Dickey's Barbecue Pit

Good news for barbecue fans in the Daytona Beach area. Dickey's Barbecue Pit will be opening two locations in the very near future. One of the restaurants will be in Ormond Beach and the other in Port Orange. I did find out that there is already a Dickey's Barbecue Pit in Oviedo, but that is still a little far for us to drive on the Daytona Beach area, so these two new locations will be greatly appreciated.

Dickey's was founded in Texas in 1941 and has a long history of serving good barbecue fast. In fact, they consider themselves a quick service, fast casual restaurant. If you want to check-out more information regarding Dickey's Barbecue Pit you can do so at www.dickeys.com.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

The Pie Pizzeria

The Pie Pizzeria
1320 E. 200 S.
Salt Lake City, UT
(801)582-0195
www.thepie.com

Last Friday night Dave got us tickets to the Utah Jazz/Phoenix Suns game. Being from the East coast, it was a little strange attending a game with a 8:30 tip-off. We didn't have the opportunity to eat before the game and just planned to grab a late bite afterwards. This strategy didn't play out to well given that the first couple of spots we hit were into bar mode and wanted a cover charge or were only serving appetizers at that time of the night. Dave finally said he knew exactly where we could go, so we piled back into the car and off we went.

We pulled up to a place called The Pie Pizzeria, which is located near the university. My experience with pizza places near colleges have all been great and a couple of slices sounded like something that would really hit the spot. As we approached the restaurant I notice that it is an underground location beneath a pharmacy. I have a theory about restaurants and bars located underground. You are either going to have some good food or there is a good possibility that someone might get shot that evening. Call me crazy, but that's just me. Since we are in Salt Lake City I thought we were probably going to have some good food. I am sure people get jacked all the time in Salt Lake City, but I still felt as if my chances were better that we would be fine as opposed to may other cities I have visited.

Have you ever noticed that when you go into an underground location that it feels exactly like that? The ceilings seem to be just a little lower than usual and it feels tighter. I shook off the feeling and we approached the counter to order. Dave ordered up a pizza and we took a place at a nearby table. One of the guys I met at our convention named Dwight was also with us and he was down for whatever we wanted on our pie. I don't really remember all that was on the pizza, but I do know it was one of the best pizzas I have ever had. The crust was just perfect and the cheese was definitely quality mozzarella. We each had a couple of slices, but this pizza was so good I had to go back and order a couple of more slices. Pie Pizzeria definitely proved my theory about pizza joints located near college campuses. Even though it was late in the evening, there was a pretty good crowd of people there enjoying pizza and many other offerings from their extensive menu. While pizza is their specialty they also serve subs and pasta dishes.

If you had told me earlier in the week that I was going to go to Salt Lake City and have some of the best pizza I have ever had, I would have told you there is no way. However, that is exactly what happened. I now have another place in Salt Lake that will be on my list of places to visit upon my return.

Thankfully, nobody got shot or jacked during our evening at The Pie Pizzeria. Please note that my comments about underground locations have nothing to do with The Pie Pizzeria. It is just a generalization I have made about some of the many places I have visited underground in the past. You should know this place is a definite must visit if you go to Salt Lake City.

For my visit to The Pie Pizzeria, I give them four Stiffy's!

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

Iggy's Sports Grill

Iggy's Sports Grill
423 West 300 South
Salt Lake City, UT
(801)532-9999
www.iggyssportsgrill.com

Imagine my surprise when halfway through dinner Dave says to me, "After this I am taking you to Iggy's Sports Grill for chicken wings." I nearly fell out of my chair. I was so stuffed and he's talking about hitting our third restaurant of the evening. I tried throwing in the towel, but Dave said I only had to eat one wing and he said they were really good. So, I said, "Let's go."

After a short drive around town we find some on street parking and take a little walk out in the cold Salt Lake City air. Truth be told, that cold air did me some good as did the walk. At that point I was really struggling.

