Provo/Orem, UT.

Ahhh! Happy Valley!

I can't believe it's been almost 1 year since my first post and I haven't even mentioned some of my favorite restaurants in the Provo/Orem area. With many family members as big BYU fans I have been visiting this lo-cal for a better part of 30 years now and have enjoyed many a good eats in these neck of the woods.

As you drive down state street in Orem and into downtown Provo I'm always amazed at the diversity of dinning options on this stretch of freeway. In most cities they have a higher concentration of certain ethnic food restaurants in certain areas or they are located at opposite ends of the city but in these towns you will have a Mexican joint next to an Italian, next to a Japanese, next to Indian etc. So you don't have to drive to far to get what your craving. So I will attempt to give you a mosh-posh of my favorites.

Los Hermanos Mexican Restaurant:     http://loshermanos.weebly.com/

This has been one of my favorite Mexican restaurants for as long as I've been visiting Provo. Provo actually has a lot of Mexican food and I've eaten at a few other joints and enjoyed them but if I have my choice I always end up here. Located in the historic section of downtown the ambiance is second to none and the food is even better. I love their Halibut tacos as they are really meaty and not the usual cod that is used at most restaurants. I'm a sucker for a good Chile Verde as well so the Smothered Burrito is also one of my favorites if I'm really hungry. I love their Fried Ice Cream and make sure you add all of the extras for a buck as it will be one of your favorite desserts anywhere.

Gloria's Little Italy:    http://www.gloriaslittleitaly.com/aboutus.html

This cool Italian restaurant located close to Los Hermanos is fantastic. Talk about your signature dishes. You can really tell that each item on the menu is made to stand out from the others and it tastes like you just made it in your kitchen. Although I have never made anything Italian from scratch personally. Start with the Minestrone as the spices used in this vegetable soup are amazing. The Tortelloni Alla Boscaiola is one of my favorite dishes. It has mushroom and a smooth cheese filled pasta in a creamy mushroom sauce. Or you can build your own pasta in one of their many made fresh daily sauces. This is great to do in a big group so you can try a lot of them at once.

Bombay House:     http://www.bombayhouse.com/

Tikka Masala. Tikka Masala. It is so fun to say but so much funner to eat. This is a chicken dish that is to die for. The tomato creamy sauce the tandoor chicken is cooked in could stand by itself. Make sure you have plenty of Garlic Naan bread to dip in the sauce. It is some of the best Masala I've had anywhere (although I've never been to India I did have an Indian professor in college and he liked this place). My wife always goes for the Coconut Chicken Kurma in it's sweet and spicy sauce which I always help myself to as well. Ah the joys of marriage. There is a location in Salt Lake as well so you don't have to drive all the way to Provo but since there is not an Indian restaurant in Utah County that can touch this place it's worth the visit if your down there.

Yamato Japanese Restaurant:     http://yamatogo.com/index.html

This place was referred to me by some buddies that went to BYU and they assured me it was the only place to get great Japanese food in Utah County so this is the only place I have frequented so let me know of any others you like. The Tempura is some of the best I've had. Very light and flaky as some Tempura is a little too heavy if done incorrectly. I love their Beef Teriyaki with the Shrimp Tempura. Get some of their perfectly steamed Edamame and Yasai Tempura for an appetizer as well.

Carrabba's Italian Grill:     http://www.carrabbas.com/

OK so I broke a rule and added a chain restaurant here. But since it is the only location in Utah that I know of it is well worth the visit. Since it is located in Orem and not Provo I can mention two Italian joints in the same blog can't I???? If you love Calamari everyone I've eaten with says it's some of the best but I would rather go with the Grilled Bruschetta. I'm a big fan of the Chicken Carraba as the sauteed mushrooms make this entree. The Tilapia Nocciola is a fantastic fish dish if you want something truly Italian exotic. The Tiramisu is a light way to finish off the dinner if you have not eaten too much of their fresh bread.

So now you're set for your next visit to Cougar country. Go ahead and wear your Utah gear as well as I have worn my Weber State attire and have not been turned away. The BYU/Weber State rivalry is just as big as the BYU/Utah rivalry right???

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

We will chat next year.....if their is a next year as it will be 2012 after all. Yikes!

St. George, UT.

Hello again my friends!

Can we please get back to the above average temperatures we enjoyed all fall here in Utah? This roller coaster of low pressure systems is killing me....and my skin.

It is this time of year I start to think about visiting Utah's Dixie, St. George. Always running about 15 degrees warmer than the Wasatch front I long to play some of the great golf courses that stay green year round. Some of my favorites in that vicinity are Sand Hollow, Sky Mountain, Coral Canyon, Green Springs and Sunbrook. Awesome!

But this isn't a golf blog. It's all about food here so here are some of my recommendations for your next visit to this golfing mecca.

Paula's Cazuela Mexican Restaurant:     
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/312/1300976/restaurant/Utah/Paulas-Cazuela-St-George

This is one of the coolest Mexican restaurants out there. It has an awesome view of St. George as it sits up on a hill. I have enjoyed almost every dish I've had there but I love their Steak and Chicken Fajita Quesadilla and Paula's Special Burrito (Enchilada style). You can't go wrong with either of these. Of course their chips and salsa are excellent. There are Mexican restaurants popping up all over but this is one of the oldest and the best. Pancho & Lefty's is a close 2nd and a favorite of my in-laws and their Huntsman Senior Game posse.

Pizza Factory:      http://pizzafactory.com/main.html

These are popping up all over Utah, and we have one in Syracuse now, but nothing beats the one in St. George. I think it's because it's the warmest one in the state and that must makes the food taste better. What makes their pizzas is the crust. Light and flaky but holds up no matter how many toppings you pile on it. They have great subs (I recommend the Sausage Sub especially after 18 holes of golf) and their salad bar is as good as Sweet Tomatoes or Sizzlers.

Painted Pony:     http://www.painted-pony.com/st_george_restaurants.html

When you want to go nice go here. That is after you have cleaned up after those 18 holes of golf. It's been around for over a decade but I recently discovered it from a tip of a co-worker. It's a great place to take the Mrs.'s and thank her for letting you go golfing. The Seared Ahi Tuna was awesome with the sweet mango sauce. Go with the asparagus in season as your side as they tasted like they were just picked. You'll never forget the Painted Pony!

Beijing Buffet:     http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-52708009R-beijing_buffet-i

If you don't want to drive down to Mesquite or Las Vegas for a great buffet give this place a try. Out of the 5 or 6 dishes I tried at least 5 of them were excellent. The key with a buffet is to watch which dishes they just brought out and hit those. I never get the last scoop of any tray as the meat is usually tougher and the veggies get a little soggy. I've tried a few others but keep coming back here. Nothing beats a good Chinese buffet after 18 holes of golf.

I guess I need to go golfing don't I.

As St. George continues to grow please let me know your recommendations as I'll be down there in a few weeks visiting my extended family and I'm always open to something new and exciting.

Did I mention I'm going to golf?????

Heber Valley, UT.

Wow! a whole month has gone by. You would've thought I had given up eating out. NOT!

It seems like the last quarter of a year is eaten up with one holiday after another. The kids are in fast forward from all of the treats and even though it's a crazy time I do like the company, family and neighborhood parties however and there are plenty of opportunities to eat out at some new restaurants with these gatherings.

Over the past month I visited the Heber Valley (Heber City and Midway) a couple of times and I have a few places to recommend. You don't even have to be Swiss to enjoy them. However if you ever get the chance to attend Swiss days in Midway I highly recommend it. It is the closest thing to visiting Switzerland without the high cost of air fare.

Let's start with Midway:

Tarahumara Comida Mexicana:     http://www.tarahumara.biz/

Have I mentioned you have to have good chips and salsa to be considered a great Mexican restaurant in my book. Well how about 20 fresh salsas made fresh every day. You can spend at least a half hour trying all of them but a few of my favorites are the mango and green chile salsas. Try mixing a few of them together as well as some are really hot so you might need to cross the streams to tame them a little. I recommend the Pork Loin Chile Verde. They are large tender chunks and the flavor is excellent. They give you a hearty portion of all of their entrees so try to lighten up on the chips and salsa. Their desserts are killer as well so save room to share one. The fruit tart I've had was huge and very flavorful.

Cafe Galleria:     http://www.cafegalleriapizza.com/

I spent a few weeks traveling through Europe after graduating from college and during our three stops in Italy I was able to eat a lot of nice Italian dishes. I remember the pizza most of all. It was really thin and it didn't look like there was much to it but man did it have a lot of flavor. This little joint has the pizza that I remember eating in Florence. I usually get the Americano pizza which has pepperoni. Again it is flat and not much to look at but their wood fire stove captures all of the flavor and holds onto it. You also have to share a few of the giant meat balls in their excellent marinara sauce.

Heber City:

Dairy Keen:     http://www.dairykeen.com/

No stop to Heber is complete without a stop here. This is one of the coolest places you will ever eat. Of course it is complete with train motif to pull the Heber Creeper tourists in but the diner food is 2nd to none. Now let me make a confession. I'm a mayo guy. Not a miracle whip guy. I have never liked the sweet taste of miracle whip. So the first time I visited this place a lot of their sandwiches had miracle whip on them. I was leery to say the least. But I tried their turkey sub, with miracle whip, and it worked. I was as shocked as any one. They also have a killer Ranch Burger and of course you will need to try the original Train Burger. Get one of their shakes as well to wash it all down and then go run a mile or two for the guilt you will feel afterwards.

So there you have it. When you are fed up driving up and down I-15 all of the time take time out when your traveling between Salt Lake and Provo to take Hwy 40 through this quaint little valley and tell me if you agree with these selections. Make sure to let me know your favorites up there as well.

As the Swiss say "We like our chocolate and cheese with holes in it!".....I'm sure some Swiss person has said this before.

Enjoy!

Logan, UT.

I love Cache Valley!

