Ann's Restaurant - Franklin, Indiana

Within steps of the Johnson County courthouse, on the southwest side of the downtown square in Franklin, Indiana, sits Ann's Restaurant.  The restaurant came to life in 1952 and was originally called Alta's Restaurant, after the owner Alta Spicer.  The original 13-seat diner was open 24 hours a day back then.  Ann Daugherty became partners with Alta in the 1960s and eventually took over the business after Alta retired. 

Ann's Restaurant - Franklin, IN

Ann's has a traditional decor inside and a simple diner-style menu.  To the more sophisticated diner, the decor would seem dated and boring, however for a small-town diner the decor is fitting.  The menu also looks like you would expect.  Good prices for homestyle foods and breakfast served anytime.  Pictures of local landmark buildings in Franklin adorn the walls and the din of customer conversations is occasionally broken by the sound of a ringing bell to alert the servers when an order is up.  A small, three-stool bar sits just outside the kitchen area.

Dining Room of Ann's Restaurant

Arriving for lunch, I chose not to order breakfast items, but settled on a burger and fries instead.  My meal also came with an additional side, coleslaw in my case.  I also added a cup of ham and bean soup.  The soup was designed to come out before my meal arrived, however it didn't show up until I got my entree.  Large chunks of processed ham were in the loosely, creamy broth along with an abundance of beans.  Despite containing ham, the soup seemed to be lacking a dose of salt to help bring out the flavors.  More importantly, the soup needed to be skimmed to remove the fat from the batch.  Small orange bubbles of fat were seen floating lazily in my bowl.

Ham and Bean Soup

When it came to my entree, I surveyed the menu and locked in on a meal filled with pork.  I am such a sucker for anything that used to have a snout while it was alive.  I ordered the sausageburger and fries.  The burger is a half-pound patty of ground sausage grilled on the flat top to crispy perfection.  The warm, toasted bun had 360 degrees of sausage showing like a UFO of meaty goodness.  The hand formed patty had great flavor and was easily the highlight of the meal.  I am also a fan of crispy fries and the ones with my meal were crispy, krinkle-cut fries that were well cooked.  

The coleslaw that came with my meal was cold and crisp.  It was a creamy style of coleslaw and while the crispness of the cabbage was refreshing, it was laden with mayo.  It was just sort of flat.  I added some salt and pepper in an effort to liven it up, but there was just too much mayo.

Sausageburger and Fries

The prices at Ann's are far, despite not being what I saw posted on their website before I came to dine there.  Online my burger was listed at $4.25 yet mine cost $4.79.  The fries and coleslaw set me back another $2.40.  The cup of soup was $1.75 online, yet it totaled $1.99 when I ordered it.  All told the prices were still fair, but if the rates have be raised it would be smart for the restaurant to change the website to reflect their new pricing.

Another positive note is that my server was wonderful.  She checked in often and had a pleasant demeanor.  She knew the menu well, could recommend dishes, and always made sure I had what I needed.  Overall, Ann's is a decent diner-style establishment in a small town.  Though they have hours limiting them breakfast and lunch only it is worth a stop to try the sausageburger.  I can still feel my heart beating in my chest. 

Where Was I That Day?

So I know this is a food blog and I know this may not be the forum for it, but this is my forum.  My megaphone.  My chance to speak my piece.  I can't go through this entire day without sharing some thoughts.  Not today.  Not on September 11th.

There are plenty of specials on television tonight and there have been lot's of memorial services held today.  Some channels have been playing specials all week long leading up to the tenth anniversary of that fateful day.  I don't have to watch any more footage of that day.  My memory doesn't need any jogging.

My September 11th, 2001, began as I was living in suburban Chicago.  Thousands of miles from the epicenter of activity.  At the time I was working part-time at the Clarendon Hills Fire Department and was contemplating the pursuit of a full-time career in public service.  On that day, I awoke and got in the shower to get ready for my workday.  Shortly after I got out my phone rang.  My future wife called and told me to turn on the news.  We stood there talking on the phone in our separate apartments and watching the news coverage when we both saw the second plane hit the second tower.  It took a moment for it all to compute.

The rest of my day was spent glued to the television.  We barely got any work accomplished as we learned of the crash in Pennsylvania and the crash at the Pentagon.  It all seemed surreal and as a firefighter, I couldn't help but feel a sense of helplessness.  I have always had an overwhelming desire to help others and on that day I had to just sit and watch.  The writer in me felt helpless as well.  Some of the greatest writers cut their teeth on the experience of war.  Hemingway had his war and yet I was stuck between the Iraq War that once was and the war on terror that was just about to begin.  My time in military service occurred between the two.

In the days after, we learned about those who perished and we saw the iconic images capturing the events.  My wife has no interest in re-living any of those images, but for me I see the importance in remembering.  The need to not forget the past.  Despite being thousands of miles away, it all hit home in two significant ways.

First, we quickly learned that one member of our suburban Chicago church was flying from Boston to Los Angeles on that day and he perished when the plane he was a passenger on flew into a tower.  I didn't know him very well, but as soon as I saw the picture of him I recognized him.  That suddenly brought the whole thing closer to home.  My little bubble of safety had burst.

The second thing was something that I had never experienced as an adult and something that was all too disturbing.  As the attacks were occurring, the FAA ordered all of the aircraft in the United States to land.  Never before and never since has this been done.  Living in Chicago, you become used to the constant sound and sight of planes arriving and departing from O'Hare and Midway airports.  Each night as the ban on flight was in effective, I'd walk outside and peer up at the skies.  I remember that the nights were all cool and clear in Chicago.  You could see the handful of stars visible in such an urban setting, but none of them were moving.  It was unnerving to know that the handful of terrorists who executed their plan that day had such a profound effect on our country.

Now 10 years later, I live with some guilt.  I went on to serve others as a police officer and while my time in public service has been rewarding and has enabled me to help a number of people, more than I will likely ever know, but I still feel guilty that all I could do on that day was to watch it all unfold on television.  It bothers me that I couldn't help more and I suspect that most of us all harbor some guilt that we were where we were on that day and not right there to help.  Even those who were there and who did help out had to feel helpless, too.  Helpless as they didn't know what exactly was happening or when the next attack would occur.  Helpless that they could stop physics.  That they could prevent the catastrophic collapse of those towers.

Tonight I sat watching the Sunday night football game with my family and the game opened with the playing of taps.  My daughter said, 'I heard that song this afternoon, daddy.'  I told her that they play that song when important people die.  She didn't ask another question.  The moment had passed for the six year old, but not for me.  A lot of important people died on that day.  And many more have died in the years since in Iraq and Afghanistan.  You can watch lots of specials about who was right or wrong in the war on terror, but at the end of the day I rejoice in the knowledge that there are thousands of brave men and women in this country serving in the military, the fire service, law enforcement and emergency services.  People that will run into a dangerous situation without regard to their own safety hoping to save anyone they can.  Every September 11th stings and it likely always will, but today is a day to remember those lost and to praise those who continue to serve.  Let us not forget those who died, yet remember them as the true superheroes among us.  God Bless America!