My first impression of Iggy's Sports Grill upon entering is that it was quite nice. The interior was filled with polished wood and a multitude of flat screen televisions. No matter where you sit it is possible to see a number of screens. We took a seat at a table and immediately ordered wings and a beer. Our waiter attempted to tell us what their dinner specials were for the evening, but I had to cut him off. I really hate doing that, but I thought any further mentions of available meals might push me over the edge. Dave takes control and orders our wings. It wasn't really crowded that evening, so they came out in a very timely fashion. Feeling as if I should just go ahead and get this over with, I grab a wing and quickly let it fall back onto the plate. The wings were scalding hot! Exactly the way that I like them. Call me crazy, but I like my food served so hot that it will burn the roof of your mouth if you are not careful. Now that I know what I am dealing with, I dive right back in and take my first bite. The wings are nice and crispy with a light breading. I really liked how Iggy's serves their wings in that they provide the hot sauce and bleu cheese on the side for dipping. Both were really good and complimented the wings in a nice way. Now this is where things got crazy. The wings were so good I just could not stop at one. After powering my way through a few more, I did in fact call it quits for the night. I should have called it quits for the week. It had been quite a day for eating.

Iggy's has a number of locations across the area and I am sure attracts a good crowd on game nights. Their menu is quite extensive offering everything from sandwiches and burgers to pasta, seafood, steaks, pizza and comfort food items like meatloaf and pot roast. There seems to be something for everybody on this menu.

For my late night, after dinner wing run, I am going to give Iggy's Sports Grill four Stiffy's.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

Red Iguana

Red Iguana
736 West North Temple
Salt Lake City, UT 84116
(801)322-4834
www.rediguana.com

Last September I was in Salt Lake City for a convention and had one thing on my agenda. Get to the Red Iguana and have dinner. However, upon arrival we were told there was a 45 minute to an hour wait for a table. I would have waited, but there were other people in our party that didn't want to wait. On this trip, we only had to wait a short five or 10 minutes before being seated.

Red Iguana is a cozy place with a lot of tables scattered around the restaurant. Dave and I were ushered to a table near a window not far from the entrance. Since I was facing the door, it was clear that our decision to get there early had really paid off. I watched as the crowd of people waiting for a table grew steadily. Given that it was a rather cool evening, many elected to just stand in the small space near the door. When we had tried to go there last September, there was probably 25 people waiting outside for their names to be called. This place is extremely popular. It probably doesn't hurt that they were featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives a little while back.

Our waitress brings us a basket of chips and salsa while taking our drink orders. We both ordered a beer and began to review the menu. Originally, I went in thinking I was going to order the mole', but ended-up changing my mind. The burritos looked so good they went to the top of my list. Dave ordered the Mexican Platter with chili verde burrito, hard taco and tostado. I ordered beef burritos with a side of refried beans. My order was not listed just as beef burritos, but had a more authentic name. I should have written it down, but I can tell you, it was the last burrito listed on the menu. I point this out because these were the best burritos I have ever had in my life.

Two things hit you when your food is delivered at Red Iguana. The first is the wonderful aroma rising from the plate and the second is that this is a lot of food. This proved especially daunting for me since I had just eaten a gyro as an appetizer before getting to dinner. My first bite of the burrito can only be described as pure nirvana. The depth and complexity of flavors were like nothing I had ever tasted before. The beef was so tender and the sauce just exploded with spices and a richness that blew me away. I thought to myself that this is life changing Mexican food. Each bite seemed to bring another punch of flavor and spices. While it was really good, I just could not finish the entire plate. Dave said his food was fantastic as well.

This food is enough to motivate a person to become so fabulously wealthy that they can afford their own private jet and use it continuously for trips across country to the Red Iguana. I really don't know what I would do if I lived close to this restaurant. I will definitely being going back. It should also be noted that Red Iguana 2 has now opened not too far away at 866 W. South Temple.

For my visit to Red Iguana, I have to give them five Stiffy's. Do yourself a favor and go to this restaurant if you find yourself in Salt Lake City. You will not be disappointed.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

City Greek Express

City Greek Express
660 South State Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
(801)364-3140
www.citygreekexpress.com

Three years ago I had the opportunity to visit Salt Lake City for the very first time. It was a business trip and my buddy Dave is based there with our company. Nick and I gave him a call and told him we expected him to show us the city and take us to some good places to eat. He did take us to some good places, which I have written about previously in this blog, but we purposely found little things to nitpick him about at every spot. I went back last year and again he took me to a couple of other great spots as well. This year I called him and gave him about a month's notice. When we got together last week, it was clear he was on a gastronomic mission to show me the best of Salt Lake City.