There is something about downtown Logan and Utah State University campus that has that old west charm. The people are very friendly and because it is a college town you get a great diversity of people which makes for some good eats. You are only 45 minutest from Bear Lake and about 45 from Ogden so there is a lot to do when you visit. My wife and I used to visit annually for the USU Glen Miller night that consisted of a Broadway style show, dinner and swing dancing. But my most recent trip was a golf trip to play it's two beautiful courses. Luckily my buddy I went up with graduated from USU so he had some killer recommendations on where to eat.

Here are a few my favorites:

Juniper Take Out & Restaurant     http://www.junipertakeout.com/

My buddy was raving about their ham and potatoes for one of our lunch stops but that is something I really don't crave unless its Easter. There menu had a lot of excellent choices so I was leaning towards something else but he assured me I would not be disappointed so I went with the Roast Pit Ham. I'm glad I did. The ham was thick and juicy with a nice smokey flavor and the pineapple glaze they give you gave it a really sweet kick. The augratin potatoes were some of the best I've ever had an they put funeral potatoes to shame. It came with a veggie and a nice thick fresh roll with honey butter. This place will definitely be on my Cache Valley rotation.

Fredrico's     http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-19938483R-fredricos_pizza-i

Located on the east side of campus on your way up Logan canyon this pizza joint is excellent. Make sure you get the spicy Italian sausage on your pizza as it adds just enough spice. They have great garlic bread and salad so you can't go wrong with anything you get there.

Bluebird Restaurant     http://national.citysearch.com/profile/10403804/logan_ut/bluebird_restaurant.html

This place has great ice cream and food. I've eaten here every time I've visited Logan and you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. I usually go with the roast beef which is very tender and I love dipping the fresh rolls in the tasty gravy. Make sure to get a scoop of ice cream for dessert.

Aggie Creamery     http://www.usu.edu/traditions/icecream/index.cfm

You just have to have ice cream when you visit Cache Valley. Because of all of the cattle farms the cream they use to make their ice cream is gathered only blocks away from the creameries which makes the ice cream taste so fresh. The Aggie Creamery has 26 different flavors of ice cream so you will not be disappointed. You have to try the Aggie Blue Mint however as it has a lot of great stuff in it and it's blue....which is cool!

So take a trip up through the canyons this fall to Logan and enjoy one of these stops. All of you Aggie lovers out there let me know what you like as well.

Go Aggies!!!!

Oh Canada & Calgary!

Hello eh! I hope your summer has been full of fun and lots of good food eh!

My folks went up north to Alberta a few months ago and it got me thinking about the yummy food I enjoyed while serving an LDS mission there for 2 years back in the early 90's. Let me tell you that Canada is just as much the melting pot for worldly cuisine as America is. I spent over a year in Calgary. The North West section has a high Asian population while the North East section has a high Middle Eastern population. Throw in the Cree Indian nation, Russian Orthodox etc. you began to get my drift that there are some good eats in this part of the world.

I have a few people I work with who hail from Canada and I have them bring me back Cadbury Mr. Big and Crispy Crunch candy bars all of the time. If you can ever get your hands on a Mr. Big I guarantee it will be the best candy bar you will ever have. I have contacted Cadbury, who is now owned by Kraft, to see why they won't sell it here in America and they give some lame excuse about contracts, licencing...blah...blah! The Crispy Crunch is their version of the Butterfinger but better. Also try their Smarties (M&M's) but with Cadbury chocolate which is better. Do you see "better" as a theme here. Viva La Cadbury!!!!

If you have never been to this part of the world you really need to head on up and hit Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper on the BC, Alberta border. It is a trip you will never forget. I still need to get back east to Montreal and Toronto someday as it's the closet thing to Europe without jumping the Atlantic I hear.

Here are my picks I recommend to anyone heading north of the border.

Sky360 Restaurant     http://www.sky360.ca/

First off the view of downtown Calgary at this place is worth the higher cost of the food by itself. Like many other towers around the world it slowly rotates so you get a view of the awesome city from every angle so I suggest eating before dark so you can take it all in. My menu item of choice is the 6oz AAA Beef Tenderloin. This cut of meat melts in your mouth. The Albertans love their beef and almost think of themselves as more Texan than their Province brethren. Make sure you start off with some Fried Calamari as it's some of the best I've had. This is rather pricey as you can see by the menu but eat light that day so you can blow your daily allowance here for an early dinner.

Joey's Fish & Chips     http://joeys.ca/index.html

This place is all over Canada but we ate at the one in downtown Calgary all of the time. I know that your thinking fish & chips! Whoop-a-de-doo! but trust me you will love them here. The fish is battered light and fried to perfection and the fries and golden and crisp. Sprinkle on some malt vinegar, lemon and then dip away in their excellent tarter sauce. Trust me you will never have fish & chips like this but of course there are other menu items if you must branch out on your own. Don't be afraid of sea food in Alberta as the BC coast is only a few hours by flight away and most of the restaurants fly in fish daily.

Earls Kitchen     http://www.earls.ca/

This restaurant is also all over Canada and in Denver??? go figure. They have a cool parrot motif at the one in downtown Calgary and an even cooler menu. Lots of unique takes on the standard sports bar food items but what kept me going back time after time was the Roasted Vegetable & Chicken Quesadilla. After 20 years and it's still on their menu so you know it has stood the test of time and taste. Their burgers are gut bombs and delicious if your in the mood for some sight seeing fuel.

These are the places that stand out to me but other things you have to try while your in Canada are Perogies. They are a Polish dumpling that is stuffed with sauerkraut, mashed potato's, bacon, onions, fruit etc. My favorites are the mashed potato, cheese & bacon and then deep fried. French Fries with gravy and of course the candy bars mentioned above. Let me know what you have enjoyed on your trip as well as I will be taking my family up there soon.

So take off you hoser and head to Canada sometime eh! I miss Bob & Doug McKenzie!

Sushi

The first time I ever had sushi was at the Shogun restaurant in Salt Lake back in the early 90's. I was in this play and the director took all of us out and said we would love it. I kept waiting and waiting to love it but it never happened. Now that I've been in the business world the last 15 years sushi has moved from a novelty act to a full scale circus. Sushi places are popping up quicker than Walgreen's. Try as I might I can't help but think of sushi as an appetizer. I don't mind a few pieces but to eat a whole roll is a real stretch for me. But I need to make mention of a few places locally and nationally that I have really enjoyed the sushi. Here they are:

Ginza     http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/54/590851/restaurant/Downtown/Ginza-Salt-Lake-City

For the longest time I had driven by this restaurant thinking it was a hair salon studio as their is a large marquee of a woman with a fashionable bob cut on the front of the building. I finally figured out it was a Japanese restaurant when some co-workers dragged me along. They were raving about a spicy roll called the Mars Twist. Needless to say I couldn't give into their hyperbole from past experiences. What a surprise it was for me that I enjoyed eating the whole roll by myself with a side of Edamame. I highly recommend this place if you count yourself a sushi connoisseur.

Ahh Sushi     http://utah.citysearch.com/review/35671840

It's funny that the first comment on the citysearch site mentions the Funky Vegas roll as it is probably the 2nd best roll I've eaten. This is a cool little spot right down by the new City Center that will be completed shortly in Salt Lake.

Teriyaki Grill     http://t-grill.com/menu-page/

First off I must say I always get the combo (steak and chicken) rice (if I'm really hungry) or noodle (if I'm almost really hungry) bowl. But I always get a roll to share with whoever I'm with. Why not have the best of both worlds with Japanese fusion establishments (fusion as far as sushi and rice bowls are concerned). You will love this place that is starting to franchise through Utah and just opened one up the road in Clinton.

Kona Grill     http://www.konagrill.com/

For a national spot I will go with Kona Grill in Denver but I imagine their other locations are the same. I mentioned the pot stickers in my Denver post a while back but wanted to make sure I mention I have also enjoyed their sushi rolls as well. They have a sushi menu second to none and will have just about every type of sushi you can imagine on there.

So there you have it. From someone who is a timid sushi eater I stand by these selections if you want to impress your savvy sushi eating friends. Unless they are from mainland Japan you will be able to impress them. If you have some excellent choices I would love to hear about them and keep broadening my horizons.

Before I go I really have to say I need to try the Shogun again as it was a long time ago and people downtown really seem to like it so here is their link:

http://www.shogunslc.com/Shogun/Welcome.html

Sayonara for now!

New York, NY.

"Start spreading the news....I'm leaving today"....you know the rest!

I love NY!

Not because I'm a huge Yankee's fan, history fan, food fan.....OK, it is all because of those things. The few days the misses and I spent there a few years back were unforgettable. The weather was a little rainy when we were there but it didn't bother us at all as it kept it cool and the crowds away. After walking Utah blocks in SLC all of my life which are about a quarter mile square the little blocks in Manhattan were no problem to navigate on foot. We didn't even try the subway as we didn't want to miss any of the sites or smells. Again it was cool so the smells were not that bad.

A couple of my neighbors are heading to the the Big Apple this weekend for business & pleasure so I thought I would jump in with a couple of local joints. The main focus for me was NY style pizza. My director at work is from NY and is always raving about the pizza and no matter where we get "NY style pizza" west of the Mississippi he always comments how it's not the same. So I was eager to try it. I also remembered the scene in Iron Man where Jeff Bridges brings a NY pizza with him and Robert Downey Jr. is so happy with him. So without further adue:

Roxy's Deli:     http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/roxy-delicatessen/

Everyone makes it to Times Square and this place was recommended by everyone I knew that had been there. We really tried to make it there for lunch or dinner but by the time we made it there it was about 9 so we just had a slice of cheesecake. All 4 of us all got a different kind and they all melted in your mouth but can I just put a shout out for the Heath cheesecake. First off I love toffee but to make it work so well in a cheesecake and make it so smooth and flavorable was beyond me. I can't wait to try one of their huge sandwiches on my next visit as the insane amounts of meat made my muscles spasm just thinking about it.