The Greek Islands Restaurant - Indianapolis, IN

When you're from Indianapolis and people come to visit, the classic thinking is that you have to take them to Shapiro's Deli.  No one will argue that the food at Shapiro's is good, but who wants to take people to be herded like cattle through a cafeteria line to buy an overpriced, overstuffed sandwich?  Not me.  When folks come to visit me there are a few places that I always try to take them and one of my favorites is one door south of Shapiro's on Meridian Street.  That place is The Greek Islands restaurant.

This is my blog and I get to decide what it's about and I decided at the start this blog would be about good (or bad if I have to point it out) food cooked at locally owned restaurants.  And that is exactly what you get at The Greek Islands.  Great food at good prices cooked and served by an army of relatives.  Brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles, you name it.  After their parents came from Greece and originally opened the restaurant, siblings Angela and George Stergiopoulos carry on the tradition.  Angela runs the back of the house and churns out spectacular authentic Greek cuisine, while George is eager to greet you at the door as he runs the front of the house.

The restaurant itself is a converted house and so there is limited seating.  If there is a Colts game in town, I would call ahead and the lunchtime crowd is a mix of all financial strata, but arrive at noon and you'll likely be waiting.  The weekends are extra fun as the restaurant brings in a belly dancer on Friday and Saturday evenings to entertain the crowd.  When the weather permits, there is also an outdoor dining area.  All of this stands as a testament to the success of the restaurant and I must remind you that if you do have to wait for a table, good things come to those who wait.

I don't go to Greek Islands for the decor or the belly dancers, but instead I go for the food.  The food is one part fresh ingredients, one part authentic recipes, and four parts of chef Angela's love and passion.  I am convinced that no one else would be able to create the culinary flavors she constructs in each heavenly bite.  All of the traditional items are on the menu from gyros to souvlaki and from pasticchio to moussaka.

Combo Platter with Pasticchio, Moussaka, Gyro, and Tiropita

One of my all-time favorites is the Kreatopita, or meat pie.  Spiced ground beef and feta cheese is wrapped snugly in a delicate blanket of phyllo dough and baked to crispy perfection.  The pie gets a light coating of tomato sauce and is served with Greek potatoes and green beans.

Kreatopita with Greek Potatoes and Green Beans

Let's talk about the potatoes for a second here.  These potatoes are huge wedges that are firm, yet still cooked through and they are cooked in a garlicky, oily concoction that is so amazing.  I could very easily eat about six potatoes worth of these on every visit.

The real treat is the Saganaki.  No, it's not a japanese drink.  It is the most delicious cheese you will ever have the pleasure of tasting.  Angela takes Graviera cheese and grills it to form a nice crust on both sides and then it is flambeed with some Ouzo tableside.  The server will pour on the alcohol and light the dish while the whole dining room yells "Opa!"  After a fresh lemon is squeezed over it, you cut off a piece and pinch it between a pillowy, soft piece of pita bread.  The cheese oozes out of the pita as you bite.  Let me tell you, this is a truly religious experience.

A good Greek meal wouldn't be complete without a little dessert and if they haven't run out by the time you sit down to eat, Greek Islands offers several delicious options.  Baklava is of course a staple.  The crispness of the phyllo dough and the crunch of the walnuts is covered in a honey syrup when baked that would make anyone feel diabetic after a piece.  If that's the price to be paid, however I am all for it.  Chef Angela also prepares Rizogalo, a rice pudding with the recipe straight from her mother, and Galactobouriko, a custard-filled phyllo dish.

Baklava

The bottom line is that Greek Islands is run by a family that cares about Indianapolis, cares about each other and is passionate about serving quality food.  I've never had bad food or even the hint of poor service there and I always waddle away stuffed and happy.  You may not think Indianapolis is known for Greek food, and perhaps you are right in the grand scheme of things, but Greek Islands has been getting it right for years now and I look forward to dining there again and again for years to come.

Brother's Barbeque and Grill - Central City, KY

Have you ever been in a love-hate relationship with a restaurant?  A restaurant that behaves like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?  The type of place that reminds you of Seinfeld's girlfriend.  The girlfriend that looks like a supermodel in that certain booth at Monk's Diner, yet closely resembles the bride of Frankenstein in the back of the cab on the way home.  For me that place is Brother's Barbeque and Grill in Central City, Kentucky.

I found Brother's over a year ago when I was in Central City for work over a lunch hour.  I drove by the restaurant and saw some smoke rising gently into the air and I knew I had to stop in and give it a try.  As the leader of a professional competition barbecue team, I am always up for trying a new spot.  So in we went.

The decor at Brother's is decidedly eclectic.  The place is part restaurant and part "antique" store.  Of course you have to use the term, antique loosely.  Matchbox cars and other kitschy items are all priced to sell.  Albeit, the prices are a little steep.  Maybe it's just me, but $15 a framed, unsigned photograph of Jeff Gordon's DuPont Chevrolet seems a bit steep.

As for the food, I enjoyed it on my first experience.  The ribs were full spareribs with a good smoky flavor and were served sans sauce.  That is the way barbecue meat should be served.  Let the customer decide the sauce they want and the amount of sauce that's right for them.  Brother's has two sauces to offer.  One is spicy with plenty of black pepper and one is sweet with notes of mustard and brown sugar.  The sides were traditional barbecue sides like coleslaw, baked beans, chips, potato salad, and more.  The sides weren't exceptional, but the barbecue was good.  In addition to the ribs, I also got some pulled pork, which is different down in Kentucky.  My pulled pork was chopped fine and had an mustard-like color to it, leading me to believe that it was lightly sauced before plating.  Overall, I found my first trip to Brother's to be a good one.  A subsequent work trip a month or so after the first trip was also a pleasurable experience.

Fast forward to two days ago and I had a carload full of my family barreling down the Western Kentucky Parkway.  We were headed out to a family farm for the Labor Day weekend.  It dawned on me that we wouldn't be far from Brother's on our journey and so the rest of my family reluctantly agreed to suffer through the four mile journey off of the Parkway in order to dine at Brother's.  After two successful meals, I was talking up the food to make it known that my family's suffering would be rewarded.

We arrived at Brother's just before 8 p.m. and about an hour before closing.  After seating ourselves, it seemed to all be downhill after that.  After not being greeted for some time, I poked my head around the corner and was told that someone would be with me soon.  The server seemed flustered as she was tending to an order at the drive-thru window.  Several minutes later she appeared and we attempted to order drinks and meals for the entire family.  When I travel at full capacity my family has seven members, most of which are young children.  So we order quickly in an attempt to prevent any flareups in the temperament department.  The server seemed put out that we were there in the last hour of the day.  In exchange she proceeded to let us know that they were out of sweet tea and chicken tenders, thus destroying the orders of our children.  Using some creativity we were able to place a full order.