Dave picked me up early around 4:30 so we could get a head start on the crowds. When I hopped into his car he told me he wanted to head to a little spot owned by a buddy of his for us to have an appetizer before heading to dinner. We made a couple of turns away from the hotel and drove down South State Street. Not far from the hotel he parks his car on the street in front of a place called City Greek Express. I was very happy given that Greek food is one of my favorites.

As we enter the restaurant, it is clear that we have beaten all the crowds. There was only one other diner in the place at the time and the gentleman in the kitchen was doing prep work for the evening ahead. We sat at the counter and both ordered gyros. Since we still had dinner to tackle, we went with their smaller four inch version. They also serve a seven inch version. Since the restaurant was not busy, the young lady that took our order immediately started putting together our gyros. Within about five minutes we both had these wonderfully looking Greek sandwiches stuffed with sizzling strips of lamb, lettuce, diced tomatoes and a fantastic tzatziki that was so refreshing. All served on piping hot, soft pita bread. The gyro packed so much flavor in it that I was tempted to suggest we just stay there and have more gyros. However, our next stop was my true goal for the evening.

City Greek Express seems to be one of those places where the staff is friendly, the food exceptional and the interior comforting and inviting. I perused their menu and they have all the traditional dishes you would expect to find in a Greek restaurant. There is no doubt in my mind that I will back to City Greek Express.

For my first visit to City Greek Express, I am going to give them four Stiffy's. My goal is to go back and visit them so I can try a couple of other dishes. My guess is they have what it takes to reach the coveted five Stiffy's. I will keep you posted.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

Burger King's Stuffed Steakhouse Burger

About a month ago, my buddy Nick hit me up via email or a Facebook post and asked me if I had tried the new Stuffed Steakhouse burger from Burger King. If you haven't seen this burger yet, the meat is stuffed with jalapeno peppers and cheddar cheese. In my mind a burger has to be much thicker than what they serve at Burger King to be able to stuff it, but that is the adjective they decided to go with. At best the meat is "peppered" (pun intended), with jalapenos and cheddar cheese chunks. It comes with a special hot sauce, lettuce and tomato.

I unwrapped my burger and the first thing I notice is it doesn't look anything like the burger shown above. I couldn't really see any of the peppers or cheese in the burger until I opened it up and saw them on the top of the patty. My guess is that had mainly to do with the fact that my burger was extremely overcooked. To be honest, it was downright burnt around the outside. This surprised me as I thought their burgers are cooked on a conveyor ensuring a consistent cooking method for their burgers. I take my first bite and am totally overpowered by the flavor of overcooked meat. This thing was charred. After a few bites I finally start feeling the heat from the jalapenos and the sauce. However, due to the burger being so overcooked, I never did taste the flavor of the cheddar cheese. It was quite a disappointment to say the least. While the burger does bring the heat, mine just did not have the kind of flavor one would want in a burger.

My guess is these QSR restaurants introduce new product offerings to drive incremental sales. The strategy certainly works as I do not go to Burger King very often. The last time I did eat there was to try their Angry Whopper. The other reason I think they do this is they are all trying to find a go-to promotional sandwich that they can release from time-to-time to spike revenue numbers during particularly slow times. From Burger King's Angry Whopper and Stuffed Steakhouse, to KFC's Double Down, in my opinion they are all chasing McDonald's McRib.

I have written here before about my respect for how McDonald's uses the McRib sandwich in such a strategic manner. In my mind, McDonald's is the 1985 Chicago Bears. I am sure Ditka used to say, "Oh, it's third and goal from the two-yard line? Send in the Fridge!" Same thing with the folks at McDonald's. "Oh, we're down 5% in sales last quarter? Run a McRib promotion!" None of the other competitors in this space have been able to come up with a go-to sandwich that matches the power of McDonald's McRib.

I got a little off-point there, so I'll get back to today's burger. My guess is if you were to get a normally cooked version of the Stuffed Steakhouse and you like spicy foods, you would find this burger enjoyable. I just don't think I will be going back to try one during this promotional period.

For my first and probably last Stuffed Steakhouse burger, I give Burger King one Stiffy. Save your money and wait for the McRib to come back!

