbUSf216R7chhOxCDhDqLq59w/s320/ArmoredGardensIMG_8080.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><o:p> </o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The food menu is also pretty serious. Think of it like a very advanced snack bar where you order at the window and then they’ll give you a number and run it out to you. D decided we could split a Buffalo Chicken Salad and I have a weakness for fried samplers, so I picked “The Box” – which apparently is the best sampler in the whole world. It’s got 2 pretzels, 3 chicken tenders, 5 mini corn dogs, 2 chicken philly eggrolls, and French fries. More brown food, yes, thank you.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">We headed outside to the beautiful patio (along with a ton of other folks who had just gotten done with a practice run for the local big-deal race we have in the Quad Cities each year – the Bix 7), and our food showed up pretty quickly after that. Meanwhile, people were walking past and taking pictures and asking about the giant palm tree glass that D was drinking from. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiaDSUQ1Mw8Cs9ysjBGjblROF2bBCF8CtgMIPESKSR-zSs0F0RWx3i6RG4TCh5LLG-krLSoQwDTMF8mj73ueZO6Ay3t_p-eXyf6k9iILBnHfzT7y_vbstKNyQVmw2TwUcf44SyeIyJ91OAHxm9Er9dNXHWV4bjJhN5uYZ6ZDJdfyFgC88EgMf4Jn1Y_A/s4032/ArmoredGardensIMG_8078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiaDSUQ1Mw8Cs9ysjBGjblROF2bBCF8CtgMIPESKSR-zSs0F0RWx3i6RG4TCh5LLG-krLSoQwDTMF8mj73ueZO6Ay3t_p-eXyf6k9iILBnHfzT7y_vbstKNyQVmw2TwUcf44SyeIyJ91OAHxm9Er9dNXHWV4bjJhN5uYZ6ZDJdfyFgC88EgMf4Jn1Y_A/s320/ArmoredGardensIMG_8078.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>The Buffalo Chicken Salad was pretty immense. TONs of buffalo chicken on top or lettuce, bacon, tomato, fried onions, and blue cheese dressing. We were both eating it and both really enjoyed this option. It ALMOST felt like we were eating something healthy, what with the lettuce and all.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBDKBTls4eS0gj_h0aDfgudqqq0qIhH9AiQ30sqtwhJacP-7nf80Vev7EQHGivagh4AkTUNTr0Q8ZlG_AgxUfj5dia_FwMaQeQNbwK0jjelXylO5fz0dm6IyarFFr-idfPwuSeErkhHgXQOKBufm3nVBhnpZKoeWczTKOB8hjio7ITygVU_ERTY554w/s4032/ArmoredGardensIMG_5102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBDKBTls4eS0gj_h0aDfgudqqq0qIhH9AiQ30sqtwhJacP-7nf80Vev7EQHGivagh4AkTUNTr0Q8ZlG_AgxUfj5dia_FwMaQeQNbwK0jjelXylO5fz0dm6IyarFFr-idfPwuSeErkhHgXQOKBufm3nVBhnpZKoeWczTKOB8hjio7ITygVU_ERTY554w/s320/ArmoredGardensIMG_5102.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The Box was really the killer item, though. It comes out in a pizza type box with the words “The Box” on it, so it’s hard to mistake it. We opened it up pretty quickly, so our crispy stuff didn’t get steamed and soggy and we must have done it right, since everything was really delicious and crispy. The pretzels were fantastic and came with dipping sauces. In fact, we weren’t exactly sure which sauces went with which items, so we just improvised and figured out what worked best for us. The chicken strips were super meaty and crispy. The corn dogs were really fun. The chicken philly eggrolls were really damn good, and the fries were also still crispy. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNQ3VDOGdKnSPr-jCDQmeWmeeQmnMt1I0RdKWzZaqiXJshKv1-qds7h_61M7mRDlkbI7YKEk_2gUe3usSZnBGw-9jopJwDX0uKWrKogZVfsV12H-J9xcyunuUOsUjtl0zLHCde6Q1R6IMGDYQ1HQ7OqfBU2sA6T4b3YeeczksEXRF4tkyDn-JYfk6xw/s4032/ArmoredGardensIMG_5103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNQ3VDOGdKnSPr-jCDQmeWmeeQmnMt1I0RdKWzZaqiXJshKv1-qds7h_61M7mRDlkbI7YKEk_2gUe3usSZnBGw-9jopJwDX0uKWrKogZVfsV12H-J9xcyunuUOsUjtl0zLHCde6Q1R6IMGDYQ1HQ7OqfBU2sA6T4b3YeeczksEXRF4tkyDn-JYfk6xw/s320/ArmoredGardensIMG_5103.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">This place tends to draw the younger crowd, which makes it fun and energetic. There’s a lot nearby in downtown Davenport, so I know we’ll be close enough to pop by again really soon. Even better food and beer selection than I expected, so now I’m all fired up about going back there!<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg57HVtRGewu-rr2HEPiY6SUBOzatlmJxDlRaKP42-iyitihqZWiG_S8Wp2O95EQNab3ISp0ecN8BZoeLYiWHB8oZqJS2riFKeAO6Q58ot6EdHzMapvabqlBEyCw4SUFLSSlR7WTCgIR35neOpVXX8TjhJUwBSYYtJOlMoAcHdxYMHP31mh4VuUmHDF9w/s4032/ArmoredGardensIMG_5104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg57HVtRGewu-rr2HEPiY6SUBOzatlmJxDlRaKP42-iyitihqZWiG_S8Wp2O95EQNab3ISp0ecN8BZoeLYiWHB8oZqJS2riFKeAO6Q58ot6EdHzMapvabqlBEyCw4SUFLSSlR7WTCgIR35neOpVXX8TjhJUwBSYYtJOlMoAcHdxYMHP31mh4VuUmHDF9w/s320/ArmoredGardensIMG_5104.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.armoredgardens.com" target="_blank">Armored Gardens</a></div><p></p>Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02000483621794575045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182822613709027625.post-15800633687838689802022-08-25T11:00:00.001-05:002022-08-25T11:00:00.182-05:00Barker's Bar & Grill - Hudson, WI<p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">D had stopped into this place with a friend a couple weeks back and said we needed to go here and eat some of the stuff that she has tried. It’s a really fun little bar and grill in downtown Hudson. We were spending the night nearby, so it seemed to work out perfectly for us. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The menu has a lot of things on it, and I always ask the server what the place is known for when I go to a new place. She said the wings were one of the best sellers – and also why D wanted to come back here. So there it was, I guess we’re getting the wings! Now to decide which of the many sauce options we were in the mood for. We went with Bree’s Knees Wings – sweet, tangy, and spicy with honey, lemon, and Nashville hot chicken flavors. It’s really hard to go wrong with that kind of profile. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">We also decided to split the Casino el Camino Burger – Louisiana hot sauce, cayenne pepper, crumbled blue cheese, caramelized onions, chopped celery, lettuce and tomato. All of those things were going to work out nicely for us. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The wings were actually pretty damn good – definitely noteworthy. Lots of meat on them, but the flavors in the sauce were pretty killer. You could definitely taste everything on the list and it was the perfect mix of sweet and spicy. Very much like D, I would absolutely go back here again and get an order or seven of these Bree’s Knees Wings.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOszAUN_8msBqjqAtw6niRNoLsQZVJLzqIWdXJ1hFUgPT1FYIkOBvVPnxymyPEcxf_2u441cxN3lEKWL9gGFiLBBooe15kzc02wHZRgdpOE9hvx9kvartUuThdB207YhxhrHOwq1ZrLbJU8uZHnrKpHm_HtrHdJ1_pJl8PUhcc5GiqtyY3rl6BcA5W6w/s4032/BarkersIMG_5096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOszAUN_8msBqjqAtw6niRNoLsQZVJLzqIWdXJ1hFUgPT1FYIkOBvVPnxymyPEcxf_2u441cxN3lEKWL9gGFiLBBooe15kzc02wHZRgdpOE9hvx9kvartUuThdB207YhxhrHOwq1ZrLbJU8uZHnrKpHm_HtrHdJ1_pJl8PUhcc5GiqtyY3rl6BcA5W6w/s320/BarkersIMG_5096.