Carmine's Italian:     http://www.carminesnyc.com/

First off there are a lot of choices near Times Square for great dinning. After spending the day making our way from lower Manhattan to Times Square and asking people along the way what was good eats this was the first place that reached 3 recommendations which I felt fell in line with my rules of the road mentioned in my first blog. Can I just say it must be the sauce that makes people remember it. When you have a sauce you can dip anything in and just blows you away with it's flavor you know you have a keeper. I think I used my sock to sop up the rest of the sauce...A little descriptive I know! I went with the Rigatoni w/sausage and broccoli but make sure you go with the marinara sauce as opposed to the cream sauce as my sister-in-law made the mistake and wished she hadn't. The Calamari as an appetizer was fantastic dipped in the marinara. The Chocolate Cannoli is a great way to finish but I'm glad we all shared it as we knew we were heading to Roxy's later that night. They have a few locations so I imagine they are all great!

Lazzara's Pizza Cafe:     http://lazzaraspizza.com/html/home.php

This jewel located right next to Rockefeller plaza was excellent. The pizza was so foldable and flavorable which is always what you want in a NY pizza. My director was right, you cannot duplicate it out west here and again it's due to the dryness of the air. The dough back east is so moist and bakes perfectly in a thin pizza crust. The other place we ate at near the financial district was just as good but I cannot remember the name. Bottom line is get a recommendation from whatever section of Manhattan you are in and go as you will not be disappointed. Just remember to order quick during the lunch hour as like the Soup Nazi in Seinfeld they get perturbed if you lallygag.

You also need to have a hot dog from a street vendor when your out and about as they are just as good as the Chicago dogs. After visiting NY I began to appreciate the difference in food between them and Chicago. Thank goodness for originality in this great country of ours as most metro cities have their own unique touches on the standard eats.

Viva la New York!

Philadelphia, PA.

I love summer!

Even though it can get hot and steamy there is nothing like eating out doors. The smell of BBQ's sizzling all around the neighborhood is intoxicating. Meat on a grill just tastes better no matter what type it is. With the summer comes vacations. My wife's brother just came out from Philly with the family for a few weeks stay here in Utah and it got me reminiscing about the trip the wife and I took to visit him back east a few years ago.

The first thing you have to do when planning a trip that would include New York, Philly, Wilmington, Baltimore and DC is to plan where you are going to eat. There are certain types of food in every city that must be eaten.

Our first few days out there were spent in Philly near Independence Square and that vicinity so of course the first thing I had to eat when I was there was a philly cheesesteak sandwich. I have watched the Food Network enough to know about Pat and Gino's and the debate of Provolone versus Cheese Wiz. I however didn't hit either location on that trip as I didn't want to take time to hit the touristy locations. I wanted to see where the locals eat and head there. Now I had eaten a lot of cheesesteaks from around the country but never in Philly so I really wanted to see if there was a difference. I'm glad to report there was. After asking a few locals where to get a good cheesesteak we received  some great recommendations and one place won out more than the others.

Sonny's:    http://www.yelp.com/biz/sonnys-famous-steaks-philadelphia

The difference between cheesesteaks in Philly and other lo-cals is the bread. The bread has to be moist, soft and chewy so the sandwich works together. Bread out west is too dry. In the south the high humidity can make the bread too soft or stale quickly. Being an original cheesesteak virgin I told the guy behind the counter to make mine the way he likes his. This has it's risks but I do it a lot when I'm eating something or somewhere for the first time. It consisted of sauteed onions and mushroom with the cheese wiz. I must say I was hoping he would say the Provolone as I had never had the cheese wiz variety. They had both options there but I was really surprised how well the cheese wiz worked on it. I really needed this big sandwich as we walked a lot that day and it made for a killer lunch.

Reading Terminal Market:     http://www.readingterminalmarket.org/

I really wanted to eat at a couple of other places but we ended up eating here for lunch and dinner. This is the coolest place. It's like have 10 farmers markets all rolled into one. The food choices were from all over the map and authentic as the people that were working at the different eating establishments were from those countries....as far as I could tell. For lunch we hit the Amish area where I got to have a huge pickle in a barrel and a killer fresh chicken sandwich for lunch. The cheese on the sandwich was goat cheese and a little strong but worked well. For dinner we hit the Greek stand called Olympic Gyro and my Gyro was built for an Olympian. Warning: it is sensory overload and you will sample a lot of desserts, cheeses, meats as everyone is willing to offer you a taste of their specialties. Once again I'm glad we walked a lot all over Philly those two days.

I was really impressed with the city and it's layout. Everything was easy to navigate and the people we encountered were really friendly and helpful. We had a chance to do a ghost walking tour the evening we were there and do not miss that opportunity.

I will give you some recommendations in the other cities we visited and please let me know what you like.

CHEEEEESESTEAKS RULE!

San Francisco, CA.

About 12 years ago the wife and I and a few business associates made a pilgrimage up to Banff, Alberta, Canada for a little trip. Upon arriving at the Banff Springs Hotel (The coolest Hotel in the world) the courtesy worker who was helping us with our luggage asked what room we were staying in, we told him one of the corner wings on one of the floors and he responded with "That's the one Michelle Pfeiffer always stays in". Needless to say I was ecstatic. I laid there all night in bed saying to my wife "I'm sleeping in the bed Michelle Pfeiffer slept in....I'm sleeping in the bed Michelle Pfeiffer slept in" to which I finally got a shot in the ribs! HA!

What does that story have to do with San Francisco?

Fast forward to 2008 and a co-worker and I are in San Fran and someone at the office told us about this restaurant called The Boulevard that wasn't too far from our hotel down by the pier so we hoofed it down there and as we're walking along and locate the place who do I happen to see eating dinner and facing out towards the bay???? Michelle Pfeiffer. I asked Mark (my co-worker) "is that who I think it is" and he pretended to look at another building without looking to obvious and confirmed my thought as well. We both pretended to look at the adjacent building for a few minutes, which was obvious. I must say she is very stunning even while eating.

So without further adue I give you my top picks in the city by the bay:

The Boulevard Restaurant:     http://www.boulevardrestaurant.com/

The first night we tried this place we didn't really know the dress code so wear business casual or you will feel out of place. The place gets packed so get a reservation as well. We didn't know this but the workers at the front desk made us an inpromtu table by the bar which was very kind of them. I went with the Grilled Local King Salmon. Talk about a fresh fish. It was so light and flavorful and the squash and mushrooms were a great addition to the flavor of the dish. Of course make sure you do not tank up on the sourdough bread. The bread in San Fran rivals bread from anywhere. I went with the Wood Fired Pork Prime Rib Chop a few nights later and it was a great contrast to the Salmon. I can't wait to go back!!! and see Michelle Pfeiffer! HA!

The Fly Trap Restaurant:     http://zareflytrap.com/

Don't let the name of the place gross you out. I didn't and I'm grateful. This place has major charm and a very cozy feel to it. The little tables and arrangement made me feel like I was back east in a little pub. Get the Pistachio Meatballs as a starter. I could've made a meal out of those they were that good. I went out of my comfort zone of beef or fish and went with the lamb. They have two lamb dishes however and I can't remember which one I had but it was not gamy to say the least and very tender. I know my co-worker enjoyed his Beef Short Ribs so I'm going for those when I go back. Didn't see Michelle Pfeiffer here! Sorry!

Kuleto's Authentic San Fran Italian:     http://www.kuletos.com/

Italian is one of those food nationalities that really is hard to screw up. Every non chain place I've eaten at has had very unique ways of preparing their pasta's that get handed down from one generation to the next. Where I think they differ is in the sauces. There are so many different ways to prepare a sauce but use the right spices and whammo, you've got a master piece. The sauce used on their Linguine dish is TO DIE FOR. No lie. It was so good. The clams were very tender and everything worked here. I'm sure Michelle Pfeiffer has eaten here???

So there you have my taste of San Fran and my affection for Michelle Pfeiffer. I'm sure I will get another shot in the ribs after my wife reads this but it's worth it! Maybe. Of course you can't go wrong eating at any of the establishments at Fisherman's Warf or Pier 39. Just make sure to get your share of seafood and bread as you can walk off the carbs by skipping the trolley ride back to your hotel and walk!

Enjoy!

Ames, IA.

Of all of the places to choose to blog about your wondering why Ames??? That's what I thought the first time I went there for work. I knew about Des Moines but I hadn't heard anything about Ames which is about 45 minutes north. With all of the tornado's slamming the Midwest and South recently it reminded me of the time I was in Ames when some pretty nasty looking storms were rolling through. The storms get so black and the wind just starts blowing in any direction. Crazy!

But back to the food. This little college town (home to the Iowa Stat Cyclones) has a lot to offer in national cuisine. Here are a few of my favorites.

Hickory Park:     http://www.hickoryparkames.com/

If you are ever within 100 miles of Ames you must stop here. Everyone who has ever been there knows about Hickory Park. It is a great BBQ restaurant with amazing prices. My menu item of choice is the Barbecue Dinner and Chicken. You get beef, pork, turkey and 1/4 chicken for about $10. You cannot beat that anywhere and all of the meat is great. Did I mention you get two sides and some hot rolls. Make sure you save a little room for a scoop or two of their ice cream. I love the Strawberry Shortcake. Simple but delicious. You will be able to build it how you like it so the skies the limit.

Dublin Bay Pub:     http://www.dublinbayames.com/

I must say that I do not seek out Irish or Scottish food when I'm on the road as I figure you would have to drink a lot of beer in order to eat the food. There just isn't anything exotic about the food. But hold the presses. I gave this place a try and enjoyed every minute of it. Go with the Guiness Beef Boxty. A potato pancake filled with peas, carrots, beef, onions and gorgonzola cheese sauce. NUMMY!

Maude's:     http://www.auntmaudesames.com/

When you want to step up and spend a little more money that is totally worth it this is your stop in Ames. The Chili Cured Filet is awesome. The meat is as soft as the garlic mashed potato's. For pasta go with the Tequila Chicken Fettuccine. The sauce makes this dish scream for delight in your mouth. Their French Onion Soup is some of the best I've had so make sure to get that as a starter.