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

Five Guys Burgers and Fries

I recently reported on my Facebook page that it appeared Five Guys in Daytona Beach had suffered a fire. My wife was cruising by the other day and called me to tell me their were people out there pulling down sections of the roof and a sign indicating they were temporarily closed. However, I spoke to my friend Renny from the Brickyard and he tells me the roof flooded and caved in. This is particularly disturbing given that we have gotten some rain recently, but nothing near what can and usually drops in Florida.

I hope nobody was hurt at the time of the collapse and hope they get reopened soon. This would have been their first Speedweeks and you never want to see a company miss such a golden opportunity.

I'll keep you posted on these developments as well.

Harry

Buffalo Wild Wings

I cannot tell you how excited I was to hear that Buffalo Wild Wings is coming to Daytona Beach. They are going to be in the building that used to house the old Daisy Dukes restaurant. You can search them in this blog and ready why they didn't stand a chance of making that business successful. While they did put on a spirited evening of pudding wrestling during Biketoberfest, their food and service were just terrible.

My hopes were that Buffalo Wild Wings was going to try to get their location open for Speedweeks to take advantage of the huge crowds, but it doesn't appear to be the case. They have completed gutted the inside of the building and it appears there are some outer structural changes going on as well. However long it takes, it will be well worth it when they do open. I have always been a huge fan of their wings and I like going there to watch sporting events as well. Things could get very interesting as in that immediate area we have the Winghouse, the Daytona Ale House, and Hooter's all vying for that wings and sports crowd. Is there room for one more? I believe there is, particularly when Buffalo Wild Wings strength is such solid food.

I'll be sure to update you when they open.

Harry

Dimitri's - On the Beach

Dimitri's On the Beach
790 South Atlantic Ave.
Ormond Beach, FL 32176
386.492.2945
www.lgyro.com

My buddy Gary was recently in town from New York, so we decided to get together for some lunch. My thought was to try someplace new that I had never been to before and we decided to meet at Dimitri's. I have been driving past their location for months as I take my daughter to her gymnastics class and trying to get a feel for their business based upon the cars in the parking lot. There has never been a day when I have gone by that there were more than three or four cars there, so I was a little skeptical. However, my fears were quickly swept away upon our arrival.

We walked into the restaurant and were greeted by a very nice hostess who proceeded to escort us to a booth. The restaurant is quite spacious with a typical decor you would expect in a Greek establishment. It was very cozy with a friendly atmosphere. We each ordered a beer and a water for his son, Vuk. We perused the menu briefly, but each of us were after a gyro, which we knew going in. Both of us ordered the "Original Gyro", which comes with fries. There was also a chicken version available and a couple of others which escape me at this time.

As we sat chatting and waiting for our order, business started to pick-up as more people entered the restaurant. Our sandwiches came to the table in short order and everything looked really good. The fries were hot, the tzatziki sauce incredibly tasty and the meat well seasoned. The only thing Gary and I noticed is that the meat seemed to be a little dry and tougher towards the end of each strip. We came to the conclusion that maybe it had been sliced previously and then reheated for our order. I don't know this for a fact, but that was all we could come up with as an explanation for the inconsistency in the meat. Overall though, we both thought it was a good gyro sandwich. Vuk went with the chicken strips and ate them all, so he was satisfied as well.

I will definitely go back and get another gyro from Dimitri's and would also like to get back and try some of their dinner offerings. It should also be noted that their is also a Dimitri's located in South Daytona that appears to specialize in just sandwiches from what I can ascertain via their website.

If you like Greek food, I suggest you give Dimitri's a try. For my first visit, I give them three Stiffy's.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

Stonewood Grill & Tavern

Stonewood Grill & Tavern
100 S. Atlantic Ave.
Ormond Beach, FL 32176
(386)671-1200
www.stonewoodgrill.com

I finally called a mulligan on my horrible Carraba's anniversary dinner and went to Stonewood Grill & Tavern as I originally planned to do. From now on if I am thinking Stonewood, I'll be sticking to my guns and going. This place is the real deal.

We went on a Saturday evening and after being busy for most of the day, I didn't realize I probably should have called for a reservation until we hit the parking lot. I couldn't let this bother me, even after finding out our wait would be 45 minutes to an hour. Again, no worries for me as I sauntered myself right into the bar to order a nice cold beer. Julynn opted for a Coke and we took up position in the lobby. While waiting for our friend Jeff and Ronda, Stonewood really impressed me when a server started circling the lobby with appetizers for people to munch on during their wait. Really nice touch on their part, plus it probably played a part into the appetizers we ordered once seated.