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><o:p> <br /></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The Casino el Camino burger was a good burger. Not life changing, and maybe I had my hopes set too high, but it needed something to make it pop a little. Again, not a flop or anything, but if they can make killer wing sauce, they’ll be able to figure out how to make this burger stand out above the rest. I’m not sorry I ordered it, but the next time I go back to Barker’s, I’ll try a different burger or sandwich and know that it’ll be better than average bar and grill food. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWNsFo8zm0SeoRq6PbwTgTJUzoujy2xdlU0RjiXMf-mRjbVTzrDTteHWScdVlZ9SdoQprK0TVvIFtvsDOVqgfu3jjHh7ke0X_75Gwmq50DvRuuy5dj2wcQTvUocwMsIKaaYYRsLELmEsBq9fGi06UkP90WVhjH20IzfUitYMI-nwF_-s62eKEb1nTdg/s4032/BarkersIMG_5098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWNsFo8zm0SeoRq6PbwTgTJUzoujy2xdlU0RjiXMf-mRjbVTzrDTteHWScdVlZ9SdoQprK0TVvIFtvsDOVqgfu3jjHh7ke0X_75Gwmq50DvRuuy5dj2wcQTvUocwMsIKaaYYRsLELmEsBq9fGi06UkP90WVhjH20IzfUitYMI-nwF_-s62eKEb1nTdg/s320/BarkersIMG_5098.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The server was super helpful and friendly and made sure we had everything we needed. Really made it a fun night for us.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Looking forward to our next trip back to Barker’s!<o:p></o:p></p>Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02000483621794575045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182822613709027625.post-72520866089625866962022-08-18T11:00:00.001-05:002022-08-18T11:00:00.165-05:00Pro-Choice Potluck at Hai Hai - Minneapolis, MN<p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;">I don’t always post “reviews” (I use that term very loosely) for once in a lifetime experiences that you’ll never get to duplicate, because sometimes it comes off as bragging or something. But, in this case, I’m going to rave about an event that we went to that was pretty amazing.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;">After Roe v Wade was overturned recently, Hai Hai decided to host an event to raise money for reproductive rights and awareness. They called their closest chef friends and asked then to whip up a potluck-style dish that would bring some folks in for a fundraiser. They has so much interest that they needed to host two separate dates. Both of these dates sold out in under a day and we were lucky enough to buy some tickets.</p><p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;">The putluck brunches were both held at Hai Hai on July 31<sup>st</sup> and also August 14. Some chefs made food for both dates, but it was a difficult decision on which date to pick because some of our favorite chefs were only cooking at one of the days. The events raised over $50,000 for <a href="https://www.justthepill.com" target="_blank">Just the Pill</a> and <a href="https://www.wholewomanshealth.com" target="_blank">Whole Woman’s Health Alliance</a>. There was also a raffle with multiple really cool prizes from local businesses that also support reproductive rights. Also, great work by DJ Keezy, who really nailed the songlist and got many people up from their chairs and dancing.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;">We started with some fancy cocktails that were also in partnership with some local restaurants like Hai Hai, Hola Arepa, and Meteor. There were also some N/A cocktails from Tres Leches and Hi-Lo Diner, but we were in the mood for some full-alcohol coctails. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;">When you read this food list, though, you’re going to be very mad that you weren’t there enjoying these delicious dishes. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif">MEKONG SALAD I Chef Christina Nguyen I Hai Hai<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Lao sausage, tom yum coconut milk dressing, herbs, peanuts<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif">BRAISED CORN I Chef Alex Roberts I Alma<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">on the cob with whole spice coconut sauce<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif">JAHPCHAE I Chef Ann Kim I Pizzeria Lola<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">sesame-soy dressed sweet potato noodles with marinated vegetables<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif">EMPANADAS DE HUMITA I Chef Daniel Del Prado I Martina<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">creamed corn & provolone with chimichurri<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif">BUDIN AZTECA I Chef Gustavo Romero I Nixta<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Mexican lasagna with layered corn tortillas, chicken tinga, queso chihuahua, nopales salad<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif">SMOKED CHICKEN LARB I Chef James Winberg I Travail<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">with sweet rice, shiso vinaigrette, herbs<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif">SPICY SPINACH PANEER I Chef Janene Holig | Hot Indian Foods<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">coconut rice, mint-cucumber raita<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif">BIRRIA ENCHILADAS I Chef Jon Wipfli I Animales BBQ Co<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Braised beef, adobo, cheese, salsa, corn tortillas<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif">ALBONDIGAS I Chef Jorge Guzman | Petite Leon<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">en mole poblano with sesame seeds<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif">BORICUA “ARROZ CON POLLO" I Chef Nettie Colon I Red Hen Gastrolab<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Puerto Rican rice with chicken, Longaniza sausage & pigeon peas<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif">CHICKEN SKEWERS I Chefs Nikki & Brian Podgorski I The Salsa Collaborative<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">mojo marinated chicken thighs with deep fried plantain<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif">PAN-FRIED DUMPLING | Chef Peter Bian | Saturday Dumpling Club<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">with brisket, carrot & onion, Chinese vinegar chili crisp sauce<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif">MINI PRETZEL DOG I Chef Sun Cowles | Create Catering<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">with kimchi scallion ranch<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif">SAVORY DOUGHSCUIT I Chef Tim Niver | Muccis<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">with tomato tartare and chèvre vinaigrette<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif">STRAWBERRY PANNA COTTA | Chef Katie Elsing | Lynhall<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">with roasted plum & salted white chocolate crumb<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif">PASSION FRUIT DIVA CAKE I Chef Zoè Francois | Zoe Bakes<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">almond jaconde cake, passionfruit buttercream, blackberry, ganache & toasted meringue<span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;">In the food line, I didn’t tell a single chef “no thank you” – just put them anywhere on my plate that you can find room. It ended up being a really impressive display of food. I felt like it would be MORE rude to tell someone you didn’t want the one thing that they brought to the potluck. Plus, I REALLY love to eat and I didn’t want to miss anything stellar.