When the food arrived, it looked less than inspired.  My ribs were full spareribs with the brisket still attached and the silver skin still on the back.  While they weren't dried out, it was apparent that they were some of the last ribs left for the day.  The potato salad was decent and had a nice mustard flavor with some large chunks of potatoes.  I also got the pulled pork.  Resembling a hockey puck in its shape, the pork tasted like a collection of sawdust mashed together to form something resembling pulled pork.  The sweet sauce was good as it had been in the past, but the hot sauce was too hot.  I enjoy heat and spice, but it was immediately evident that someone put far too much pepper in this batch.

The best part of the meal was the bun that came with each entree.  The roll was perfectly round with a nice salty crust and a sweet fluffy interior.  The problem, I suspect, is that the rolls are not made in-house, but rather sourced elsewhere and just heated.

Half Rack of Ribs and Pulled Pork Combo with Potato Salad and BBQ Chips

Given the service and the quality of the food, I spent the last hour of the drive to the family farm, apologizing to my own family for subjecting them to the detour.  A small town restaurant without a lot of customers should be excited at the opportunity to generate more sales and provide a positive dining experience.  Instead, the staff seemed more intent on getting the tables cleaned and the doors shut.  The prices aren't all that cheap either, but on previous visits I was happy to pay the $15.95 for the half rack of ribs and pulled pork combo.

If I happen to be passing through, I may give Brother's another chance, but I hope that they don't run out of the sweet tea, a southern barbecue staple.  I also hope that their service rebounds and makes it an enjoyable experience.  I always look for ways to support barbecue restaurants and locally owned establishments, but I also believe that customers deserve to be treated well and given a good experience.  Brother's didn't hit the mark recently, but hopefully it was just an odd night.

House of Tokyo - Greenwood, IN

Lemme preface this post by saying that I was a bit conflicted about making this post and I can't necessarily say why.  Part of me says, 'hey man the blog is about good food so if it's good food then let's tell folks about it,' and part of me says, 'yeah but this isn't unique food because they have these places everywhere.'  Well I am writing about it anyway.  So take that.  I mean there are lot's of chop, chop, build the onion flaming volcano places, but this one isn't a chain and it's damn good eats.  Family owned and people in Greenwood love it so much that the local grocery stores carry their salad dressing.

House of Tokyo

Husband and wife, Hei and Den Duong are the proprietors of House of Tokyo and at any given time at least one of them is there.  They watch over every part of the experience to ensure that customers are happy  and things run smoothly.  They are certainly not absentee owners and on my recent lunchtime visit they were visible and watched over each station closely.

At face value it may seem easy to write House of Tokyo off as just another Hibachi grill place, but I think that would be selling the place short.  And more importantly discounting the hard work put in by the Duong's to make the restaurant excellent and to be excellent members of the community.  The decor is nice.  Upscale and modern would be a good way to describe it and the place is very clean.

The food is tasty.  They offer a wide range of sushi items, a full menu of hibachi dishes, and they have a full bar.  As with all restaurants in this style, you sit around the grill and watch the chef prepare your dish for you.  When I am looking for entertainment, I head to a play or sporting event so I am not the biggest fan of having to see someone bang their spatulas on the grill and flip shrimp tails into the pocket of their chef's coat.  Just cook the food already.  I often equate the bigger the performance, the less quality the finished product will be.  But if you're into all the loud clanging of metal so you can't talk to the people you came to dine with, then maybe House of Tokyo isn't for you.  Our chef was masterful in his preparation of our dishes, but used minimal flair.  That's my kind of guy.  He is definitely talented, but used his talent to focus on the preparation and not on the show.

My Chef du Jour

I ordered a bit of a surf and turf style when I decided on the Yakiniku, or the new york strip steak and shrimp.  All of the dishes came with fried rice, which was prepared on the grill and grilled vegetables.  The shrimp were a good size and not overcooked so they hit the plate hot and juicy.  The steak was cooked to perfection.  Just a little bit of pink left in the middle and a nice sear on the outside.  I skipped the vegetables so I could focus on the carnivorous concoction in front of me.  

Yakiniku (Steak and Shrimp)

All of the meals start with a garden salad and a cup of soup.  The soup is a traditional broth soup with tofu, mushrooms and green onions.  Very tasty.  The salad seemed plain to me at first.  It was essentially a bowl full of green lettuce that was coarsely chopped and covered in a thousand island looking dressing.  What seemed simple became incredibly complex once I took a bite.  I understand why they sell this dressing in stores.  I could drink it, pour it over everything, and even bath in it if that would be deemed socially acceptable.  It's light and tangy with a flavor that is oh so umami.  

The prices at House of Tokyo are fair, too.  My whole meal set me back $12.95 and I was delightfully full.  Our chef was polite and competent in his craft.  I was entertained with our server, though as he seemed to have more important things to do.  A group of nine co-workers all went together and he told us that we needed to order our drinks and meals faster because he was very busy.  We all laughed it off, but that was the only hiccup in a very fine meal.

It's not everyday that I crave Hibachi dining, but when I do I will go to House of Tokyo.  My food philosophy is to find restaurants that are locally owned and good members of the community serving good food.  The Duong's are the poster children for that in Greenwood and they are definitely worth checking out.

The Scottish Arms - St. Louis, MO

When you think of the culinary scene in St. Louis, Missouri, most people often think of the great Italian food on The Hill.  Perhaps even the great barbecue in town may come to mind as well.  Certainly most would not think of traditional English and Scottish cuisine.  Tucked away just west of the Saint Louis University campus on the west side of downtown, is a traditional pub serving great dishes and great beer.  And unlike so many of the "pubs" in America that are owned and operated by "Yanks" who like the idea of a pub and go do their research, this pub is owned by an expert.  Straight from Aberdeen, Scotland, the owner grew up knowing what traditional pub food was firsthand and now shares it with the St. Louis community.

Admittedly, I had been searching for some traditional pub grub for a long time and it's not easy to find.  The weather was near perfection on the day of my visit so I sat outside on the back patio.  We were greeted by our server and the authenticity continued as our server was born and raised in London, England.  She knew the menu, could vouch for its authenticity, and her accent made it seem like we were in jolly ole England. 

I began my journey with a pint of Filler's London Porter.  Served warm in traditional fashion, it had a smoky, sweet flavor that made it very enjoyable on a cool summer evening.  We ordered the Highland Gathering appetizer sampler and settled in to enjoy.

Highland Gathering Sampler

The sampler offered a full selection of traditional fare.  the Scotch eggs were hands down my favorite.  Hard-boiled eggs wrapped in haggis and tolled in breadcrumbs before being deep fried.  The velvety texture of egg yolks was so well balanced against the crispy outer coating and savory meat.  What a great balance of textures and the honey, dijon mustard sauce was a great dipper.

The platter also featured haggis fritters.  Similar to the Scottish eggs, the haggis fritter is a ball of haggis meat coated in breadcrumbs, deep fried, and made to dip in a sweet, whiskey sauce.  I will admit that this was my least favorite part of the dish, simply because haggis is not a favorite of mine yet I was adventurous enough to try it.  the meat was well seasoned and perfectly fragile inside.

Baby Birdies came next.  Minced, seasoned beef was tucked away  inside of puff pastry.  These were great little treats.  A crispy, flaky crust with juicy meat inside.  How could you go wrong?