A couple of honorable mentions are Olde Main Brewing Company, The Spice (Thai Cuisine) and Carolos O'Kelly's Mexican Cafe.

I told you they had a lot of different international eats didn't I. So on your way back east if you on a major roady stop by this cool little town with a great college feel and check out my recommendations.

And if there are dark clouds are brewing hunker down and be careful!!!

Sacramento, CA.

I want to start off telling you how bummed I was to hear the news of The Govenator and Maria Shriver splitting after 25 years. That's a long time to figure out you don't want to be with someone. Can't Republicans and Democrats ever get along??? This event started me thinking about the great city of Sacramento. When I would visit there during his terms in office I always thought I would run into him while eating downtown across from the capital. Never happened but to meet the Terminator would've been awesome. Plus my last name did not end with Conner so I was safe!

I think Sac town is one of the greatest cities out there. There Old Town area is one of the funnest areas to wander around in. It has one of the coolest costume shops you will ever visit. As well as lots of food choices. So sit back and enjoy while I take you around the city for some good eats.

 Rio City Cafe:     http://www.riocitycafe.com/menus/index.html

Located in Old Sac this place will transport you back in time. It sits right on the Sacramento river and has killer views all around. I usually start with the Ahi Nachos if there are a few of you. These will be like no nachos you have had before. The chips are wontons and the soy lime dressing is awesome. My menu item of choice is the Pacific Pasta. It is a mix of all that is sea worthy and works well together. The chipotle cream sauce is what makes this dish standout.

Dragon Palace:     http://www.yelp.com/biz/dragon-palace-chinese-restaurant-sacramento

This is a nice little Chinese restaurant on the north side of downtown and has excellent dishes. I usually go with the Cashew Chicken as the cashews are big and tasty. The Mongolian Beef and Spicy Shrimp are excellent as well. The food is very fresh tasting with sauces that are very unique. Some Chinese restaurants I've eaten at seem like they have one sauce  they use on every dish. They just swap out the ingredients is all. You won't find any carbon copy sauces here.

Malabar American Cooking:         http://www.malabaramericancooking.com/

This trendy restaurant has all of the good dishes you crave. Start with the Fire Roasted Stuffed Portabella mushrooms. Tons of flavor to kick your taste buds into high gear. I'm not that much of a salad guy and I think I've mentioned that before but the Thai Beef salad is awesome. It truly eats like a meal with tender beef, noodles, mixed greens and a killer chili lime dressing. For a main course I recommend the Shrimp Diablo. Again I look at most shrimp dishes as appetizers but this dish eats more like a steak dinner. The shrimp are heavily marinated which makes them wonderful to eat on there own. Finish it off with the Malabar Sundae as anything with toffee on it is for me.

Riverside Clubhouse:      http://www.riversideclubhouse.com/

If I were to re-do my house this is where I would start with ideas. This place is Chic. The food is great too. Go right for the Lobster Ravioli with Seared Prawns. TRUST ME! It is a great dish. I've been there with a group of about 6 before and they all loved their dishes. When you can get 6 thumbs up you know you have hit a jack pot.

So head out to this fine city soon and let me know what you like there as well. As Arnold would say

"I'll be back!"

La Habra, CA.

A few years back our family did a big roadie to Disneyland with all of the family. It was a big caravan from Centerville to Anaheim and we made sure to stop a lot and swap kids in and out of different vehicles to keep them from getting to crazy. The advantage of traveling for work is you get to know some good local eats instead of your usual chain and fast food joints that are staples on family trips. Of course we hit In-N-Out burger but I talked the family into eating at a few places I enjoy on the road. When you get kudos from ages 5 to 70 on your selections you know you've done well.

My focus in this entry will be on an area just north of Anaheim called La Habra. I spent a few weeks cruising around this area and got to try a lot of really good places. Here are my favorites:

The Cat & The Custard Cup:     http://www.catandcustardcup.com/

Visiting the website I did not see the appetizer I got but that's what I like about eclectic restaurants is new menu items that make repeat visits exciting. I was glad to see the Roast Pork Tenderloin. The chipolte bbq hollandaise makes this cut of meat scream for attention. A very unusual marinade that worked very well. The applewood smoked bacon mashed potatos rocked as well. But bacon in anything rocks right??? For dessert go with the creme brulee with fresh raspberries. I also tried the rustic french bread pudding and will definitely have to save room on the next trip. The restaurant itself is very unique and all of the nooks and crannies made you feel right at home at your own table.

El Cholo:     http://www.elcholo.com/

An awesome local Mexican food chain located all over SoCal. You cannot go wrong here. Keep it simple and go with their Tacos. You think tacos are cheap and easy right! But this place takes tacos to knew heights and even though they look like any other taco they had a ton of flavor. I went with the combo plate of beef, pork and chicken and love them all. I went back and had the Sonora Style Enchilada as something that has been on a menu since 1923 has to be good and it was. Nothing to fancy just tasty and that's what you want when you are craving Mexican. Good sauce, cheesy and the meat has to be seasoned well. The Mexican tri-fecta! The fried egg made it unique.

Taps Fish House & Brewery:     http://www.tapsfishhouse.com/brea/

For a guy who doesn't drink I sure have a lot of Breweries in my posts don't I. I love a good draft root beer or cream soda however. Is that so wrong!!! Again I think breweries have to cater to more than just the drinker and most do really well with there menus.  For appetizers I recommend the Maine Lobster Dumplings. Who could think you could bring something from the opposite coast and make it your own but they have here. I was tempted to just order another batch and bag dinner. But I didn't. It's a fish house for crying out loud so I went with Drunken Mahi Mahi. The tomato risotto worked well with this dish as did the crab tostadas. Fantastic menu and I can't wait to get back and try something else....Drunken???

So give these a try on your next visit to Disneyland as they are definitely worth the 30 minute drive north from Anaheim. After all you can only eat so long in the park....although the restaurants there sure have come a long way and I will blog my favorites in and around the park another day.

"It's a small world after all!"

Houston, TX.

I love Texas. Not only because my beloved Cowboys are located there but because of all the different types of food. You can find mixtures of Cajun, Creole, Southern, Tex Mex, BBQ as well as a melting pot of other worldly cuisine. I worked the summer of 93 down in Corpus, San Antonio and Austin and although it was bloody hot and humid the WHOLE summer it was an awesome experience. So when my bank I work for bought a bank in Texas that was headquartered in Houston I was excited to get back down there.

The city of Houston is huge and like San Antonio you can make one giant loop around the city for easy access to any part of town. My Aunt and Uncle and a few cousins moved down there years ago which made it doubly exciting to visit them and that city for work. I will start near the Galleria which is where I spent most of my time.

Gigi's Asian Bistro:     http://www.gigisasianbistro.com/

Start off with their Chicken Lettuce Wraps. Now I know that everyone does a lettuce wrap these days (PF Chang's are awesome) but these lettuce wraps take my prize as the best. The mixture they use is very original and the flavors blow apart in your mouth like Chinese fireworks. My menu item of choice is the Tamarind Chili Cashew Chicken. This was a different take on cashew chicken that I have had elsewhere as the chili spice really worked at giving this dish a unique kick. My work associate swears by the Shaking Beef so I will be trying that on my next visit.

Post Oak Grill:     http://www.postoakgrill.com/

This place is very trendy and by trendy I mean the menu is very diverse with signature dishes. Most of the finer places I eat on the road take traditional pasta, meat and seafood dishes and then make them there own and this place does that exceptionally well. For pasta I recommend the Crab/Lobster Ravioli as the mushroom lobster sauce is good enough to eat on its own let alone the stuffed ravioli. For meat I recommend the Three Peppercorn Filet. The sauce is fantastic and the meat was so tender. I will try the seafood on my next visit and let you know.

The Flying Dutchman (Kema):     http://www.landrysrestaurants.com/pages/restaurants/pg_rest_dutchman.htm

A work associate from near Kema told me about this place so I followed him down which was about a 45 minute drive southeast of Houston. Which at times he forgot I was following him which made for an adventure but I digress. This boardwalk area was really neat. It had lots of cool shops and eats. Allot of it was destroyed by Katrina but has been rebuilt and better than ever. Definitely worth the drive when you are visiting Houston. My menu item of choice was the Island Redfish but just about any seafood you get will not disappoint as Galveston bay is right there and the fishing is back.

Good Co. Texas BBQ:     http://www.goodecompany.com/

My cousin took me for a looksie around Houston one day I was down there and he took me to this place for some awesome Texas BBQ. We went to the original establishment on Kirby. I had the Beef Brisket sandwich on their jalapeno cheese bread and it did not disappoint. The Austin baked beans and cole slaw were some of the best I've had. But what really stands out was the slice of Brazos Bottom Pecan Pie that I got. Now I'm not one for nut custard pies as when you make them at the elevation we are at in Utah they are dry. But being in a humid area must make a world of difference as the pecans were soft and fused well with the custard and flaky crust. YUM!

Other places of choice by my co-workers are Yia Yia Mary's for Greek food. Pappasitos Cantina for Mexican or Pappadeauxs for seafood. I will also check these places out on my next visit and give a full report.

Thank you Sam Houston and remember the Alamo!

Portland, OR.

Still raining and snowing so I might as well address Portland this time.

I love Oregon! The first time my family and I drove up the coast on vacation in 83 I fell in love with the cool coastal towns like Lincoln City, Newport and Tillamook (Tillamook has the best cheese by the way, in stores now). We somehow missed Portland on that trip but business has taken me up there a few times since and it is an easy city to enjoy some good eats. Just watch your driving as it's easy to end up on the other side of the river on accident. Maddening!

Here are a couple of my favorites,

Steamers Asian Street Bistro:     http://www.dumplingsandtea.com/

This is not like any Asian cafe you will have visited. First off I'm a sucker for edamame and their bamboo steamed edamame is the best. Even after a nice helping of ginger pork and szechuan chicken dumplings there is always room for edamame. How many times can I work edamame into this paragraph??? The spicy lemon grass soup is different but gooood. I also had their chicken ginger rice bowl and it was very satisfying. I just recommend trying a few different menu items and enjoy!

