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