Our wait didn't take the full 45 minutes, but I didn't really like where we were seated. I am a big fan of their main dining room and we were headed to the room right off of the bar area. It reminds me of a patio type room that doesn't have the same elegance as their main dining room. If it would have been just Julynn and I, we probably would have waited, but I didn't want to be "that guy" by making us wait longer. I am usually "that guy", but wasn't really feeling it that night, so I kept my mouth shut.

We ordered our drinks and got right at the menu to get things started. For appetizers we ordered the Buffalo Shrimp, Steak & Bleu Cheese Flatbread (which we sampled in the lobby), Bruschetta and I got a cup of Clam Chowder. All of the appetizers were incredible. If you visit Stonewood and want to try an appetizer full of flavor, you have to try the Steak & Bleu Cheese Flatbread. It is fabulous! The dish is oak grilled steak, caramelized onions and roasted red peppers on crisp flatbread, topped with bleu cheese dressing, bleu cheese crumbles and drizzled with a balsamic reduction. You will think you have died and gone to Heaven!

We ordered our entrees and were just as impressed upon their arrival. Ronda had the Tuscan Chicken, Jeff had the Ribeye, Julynn ordered the Seared Ahi Tuna appetizer as her entree and I had the Herb Encrusted Grouper. We were all very pleased.

Stonewood currently has 16 locations throughout Florida and one in Cary, NC. If you get the chance to visit one of their locations, I know you will be pleased. It should also be noted they just introduced a new seasonal dishes for the winter. They are offering a yellow-fin tuna marinated in a sesame ginger sauce and served on a bed of wasabi mashed potatoes and topped off with an Asian vegetable souffle. The second new offering is a pork porterhouse served with a port wine and fig demi-glace. In January they will add an offering of a six-ounce trout filet that will complement the other new dishes. If you have been a regular visitor to Stonewood, you now have a three great reasons to return.

For our visit to Stonewood Grill & Tavern, I have to give them five Stiffy's! This is one of the most consistent restaurants in our area and I have never been disappointed. I will hold-out the next time for a seat in the main dining room.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

McDonald's McRib

You'd have to be housed on the International Space Station to not know the McRib is back. The word seems to spread quickly among those that patiently await these announcements and sightings throughout the year and country. If you don't think the McRib is serious business, checkout this link http://www.kleincast.com/maps/mcrib.php. This will show you all of the locations across North America that currently offer the McRib sandwich and is updated constantly by McRibphiles from all over.

If you remember when the Chilean miners got trapped in that mine back in July, they originally said they wouldn't be able to get them out until Christmas. What most people don't know is when they began communicating with them through that small hole they dug, the miners told them you have to get us out before December. The McRib is coming back! I was watching the news yesterday and they showed all the miners attending an event in New York City. Do you really think it is a coincidence that they are here in our country at the same time the McRib is in market? I don't think so.

When it comes to the McRib, there are three kinds of people. Those that love it, those that hate it and those that have never tried it. I actually spoke to my buddy Jeff last night over dinner and he told me he had never tried one before. I told him he had to get one today! Hopefully he has heeded my advice and is now one of the lovers of the best tasting pieces of gelatinous, fatty, pressed, pork products in the world. As you can tell, I am fit into the category of those that love the McRib. Over the years I have developed to the point where I cannot eat most of the food at McDonald's without it upsetting my stomach. The only thing I can eat is what I like to call the Poor Man's Surf-N-Turf, which is a double cheese burger and a filet of fish. The McRib is the other thing I can eat and do so whenever it appears. In fact, I am five deep on the McRib sandwich for this year's appearance. Something I am not overly proud of, but it is what it is.

For me the attraction of the McRib is two-fold. First, this sandwich comes on what has to be the softest bun served in any quick service restaurant and the marriage of the tangy sauce, pickles and onions just works incredibly well. Yes, I said pickles. Most know I have this thing about pickles, but I can eat them on the McRib. (You can look back through this blog and find "The Pickle Story" for the inside scoop.) The second thing I like about the McRib is the genius in which McDonald's uses the sandwich. They built a cult following for this sandwich and use it strategically to boost profits at various times. They don't leave it in the market for too long allowing those to get tired of it, but bring it back in a mysterious way to create demand. I really thought KFC was going to use the Double Down in this manner, but it has remained on their menu and you don't even hear people talking about it anymore.