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0j_MKyg6R2bRBgbymZtGxpSzpIC6zlCaDitecqi3K8Gh2VyygWmXPdWgv6KzetMGuevWvCD1mVGzM0R4ra1zTFK2pkQcZU5sMqLmXfH2J_NLgISlDkOkzC34MhunCEMBL5IfWW27Kj-ZUCpSm8J-8wk2B0lYF5xoucEEGxvLRK8tsxJlds0xqnhv8g/s4032/ProChoicePotluck2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0j_MKyg6R2bRBgbymZtGxpSzpIC6zlCaDitecqi3K8Gh2VyygWmXPdWgv6KzetMGuevWvCD1mVGzM0R4ra1zTFK2pkQcZU5sMqLmXfH2J_NLgISlDkOkzC34MhunCEMBL5IfWW27Kj-ZUCpSm8J-8wk2B0lYF5xoucEEGxvLRK8tsxJlds0xqnhv8g/s320/ProChoicePotluck2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3SAjPKDPkNObPwJ93_Ex6Ys7kt1mRSImKmiDVk3VozbcuYNV0yYJZl3yoHTkSNbjsbrv7pAEXvwJCD8oPfify4Z17SL177wawmKHLcRRjWEM33p_RFtMmIL8WynFxy9CwVxdADVxzoYJgSTnrG_rBH9S6woINe62OyeBuZoedXUvsxvG09T1AGpEuyQ/s4032/ProChoicePotluck1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3SAjPKDPkNObPwJ93_Ex6Ys7kt1mRSImKmiDVk3VozbcuYNV0yYJZl3yoHTkSNbjsbrv7pAEXvwJCD8oPfify4Z17SL177wawmKHLcRRjWEM33p_RFtMmIL8WynFxy9CwVxdADVxzoYJgSTnrG_rBH9S6woINe62OyeBuZoedXUvsxvG09T1AGpEuyQ/s320/ProChoicePotluck1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;">It’s basically impossible to rank these in order of my favorite, since I’ve changed my mind about 20 times on what was the best. Just know that ZERO of these dishes were bad. In fact, none of them were even ho-hum or average. They were all fantastic. I can probably narrow it down to the best five dishes that I can determine as of me sitting on my couch right now writing this. So, in no particular order, I’ll list five of my above-and-beyond favorites:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Mekong Salad<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Albondigas<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Spicy Spinach Paneer<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Savory Doughscuit<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Strawberry Panna Cotta<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->(And yes, I’ve already gone back and edited this list – DAMMMIT! They were all so good!)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;">We didn’t end up winning anything in the raffle, but honestly, this was one of the best ways to kick off a Sunday that we’ve had in quite some time. I know the pandemic isn’t over, but it really is nice to ease into social events like this again. Of course, now the bar is set really high and we’ll never be able to assemble quite a lineup like this again, unless it’s at some spectacular event like this one. All the people working the event were having a good time; all the chefs and food servers were having a good time; all the people eating and drinking were having a good time. It just made you feel good!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;">Click on the links for the sponsors above and send them some dollars. It really makes a difference!<o:p></o:p></p><style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
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</style><p></p>Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02000483621794575045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182822613709027625.post-42385776323005494082022-08-11T11:00:00.001-05:002022-08-11T11:00:00.195-05:00Sippi's American Grill & Craft Beer - Davenport, IA<p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">I’ve driven by Sippi’s maybe not a hundred times, but it’s getting close to that number, and I’ve never stopped. While D and I were in town, we were in that neck of the woods and thought we should check it out. It’s a bar and grill, but they’ve also got some fancier things on the menu. Lots of tvs for the sportfolks, but also plenty of outside patio space for you to get out and enjoy the elements. Pretty diverse clientele inside – some fancier folks, but plenty of shorts and jerseys to be seen throughout.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The menu does have some interesting items on it, but we were in the mood for something hearty. D ordered the Cajun Catfish Filets and sweet potato fries, and it came with soup or salad and she went with baked potato soup. I got the Taste of the South Burger with Shells and Cheese as my side. We talked ourselves out of wings to start, since we realized it was going to be plenty of food. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The baked potato soup came out first and was actually quite good. Really thick and hearty without being super flour-filled. Lots of potatoes and black pepper, which is exactly how I like my baked potatoes anyway! We wanted hearty food, and we were getting hearty food.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8O-RKpT1nrZnussxIwr2A3nlci9KCcuF3-COkRgR41GPM06Ds0FQBjE8t63V_YHjBH5LnKsEledUansJpPb4nOQ84ZU1vv-l1cAnmCpqAnYn3Zt2HMQDmWfiRg7gLUcQlIZKpty518v2k77oFpkDy0pvxu86zHLbIy0RLVeS4o698XjMtslQcfi9hw/s4032/SippisIMG_5117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8O-RKpT1nrZnussxIwr2A3nlci9KCcuF3-COkRgR41GPM06Ds0FQBjE8t63V_YHjBH5LnKsEledUansJpPb4nOQ84ZU1vv-l1cAnmCpqAnYn3Zt2HMQDmWfiRg7gLUcQlIZKpty518v2k77oFpkDy0pvxu86zHLbIy0RLVeS4o698XjMtslQcfi9hw/s320/SippisIMG_5117.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><o:p><br /></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The food came out quickly and we were really impressed with the portions. There was a mound of sweet potato fries, which were really delicious – although they weren’t crispy at all. I know this is one of those things that’s hard to achieve, so I always cut a little slack. But they were just fine. The catfish was actually the best thing of the night. Really good seasoning, although not spicy at all. Really light and flaky fish and the breading was just about perfect. Crunchy and not greasy. Great job on these catfish filets. I’m not sure if they are Mississippi River caught or not, but it’s a safe bet going with catfish when you’re in the QCs.