Last but not least, the plate featured smoked salmon with capers on crustini.  the crispy, crunch of the bread, the saltiness of the capers and the smoky flavors of the velvety salmon all melted together into one delicious bite.  I love salmon and especially smoked salmon.  So this was a pleasant pre-entree treat.

For my entree, I refilled my pint of London Porter and ordered up the fish and chips.  You can't get much more traditional than that.  My co-worker ordered Bangers and Mash and Squeek.  My fish and chips arrived piping hot with a huge haddock filet tucked inside of an ale batter.  The batter was crispy and the fish inside was soft and juicy.  The best part was that the dish wasn't greasy at all.  The sign of a great, traditional dish of fish and chips.  The lemon caper dipping sauce was tart and refreshing, while I also had the malt vinegar I wanted add that extra bit of tartness.

Fish and Chips

My co-workers entree arrived and it looked equally scrumptious.  He had a large portion of potatoes surrounded by two handmade sausages and a few fresh carrots.  We traded samples and the sausage was well spiced and juicy, while the potatoes were firm yet fully cooked.

Bangers N Squeek

The food at The Scottish Arms is authentic and the servers know their stuff.  The males on staff wear kilts and the beer is served traditionally and compliments the meals.  Food is affordable given the portions.  The entrees we had were $13 each and we were there for happy hour so the beers were $1 off each pint.  The Scottish Arms exceeded my expectations in nearly every way and aside from all of their traditional fare, they have a great farm fresh menu comprised of dishes that rotate based on the locally sourced, farm fresh ingredients that are available.

The Eagle's Nest - Indianapolis, IN

Disclaimer:  If you have been reading all of my posts thus far, you have undoubtedly suspected that I have tastebuds like Guy Fieri or Rachel Ray.  Fear not.  While all of my posts thus far have been of excellent places that I enjoyed, I do actually have bad meals and I am willing to document them.  So don't feel the need to punch me in the face (as I often feel about Rachel Ray) because I do speak the culinary truth as I see it.  So read on.

Recently I had the need to find an upscale restaurant in downtown Indianapolis to celebrate a special occasion.  Normally, my go-to restaurant in Indy is St. Elmo's.  You can't get a better steak in the city and the shrimp cocktail there is unbelievable.  But, this isn't about St. Elmo's.  Always seeking a new food experience, I chose The Eagle's Nest restaurant high atop the Hyatt Regency hotel.

The Eagle's Nest sit at the very top of the 23-story hotel and boasts a unique way to view the downtown Indianapolis skyline.  It is a revolving restaurant and according to the staff, it is the only revolving restaurant that moves counterclockwise.  While I can't verify that bit of trivia, I can confirm that the dining room does indeed revolve.  The decor is simple and tasteful and the views are outstanding.  You complete one lap around the city in about 45 minutes.  The view is impressive, allowing you to overlook the state capitol, Lucas Oil Stadium, Victory Field, and other tall buildings like OneAmerica Tower and the Chase Tower.

We went to The Eagle's Nest during Devour Downtown.  Devour Downtown is a bi-annual food festival in Indianapolis where many of the top restaurants in the city offer a fixed price menu to encourage new patrons to try them out.  After we were seated, we reviewed the Devour Downtown menu and the full menu.  To my surprise, the full menu left quite a bit to ask for.  I found the menu to be fairly limited.  Just a couple of appetizers, a few salads, and a handful of entrees.  After reviewing the menu, I decided that we may as well order from the Devour Downtown menu.

We ordered an appetizer of shrimp cocktail to start the meal off.  We received four large shrimp served cold with fresh lemon juice and a wasabi cocktail sauce.  To be honest, this was the best part of the meal.  Given the price tag, it was a little disappointing that the meal went downhill from there.  The shrimp were cold and meaty.  The fresh lemon juice was refreshing and the wasabi cocktail sauce was excellent.

For my first course, I selected a bowl of lobster bisque.  I love lobster bisque and in my lifetime there have been two places that have served me an exceptional bowl of the creamy, savory soup.  My absolute favorite bowl came at the Flagstaff House restaurant on Flagstaff Mountain overlooking Boulder, Colorado.  That bowl was orgasmic and will likely never be topped.  I also got a great bowl at the Capital Grille in Indianapolis.  And so when I am presented with the chance to sample another bowl and to chase the remembrance of that ultimate bowl of bisque from the Flagstaff House, I always give it a shot.

Upon arrival, I noticed that the bowl had a good presentation, but one thing was missing.  The aroma.  I was missing the aroma of seafood that generally comes with a bowl of bisque.  Undaunted, I dug in and took my first spoonful.  The soup wasn't too hot, but it wasn't too warm either and I quickly learned that my soup would be made up of shredded, miniscule pieces of lobster meat.  No big claws.  No chunks of meat.  Just little stringy pieces that almost felt gritty in your mouth.  This bisque tasted more like a tomato soup with some lobster flavor dumped in.  In my pursuit of lobster bisque nirvana, this dish ranks well below any of the others to date.

Next came the entree.  The Devour Downtown fixed menu offered the choice of Prime Rib, Chicken Cordon Bleu or Halibut.  I chose the Cordon Bleu.  The presentation looked tasteful with a large portion of chicken, some lightly cooked asparagus spears and a helping of mashed potatoes.  It was obvious that the chicken was handmade from a large chicken breast, pounded thin and hand breaded.  The cheese and ham inside looked plentiful. 

The presentation was once again, the best part of the dish.  The mashed potatoes were molten with an internal temperature of somewhere in the neighborhood of molten lava.  I imagine the flavor was closer to molten lava as well.  Even the addition of some salt to the dish would have helped the potatoes.  I like asparagus and these spears were good, yet very large.  The chicken was a little dry and lacked a complexity of flavors.  At this point, I was happy to be eating here during Devour Downtown because the full price of this meal would have put me on the verge of being angry instead of simply disappointed.  The Chicken Cordon Bleu, for example, is $32 on the regular menu and my entire meal for Devour Downtown was fixed at $30.

And finally I reached dessert.  I will say that the service at The Eagle's Nest was good.  We never waited long between entrees and our drinks were refilled quickly.  Dessert was a ricotta cheesecake served with Amaretto nectarines.  The cheesecake was creamy and the nectarines were soft, but the Amaretto flavor wasn't present.  The cup of coffee that accompanied the dessert was, however delicious.  And needed to keep me awake, since the sensations of this meal didn't do much to keep me motivated.

Overall, I see The Eagle's Nest as one of the many restaurants surviving on a great view and their old reputation.  We all know the places with a tired menu and uninspired decor that still make money because people always remember when it was such a great place.  The places where our parents went for their anniversaries.  The Eagle's Nest is that place.  We had to arrive at 5:15 p.m. for our Saturday night meal because we weren't allowed to have a later reservation.  Yet most of the restaurant remained empty when we left at 6:45 p.n.  Between that and the overpriced menu with uninspired food, I don't think I'll be able to head back.  If I need a birdseye view of downtown Indianapolis, I'll rent a hot air balloon or just look out the window while I fly into the Indianapolis airport.