Red Star Tavern and Roast House:      http://www.redstartavern.com/

This was referred to me by a worker at the Marriott I was staying in and I give it an A+. Start with the Red Star Cornbread. Awesome! My menu item of choice is the Carlton Park Pork Porterhouse. It's not like any pork you will have eaten before. Very tender and flavorful with the rub they put on it and eats like a white meat steak. The Dry Aged Ribeye was really good as well with the crumbled blue cheese (I love co-workers that share). For the side try the Braised Collard Greens. This is not your usual side but the bacon and garlic make it very tasty.

Deschutes Brewery:      http://www.deschutesbrewery.com/brewery/brew-pubs/portland-pub/default.aspx

Ran into this place on our way to an awesome bookstore. Go with the Brewers Platter to start. A heavenly mix of different tastes and textures. The Large House Pretzel was very good as well but it's a lot of dough so don't over eat before the main course. The Hazelnut Crusted Rockfish was very tasty. There is something about nut crusted fish that I cannot turn down. For dessert go with the Cheeky Monkey Bread Pudding. I'm not much for soggy bread desserts but the waiter talked me into it and I'm glad he did as all of the flavors really worked with this dessert.

I wanted to mention Greek Cusina but apparently it has been closed for awhile while the owner fights with the city. So just do a quick drive by when your downtown to see if its open as it is worth a visit as well.

Make sure you make your way up to the Rose Garden to walk off all of the food you have eaten as there are dozens of different types.

Make sure to let me know what you like!

Seattle, WA.

Ahh Seattle!

One of my favorite family vacations was to Washington and Victoria back in 83. I was totally enamored with the Space Needle and the downtown area. I just love a town on the water. Being from Utah where it only rains in the spring I enjoy a wet, rainy Seattle when I visit as it seems normal. That is probably why Seattlans love their coffee shops. I love the food in Seattle most of all. Lots of trendy cafes and world wide cuisine. Of course the seafood is caught that day and delivered to all of the restaurants in the city proper. Your search for great food should start at Pikes Place Market  http://www.pikeplacemarket.org/ . Not only do they have there own eating establishments but there are some excellent choices within a few blocks walking distance. Before eating however sit and watch the fish market workers fling seafood all over the place to waiting customers. It is truly a site to behold. In the half dozen times I've been there I've only seen them drop one fish. An immediate discount of coarse. Now onto the food.

The Elephant & Castle Pub & Restaurant:    http://www.elephantcastle.com/
 
This place took me back to the pubs we visited on our tour through Europe in 96. Lots of wood and old English charm. It is a national chain so check out another location in another city if you can. My favorite meal here is the Roast Beef stuffed Yorkshire Pudding. If you have ever had Yorkshire pudding you will love this meal. If you haven't you need to experience this English delight. I had it quite a few times on my mission in Canada and it is truly an art making it well. I have also had the Guinness Stew which was thick, meaty and delicious. There menu has a little of everything for everyone so branch out and see what you like.

The Pink Door:      http://thepinkdoor.net/

My work associate and I were just wandering around the city and actually stumbled on this place by accident. But after reading the menu we were sold. The Paglia E Fieno was my pasta of choice. A fettuccine with wild mushrooms in a light cream sauce. The Straccato Al Barolo is braised beef so tender you can cut it with a finger (fork is to cliche).

Elliott's Oyster House:    http://www.elliottsoysterhouse.com/

There are tons of seafood places to eat along the pier just down from Pikes Place but my favorite is Elliotts. Now I don't have a lot of experience with oysters. My director at work who is from New York is a Oyster connoisseur and can run down dozens of different types. You do not have to get oysters here if you do not want to. But try some as an appetizer. I can't remember the ones I had so ask your server for their favorite. My meal of choice was the Pesto Clam Linguine. There is something about good pasta and seafood that just work well together. I was worried that the clams would be rubbery like some clam chowders I have eaten (mostly out of can) but I was mistaken. Fresh clams prepared right have a great texture and these were some of the best I've eaten. You have to get their Dungeness Crab Cakes as well. Soft and full of flavor.

These are just a few of my favorites downtown. I was able to eat at a few locals all over the city so I will address those in a future blog. It helps when you know someone who had family in an area as they will know where the locals eat.

For desserts you have to have a peach scone. A scone is like a giant cookie in Seattle and not Native American fry bread that we are used to in the west. But get one of these with your favorite coffee or hot chocolate (in my case) and enjoy!

San Diego, CA.

Ah San Diego!

Of all of the cities I have traveled to for business and pleasure this has to be one of my favorites. Sea World, Old Town, Gas Lamp District, Coronado, The Zoo and on and on there is enough to fill a few weeks.

I already mentioned my favorite restaurant The Boathouse in a previous blog so I will give a few places from all over the greater San Diego proper. Don't worry, none of them are in Tijuana! Although I miss being able to park your car atthe border and just wander into the city to buy a bunch of cheap authentic merchandise, especially Chic-Let gum. Ah the memories!!!

The Poseidon     http://www.poseidonrestaurant.com/

This awesome place just up the road in Del Mar is just awesome. Did I stutter? I love sitting right on the beach and eating seafood. You just have to do it when you are on the coast. Start with the Crispy Moroccan Calamari. Unlike any calamari that you will have had. It is crispy yet very tender on the inside. Then go with the Miso Glazed Mahi - Mahi and instead of the Orzo Pasta go with the Garlic Mashed. I'm a sucker for mashed tate-ers. The Tempura Asparagus is such a bonus to this meal. For those that do not like sea food I also tried my co-workers Tequila Lime Tortellini with chicken which was really good. I probably would've got it with the shrimp however.

Cafe Coyote y Cantina     http://www.cafecoyoteoldtown.com/

You have to visit Old Town when you are in San Diego. It's like stepping back in time. There are a dozen places to eat but I'm glad I picked this one as the Mexican food here was award winning. Get the Guac and chips to start. Their Guac was insanely good. Then go for the Pollo a la Crema which is chicken breast on Mexican rice and a creamy jalapeno cream sauce. Very different and very good. I tried the Chili Colorado as well and the pork was as tender as the chicken. Then after topping it off with some Banana Quesadilla for desert leave plenty of time to walk around and do some shopping. It's Tijuana without the drug cartel!!!

Nicky Rottens     http://nickyrottens.com/

I stumbled on this place walking from the Gas Lamp district on the south side of the city on my way to Petco park for a Padres game. I saw this huge burger this guy was eating and new this was a place for me. It is a great atmosphere before a Padres game and probably any other time of day as well. I went with the Famous Rotten Burger....what else would you go with on the first try. I loved the sauce they put on it and the bacon really accentuated the patty. It was like two burgers in one. I love to see what burger places come up with to put on burgers and there is more than enough choices here to satisfy any taste. Needless to say I didn't get anything to eat at the park and was grateful I parked a ways away so I could walk it off a little.

Daphne's Greek Cafe     http://www.daphnesgreekcafe.com/index.html

You knew I would have to throw some Greek on here. This is a chain that has a few locations in the area so just enter the zip of the place your staying at to find the nearest location. There menu items are traditional Greek with some neat twists. The Pita Burger with their fire feta and fries was awesome and out of the ordinary. I had never had a burger like that one. We went back the next day for lunch again and their Gyro/chicken kabob platter was heavenly as well. Good feta makes a good eating experience in my book and they had some great feta.

These are only a few of my favorites. A co-worker of mine just returned from San Diego and was raving about Hashhouseagogo http://www.hashhouseagogo.com/ . He had a picture of his dinner on his cell phone so you know it is memorable when you are snapping pictures of your food. I can't wait to try it when I'm back down there.

Until next week "Stay Classy San Diego".....

DENVER, CO.

"That John Denver is full of @#%^!"

One of my all time favorite lines from Dumb & Dumber.

I love Denver. I have been out there over a dozen times and love that you can view all 4 major sports in one lo-cal. I first went out there in 95 to catch a Rockies game and of all of the baseball stadiums I've been to I think Coors Field is the most picturesque. The downtown skyline provides a beautiful backdrop from center field. I bought some street burritos before entering and was glad I did. YUM! Now onto the food.

For my business trips I stayed on Colorado Blvd so most of my recommendations are from this main artery in the city. In my 5 National favorites blog I already mentioned Cherry Creek Grill so I will not re-hash that here. So here are a few other favorites.

Ya Hala:   http://www.yahalagrill.com/index.html

This Syrian restaurant is awesome. I was turned onto this place on one of my last trips there by some employees at the bank I was working at. The menu is very Mediterranean. I went with the Hummus as an appetizer which was excellent. Very smooth and very tasty. I chickened out and went with the Chicken Kabob and I was very pleased with my choice. If the Kabobs are excellent its a great jumping off point to the rest of the menu. I didn't get the Baklava so I will get that when I go back and let you know how it is but their web-site says it's the best in the state. That statement might be over coined but I'll go with it.

Kona Grill:    http://www.konagrill.com/

First off I'm not that much of a Sushi guy. I know it's trendy and very business class but I think of it as a appetizer and not a meal. I'm also very pedestrian when I order Sushi. But this place has some of the best Sushi I've had. Go with the Fiery Shrimp Roll for some kick to wake up your taste buds. This is also the place I've had the best Pot Stickers I've ever had as well. They are chuck full of chicken and vegetables and I swear the sauce they give you to dip them in is illegal. My menu item of choice is the Macadamia Nut Chicken. A very tasty dish. It's in the Cherry Creek Mall shopping area so do the valet parking. Trust me.

Qudoba Mexican Grill:   http://www.qdoba.com/

This is a national chain everywhere but Utah so I have to mention it. Get the 3 Cheese Steak Nachos. You will not be disappointed. Their burritos are huge and delicious but a lot of places do a good burrito. I guess I might love it because we don't have it so absence must make the heart grow fonder. HA!