My guess is the McRib will only be around for a couple of more weeks, so you need to get out there and get all you can, while you can. If you have never tried one, go find out what all the hype is about. Everyone that loves the McRib knows they are not good for us, but it won't kill you to try it. The only problem is that you might like it and then you have another thing to worry about and that is when the McRib might be back next.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

Mama Mia's Pizzeria

Mama Mia's Pizzeria
1345 W. Granada Blvd.
Ormond Beach, FL 32174
(386)673-4663

If you like authentic New York style pizza, your search is over in the Daytona Beach/Ormond Beach area. I was craving a good pizza the other day and tried to call Joe's New York style pizza in Ormond Beach. The operator kindly told me the number was no longer in service. This was hard for me to believe since they really made a good pie. My taste buds were looking forward to something different and didn't want to settle for one of the chain pizza joints. I remembered my buddy Bob telling me about a place called Luigi's in Ormond Beach that had opened not long ago and decided to ride up there to order my pie. Nothing could have prepared me for what I found.

When I got to the Luigi's location, I found that it too had closed and was now named Mama Mia's Pizzeria. This location previously housed the Krispy Kreme location in Ormond Beach. Since I wanted a pizza this turned out to be a perfect opportunity to try a new location. Upon entering the first thing that struck me was the decor. They have done a really nice job of giving the place an authentic pizzeria feel. There are a number of tables with plenty of seating and an open kitchen where you can watch them make your pie. My order was a large pizza with pepperoni, mushrooms and extra cheese. As I stood at the counter waiting for the server to grab me a beer I ordered, someone said hello to me from the kitchen. It was the same guy that used to make the pies at Joe's New York Pizza. I asked him what happened down at Joe's and he told me he really didn't know. They came into work one day and the place was closed. I told him that was too bad as I felt they made the best pizza around.

The restaurant was not really busy that night, but there were a few tables that were taken. I perused the menu while waiting for my pizza and noticed they serve just about everything you would expect to find in a pizzeria. Pasta dishes, sandwiches, calzones and what has to be one of the biggest strombolis I have ever seen in my life. A table for two ordered one near me and they seemed quite surprised when the server brought it to the table. This thing was the size of a small pillow. It was baked to a delicious looking golden brown and was clearly filled with mounds of goodness.

My pizza was boxed up and brought out to me and I got a surprise of my own. When the large was ordered, I hadn't really looked at the size. It turns out it was much bigger than I needed for my small family. After arriving home we dug into the pizza right away and it was incredible. The crust was baked perfectly, the sauce had a wonderful flavor and the toppings were all deliciously fresh. It is also clear Mama Mia's uses a good quality mozzarella cheese on their pizzas. It had a wonderful consistency and great flavor. The three of us were only able to eat half of the pizza. Good thing pizza is one of those foods that also tastes great the second time around.

My hopes are that Mama Mia's can make things work for them at this location as I plan on this being my go-to spot for pizza from now on. Of course there is also a plan to get in there one night to see what that stromboli is all about. For my first visit to Mama Mia's, I have to give them four Stiffy's.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

Lumpy's - Downtown

Lumpy's Downtown
145 Pierpont Avenue
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
(801)938-3070
www.lumpysdowntown.com

On our last day in Salt Lake City, a Sunday no less, we found ourselves standing outside a bar at 10:00AM waiting for the doors to open so we could watch some NFL football before heading to the airport. I knew Lumpy's had food, but was quite surprised when we sat down at the bar and the bartender asked if we were going to eat breakfast. This really excited me as breakfast is really my most favorite meal of the day. She gave us menus to review along with some really large mugs of beer, which would have been huge to me even if it was at 10:00PM.