Jilly's Cupcake Bar & Cafe - St. Louis, MO

When it come to sweets, I am not always a big fan.  While my great grandmother always cracked me up by having a rabid sweet tooth, the gene seems to have escaped me.  I am far more enamored by the umami sensation.  That deliciously savory flavor that stews in the back of your mouth.  But every once in a while, I find myself in search of something sweet. 

And so it happened one day while in St. Louis on work.  I needed a fix.  And just who stepped in to satisfy my sweet tooth?  The winner of this season's third episode of Cupcake Wars, Jilly's Cupcake Bar & Cafe.  Now I am not a regular viewer of the show.  In fact, I tend to think that Cupcake Wars is a little too specific to be it's own competition cooking show, but such is the age we live in.  So I can't tell you much about the competition they defeated, but if they won then I figured the cupcakes must be decent.

Upon arrival, I could see that they are very proud of their victory.  The front window was plastered with a sign proclaiming their well deserved success.

Jilly's Cupcake Bar & Cafe

Inside, I was greeted by a bright, white interior that resembled an ice cream shoppe of old.  Then I focused in on the task at hand.  Choosing a cupcake.  Because it was my daughter's birthday, I seized the opportunity to purchase four cupcakes for the family to sample and share.  It was undoubtedly a difficult decision.  Jilly's rotates their cupcakes offerings and so there is the potential for different choices each visit.  They were pimping their Cupcake Wars winning treats on a daily basis.  They were outer space inspired creations and seemed a little too risky for me.

Jilly's Cupcake Selection

Instead, I zoned in on some traditional flavors.  I thought a safe, yet colorful selection would be the Missylicious.  This was a vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream.  The buttercream was colored in a rainbow pattern to add some color to this otherwise very traditional cupcake.  The cake was moist and delicious as the combination of vanilla in the cake and in the buttercream made for a nice, rich taste in each bite.

My daughter loves Reese's peanut butter cups and so on this day, I knew I scored a happy birthday special.  Daddy was going to get bonus points when he brought home Jilly's "The Reese's" cupcake for her to enjoy.  And as the father of four young children, believe me I need all the bonus points I can muster.  I am not myself a huge fan of chocolate and peanut butter, however when it came time to enjoy Jilly's cupcakes I was ready to sample.  The Reese's has a moist, rich vanilla cake, injected with peanut butter and ganache.  Such a wonderful surprise tucked beneath a heaping layer of chocolate and Reese's peanut butter cup buttercream swirl.  To say that this cake is rich and delicious would be an understatement.  Since Jilly's cupcakes are so large as well, I would recommend that you skip lunch, grab a half gallon of milk, and keep some insulin on standby.  Every bite of this cupcake will be worth all the suffering.

Next, I selected the Twisted Pink Velvet cupcake. This cupcake starts with a red velvet-style cake injected with a delightful stuffing of caramel.  The whole thing is topped off with cream cheese and caramel buttercream and a healthy dusting of pecan praline.  Now this is my kind of cupcake.  Once again, the cake was moist and cooked to perfection.  The buttercream topping was rich and delicious, but the hidden treasure of caramel deep inside the cupcake made the whole thing special for me.

Lastly, I chose the Turtle Cheesecake cupcake.  Beginning with a chocolate cake, diners will find a nugget of creamy cheesecake baked inside.  All the acoutremounts of a traditional turtle sundae rest atop the pillowy buttercream topping.  Caramel drizzle and pecans abound.  This was the cupcake for me and it pained me to share it with any.  Each bite I watched others take stung a little, but made my own bites that much more special. 

My cupcakes packaged and ready to go

So for someone who doesn't normally eat a lot of sweets, I had a mini-religious experience at Jilly's.  I can't certainly see how their perfectly paired creations were a hit on Cupcake Wars.  As with anything good, daily supplies are limited so be sure to get there early.  The prices are comparably for cupcakes as each cake set me back about $5 or so.  Jilly's also offers a variety of sandwiches and salads for lunch Monday through Saturday and a Sunday brunch. 

Broadway Oyster Bar - St. Louis, MO

Just two blocks away from Busch Stadium in downtown St. Louis lies the Broadway Oyster Bar.  The small restaurant in two buildings connected together brings a touch of Louisiana's French Quarter to St. Louis.  The restaurant that operates in a building with over 150 years of history, provides a full range of Cajun cuisine.  Music lovers will also find the Broadway Oyster Bar is a great haven, offering live music seven days a week.  Music is also a theme in the eclectic decor right down to the collection of vinyl record albums that are all over the ceiling.

 The Oyster Bar's Eclectic Interior

Now I am admittedly not a fan of oysters.  In fact, I have only eaten fried oysters before.  The thought of trying to gulp down a wet and slippery raw oyster just isn't in my culinary playbook.  Now some quality Cajun food is right up my alley.  If you are into oysters, however you can certainly get your fill.  Raw oysters, Oyster Rockefeller, Oyster Bienville, Oyster Cardinale and much more await the oyster lover.

I started my meal off with an appetizer of Alligator Sausage and Shrimp Cheesecake.  A spicy, savory alligator sausage is mixed with cream cheese and shrimp.  The whole thing is baked to a warm, gooey cake and each appetizer serving comes with a healthy slice.  All of it melts well together and the spicy flavor in the sausage is mellowed by the creamy texture of the warm cream cheese.  I thanked my server for recommending the dish.

Alligator Sausage and Shrimp Cheesecake

Along with my appetizer, I had to try a cup of the house soup, crawfish bisque.  I am a sucker for any bisque and I am glad that I got it.  The buttery flavor of the soup was consistent with a quality bisque and the creamy texture of the soup was good.  The other pleasant aspect to the soup was the plentiful supply of crawfish in the dish.  The appetizer and soup were a great start to my experience at the Broadway Oyster Bar and I was awaiting my entree while sipping on a Louisiana lager by Abita known as Purple Haze.  The rasberry wheat beer, is not usually part of my beer-drinking repertoire, however I found it to be light, crisp and the perfect beer for a hot, summer night.

Crawfish Bisque and a pint of Abita's Purple Haze

For my entree, I decided it was time to go big or go home.  I ordered the sampler platter, which came with a complete selection of traditional Cajun dishes.  The sampler platter had Red Beans and Rice, Jambalaya, and Crawfish Etoufee.  

Cajun Sampler Platter

I sampled the Red Beans and Rice first.  The rice had a hint of crunch to it still, showing that it was not overcooked and the tomato flavor was excellent.  Large chunks of Andouille Sausage were peppered throughout the dish.  Perhaps the only thing missing was one important ingredient.  A namesake ingredient.  As I ate the dish, I struggled to find any red beans.  Perhaps the only disappointment in the meal thus far.

Next, I tackled the Etoufee.  this was the weakest element in the sampler for me.  the sauce was light and creamy and I saw plenty of crawfish, however the dish was overwhelmed with large, stringy pieces of onions and peppers.  While these items were well cooked, it just wasn't for me.