Asian Grill Mongolian BBQ:  http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/17/210259/restaurant/Denver/Southeast-Denver/Asian-Grill-Mongolian-BBQ-Glendale

I've eaten a lot of Mongolian BBQ in my day and at a few locations throughout Denver but what separates this place is the variety. Lots of meats, tons of sauces and veggies. If you've never had MBBQ you have to try it. The flavors all mix together into a large bowl of heaven. My perfect sauce is 3 spoonfuls of Teriyaki, 1 Sechwan and 1 House. I like a little sweet and a little kick.

So go ahead and add these on your next visit to the Mile High city. It should give you some variety and some options.

Enjoy!

VIVA LAS VEGAS

Still winter here so I'm sticking with another warm lo-cal. Las Vegas!

I know Vegas gets a bad rep from a lot of people. You either have a great time there or you don't. There really isn't any middle ground. The locals stay off the strip and the tourists very rarely leave it. But when your there on business you learn to get around this great city and live in both worlds. There is so much to see, do and EAT!

I'm going to spot light 4 restaurants in this blog. These were always on my rotation during my week long business trips as well as vacations. Two on the strip and two off of it. I picked these four as they are very diverse and should give you some nice choices on your next visit.

Strip:

Trevi at The Forum Shopping at Caesars Palace:   http://www.trevi-italian.com/

This Italian restaurant is a taste of Rome in Las Vegas. It's one of the few places you can order just about anything on the menu and you will not be disappointed. They give you an excellent olive tapenade with your bread while you wait. I scored the tapenade recipe off our waiter the first time I was there so I will share it with all of you soon. Of all of the dishes I have had there the one that rises to the top is the Fazolleto Trevi. There is no meat in this dish but the flavor is strong and bold. Fresh pasta sheets with spinach and ricotta in a wild mushroom sauce. Terrifico!!! Now some people do not like mushrooms......I don't know who they are but if you don't go with the Chicken Cannelloni. Save room for the Tiramisu Gelato to finish it off. Then you will be ready to wander around the awesome shops and hit the water light show at the Billagio.

Taqueria Canonita at The Venetian:    http://www.canonita.net/

For a place located deep within the Venetian it is well worth the walk off the strip. This is not your typical Mexican restaurant. It has a very local menu flavor. I have never been to Mexico City but some of the entrees look to be right out of the great city. You have to go with the Santa Rosa Barbacoa de Puero. Check this out. Marinated pork slowly marinated in a banana leaf with cilantro rice, beans and chipolte barbecue sauce. You will have nothing like it out side of Mexico.....I guess. Tres Taco is not a bad call either as you get the best of three worlds in one meal.

Off the strip:

Paymon's Mediterranean:    http://www.paymons.com/med_main.html

If you have never had a Kabob you have to go to Paymon's and try all of them. The spices they use should be illegal. I love the Broiled Kabob trio which is chicken, lamb and beef. The thing I love about Mediterranean/Greek/Indian food is it hardly anything is deep fried. You actually can order so many things on the menu and feel good about it. I've had good and bad Moussaka and Pastitsio but they have some of the best I've had. I wish they had their market near my home here as I would love to make my own some day. If you are there at lunch time get a side of their Athens fries. Yummy! Did I mention they HARDLY have anything deep fried. Be naughty. Order them. What happens in Vegas..............

Lindo Michoacan:     http://www.lindomichoacan.com/

On my most recent visit this place was referred to me by my manager and it was awesome. Talk about some hot salsa and some even hotter dishes but this is a local favorite and if the locals like it you will like it. Right! My waitress recommended the #16 Polo Con Rajas y Crema and I almost hugged her after that recommendation.....come to think of it I did. It is not your typical Mexican chicken dish. It is a creamy sauce but works very well as opposed to your traditional enchilada sauces. I visited the West Flamingo restaurant but they have a few more locations scattered around the city.

Now put on your Elvis hair and you ladies your flamingo outfits and eat well!

Enjoy!

Best Dessert EVER!

Best dessert ever!

How do I back that claim up?

First off I have enjoyed many great desserts from all over the world. I've had Swiss chocolate, Belgian pastries, French crapes, Mexican fried ice cream, Greek baklava etc. but there was one dessert that I spent 15 years searching for after the first time I had it. If something makes you search for it for so long it has to be great.

It all started on my LDS mission in Alberta Canada in 1990. My first area was in Red Deer. There were 4 of us missionaries in this awesome city. One Elder, Elder Southwick, was part of the other companionship. Early in the spring of 90 he received a package from his Grandmother back here in Utah. They were brownies. When he first pulled them out of the fridge for a district meeting I thought to myself why would someone go to all the trouble to send brownies by mail hundreds of miles away. That's one diligent Granny! They had grocery stores in Canada. Go buy some Duncan Heinz brownie mix and make them yourself. Duh! They were cut in little two inch squares and I thought I'm going to need 5 of them just to enjoy them. I took my little itsy bitsy brownie took one bite and was blown away. First off there was at least 5 caramels in each square and I love caramels. It was so rich and delicious I had to have a glass of milk just to wash one square down. Needless to say I became quite a pain in Elder Southwicks side as I bugged him for another square and then tried to get his grandmother to send me the recipe to no avail. I even thought about breaking into his apartment like Mission Impossible to get my hands on a few more. Just as I was starting a dangerous addiction I got transferred to another area and the mystery of the brownies lied dormant for 15 years.

That was until 2005 when I was at a neighborhood bunko party a few streets over from my house and the hostess pulled out these brownies. They were cut in 2 inch squares. I thought to myself "man those look familiar". When she started pulling them out and the caramel was stringing all over my heart skipped about two beats. My wife could see the hungry dog look in my eyes and wondered why I was so excited. The first bite I took transported me back through space and time to 'Oh Canada' so many years before. I immediately hounded the host for the recipe before she started the bunko game as I did not want to go another 15 years. I was pretty insistent. Almost Kramer Seinfeld insistent but she relented and I had the recipe in my grasp at long last. I have been adding insulation to my frame with these beauties consistently ever since.

Without further adieu I give you GERMAN CHOCOLATE CARAMEL BROWNIES:

1 box German chocolate cake mix
3/4 cup butter (real butter, please!)
1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
1    cup milk chocolate chips (no semi-sweet with these....trust me)

Caramel:
60  caramels (you heard me right! 60)
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk

Mix cake mix, butter and condensed milk. Press half of mixture in greased 9X13 pan. Bake 10 minutes at 350 degrees. Melt caramels and condensed milk together on stove and pour mixture over hot brownies, sprinkle chocolate chips over caramel. Cover with remaining dough (finger press a nice thin layer) and bake for additional 15-18 min. CAREFUL NOT TO OVERCOOK! Let cool awhile so the caramels can set up and cut into small two inch squares. Taste great refrigerated.

I think we figured each square had about 11 grams of fat so do not over do it....if you can control yourself!

Chase with a gallon of milk and enjoy!

Let me know what you think!

Historic 25th St. Ogden

A few months back I was in Madison Square Gardens Christmas Carol at Rogers Memorial Theater in Bountiful Utah as the part of Bob Cratchit. Mr. Scrooge was played by the very talented Nick Cash. We had good stage presence together and got along great. But what we really had in common was food. When I found out he was the owner of Bistro 258 in Ogden on historic 25th street I knew I had to check that place out. Some of the dishes he described during our run sounded emotional (emotional is the term I use for food that makes you want to cry from its goodness!). I had eaten at a few places on 25th like:

Roosters: http://roostersbrewingco.com/  awesome lunches like the pepper jack pasta. Can't go wrong.

Rovalis: http://www.rovalis.com/ ate there for my brother-in-laws wedding luncheon. Awesome Italian sandwiches.

Jasoh!: http://www.jasoh.com/ I first at at this place when they were in the old Mulboons location on Harrison but I love their place on 25th now. Had their prime grad top sirloin recently. Excellent!

So needless to say I felt very comfortable with my surroundings up there. You definitely step back in time when hanging out on 25th. Ogden had a wild past due to the train station that anchored the downtown area for 100 years. There are spooky tunnels that run under the city and you can do ghost walking tours there. I've got to do that as well.....but I digress.

Valentines was Monday and I had to get reservations so I gave Nick a call and he hooked me up. The place was hoping that night and they had a busy weekend with the holiday. The place is very trendy and comparable to the eating establishments in Park City or Jackson Hole. We asked our hostess, waiter and Nick what dishes they recommended. They gave us some great options. So we went with the spinach artichoke dip that was so cheesy we looked like we were hanging a spider web with every spoonful. Yummy!. My wife went with the coconut macadamian halibut and I went with the filet mignon. Both were spectacular. I would've gone with the garlic mash instead of the risotto however as the risotto was good but I liked my wife's garlic mash better. But before we even got to the main dish I had some of the best soup I have ever slurped. It was a Gorgonzola Mushroom soup and it was the kind of soup I used a few baskets of bread to sop up every last drop. My wife got the salad but she wished she would've gotten the soup as I could tell by her puppy dog eyes as I spooned every mouthful. It was Valentines day so I let her have TWO spoonfuls. What a nice husband right! I would definitely go on a night when they have that soup. The crem brulee was great as well for dessert.

http://bistro258.blogspot.com/

Great place. I will not wait until Valentines day to go back.

Phoenix AZ.

My wife's best friend from Phoenix called the other night to say hi and in our conversation she mentioned it was 71 degrees. 71 DEGREES! How awesome would that be right now here in Utah where we haven't been over 50 since Thanksgiving. So I started thinking about some of my favorite eats in the valley of the sun. Some of the best HOT Mexican in all the land can be found there.