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZttq9IoJxeqPaZ3jxnQ4h129cpYcqRieUmXOCCwtBd8jNzZ7X0VotaI8cjHaJ2IWSGcabRrTEOl2ssGmKmYd8ZbolSnUtxe27LqJKsl1f7RQNpLHiIrVO_ql0EMZryVC7eq57_aZDEHytsJxjO97fDOt7dr0Pg01gvms6Z7-GHF2GbfMw_c9azfsq7Q/s4032/SippisIMG_5122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZttq9IoJxeqPaZ3jxnQ4h129cpYcqRieUmXOCCwtBd8jNzZ7X0VotaI8cjHaJ2IWSGcabRrTEOl2ssGmKmYd8ZbolSnUtxe27LqJKsl1f7RQNpLHiIrVO_ql0EMZryVC7eq57_aZDEHytsJxjO97fDOt7dr0Pg01gvms6Z7-GHF2GbfMw_c9azfsq7Q/s320/SippisIMG_5122.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The Taste of the South burgers was just ok. I might have gotten my hopes too high on this one – Burger with bacon, fried green tomato, Carolina BBQ sauce, and pepper jack. It was fine, but I couldn’t taste much of the ingredients – it ended up tasting like a cheeseburger to me. Maybe I ordered poorly on my part, but I wish I had something as awesome as D’s catfish. Hahaha. The shells and cheese were much better than the burger, so I was glad I went with those for the side. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMoBUNycfHtEHuJdPtTSIoboSqTzuynV-ZIoX1hsD4svR8Z1XPoEoow4xbSQWn_A6_wS_ZJhEi1fFd_ieNcK5AfT54KgsXaPf7-oiu7deHXPpFsw7FtuNGGvs0NfCUMFLOpE2pURDiXdqLe6lNolVkb4xMCc7CpkuiCe8cbEXWyZHW4pxOBOY2u-5rA/s4032/SippisIMG_5125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMoBUNycfHtEHuJdPtTSIoboSqTzuynV-ZIoX1hsD4svR8Z1XPoEoow4xbSQWn_A6_wS_ZJhEi1fFd_ieNcK5AfT54KgsXaPf7-oiu7deHXPpFsw7FtuNGGvs0NfCUMFLOpE2pURDiXdqLe6lNolVkb4xMCc7CpkuiCe8cbEXWyZHW4pxOBOY2u-5rA/s320/SippisIMG_5125.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Overall, it was an average/fine meal. Nothing earth-shattering or reason to round up friends and family to go here, but if you’re in the neighborhood, it’ll get you where you need to go. The beer list is good, but I had literally had everything on the list, so it wasn’t anything crazy. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a href="http://www.sippisrestaurant.com">http://www.sippisrestaurant.com</a> <o:p></o:p></p>Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02000483621794575045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182822613709027625.post-90049379170127192302022-08-04T11:00:00.001-05:002022-08-04T11:00:00.169-05:00Abarrotes Carrillo - Davenport, IA<p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;">I went here with some friends a while back and we had a really outstanding meal, so I knew I needed to take D here to try it for herself. Unfortunately, they had a large fire and had to rebuild for many months, so we had to wait. But now that they’re open, it’s even better than it was. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTv5bg3mrKnvpuLrAc9VrKTRzSCrteVBAhCfVXwFdyip26zF_hyqNVQhdE2dLRvH00XNVdANlDhd78bbubaNybqTsEJp0tBT_8k5v-rHnNxx2D5aYFum5sCuyyhdY2aV8NJfZRU3VWhJXiFxq-pycKQHRx0ajKcGe0OH9GprQcM-OdVj9zJ4QcX0bgg/s4032/AbarrotesCarilloIMG_5129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTv5bg3mrKnvpuLrAc9VrKTRzSCrteVBAhCfVXwFdyip26zF_hyqNVQhdE2dLRvH00XNVdANlDhd78bbubaNybqTsEJp0tBT_8k5v-rHnNxx2D5aYFum5sCuyyhdY2aV8NJfZRU3VWhJXiFxq-pycKQHRx0ajKcGe0OH9GprQcM-OdVj9zJ4QcX0bgg/s320/AbarrotesCarilloIMG_5129.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;">The place is always hopping, so you may end up waiting for a table, especially evenings and weekends. We got seated right away and scoured the menu. Lots of traditional dishes that you’d recognize and then some specialties that not ever knows. We ended up ordering Costillas de Puerco (short pork ribs) with chili rojo. D got a chorizo taco and a huarache with adobada or marinated steak. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;">I tried to get her to order a Pambazo, which is a sandwich similar to a traditional torta, but the bread is dipped and fried in enchilada sauce. I’ve only seen it a few restaurants, so I know it’s something special. But every one that I’ve tried has been amazing. Next time. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;">They bring out chips and salsa to the table, and it’s plenty hot. Which reminded us that we hadn’t ordered anything to drink. At this restaurant you just go the cases along the wall and grab yourself something and tell the server what you got. It works out well for everyone. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidc6ev4l4plIo4aE0Xwd-VYpsmsW-cTYo13uKUwKA0HnwYLDTfAEHCqWpXr9ireUHHDWsdQeIbm9F9hw-XUPtx2s2C2aavPT8AAAvQtiKR_obp0UqY2vEjSQG2T1b0YKAaiDSTMIM2rZI36XlkRUhEiyJfroluniXFAFgaVM5TIFrbi1lcOfqs8lJ2ag/s4032/AbarrotesCarilloIMG_5128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidc6ev4l4plIo4aE0Xwd-VYpsmsW-cTYo13uKUwKA0HnwYLDTfAEHCqWpXr9ireUHHDWsdQeIbm9F9hw-XUPtx2s2C2aavPT8AAAvQtiKR_obp0UqY2vEjSQG2T1b0YKAaiDSTMIM2rZI36XlkRUhEiyJfroluniXFAFgaVM5TIFrbi1lcOfqs8lJ2ag/s320/AbarrotesCarilloIMG_5128.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><o:p> </o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;">The chorizo taco was really flavorful. I’ve had some dud chorizo tacos in my day and this wasn’t one of them. Lots of flavor and it didn’t just taste like rendered fat/grease. Really good. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTn8s_ZnlQN9-JNnTixAF7L3p0T1Ah0gUSMLQRDY1JJzLfA0nOcekqNq0hY2yzo1QzRp6tChvKO5AlZVUzARqIbA68_m9LrrlA055hzr7knfRwrnr1n23QPL8koq5t17xzMmdAdbarp2Tr4W_yPxf59QDvL7pqlmKWwHpurNt4ePgOKkR6gNT4ww4EyA/s4032/AbarrotesCarilloIMG_5131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTn8s_ZnlQN9-JNnTixAF7L3p0T1Ah0gUSMLQRDY1JJzLfA0nOcekqNq0hY2yzo1QzRp6tChvKO5AlZVUzARqIbA68_m9LrrlA055hzr7knfRwrnr1n23QPL8koq5t17xzMmdAdbarp2Tr4W_yPxf59QDvL7pqlmKWwHpurNt4ePgOKkR6gNT4ww4EyA/s320/AbarrotesCarilloIMG_5131.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><o:p><br /></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;">The Costillas de Puerco were actually amazing. I never know the right way to eat it but I always de-bone first, and then can just scoop all my ingredients into the tortillas provided without fear of losing a tooth. The meat was ridiculously tender and deeply rich and the chili sauce had a ton of flavor. Homemade corn tortillas really brought the flavor to this dish, as well. Super happy with this dish.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFY8xn7Riq8m_bV1W0XtnG1QAlc-gmQzCnt_fk4VPaTOE12CYLLfTYZO8AGJMQt0XFTCa3mHyA3pmEC5ZRlNycuDV9GTxayhA6QXJnsraZuuKPaZKNqPEzIw867FCCD8hp8ptjxB4855ktO5RJ1rGrj74jBLzs_q3m5zBkNEjOrU1Bmrypp8NUAaf9Dg/s4032/AbarrotesCarilloIMG_5132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFY8xn7Riq8m_bV1W0XtnG1QAlc-gmQzCnt_fk4VPaTOE12CYLLfTYZO8AGJMQt0XFTCa3mHyA3pmEC5ZRlNycuDV9GTxayhA6QXJnsraZuuKPaZKNqPEzIw867FCCD8hp8ptjxB4855ktO5RJ1rGrj74jBLzs_q3m5zBkNEjOrU1Bmrypp8NUAaf9Dg/s320/AbarrotesCarilloIMG_5132.