The highlight of the sampler was the Jambalaya.  Born of a great, dark roux, the entree had just the right mix of spices, vegetables and seafood goodness.  Crawfish and Andouille sausage abounded in every delicious bite.  My dish also came with a pleasant little surprise.  Several small cornbread muffins accompanied my entree and they were little pillowy buttons of deliciousness.  These dense muffins had just the right amount of sweetness.  What a great way to end my meal.

Wait!  Don't stop reading!  I couldn't leave without trying dessert.  So fear not because I stuck around for dessert.  In fact, I got the bread pudding.  I love bread pudding, but the one thing that usually prevents me from getting it is that I don't care for raisins.  The Broadway Oyster Bar had my number though since their bread pudding has no raisins.  It does take a while to get your bread pudding, but that is to be expected since they bake each serving to order.  And damn it was well worth the wait.  The bread was firm and crispy on the outside, while being moist and soft on the inside.  The whole thing was backstroking slowly in a pool of whiskey sauce.  The buttery, savory flavor of the whiskey sauce was a perfect partner for the cinnamon flavor of the bread.

 Bread Pudding

All in all, the Broadway Oyster Bar was a great stop.  Quality Cajun cuisine, steps away from Busch Stadium, live music nightly, and a friendly staff all made it a great experience.  The prices were also fair for the most part, with the exception of the Alligator Sausage and Shrimp Cheesecake appetizer, which seemed a bit steep at $11.95.  The cup of bisque was $3.95 and the sampler entree was $16.95 and it was way more than I could've finished making it a great dish to split with someone.

Pappy's Smokehouse - St. Louis, MO

Have you ever walked into a restaurant and immediately fallen in love?  I mean like the kind of place that you would agree to give up your first-born son for one more meal.  The place that you dream about when you are sleeping and the place that you rearrange your entire life to go grab a meal there.  Whenever I go to St. Louis,  I have such a place.  A place that makes my mouth water, just at the thought of a meal there.  For me that place is Pappy's Smokehouse and this is what makes me drool.

I've said before that barbecue is close to my heart.  I have a professional barbecue team that competes throughout the country and I work hard to perfect my own barbecue.  So usually when I travel, I like to find barbecue restaurants.  Admittedly, I often find that my expectations aren't met because restaurants tend to overcook barbecue thinking that things falling off the bone is the way to go.  In fact, that means that the meat is mushy and overcooked.

After seeing Pappy's Smokehouse featured on several TV shows, I thought it was time to make the trip and check it out.  I had been told that lunchtime is the time to go eat at Pappy's because, unlike most restaurants, Pappy's only cooks a certain amount of food each day and when they sell out of an item it gets pulled off the menu.  So if you want ribs, which are excellent at Pappy's, then you have to be there for lunch.  I arrived at 12:30 and saw a line out the door and wrapped around the building.  A good sign, yet a scary sign.  I kept my fingers crossed that they wouldn't run out of ribs all the way until I made it up to the front of the line to place my order.  To my excitement, they still had ribs.  I ordered a half rack of ribs and sides of deep fried corn and potato salad..

Then I was off to find my seat.  At Pappy's you order your meal at the front counter and then find a seat and they deliver the food to you.  The decor is an eclectic mix of St. Louis sports and music memorabilia and the majority of the seating is family style at long counters or at huge picnic tables.  One wall is covered with menus autographed by celebrities who have dined at Pappy's while they were in town and near the front counter Pappy's displays the barbecue credentials that prove his stock.  While he hasn't competed in years, back when he did Pappy competed well.  In 2000, he became a world champion when he captured first place in the whole hog category at Memphis in May.

My food arrived almost as quickly as I found my seat and I was ready to dig in.  I always try barbecue without sauce first because I like to see how the meat is by itself.  I can honestly say that after my first bite of ribs, I didn't stop eating until the rack of ribs was nothing but a pile of bones.  I never touched a sauce and I never touched my sides.  The rub Pappy's puts on their ribs is tangy and savory and the smoke flavor courtesy of the mix of apple and cherry woods they use was great.  I licked every bit of it off my fingers.  The ribs were cooked correctly.  They were moist, tender and most importantly they didn't fall right off the bone. 

The sides were impressive as well.  I enjoyed the potato salad.  It was cold and not laden with mayo.  The potatoes were firm and it was delicious.  The corn was interesting, but not my favorite.  I have been to other restaurants with deep-fried corn on the cob and I have learned that you have to use a specific hybrid variety of corn to prevent it from being soggy.  I am not sure that Pappy's uses that and so the corn was a bit soggy to me.

Every single time I go to St. Louis I go to Pappy's.  I tell everyone I know to go there.  And now I am telling you to go there.  I guarantee you won't be disappointed.  Hands down, Pappy's provided me the best barbecue meal ever and it is the only barbecue restaurant that I have truly had competition-quality food at every time I set foot in the door.

Boccalone - San Francisco, CA

Disclaimer:  What you are about to read is NOT a restaurant review.  It is a review of a boutique food shop where a master chef displays some of his finest works of art.  So please spare me the emails about the fact that I didn't review a restaurant.  Read on.  You'll get it and if you don't, then I doubt you ever will.

Inside the Ferry Building in downtown San Francisco is a market where many locally produced items are sold.  Within its walls there are shops to purchase high quality cheese, ice cream, seafood, coffee chocolate, and meat.  Long before I walked the halls of the Ferry Building, I knew the one shop that I had to visit.  The shop beckoned me from thousands of miles away.

Chris Cosentino is the chef at San Francisco's Incanto restaurant and has been featured on TV numerous times.  Cosentino was also on the Food Network show Chefs vs. City.  Aside from becoming a bit of a celebrity in the restaurant world, Cosentino has become a master at the art of salumi.  'What is salumi,' you ask?  Well, it is the Italian word for cured meats.  Whether cooked, cured or fresh, salumi is an orgy of meat.  And that's one kind of orgy I can get into.

So when the opportunity came to travel to San Francisco, I knew that Boccalone would have to be worked into my schedule.  Walking up to the shop, my mouth was already watering.  Just looking at all of the options in the shop was overwhelming.  I scanned all of the meats over and over again.  The staff there was very helpful and while I was trying to select some sausages to bring back home with me, I decided to purchase one of their signature meat cones.  It is a paper cone you can get pre-filled with a mixed selection of their meat or you can get 6 slices of meat from your own choice.  I opted to get their pre-filled meat cone and a cucumber soda.

The meat cone had pancetta, mortadella, and prosciutto in it when I was there.  Two heavenly slices of each.  The mortadella was so silky smooth with all the right bits mixed in.  The prosciutto literally melted in your mouth with each bite.  So full of fatty flavor.  Each bite was wonderful and before I knew it my paper cone was empty, leaving me with the feelings of a four-year old who just ate the last bite of a sno-cone (I have a four-year old so I am qualified to make this assumption).

The cucumber soda was a cool, refreshing companion to the meat cone.  The Dry Soda Co., makes the soda out of their Seattle, Washington, office.  The soda had just the right amount of sweetness, but the overwhelming flavor of cucumber was in every sip.  Boccalone carries several of the Dry Soda drinks and I can imagine that all of them are tasty based on the delicious taste of the cucumber soda I selected.