The first place that jumps to mind it Aunt Chilada's  http://www.auntchiladas.com/

This cantina, located in the middle of a business/residential neighborhood, is like an oasis in a desert. It is one of the most unique restaurants I've ever been to. Once inside you are transported to Cancun at some beach resort. They have done a great job blending their building into a true "Three Amigos" movie set. I need to start with the chips and salsa. They give a couple of different types of salsa which is nice as you want to have a good blend of hot and mild, green and red. But its the chips that still the show. They have your traditional corn tortilla chips but it's the tostada chips that are unique. It was the first restaurant I've ever had those as a chip. Usually they are sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. I go with the Carnitas (Pork) burrito as the spices they marinate the pork in should be illegal. I love when the meat really stands on its own and is not lost in a ocean of cheese and sauce. Kudos to them! My wife's chicken spinach burrito was very good as well. Sort of a California Pizza kitchen twist to a burrito. Get there Chilli Relleno with your burrito in a combo if your really hungry. Can't go wrong there. If you haven't hurt yourself on too many chips and salsa, get their deep-fried ice cream. The best I've had. Make sure you go to their website and read about the history of the building. You could make a movie with that history alone. The line that kept going through my mind from the "Three Amigos" while I have eaten there is "Dusty, do you want to kiss me on the veranda" to which Chevy Chase replies "the lips will do"......classic!

A close second is Arriba Mexican Grill   http://www.arribamexicangrill.com/

It's a local Mexican chain but well worth the visit. The thing I like about the place is the colorful motif of their restaurants. Lots of nooks and crannies to get lost in and well place TVs for sports viewing. At least at the Phoenix location I visited. Pay close attention to their chili rating scale as the 3 chili dishes truly are 3 alarm hot! I love the Adobada Pizza. Its got a little bit of a kick but is a fun way to eat traditional ingredients. The Bandera Enchiladas are bursting with flavor from the chilis and queso sauce. There are enough menu items to please anyone in the family or your traveling group. For lunch get the Chili Verde. Nice size chunks of pork in a real hearty sauce. YUM YUM!

Now a warning when going to Phoenix. DO NOT GO IN AUGUST! I was there one year when it hit 117 degrees with monsoon thunderstorms that feel like a hot steamy blow dryer blowing on you. I literally felt like my skin was sliding off my bones. No joke! Your appetite will disappear and all you will want to do is drink slushy drinks. So try to go when you can actually go outside with out a trip to the dermatologist upon return.

There are other types of eating establishments I will mention in the future. Please let me know what you recommend from your visits and I hope you enjoy these.

Chic Cafe's

So what is a "Chic" Cafe????

They are those trendy cafes that offer gourmet sandwiches, soups, salads, desserts, breads, massages etc....OK I was kidding about the massages but that would be a novel idea. A nice back rub while your eating you turkey avocado sprout panini and reading your e-mail via their free wi-fi connection would really be productive!

My all time favorite is Panera Bread http://www.panerabread.com/

They are in every state except Utah of course but if you have spent any time traveling you will stumble onto one near any mall. The thing that makes them standout from most cafes is their.....you guessed it! Bread! You walk into one of their restaurants and the first thing you notice is all of the breads and pastries that cease your eyeballs and saliva glands as soon as you walk in. Cookies, cakes and muffins Oh my! and their orange scones are heavenly. But that is just the starter. Most of the places have sample bread out as you wait in line so you actually hope you will have some time to snack while you read the menu. My all time favorite combo is the Broccoli Cheddar soup with the Asiago Roast Beef. This combo makes me smile every time. The Broccoli soup is the best I've ever had. I always get the baguette as my side as its hard to sop up the soup with the apple. Their Tomato & Mozzarella panini is awesome for the non-meat lover.

I also have to mention their breads. Imagine going through the airport and in your carry-on luggage is a loaf of Asiago Cheese and Sesame Semolina. I did this a few times and the looks I got from the security personnel were amazing. I always had to say that we didn't have bread in Utah to deflect my embarrassment. I can only imagine now with the TSA protocol how intense their search would be on a guy sneaking bread out of their state.

Utah has some nice cafes of their own but the one that stands out to me is Zupas http://www.zupas.com/

I was recently turned onto this joint by a buddy of mine who was a chef at Deer Valley and I have always trusted his opinion. The first time there I had the Lobster Bisque and the Turkey Spinach Artichoke panini. Talk about a heavenly combo. The Lobster Bisque was the most unusual I have ever had. At most places it is creamy and smooth with small chunks of lobster which is good but this was chunkier which made it better. Just thinking of writing about Zupas today made me go back. Today I had the Wild Mushroom Bisque with the Turkey Bacon Avocado (see a pattern here?). The Mushroom Bisque should be outlawed. It was just as good as the lobster and for a fungus that is saying something. You can ask for a small taste of any of their soups while your in line so don't be shy in asking for all 10. The people behind you might get perturbed but they will usually ask you which one you liked the best. Just make sure you blow on them as I made the mistake of pounding my first sample right off the bat and burned my tongue. Not recommended. I'm not a big salad guy but about 5 ladies I was standing by in line ordered the Nuts About Berries salad. So you salad lovers give that a go and let me know what you think.

Two additional things about Zupas is you get a chocolate dipped strawberry for dessert and you can add flavors from their flavor bar to your soda. Nothing like a vanilla coke to wash it all down. I can't wait to try some of their desserts.

Now go hit the spa and then have lunch at one of these places as asking for a massage when you order could get you arrested......except in Vegas!

Farfalle with Tomatoes and Corn

Good weekend!

I told you that from time to time I would share some recipes with you that I find are worth the type. This past week the Mrs. and me were trying to think of a new way to get our kids to eat pasta. They were getting sick of spaghetti and mac&cheese. I thought if we used a different noodle it might spice it up and seem like a new meal. With kids ranging from 5-12 it's hard to find one thing they all like. We decided to use a box of Barilla Piccolini Mini Farfalla as the little bow ties might pique the kids interest. On the back of the box was a recipe for "Mini Farfala with Tomatoes and Corn". We looked at the ingredients and figured out we had everything it required and thought what the heck. My wife cooked up some chunks of chicken that we could throw in and it was awesome. It reminded me of a light lunch pasta you would get at most Italian restaurants. So here it is:

• 1 box Barilla Piccolini Mini Farfalle
• 28 ounce can diced tomatoes or 2 pounds plum tomatoes (we used the canned but I bet it tastes great with the fresh tomatoes)
• 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 Tbsp chopped onion (I prefer yellow)
• 1 15 ounce can of corn drained
• 1 cup Parmesan cheese grated
• 4 fresh basil leaves, chopped
• salt and pepper to taste

PLACE the fresh tomatoes (if using plum tomatoes) in boiling water for 30-60 seconds to blanch; peel the skin, remove the seeds and chop.....come to think of it that's why we elected to go with the canned, allot easier! SAUTE onion in olive oil over medium heat for 5 minutes COOK pasta according to package directions ADD tomatoes to skillet and simmer for 3 minutes; season with salt and pepper ADD corn and simmer for 2 minutes DRAIN pasta and toss with sauce STIR in cheese and basil before serving.

This will make a huge bowl that you can heat up again latter in the week and add another meat like some Italian sausage, salty prosciutto or sirloin steak like I did with our left over steak from Maddox that I couldn't finish on my birthday.

Get some garlic bread and a salad to throw on the side and chase it with a nice cold Coke. Num, num!

Enjoy!

PIZZA!

It's Friday tomorrow and that usually means pizza in my household. We hold Friday night movie/pizza night and my kids have come to expect it.

What makes the perfect pizza in my mind? It has to be the right combination of crust, sauce, cheese and toppings. When one of those dominates the other your pizza is out of balance with the force and therefore affects ones enjoyment. Have you ever had a pizza with too much sauce? All you can taste is tomato paste and the pizza will be very tangy. Or if there is too much cheese it will slide off taking the toppings with it and then you have to get a fork and who wants to eat pizza with a fork (unless it's deep dish). I do watch out for Greek style pizzas with feta cheese as I feel the feta overpowers a lot of  the other flavors on the pizza. If there is too much crust you can get bloated real quick. Loads of toppings is probably the least offensive of this group as sometimes I feel like a mambo-combo with lots of stuff and sometimes I just feel like pepperoni but a lot of onions can kill your taste buds real quick.

There are so many different types of pizzas and pizza restaurants. Some pizza joints specialize in specialty pizzas like "The California Pizza Kitchen". I've sampled about a dozen of their specialty pizzas on the road as well as locally and have enjoyed them all. There is always a debate which area of the Country has the best pizza. The thin crust specialty pizzas of the west coast, the deep dish pizzas of Chicago, or the fold able pizzas of New York. I don't know what kind of pizza's they eat down south but if I had to pick one style I would probably pick.....all three as I have favorites in all types.

Here is a list of some of my favorite pizzas and pizza joints:

• Pier 49 San Francisco Sourdough Pizza - Barbecue Chicken - One of the first specialty pizzas I ever tried and loved. Great combination of chicken, sauce and onions. The crust is good enough to eat on its own as well.
• Brick Oven Pizza - Italiano Romano - This pizza joint from Provo just recently opened in Layton and has excellent pizza. They truly have pizza pie which is a cross between a regular pizza and Chicago deep dish. Their homemade root beer is excellent. It's fun to check out their menus from the 50's as there was a pizza with tuna fish on it. Yikes! Seafood pizzas are big on the coast and should stay on the coast.
• The Pizza Factory - This is a chain that started in St. George and has moved across the state. There pizza reminds me of Shakey's Pizza that used to be here and is all over the west coast. My kids go for the bread twists and make sure you get the dipping sauces. It's thin crust but has the right balance I look for in a pizza as well as a killer salad bar.
• Pizza Perfect (Centerville, UT.) - This is a very local joint but their crumbled sausage is awesome and they have a yummy chewy crust that holds up well. Their blue cheese dressing for their salad is excellent.  Robintino's (Bountiful, UT.) is another local recommendation.
• Papa John's - Barbecue Chicken Bacon - This is my favorite chain pizza joint as I love their crust that reminds me of a soft pretzel. 
• The Pie Pizzeria - When I want a gut-bomb pizza this is the place. Their 10 pound pizzas are made for hungry college kids but I can usually down at least two...pieces. Get their meat lovers and you will feel your blood pressure rise....in a good way.
• Cinegrill (SLC, UT.) - Nothing too crazy about their pizzas but they just taste homemade if I had an Italian grandmother that made pizzas. Sounds corny but try them. Their house dressing and lasagna is also highly recommended.