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;">D’s huarache was the highlight of the show. We weren’t expecting a quilt-sized tortilla stuff with ingredients, yet here we were. The steak flavor was really amazing (it helps that this restaurant is also a butcher shop and small market), and there was plenty of it in the dish. Again, that homemade tortilla wasn’t just massive, it was also thick and fluffy – borderline pancake. Go get this thing right away. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKc8MiJKeveIVwR98lXKMqRsvCF37eyGDexp-2x_cM9AB3tMycftH14gpdFdO1Y0kVZLm0r3SoKBXA1CS8WHjM6CBC5k7qZ73SpR-Xfn2phAG2Ik_shY9q5PrdcThI9R0G2c_4PO_uuBX6bKKf6T2P-vHgWhP_x6t1W3ja1mxucyUx3GTWszZ9aoPNw/s4032/AbarrotesCarilloIMG_5130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKc8MiJKeveIVwR98lXKMqRsvCF37eyGDexp-2x_cM9AB3tMycftH14gpdFdO1Y0kVZLm0r3SoKBXA1CS8WHjM6CBC5k7qZ73SpR-Xfn2phAG2Ik_shY9q5PrdcThI9R0G2c_4PO_uuBX6bKKf6T2P-vHgWhP_x6t1W3ja1mxucyUx3GTWszZ9aoPNw/s320/AbarrotesCarilloIMG_5130.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;">This restaurant is now one of our go-to places in the Quad Cities. There are so many good Mexican restaurants in the Quad Cities that it takes a lot to stand out above the rest – but this one does. I’d recommend it very highly. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;">Top five things about Abarrotes Carrillo<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Huarache<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Costillas de Puerco<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Chorizo taco<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Homemade tortillas<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->I haven’t had the Pambazo here, but seeing it on the menu can only be a good thing!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://m.facebook.com/abarrotescarrillo/">https://m.facebook.com/abarrotescarrillo/</a><o:p></o:p></p><style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
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</style>Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02000483621794575045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182822613709027625.post-42781974867588543012022-07-26T10:30:00.043-05:002022-07-28T10:42:30.125-05:00BBQ Boys - Eagan, MN<span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A new BBQ place opened up fairly near my house, so of course I had to check it out. It’s not your normal ribs and brisket kind of place, though. It’s much more unique and I went in not only with an open mind, but genuine curiosity and anticipation that this was going to rule. Hard. It’s referred to as “globally-inspired BBQ” – meaning they take all their knowledge of smoking and grilling meats and then combine it with other cuisines from around the world. I overheard a conversation at the counter and someone said they plan to change their menu periodically, which is both good and bad. Good for trying new things, but bad for going back and getting something you really liked over and over again. Hahaha. It’s a small price to pay.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_M3X0uuVTGGi3pZi9BEGFyl4X776nl_kV6W_gzqTiDrSK7EVjyAILtelnMF1OqULGeNrt_-MRER62Es5zweeJ1fbbbC9lm81cAA2stIQXr9h3qmm0hm4QSfa3pS-OI6rZhX_SB6eVK2D3AelL7__xTsSZsdvPJ1aDW0IayueEzPup_FC6zyNzdvYZQ/s4032/BBQBoysIMG_5177.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_M3X0uuVTGGi3pZi9BEGFyl4X776nl_kV6W_gzqTiDrSK7EVjyAILtelnMF1OqULGeNrt_-MRER62Es5zweeJ1fbbbC9lm81cAA2stIQXr9h3qmm0hm4QSfa3pS-OI6rZhX_SB6eVK2D3AelL7__xTsSZsdvPJ1aDW0IayueEzPup_FC6zyNzdvYZQ/s320/BBQBoysIMG_5177.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This current menu is curry-centric. Lots of very interesting combinations that include spices and seasonings from India and Southeast Asia. What’s awesome is that if you can’t decide or you don’t know what a certain word/ingredient is, you can ask and the counter folks will explain it to you in simple terms. They were really great. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglS3IWx-IOUzqgxYVJTjMeMbo4sTf6ZHE-vxj0gt72kjVjsLoE38WnIL_bnA9WH2i9e1s2R3AR1v1rYtQEkWIapH01UX6-13-ygqNTGNxd8A7Xe9YjsCYhQCBvrzUj0J77yHU_7wHk7JEDzU9Z8Fv3SjksaDaWdIMSuXKJ_PrAik0ykfoVGUCITAwWfA/s4032/BBQBoysIMG_5178.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglS3IWx-IOUzqgxYVJTjMeMbo4sTf6ZHE-vxj0gt72kjVjsLoE38WnIL_bnA9WH2i9e1s2R3AR1v1rYtQEkWIapH01UX6-13-ygqNTGNxd8A7Xe9YjsCYhQCBvrzUj0J77yHU_7wHk7JEDzU9Z8Fv3SjksaDaWdIMSuXKJ_PrAik0ykfoVGUCITAwWfA/s320/BBQBoysIMG_5178.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p><div><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;">D and I ordered a paneer pizza, some smoked wings (half with coconut-tamarind glaze and half Tandoori dry rub), and a crispy seared pork belly bowl. There were a couple of sides that we had our eyes on, but we knew this order was already going to be way too much food, so we hit the pause button. </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />The paneer pizza is extremely unique. Paneer is a soft fresh cheese (meaning not aged), that melts pretty well, and it’s really mild. The pizza has a shahi sauce on it, which I believe is a tomato-based sauce, additional melty cheese, and also finished with a kachumbar sauce (diced tomatoes, onions, and cucumbers – think of it like an Indian pico de gallo). It’s also got some hints of cardamom throughout, which is a unique flavor for most of the pizzas I’ve eaten in my life. The pizza is personal-sized and has a good crust on it. It doesn’t quite get crisp all the way to the middle, since it’s got so many watery vegetables on it, but it’s still got really awesome flavor. No regrets on this one – it was great.</span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYK9sasdFd4xfiaA_-1GhGf2P3oH6hDshnoPvT9uqQjKno5AndFpmhxWEEHP3an_JH3ll9gfETBQocplVo21FEPujEHlaUVaFTEWI6OLKUbFH_TNPL7Ul5l2aBajrfTky6RhBOf1llMl9REnWJwv5oE0QJOlu9Dx4i8knojCVFH4jHSn4kkictMWHIAQ/s4032/BBQBoysIMG_8161.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYK9sasdFd4xfiaA_-1GhGf2P3oH6hDshnoPvT9uqQjKno5AndFpmhxWEEHP3an_JH3ll9gfETBQocplVo21FEPujEHlaUVaFTEWI6OLKUbFH_TNPL7Ul5l2aBajrfTky6RhBOf1llMl9REnWJwv5oE0QJOlu9Dx4i8knojCVFH4jHSn4kkictMWHIAQ/s320/BBQBoysIMG_8161.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">The smoked wings were really great, too. The coconut tamarind glaze was very mild, but the flavor was great – I just wanted more of it. Great pieces of meat and cooked perfectly. The tandoori rubbed wings were also fantastic, even better than the coconut tamarind ones. We ended up dipping these tandoori wings into the togarashi-soy sauce that came with my pork belly bowl. And, it was awesome! Speaking of pork belly…<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEwLeLD3Qel_BD44LnDeycMlKu5oKgrHneS_2s68qcC0vvkSB_hItKB0q57qkHi3kMK_-fRRIi9PPV7q7jRf5fa4nzVyPHh2Vi7LrozmxF2aNhZax-wHY3eGNA6kRIntRefHGTfEDTV_Svy7Qf4JKtoaVZmhIcmA1Wq_RufwGgfZCL3BesPk_ujN6Q7Q/s4032/BBQBoysIMG_5182.