So after taking a respite for my meat cone and soda, I was back on the hunt for my meats.  I decided to get a pound of their cappocola and a pound of their Ossabow prosciutto.  The Ossabow is expensive to say the least, but it is made using pigs from the Ossabow island in Georgia and it is widely considered the best prosciutto made in the United States.  I got a taste of one slice while I was standing there and I nearly fainted.  Words here can't really describe how delicious the Ossabow is.  It is so buttery and salty.  It melts in your mouth and has such an old world feel to it.

I also opted to get the Salami Sampler.  The sampler is four 6-8 ounce chubs of uncut salami, each with their own distinctive taste.  My sampler had Orange & Wild Fennel salami, Brown Sugar & Fennel salami, Soppressata, and Salame Pepato.  I couldn't wait to get back home and try each of these meats.  I made them last as long as I could and I truly enjoyed every last bite.  My favorites were the Brown Sugar salami and the Soppressata, but each had their own unique flavor profile.

And now for the best part.  If you want to partake in some of Boccalone's best salumi offerings, you don't have to plan an emergency trip to San Francisco.  While going there in person is certainly a unique experience that is unmatched, you can get Boccalone delivered right to your door since most of their products can be shipped.  The aforementioned Salami Sampler is one of those products.  You can check out all of the options on their web site at www.boccalone.com. You can even get your own Tasty Salted Pig Parts t-shirt.  I wear mine proudly at all of my barbecue contests.

Josephine's Tea Room - Godfrey, IL

Just a couple of miles north of Alton, Illinois, lies Josephine's Tea Room.  The Tea Room has been around since 1979 and it grew from a gift shop to a tea room and eventually into its current incarnation. A maze of connected buildings adds a full-service restaurant to the mix.  I didn't know anything about Josephine's before I stopped in, but I quickly saw a theme.  Nearly all of the patrons were women.  Now I am secure in my manhood and so I was not intimidated.  Undaunted, I was seated in a large atrium-style room.

The menu seemed limited at first as it is mainly composed of salads and sandwiches.  Between the feminine decor, all the ladies drinking tea, and the light menu, I could feel my testosterone draining.  Where was the steak?  The deep fried foods?  I was beginning to feel a little faint.  Just then the server greeted me and saved me.

While the menu wasn't expansive, the server began describing a number of different daily lunch specials.  Then it all made sense.  While they keep a certain amount of items on the menu all of the time, they rotate the entrees seasonally.  This was a good sign.  It meant that regulars get variety and things change with what is in season.  A sign that ordering the specials means that you are ordering fresh food with the freshest ingredients.

As the server described the specials of the day, I found myself drawn to one particular dish.  Perhaps it was the estrogen that overcame me, but I ordered the crab and spinach quiche.  I am a real man and if you ask my wife she will confirm it, but on this day I ate quiche. 

When the food arrived, I could tell that I made the right choice.  Man or no man, I knew this would be good.

The quiche was good.  Full of cheese, spinach and warm crab meat.  It was hot, it was moist and the crust was light and flaky.  The salad was good as well.  Crisp, cold vegetables that were all fresh and the house dressing was nice.  A little tangy and it complimented the meal well.

So despite the fact that I was enormously outnumbered by women, I held my ground and earned a safe passage for all the men who would come after me to Josephine's.  Man or woman, if you enjoy fresh food for a good price then head right over.  You won't be disappointed.

Carmine's Steak House - St. Louis, MO

Last night I went to Carmine's Steak House for dinner.  My boos and I were in town for a meeting and decided to find a fine dining solution for our craving.  Steak and a potato was the mission.  With the help of the concierge at our hotel, we decided on Carmine's Steak House.  According to the hotel staff, Carmine's is a fine dining steak house in the heart of downtown.  the restaurant is connected to the Drury Plaza Hotel on the corner of Fourth and Walnut.

Carmine's Steak House was opened in 2000 and is run by the Lombardo family.  The Lombardo's have a proud tradition of operating restaurants in st. Louis dating back to the early 1900s.  Carmine's is the newest restaurant in the Lombardo family.  

When we arrived, the atmosphere was decidedly traditional.  The place settings were nice, but the walls, lighting and floral arrangements seemed a bit dated.  The staff was dressed professionally, however upon arrival for our 7:30 p.m. reservation we found the host station abandoned.  After waiting for several minutes, the host appeared.  He first seated us right near the door at a table right out in the middle of the action.  We sat there for a minute before the host came back and offered us a better table.  We accepted it and moved.

As for the menu, the options were pretty standard for a steak house.  A variety of chicken, pork, beef and seafood options abound.  Since I had steak on my mind, I perused the beef portion of the menu.  When it comes to steak, I always enjoy a good New York strip steak.  The lean cut is one of my favorites and when aged correctly and cooked to perfection, slices will melt in your mouth.  So I ordered up the most petite New York strip available, which still weighed in at 14 ounces.  The entrees include a salad and a choice of one side.  So I selected a house salad with blue cheese dressing and gorgonzola crumbles.  For the side I went with a twice baked potato.

I was excited to see the arrival of my steak after reading in the menu that Carmine's ages their steaks for a minimum of 21 days.  Spending that time aging the beef, helps break down the fat and melt it into the meat.  the result is a greatly enhanced beef flavor and a very tender piece of meat.  Watching the tables around us get their meat, just helped build the anticipation.

My salad arrived and it looked at first as if it had no dressing on it.  After taking a closer look, I saw that the salad had blue cheese dressing.  The greens were fresh and it was piled high with gorgonzola crumbles and lot's of black olives.  The salad had a crisp bite and tasted great.

After polishing off the salad, I ordered a glass of pinot noir and it arrived just as my entree arrived.  The steak looked great and it was appropriately accompanied by a huge twice-baked potato.  The potato was hot and so creamy.  Each bite of the potato was filled with fluffy goodness.  I sliced off my first bite of steak and was in heaven.  The meat melted in my mouth and I could taste all that aging.  There wasn't much conversation going on at the table. 

After polishing off my steak, I thought it would be nice to cap off a great meal with something for dessert.  While I was eavesdropping the dessert options at the table next to ours, I heard about a lemon cake.  Our own server didn't mention the lemon cake in his dessert presentation so I inquired.  He said that he knew the lemon cake was available, but he couldn't describe much about it.  While it was disappointing from a service standpoint that he didn't know the menu options completely, I ordered the lemon cake anyway.  And I am glad that I did.  The cake was tart and light, but the whipped cream topping was the best part of the dessert.  It was light, fluffy and refreshing.  What a nice finish to a meal.

The steak was priced at $34 including the salad and side.  So overall the price was appropriate for what we got.  While the service could have been better, the steak was great and the lemon cake was exceptional.  Updating the decor for a more modern touch and improving the knowledge of the staff would bring Carmine's to the top.  Given all of that, it is still a great place to get a delicious steak in downtown St. Louis.