We start to peruse the menu and I see a couple of things that pique my interest. First, they have an Eggs Benedict, which happens to be my all-time favorite breakfast offering. However, given that we are in a pub type atmosphere, I figure this is probably not the place for me to go that route. I have had my share of bad Hollandaise sauce. The next thing I notice is the Bubba's Benedict menu item. Bubba's Benedict consists of a biscuit split open and topped with two sausage patties, scrambled eggs, cheese and smothered in sausage gravy. I want to order this so bad, but feel it is not going to be a good accompaniment with the breakfast beverage I have chosen. In the end, I decide to play it safe and go with the three egg omelet stuffed with chirizo sausage, onions and peppers, cheese and potatoes with wheat toast. James played it safe and just got a two-egg breakfast with bacon and toast.

As we waited for our food we began to notice the place filling up quick as it got closer to kick-off. Both of us were amazed at the variety of teams being represented out there in Salt Lake. We probably saw jerseys for close to half of the league. Our food showed up pretty quickly and we started to dig in. My omelet was stuffed with sausage, potatoes, peppers and onions. The only issue I did have with it was how thin the egg was surrounding the stuffing. This is indicative of an omelet being made on a griddle versus in a pan. It is my belief that omelets should be fluffy, not thin.

We finished our breakfast and watched my Vikings stink up the place until I couldn't watch anymore. Plus, it was time to head out to the airport for our flights home. If I find myself back in Salt Lake City, I would return to Lumpy's as it is a great place to watch a game and I would try the Bubba's Benedict. For this visit, I have to give Lumpy's three Stiffy's.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

Poplar Street Pub

Poplar Street Pub
242 S. 200 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
(801)532-2715
www.poplarstreetpub.com

After the final day of the JUS convention, James and I decided to just take a walk around downtown to find a place to eat. We stopped at a place called Lumpy's, but it was really crowded, so we just had a couple of beers while watching college football before continuing on with our search. We didn't have to venture far as about half a block away we found a jumpin' little place called the Poplar Street Pub. I found this very interesting since it is located on S. 200 West. Maybe it used to be known as Poplar Street, but this didn't deter me from entering.

From the outside this location doesn't look all that big, but when you enter the first room you come to is the dining room, which was quite large. You can walk through there to the bar area, which has a large patio area off to the side,followed by another large room with pool tables and other games. All of these areas have seating for dining, but James and I sat at the bar. The bartender was very prompt in taking our drink orders and asked if we wanted menus. We told him we did and started to decide what we wanted to eat.

James ordered a personal pizza and I ordered a grilled spicy chicken sandwich. In keeping with the spicy chicken theme, I decided to order some wings as an appetizer. The menu listed their hottest flavor as "Asian Heat." I had never heard of this, so I thought I would give it a try. I asked the bartender if they are hot and he said, "Very!" Most people would shy away from that response, but when a server tells me something is really hot or spicy, I begin to get excited. While sitting at the bar drinking our beers and waiting for our food, two guys sit down on the other side of James. We start chatting with them and we find out that they are homeless and living under a nearby overpass. At least that is what they told us. They seemed to be doing pretty well for homeless guys given that they had a few beers while we sat and chatted.

My wings arrive first and the bartender tells me, "Good luck with those." Now I am really pumped up when I hear that he thinks I am going to have a hard time with these wings. Not knowing what to expect from the "Asian Heat" spice, I was surprised that the wings had a sort of yellowish sauce on the wings, but there was no mistaking the powerful aroma of wasabi coming from the wings. I grabbed my first wing and took a bite to find the taste to be simply incredible. The wings were perfectly cooked and extremely hot. I had to let them sit on the plate for a couple of minutes before I could continue. When I did start eating again, the sweat started to bead on my forehead and nose with my scalp taking on a cool sensation. The wasabi flavored wings were definitely starting to fire me up. I ate most of the plate, but needed to save room for my chicken sandwich and didn't realize the plate of wings came with so many of them. James refused to touch them as they were way above his heat tolerance level. In hindsight, I should have offered them to the homeless guys, but the wings may have done them more harm than good.