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEwLeLD3Qel_BD44LnDeycMlKu5oKgrHneS_2s68qcC0vvkSB_hItKB0q57qkHi3kMK_-fRRIi9PPV7q7jRf5fa4nzVyPHh2Vi7LrozmxF2aNhZax-wHY3eGNA6kRIntRefHGTfEDTV_Svy7Qf4JKtoaVZmhIcmA1Wq_RufwGgfZCL3BesPk_ujN6Q7Q/s320/BBQBoysIMG_5182.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnqQAm8MfPdu8XXSy6M_oEaSIgMFgAC436Wgvz_1RvkwkY_F6Z0ZihDeBRKP9Ec_2LBVIx-Td67C-2sXx0VXdmHK7HTaeNDhiYOAHRhRXCA6h7tQvfpIpciMy4TEVlB6LUPQ0obAPaSVZejZNx51P-ReyV53LubzMb5WWsJqOvXGosjcEk8JDou4TCA/s4032/BBQBoysIMG_5181.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnqQAm8MfPdu8XXSy6M_oEaSIgMFgAC436Wgvz_1RvkwkY_F6Z0ZihDeBRKP9Ec_2LBVIx-Td67C-2sXx0VXdmHK7HTaeNDhiYOAHRhRXCA6h7tQvfpIpciMy4TEVlB6LUPQ0obAPaSVZejZNx51P-ReyV53LubzMb5WWsJqOvXGosjcEk8JDou4TCA/s320/BBQBoysIMG_5181.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><o:p> </o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">The cirispy seared smoked pork belly bowl was probably my favorite thing. But I’m biased and love me some smoked pork belly. To be fair, the pork belly wasn’t as crispy and seared as I would have liked, but the flavor, both the smoke and the meat, was perfect. Just the right amount of fat and not gristle. So great. It was a really generous portion, as well. It was on a bed of basmati rice and some red cabbage, and served with a chili-infused pear chutney that tasted like a delicious Indian version of apple pie filling. It came with a togarashi soy sauce (sort of a better teriyaki sauce if you had to refer to something more common), and we ended up using that sauce for just about everything. Just an awesome overall dish.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD-ZZqe8H5VR4d0aKjozelxqPnvJTy3e-bw0cRu0cmzxr2PXIVyMMajFk0zmgvmxe013M8rLvUdWEzUorEdm0DOD4GIWSB-BRaXQUIRVPkeHuhaDvt1PRnrYeuqt9joVMliI0mCvcG_P6wbEa5_45SgnFD7hVkn7xPkb82fwWFzHjMi6za-TdeiHIyAA/s4032/BBQBoysIMG_5180.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD-ZZqe8H5VR4d0aKjozelxqPnvJTy3e-bw0cRu0cmzxr2PXIVyMMajFk0zmgvmxe013M8rLvUdWEzUorEdm0DOD4GIWSB-BRaXQUIRVPkeHuhaDvt1PRnrYeuqt9joVMliI0mCvcG_P6wbEa5_45SgnFD7hVkn7xPkb82fwWFzHjMi6za-TdeiHIyAA/s320/BBQBoysIMG_5180.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">While we were eating one of our fellow diners came up to the counter and said he had to order two orders of the smoked curry creamed corn and also a slice of cheesecake, which comes with either mango chutney or something else – all I heard was mango. He said he had never had anything like that creamed corn and just had to have more of it. When D and I finished our dinner, I went up and ordered that smoked curry creamed corn and that cheesecake. I also go the crispy three-chili potatoes. They were just calling to me. We got those to go, and then went home and ate them. Hahaha.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">The guy was right – that smoked curry creamed corn was delicious. I could eat it with a fork, or a spoon, or as a dip for some chips. Just awesome and I’m glad I caved. Sadly, I ate them b before I took a pic.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">The potatoes were like a smashed potato fried crispy and with some awesome sauce on top that had a little zing to it – still not spicy, but just great. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqTvvRJIqHoEWvsdpCaes8bXTs4y9fqHCNDbx_qIu2Avwqd6JOc8sUQCFLmk8xZvaiDu2QKPxbSc7EtPr8OeOLhsUo0bWZnbG1P3NOAsHMsKahksuxbgK5U9VfiTvjg6oii2q6H-GbxoOyUjSHarxWfrCPCmir9oq09T_72kLphL_lYTShs1M6MWxjg/s4032/BBQBoysIMG_5183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqTvvRJIqHoEWvsdpCaes8bXTs4y9fqHCNDbx_qIu2Avwqd6JOc8sUQCFLmk8xZvaiDu2QKPxbSc7EtPr8OeOLhsUo0bWZnbG1P3NOAsHMsKahksuxbgK5U9VfiTvjg6oii2q6H-GbxoOyUjSHarxWfrCPCmir9oq09T_72kLphL_lYTShs1M6MWxjg/s320/BBQBoysIMG_5183.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">And the cheesecake was also great – really, the cheesecake was good, but the chutney was great. Seriously, these guys know their way around a chutney. Also, no pic of that, either.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><span> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">Also, so people know, the curries used in these dishes were top-notch. They aren’t spicy (I know Minnesotans get a little nervous around unusual flavors), so just get in there and try it out. I know they’re going to change their menu focus soon, so try to get there to check these dishes out and I’ll anxiously be awaiting the newest menu announcement. So worth the trip!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">Top 5 things about BBQ Boys</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: arial;">Crispy seared smoked pork belly bowl</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: arial;">Paneer pizza</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: arial;">Smoked curry creamed corn</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: arial;">Smoked wings – tandoori rub</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: arial;">Smoked wings – coconut-tamarind glaze</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
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</style></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.bbqboysmn.com/"><span style="font-family: arial;">http://www.bbqboysmn.com</span></a><www .bbqboysmn.com=""></www></p><o:p></o:p></div>Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02000483621794575045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182822613709027625.post-68169583707588846022022-07-20T11:00:00.003-05:002022-08-01T17:56:19.642-05:00Swimply App - Twin Cities (but also, nation-wide)<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Sometimes, you need to get away, even if you can’t plan a full-fledged vacation. And when my spouse and I get away, we generally need a pool Sometimes, it’s the inflatable kiddie pool in the backyard, and sometimes, it’s a little more… advanced.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">If you’re not familiar with the <a href="https:www.swimply.com" target="_blank">Swimply app</a>, then you need to GET familiar with it. The short explanation is that you can rent people’s swimming pools by the hour. Think of it like the Lyft app, but for pools. People have a pool they aren’t using, and they post it on Swimply and you can see if the dates and times line up with your calendar. It’s BRILLIANT. And they’re all over the place. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWyxQ64SbbZcILJ0ZAkc9-dgDgrwE1joOsLdcX5v7Ntr4oYWm1JSfibxckcY7ReHZ877nJtrbtRr3wiFFu0BIUYLZUmHrGrqNRKYmFnMeNyiaeQP-j06uM4LmvryYO-VS_Lw3bZNWZlRAsQnX28NN645ubDTzLRRDot9BQE9-Z-CEYCPy-Qz3JQY4PQ/s4032/SwimplyIMG_8029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWyxQ64SbbZcILJ0ZAkc9-dgDgrwE1joOsLdcX5v7Ntr4oYWm1JSfibxckcY7ReHZ877nJtrbtRr3wiFFu0BIUYLZUmHrGrqNRKYmFnMeNyiaeQP-j06uM4LmvryYO-VS_Lw3bZNWZlRAsQnX28NN645ubDTzLRRDot9BQE9-Z-CEYCPy-Qz3JQY4PQ/s320/SwimplyIMG_8029.