Iron Barley - St. Louis, MO

I first discovered Iron Barley on television when Guy Fieri made a stop there on his show Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.  I was intrigued by the owner, Tom Coghill's, attitude about producing great food in a laid back environment.  I also like the fact that Coghill is a big fan of home brewing beer.  So when the opportunity presented itself to dine at Iron Barley, I just couldn't pass it up.

My journey began as the man himself surveyed his kingdom from behind the bar.  Coghill was very approachable and he was more than happy to discuss his cooking style and how he makes the barbecue items on his menu.  So before I even offered, I was already feeling good about my experience.

 

 The atmosphere inside Iron Barley may seem eclectic and uninspiring, but for folks that know the area of south St. Louis would appreciate that the decor perfectly fits the clientele that Coghill serves.  And the staff at Iron Barley is no exception.  My server had the perfect mix of smart ass sensibility and classic charm.

When I first heard of Iron Barley I was intrigued by the barbecue on the menu and the preparation of it I saw on television.  While I am always interested in good barbecue, on this particular day another entree item caught my eye.  As I surveyed the diverse menu, the good ole German boy in me was awakened to see Schnitzel and Spaetzle.  My decision was simple.  Go with the old world charm of a classic German combo.

When my meal arrived, it looked delicious.  I took my first bite from the spaetzle and found myself perplexed.  While it had the texture I always remember and love, the flavor was not exactly what I remembered.  I began to fear that I may have overplayed the fond memories of this dish and made it impossible for me to enjoy Iron Barley's version.  That's when I decided to turn my attention to the Schnitzel.  After squeezing a generous supply of fresh lemon juice on top, I sliced off a bite and took my chances.  The schnitzel was flavorful, with a proper texture and the meat itself was very juicy.  So despite the rocky start with the spaetzle, I was in heaven.  Sweet, German, toss a stein of beer, heaven.

After polishing off my entree, I decided that I couldn't leave without trying dessert.  While I was waiting for my meal, my server made sure to entice me by describing the super cold blaster pies on the menu.  So based on her recommendation, I ordered a peanut butter blaster pie.  The pie itself was peanut butter and was extremely frozen.  It was topped with whipped cream flavored with cayenne pepper.  It was covered in a chipotle, chocolate sauce and a strawberry, habanero sauce.  The image of the sweet with the heat sounded great.  I hate to say it, but the low point of the meal was definitely the low point of the meal.  There was just too much going on and the pie was way to frozen.  You could barely break off a bite.  It took forever to eat the pie and I couldn't even finish it.

The pie also just didn't hit the mark with the heat versus sweet.  I think they just needed to include one topping and not three.  Having all three just muddled the flavors and the spices together.  However, I do like it when someone is adventurous enough to give new things a try.  And it wasn't inedible.

So while my meal wasn't entirely fantastic, I did find Iron Barley to be a good stop.  Coghill and his staff are great, the decor is fitting and the schnitzel was incredible.  If I find myself on the south side of St. Louis around meal time in the future, I am confident that you will be able to find me dining at Iron Barley.

17th Street Bar and Grill - Murphysboro, IL

For years now, I have been into barbecue.  Eating barbecue, but also smoking it myself.  Several years ago, I found myself at the bookstore and a new book caught my eye called Peace, Love and BBQ.  I flipped through the pages and saw that the author was from southern Illinois.  My family is from southern Illinois and at the time I was living far away from home in South Dakota so the prospect of a book about barbecue and my homeland sounded great so I snatched it up.  I immediately read the book cover to cover and found it to be full of great recipes, wonderful stories and lot's of barbecue folklore.  The book is part cookbook, part memoir and part survey of the greatest barbecue restaurants across the country.  The book not only motivated me to take my smoking to the next level, but to also begin my journey as a professional barbecue competitor. 

Fast forward to September of 2010, and I set foot in Murphysboro, Illinois, with my barbecue team, Thin Blue BBQ, to compete in Mike Mills' own contest.  The annual Praise the Lard contest attracts a great deal of competition.  Some of the best teams in the country show up and as a newer competition team, we just hoped to be respectable.  To our amazement we got 2nd place in ribs!  The highlight of the weekend was getting to shake the hand of the man behind the contest and the book that inspired me, Mike Mills.

Two weeks ago, I found myself in Murphysboro and I headed to 17th Street Bar and Grill for some lunch.  I immediately ordered my favorite appetizer, pimento cheese and hot links.  The cheese is so cold and creamy, while the hot links are smoky with just the right amount of spice.  I can't get enough of it.

For my entree, I had a delicious serviing of perfectly smoked beef brisket.  My favorite part of the meal though were the sides.  I got my meal with coleslaw and hush puppies.  Two sides that I remember fondly from childhood.  And coleslaw in southern Illinois means that it has vinegar on it instead of mayo.  the crispness of the cabbage paired with the tart vinegar flavor is unbelievable.

While I was dining, I asked the server if Mills was at the restaurant that day and she said that he is usually in the office across the street when he was in town.  After my meal, I thought I would take the chance and head over to see if he was in.  To my fortune he was.  And I had the chance to talk barbecue and competitions with my personal idol for over a half an hour.  Mills was so generous with his time and so friendly.  It is easy to see how he has achieved such success when he is so personable and approachable.  The cap to my visit was a picture that I will always cherish.

Betty's Burgers - Santa Cruz, CA

Back in February, work took me to California for a week and one day I found myself in Santa Cruz over the lunch hour and I was looking for somewhere to land for a meal.  As we drove down to the beachfront to check out the Pacific Ocean for a minute, we passed a burger joint, Betty's Burgers, just a few blocks from the beach.  A sign proclaiming their burgers as the best burgers in Santa Cruz and so I thought it was time to check it out.

Betty's has a small indoor seating area and a larger outdoor seating area.  It was a perfect afternoon for dining al fresco so I went in to order before dining outside.  Like many fast casual restaurants, you order at the counter and then find your seat and a server brings the food out when it is ready.  The menu had a wide range of burgers and fair prices by California standards.  One of the best things about the menu is that everything is fresh.  Fresh veggies, fresh buns, fresh cut fries, and fresh, never frozen meat.  I also found it funny that they referred to all of their sauces and condiments as lube on the menu.  Burgers range in price from just under $5 to nearly $7.

After scanning the menu, I settled on the Mad Mex burger.  The Mad Mex is a 1/2 pound burger topped with pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, chipolte lube, and fresh guacamole.  The thought of a burger with fresh guacamole in California was just irresistable.  I finished my order with some fries and a soda.  Then I found a seat outside and anxiously awaited the arrival of my lunch.  While I was waiting, my mouth watered continually as I saw other diners receive their meals and smelled the wonderful aroma of fresh ground beef sizzling on the grill.

After was seemed like an eternity (but was really only like 8-10 minutes), my meal arrived.  And it looked spectacular.  The burger was nice and very juicy.  About 5 napkins juicy.  The guacamole and all of the veggies on board were indeed fresh and delicious.  Perhaps the only downside to the meal was that the fries were unimpressive.  They were pretty thin and crispy, which I like but they were unseasoned and just not inspiring.

Overall, though I would say that Betty's Burgers would get my vote for best burger in Santa Cruz.  Take a look at this and see for yourself.