So there are a few places and specialty pizzas to try. There are also pizza joints around the country I will mention when I focus on those cities in future entries so stay tuned and have a yummy weekend!

Carson

My TOP 5 Local

Can I just start this with I'm through with winter! I ski about once every 5 years so winter just doesn't excite me at all. I build one snowman a year and go sleigh riding once a year and since I can do that all in one week winter should only be ONE WEEK! I loved how Christmas day was 45 degrees and sunny and then the next day it snowed non stop and the snow hasn't melted since. There are probably a few Christmas presents I lost from the car to the front door frozen out on the front lawn.

But enough about that. I'm excited to list my 5 favorite local restaurants. I personally think Utah has some of the best food in the world. It really is a mixed bag of all countries. I used to live in Roy and there is a Chinese restaurant for every 20 citizens up there. In Syracuse we have a pizza joint for every 20 citizens. But it's only a 20 minute drive to get Greek, Indian, Vietnamese, Colombian, Chinese, Japanese, Italian etc...which is nice. I've eaten from Logan to St. George, from Moab to Delta so I've covered this great state and have compiled the following:

1. Maddox Restaurant, Perry, UT. I've been going there for the last 35 years and since I'm not quite 40 that means all my life. My grandparents had been going there since they lived there in the 40's. It is where I had my first steak that I can remember and my menu item of choice is the spicy sirloin with a baked potato and marinated mushrooms. When you can enjoy a steak without cutting a lot of fat off of it and without doctoring it up with Heinz 57 or A-1 then it's a winner in my book. The buffalo steaks are just as good but I still go with the cow 90% of the time. But before I move on let me tell you about their rolls and corn bread spears. I can eat a basket of those and it would be well worth the trip from anywhere in the state. The rolls are better than any I had in grade school (when grade schools used to cook the food themselves and you could smell the rolls cooking at the other end of the school, shout out Centerville elementary tigers!) They are so soft and fresh. WARNING: They will bring you as many baskets as you ask for. So you can fill up on them before you know it and then you might as well get your meal to go so be careful. The corn bread spears are just as tasty and I like adding a dollop of butter and shot of honey on each bite. Awesome!  http://www.maddoxfinefood.com/
2. Red Iguana, Salt Lake City, UT. When I think Mexican food there is only one place that jumps right to the front of my grey matter and that is this place. Now I want to say that Utah has some of the best Mexican in the country. But when I want what I feel is authentic Mexican I head here. I think it's because of the mole sauces that they use. It gives many dishes a different taste that you don't find at other Mexican restaurants. My menu item of choice is the Puntas with the almond mole. I've had so many of there menu items and they are all excellent but this one is the cream of the crop. As with Maddox rolls do not tank up on the chips and salsa as you want to be ready for the main course even though I could eat a couple of baskets.     http://rediguana.com/home.html
3. Martine Cafe, Salt Lake City, UT. I've had french onion soup in Paris but nothing compares to the french onion soup at Martines. Their lunch specials are excellent and I always garnish them with this soup. There dinners are just as unique and delicious. There menu changes every so often so every time I go I'm excited to try something new. Once the downtown City Center project is completed it will be even harder to get reservations so hit this place sooner rather than later.     http://martinecafe.com/
4. The Other Place Restaurant, Salt Lake City, UT. The Greek community in Utah is amazing and I will dedicate an entry on that alone soon but there is one dish at one Greek restaurant that makes me Opa! and its the Mezidakia plate at The Other Place. When I was working downtown a gentleman came in for a loan and mentioned he owned this restaurant. I had never heard of this place and thought what a strange name for a restaurant as there was nothing Greek about it. He invited my manager and I over for lunch and ordered us this plate. It has chicken and pork chunks that have been marinating for days so the pork is as tender as the chicken. You also get some dolmadis (stuffed grape leaves), tomato's, cucumber, feta cheese, kalamata olives and a side of pita bread. So simple but yet so satisfying. I can't help but think people have been eating this dish for thousands of years. There's nothing like a good souvlaki stick as well. I just wish they had their own web-site????  http://utah.citysearch.com/profile/10384514/salt_lake_city_ut/the_other_place_restaurant.html
5. Mandarin Restaurant, Bountiful, UT. I have favorite Chinese dishes at so many restaurants around the state but I always compare them to the Mandarin. If you didn't grow up in Davis County you will definitely want to Map quest it as it's right in the middle of a residential section of town but come by car, train or camel. Every dish has it's own signature sauce that makes it unique. Some places the Mongolian beef tastes similar to the cashew chicken but not here. My menu item of choice IS the cashew chicken. Talk about fresh and tasty. Nothing deep fried here. Just excellent flavors dancing all over your mouth. I love the beef and asparagus when its in season. Their five taste shrimp is a signature dish as well. The ambiance makes it even better as you'll think you dropped into a restaurant on the Yangtze River when you visit.     http://www.mandarinutah.com/

There you have it! I think I've given you enough options for every weekend over the next month so go try them. Please let me know what you think!

Until next week!
Carson

My TOP 5 National

A new year and a time to start fresh. One of my resolutions is to get my kids to eat more veggies. If only I could get them to taste like Doritos or Milk Duds!

I promised last week to list my top 5 national and local restaurants so another one of my resolutions is to follow through on my promises. Before I do let me break down how I arrived at both:

National: By national I mean a restaurant outside of my home state of Utah. We have been inundated with national chains recently i.e. In-N-Out and Cheesecake Factory so they would not count as national anymore. If any restaurant on my national list ends up coming to Utah I will move them to local or substitute them with a new one. Ah the power of your own blog!

Local: Local means just that. Located in my home state of Utah. I've lived in Texas and Alberta, Canada and will list my favorites there in due time.

I will list my top 5 national first with the accompanying URL so you can check out locations and menus. I will give a brief description of the story behind each one. I will story the national ones this week and the local ones next week as we live in an attention deficit society and I don't want this blog to be 10 pages. Of course all of the following met my Road Commandment qualifications.

NATIONAL TOP 5: (is that ominous enough!)

1. The Boat House restaurant on the island of Coronado, San Diego, CA. I was on a work related review when a group of us stumbled onto this place cruising around San Diego. We had hit Old Town and the Gas Lamp district but one night cruised out to this island to check out the hotel that was used in the Marilyn Monroe movie "Some Like It Hot" (if you have not seen it go buy it, it's a riot). It met all of my Road Commandments so we decided to check it out. I ordered the macadamian crusted halibut as you have to go seafood on any coastal visit. It came with a salad, killer rolls, garlic mashed potato's (instead of the rice) and asparagus drizzled with a rosemary butter sauce. To this day my favorite dish I've ever eaten. I have been back a few times and it is just as good so I know it wasn't a fluke. My travel mates let me sample their dishes and they were all great but they all wanted more of my halibut. I've referred this dish and restaurant to many and have not heard any bad reviews so go and do thou like wise!                             http://www.boathouserestaurant.com/
2. Cherry Creek Grill, Denver, CO. This was referred to me by a co-worker who had spent tons of money at the near by Cherry Creek Mall shopping. My menu item of choice is the Prime Rib French Dip sandwich. You heard me right! Prime Rib!!!!! The issue I've always had with french dip sandwiches is the bread. It usually gets soggy and falls apart before you can get it to your mouth. This roll they have the Prime Rib piled on soaks up the au jus and it permeates the meat so each bite blows up in your mouth, in a good way. Awesome! It used to come with shoe string fries but now it comes with their seasonal veggie which makes you feel better about eating healthy anyway. Cherry Creek is part of the Hillstone restaurant family and when you click on the Cherry Creek tab on the link below it will show you a picture of this heavenly sandwich:                 http://www.hillstone.com/
3. Claim Jumper, located in most western states. A few employees at a bank a co-worker from Houston and I were working at in southern California recommended this restaurant. I knew of a Claim Jumper restaurant in Park City but this is not the same place. The menu is as big as the Cheesecake Factory and the portions are huge. My co-worker got the turkey dinner that had what looked like the whole breast on his plate. I went with the ribs and cheesy potato cakes. You also get your choice of bread and I go with the sour dough roll that is right out of the oven. I've had a bunch of dishes there as my family enjoyed eating at the one just out side of Disney Land when we were down there a few years ago and even the kids loved it. Warning: I didn't like the french onion soup however as the onion petals were too big. Maybe that was just the one in Vegas but I thought I would throw that out there anyways.        http://www.claimjumper.com/
4. Lou Malnatis Pizzeria, Chicago, IL. A lady I was traveling while in Chicago was raving about the deep dish pizza at Lou's. We ate at the one in Schaumberg and it didn't disappoint. Deep dish in Utah usually means grease dish. The dough is either underdone or saturated with grease. This pizza was at least 4 inches thick and the crust was perfect. The toppings were very fresh and the sausage was to die for. Now there are a lot of deep dish places in Chicago with Uno and Duo's being most familiar but I would give Lou's my business. You can even order their frozen pizzas on line and have them delivered here. Nice!          http://www.loumalnatis.com//
5. Knowlwoods, So. CA. chain. OK all of you In-N-Out fans. No disrespect to you but the best burger in California is located here. I would put it up with Crown Burgers or Training Table here in Utah. The BBQ beef sandwich is a monster and fantastic. The grilled salmon was excellent as well. The fries and onion rings are done to perfection and the atmosphere at their locations make it memorable. A must visit when taking the kiddies on a vacation.         http://www.knowlwoodrestaurants.com/

So there you have them. As we move along through the year I will isolate my top 5 in certain cities and also list recommendations to cities I have yet to travel in as more and more people are giving me recommendations. Keep them coming as I would like to make this a one stop shop for good grub!

Have a great week!