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><o:p> </o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">I’ll show you a couple of places that we’ve rented, just so you know you aren’t being taken for a ride. We generally rent a pool for two or three hours and that’s plenty. The cost varies wildly (from like $30-100 per hour), but it depends on how fancy the pool is and what sort of amenities they have. If they have a hot tub and pool toys and a grill, it’s going to cost more than if it’s a more bare-bones operation. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggG6Ltu994jWNsKPs33ioDEpiyXDD7VzVJZtGwo88SiIn8fyp45BAwSmLG84cVjZsC2WefIqXNDo_9nQgkMsirkCHsYevZzHKv7J68Wcq-qmIjqJ_o2HnOid_w8L3D7EORPJhqjDULegPrIpS8hcTENW4X7AZ2KYGaPsVtPygg4jWrlgOEy3GdrHYt7Q/s4032/SwimplyIMG_7617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggG6Ltu994jWNsKPs33ioDEpiyXDD7VzVJZtGwo88SiIn8fyp45BAwSmLG84cVjZsC2WefIqXNDo_9nQgkMsirkCHsYevZzHKv7J68Wcq-qmIjqJ_o2HnOid_w8L3D7EORPJhqjDULegPrIpS8hcTENW4X7AZ2KYGaPsVtPygg4jWrlgOEy3GdrHYt7Q/s320/SwimplyIMG_7617.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">You can invite friends, but make sure you look to see how many people are included in your original cost. Sometimes, places charge a little extra if you’re over 5 people. But some places you can have up to 60 guests. Just do a quick check before you book it. We invited our friends last time and have now gotten them hooked on <a href="https://www.swimply.com" target="_blank">Swimply</a>. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ZjLzgUQD0WEweN5epwcZA3o0ljk9ntNAuRR0ad5Ez2_rSnwEcI1So3OT0YFzL0FNB9mUQvFjbef6jOjIEEtTvvduA6qM7KLotLol6WzEqUsC4s36vNbA0jY82ACn3DUpFa731zoR_ePdZqsNGN_zEjA15SMOR_7sCIsHhuUvScl5UgL-aE3zBjD0KQ/s4032/SwimplyIMG_8028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ZjLzgUQD0WEweN5epwcZA3o0ljk9ntNAuRR0ad5Ez2_rSnwEcI1So3OT0YFzL0FNB9mUQvFjbef6jOjIEEtTvvduA6qM7KLotLol6WzEqUsC4s36vNbA0jY82ACn3DUpFa731zoR_ePdZqsNGN_zEjA15SMOR_7sCIsHhuUvScl5UgL-aE3zBjD0KQ/s320/SwimplyIMG_8028.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">One thing to keep in mind is most places don’t have an outdoor cabana or restroom, so you should probably expect to use a stranger’s restroom in their house. Sometimes, it’s sectioned off and it’s near the pool area, and sometimes, you’re walking through the living room and down the hall and petting their dog while they’re having dinner (I’m not kidding). We’ve had situations where we never saw the home/pool owners and other times the owners have come out and given us instructions or rules or told us where the restroom is or just checked on us to see if we were having fun.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUhhrkw8MgUD9RTjyRxLJ1HyHClYZsBxNn2Z5rUG4T3HPAgAFTm-zg_12khlDGEjmFcudARuuwvRO2-BFL8AnD7o_1ePAi_bG6tkRYaiHDr2XeGMVXhDUEhq0wklPrmMP8RyKsUZfdYDa649ael0KRaTIyAzgB1ok8bFizcpOP3SWF5TSMfOwdd2E1A/s4032/swimplyIMG_4861.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUhhrkw8MgUD9RTjyRxLJ1HyHClYZsBxNn2Z5rUG4T3HPAgAFTm-zg_12khlDGEjmFcudARuuwvRO2-BFL8AnD7o_1ePAi_bG6tkRYaiHDr2XeGMVXhDUEhq0wklPrmMP8RyKsUZfdYDa649ael0KRaTIyAzgB1ok8bFizcpOP3SWF5TSMfOwdd2E1A/s320/swimplyIMG_4861.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The nice thing is there are usually plenty of directions so you know what to expect when you get there. They often tell you where to park and walk around which side of the house to the pool area. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">A couple of tips for those ready to dive in… see what I did there????<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>If you’re going to bring drinks, don’t bring anything glass, just for safety. (Check that alcohol isn’t restricted, also)</li><li>Please be discrete when you get there. The neighbors may not know the pool owner is renting their space and you don’t want to get them into trouble. Don’t sit out in front and honk or invite all your loud friends to park in their front yard. Pretend you’re visiting a friend and using their pool.</li><li>If you’re going to be there for an afternoon or evening, bring some food to cook on the grill. Seems like every pool we’ve rented has had a grill. If you’re just going to be there for two or three hours, skip it, so you aren’t wasting time cooking when you should be recreating.</li><li>Follow the rules and be courteous to the folks letting you borrow their pool.</li><li>Don't pee in anyone's pool.</li><li>Clean up after yourselves and put things back where you found them. This isn't a hotel.</li></ul><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">We love this <a href="https://www.swimply.com" target="_blank">Swimply</a> app and plan to use it when we go out of town or visit my relatives. We’ve been able to book pools the same day, if they’re available, so if you have a swimming emergency, try renting a pool. It’s waaaaay cheaper than buying one, my friends. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">I hope this helps you enjoy your summer!!!<o:p></o:p></p>Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02000483621794575045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182822613709027625.post-84559913503227250842022-06-30T11:00:00.052-05:002022-06-30T11:00:00.182-05:00Buckhorn Exchange - Denver, CO<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">My BIL thought we should go to Denver for his birthday. The one thing he wanted to do while he was there was to eat Rocky Mountain Oysters. So, STOP READING HERE if you’re grossed out easily. Yes, there are pictures.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">I did a little research to find out where we should go for such a delicacy. There a re few places that come up when you search, each prepared/sliced/served in different ways. But, the one that had the most bragging rights was the Buckhorn Exchange. It’s Denver’s oldest steakhouse and also a bit of a history museum and taxidermy showcase – and their house specialty is Rocky Mountain Oysters. We got reservations and dragged our spouses along for the ride (this sounds much easier than it actually was in real life).<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">The restaurant itself is pretty amazing. Two stories and literally hundreds of animal busts and heads on the walls of every room, including the restrooms. Full size mounts are in pretty much every room, so you really get a feel for the wildlife in here. Which is apropos, since the menu also contains a much larger variety of meats than your run-of-the-mill steakhouse. Beef, buffalo, elk, lamb, chicken, pig, quail, duck, game hen, salmon, alligator, and rattlesnake. Impressive. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3i7sI-KI4uGlfYJIcxYiJTfCVc0aNFpc8rbSDRFXBOkadpBPAVP8BCvvaVw_OfOz0DvktTwp8HUpHtGUeyvSWn3yQEgdutqBKGPBuymyW27oUFM7e7yPI2o4_CsljDo-KgppZa_L1G4dvf81bPUrI9uPv2WgFixx5_B27C7dsZ5kuHMn-c1DVTt6Suw/s320/BuckhornIMG_1428.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3i7sI-KI4uGlfYJIcxYiJTfCVc0aNFpc8rbSDRFXBOkadpBPAVP8BCvvaVw_OfOz0DvktTwp8HUpHtGUeyvSWn3yQEgdutqBKGPBuymyW27oUFM7e7yPI2o4_CsljDo-KgppZa_L1G4dvf81bPUrI9uPv2WgFixx5_B27C7dsZ5kuHMn-c1DVTt6Suw/s1600/BuckhornIMG_1428.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">We were really there for one thing, but we decided to get a sampling of appetizers, in case we were unable to actually eat the aforementioned Rocky Mountain Oysters. We got some fried alligator tail, sirloin game tips (beef, buffalo, and elk), and a half order of RMOs. And of course a couple of cocktails to make sure we were good and loose for game time.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBSEKlPWXK2fd6k74nGbSI8NIE6MXVi2bA5oyOClm0XuQl8Zp6xJtnVcPDcojX3rmN2AuiXTLqbZ5CT2XtyC9jWJkvHwh1BmFW45HCj96Lxk5oUCuZBmPOWQLt6RI_lvKJZaCs5vpGk7shsd60hyj9dwjEvVh9Kv36BRWM0rDTQRujoBIcVRoTmWzUQ/s320/BuckhornIMG_1443.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBSEKlPWXK2fd6k74nGbSI8NIE6MXVi2bA5oyOClm0XuQl8Zp6xJtnVcPDcojX3rmN2AuiXTLqbZ5CT2XtyC9jWJkvHwh1BmFW45HCj96Lxk5oUCuZBmPOWQLt6RI_lvKJZaCs5vpGk7shsd60hyj9dwjEvVh9Kv36BRWM0rDTQRujoBIcVRoTmWzUQ/s1600/BuckhornIMG_1443.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlhYge7eA78vNx9tpdCao5RAk7O_3OI1P1Zy8zC0XsdlmwSciTvYaI1dFTxfB3SUuZzsznq_RPrkAgzyFN0KgsSLlhIwSrqcnZtAh04v1ulLqO_wlgppXyMjQljoYTj6GfCm0FlQd5OSWP2_VF8tn6QqUB354CCbe4XR6OUiKH6zW_aPLDSCsgmCm22g/s480/Buckhorn6D6AEBDF-B2A7-4037-B1DC-38092655DF77.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlhYge7eA78vNx9tpdCao5RAk7O_3OI1P1Zy8zC0XsdlmwSciTvYaI1dFTxfB3SUuZzsznq_RPrkAgzyFN0KgsSLlhIwSrqcnZtAh04v1ulLqO_wlgppXyMjQljoYTj6GfCm0FlQd5OSWP2_VF8tn6QqUB354CCbe4XR6OUiKH6zW_aPLDSCsgmCm22g/s320/Buckhorn6D6AEBDF-B2A7-4037-B1DC-38092655DF77.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><br /><br /><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">The fried alligator was absolutely fantastic. I have always been a fan, but these folks know their way around a fryer and they were cooked perfectly. You didn’t just taste the fried part, you tasted the meat, as well.</span><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;"> <o:p></o:p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDW784Qs8x2m5va5yX8zp2FVJ7ydL99FkfPT2LZd9HGwYZu0pNAvViANZ2-1LEvhaEndYKz2m0o63UQJQXFaOmAjYM0jhx0S2T85AHhf7OXj3gyD5lTaXD7QLcsFi3qbdsRu8DtSDLu4UBg3YiERl1ZLfkkYVY2PkHY-1kPlDxAp3o-Ec7tTu9cBJxlg/s1440/Buckhorn2EB61F0B-7367-4881-A33D-BB130F2EFC88.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDW784Qs8x2m5va5yX8zp2FVJ7ydL99FkfPT2LZd9HGwYZu0pNAvViANZ2-1LEvhaEndYKz2m0o63UQJQXFaOmAjYM0jhx0S2T85AHhf7OXj3gyD5lTaXD7QLcsFi3qbdsRu8DtSDLu4UBg3YiERl1ZLfkkYVY2PkHY-1kPlDxAp3o-Ec7tTu9cBJxlg/s320/Buckhorn2EB61F0B-7367-4881-A33D-BB130F2EFC88.JPG" width="320" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">The Sirloin tips were really quite good, as well. Served with mushrooms, and a different sauce each day, these had a great smoky flavor. My only complaint is that it’s always difficult to tell what kind of meat you’re eating when it’s all mixed together like this. Thankfully, every bite I had was delicious, so not really much of a complaint, after all. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">The RMOs came out with some horseradish dipping sauce, but since my sister and I are solidly from the Midwest, we also had some ketchup. Sad, but true. If we were thinking, we should have ordered BBQ sauce, since it would have been a totally different flavor. These RMOs are served sliced thin and in relatively large pieces, good for dipping. The fry on these things are really thorough, so you’d be hard-pressed to know that’s what you were eating. Both of our spouses ate a few of them, and more than we expected, so we’ll call it a win. They are actually quite delicious. I’d for sure eat these again, but I’d have to have help since a half order filled an entire basket. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQF7qEpj3V3T82WhNkgLH3LPQ6WKYqXCa6R7RDVikYCniXNVh2ELOVKhUbZ3Mf9bTM7hjpUO26xSbSfuneqwpA8xLZ6-UPKKuZphamT8iZmA_ziKzg665-umUeXCL_uttHFqgsbbt3HLLcPfijHOerKkPQaOhHm2AqXt0Uk6vNU_pyn60lT1azQXrAw/s320/Buckhorn04C15B62-599C-4A0F-A0CD-47993F380224.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQF7qEpj3V3T82WhNkgLH3LPQ6WKYqXCa6R7RDVikYCniXNVh2ELOVKhUbZ3Mf9bTM7hjpUO26xSbSfuneqwpA8xLZ6-UPKKuZphamT8iZmA_ziKzg665-umUeXCL_uttHFqgsbbt3HLLcPfijHOerKkPQaOhHm2AqXt0Uk6vNU_pyn60lT1azQXrAw/s1600/Buckhorn04C15B62-599C-4A0F-A0CD-47993F380224.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><o:p> </o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">When we were done with them, our server came back around and asked how things were. She was pleased with our progress of fried foods, clearly. She said that she always has to ask, but would we like to see the RMO before it gets sliced and fried. Only two of us said yes, which must high enough on the percentage threshold for her to bring one out for us to gawk at. These things are huge. Bigger than my hand (as shown in the picture). And, now that we’ve eaten a half order, we know how the original uncooked ball translated to the fried version. Really a fun way to see it, but I could tell this thing shouldn’t sit on our table for too long as some people at the table were visibly horrified. Still glad we saw the after and before versions!<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi11qp3A5i-W2E7yJxBsoXp6LuTQyPB6aDXKv408yDKf2RAd-WbyYJ11V5XuN87uz2VJ4UoQEB2vfmcVaOC9f0pwRFuTfQyPrh7vH_GHDNcT3JKs1V1UqFKpKPY7JrmGg2PCMW4WdYUypVXqcJGzBvK0-tn4ju_QodjmMC9j8E-y3ShHHS873sgvLvWcQ/s320/Buckhorn62FA1D6C-F994-46A3-B4A5-F9829D05B0AD.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi11qp3A5i-W2E7yJxBsoXp6LuTQyPB6aDXKv408yDKf2RAd-WbyYJ11V5XuN87uz2VJ4UoQEB2vfmcVaOC9f0pwRFuTfQyPrh7vH_GHDNcT3JKs1V1UqFKpKPY7JrmGg2PCMW4WdYUypVXqcJGzBvK0-tn4ju_QodjmMC9j8E-y3ShHHS873sgvLvWcQ/s1600/Buckhorn62FA1D6C-F994-46A3-B4A5-F9829D05B0AD.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">Rocky Mountain Oysters may not be everyone’s jam, but if you’re near the Rocky Mountains, you should probably just try them, even as a dare/bet. You may just end up liking them. After all, the folks at Buckhorn Exchange have been mastering this art for more than a hundred years. Really happy we got to try some local delicacies!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><a href="”http://www.buckhorn.com”">www.buckhorn.com</a><o:p></o:p></p>Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02000483621794575045noreply@blogger.com1