James and I get our entrees and cannot believe the size of his pizza and may plate. This is really some serious pub food. The pizza James ordered could easily have fed two hungry people and my plate was loaded with fries accompanying the sandwich. My grilled spicy chicken sandwich was made so by including spices, pepper jack cheese, a Cajun sauce and slices of jalapenos piled high on the lettuce and tomato. I bit into my sandwich as was pleasantly surprised at how juicy and tender the chicken breast was and the incredible heat coming from the spices, cheese and jalapenos. The lettuce and tomato did a great job to help cool things off as much as possible, but it wasn't enough to keep me from sweating like crazy. The fries were incredibly tasty as they were infused with garlic. I have never tasted fries such as these before and they too were very hot and crispy. Even though I had eaten the wings previously, I did finish that sandwich completely and loved every fiery moment of it. Most of the fries though were left on my plate and that is a shame, but I just couldn't go the distance. James said his pizza tasted great, but there was no way he could finish it. Being the good guy that he is, he offered the homeless guys a couple of slices when the pie arrived and gave them what was left to take with them.

Salt Lake City seems to have a number of pubs, but Poplar Street Pub really impressed me with their food. This is definitely a spot I would hit again when back in town. As we were leaving I noticed a band setting up in the main dining room area and the place was starting to get packed with party people. We should have hung around, but I am getting old and just wanted to take it back to the hotel.

For my visit to Poplar Street Pub, I am going to give them five Stiffy's!

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

Lone Star Taqueria

Lone Star Taqueria
2265 Fort Union Blvd.
Salt Lake City, UT 84121
(801)944-2300
www.lonestartaqueria.com

After my lunch at The Beerhive, I really wasn't that hungry, but one of the main missions for this trip was to visit The Red Iguana previously featured on "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives." My buddy Dave, whom I used to work with at JumpTV and also lives in Salt Lake City, was going to pick us up at the hotel and drive us over. The initial plan was to meet at our hotel bar for a beer and then head over, but there was no parking for Dave, so we ran outside to head straight to the restaurant.

It was good to see Dave again as he's a great guy and knows just about everything and everybody in Salt Lake City. He drove us directly to The Red Iguana where I immediately noticed all of the people hanging around outside. We parked and Dave went in to find out how long the wait was going to be. He came out and told us at least 45 minutes. Now I see that as a good thing, but my com padres didn't want to wait that long. To me, that's a sure sign of some great food waiting inside. When I watched the segment on this restaurant on the Food Network, it was clear they offer authentic Mexican food.

Dave suggested we hit one of the other spots featured on the show, so we headed off to Lone Star Taqueria. They are famous for their fish tacos. We weren't exactly hungry at that point, so we drove to the other side of town and hit a bar right across the street from Lone Star. After a couple of beers, Dave and I went to eat, while James waited for us at the bar. Dave and I head across the street to Lone Star Taqueria and I notice that it looks like it used to be a fast food location. Dave confirmed that, telling me it was once an ice cream shop and a burger joint at one time as well.

We head inside to order and I notice a sign that says their fish being served that day was salmon. At first I was a little hesitant as I had never had fish tacos with salmon. I had the fish taco combo, which comes with one soft-shell taco, an order of rice and beans. The interior of the restaurant is rather small, but there are a number of tables located outside. I don't like eating outside much, but on this evening the temperature was just right as the sun had begun to set. As expected on a Friday night, the restaurant was crowded and seating on the outside was rather limited. However, while we were in line ordering a friend of Dave's appeared and said his wife was outside at a table, so we should join them. Dave really should consider running for Mayor as everywhere I go with him he runs into someone he knows.

We get outside and settle in at the table and it isn't long before our food comes to the table. All of the food is served in paper lined pie plates. The tacos were perfectly sized and soft. Dave told me to be sure to use the sauce they served with the tacos and it was delicious. My first bite of the taco told me that this place is special. The fish was flavorful and moist. The rice and beans were cooked perfectly and tasted simply delicious. I quickly forgot about the fact that I didn't get to go to The Red Iguana after eating this meal. The food was outstanding and Dave's friends were great to welcome us to their table and engaging in some stimulating conversation. This turned out to be a fantastic evening.

If there was a cool place like this serving fish tacos in Daytona Beach, I would be eating there all the time. This small place serving simple food with big flavor is truly a gift to the people of Salt Lake City. I cannot wait to get back out there for next year's Jus convention.

For my first and probably not my last visit to Lone Star Taqueria, I have to give them five Stiffy's. If you are ever in Salt Lake City and like fish tacos, you have to check this place out.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

The Beerhive Pub - Vienna Cafe

The Beerhive Pub - Vienna Cafe
128 S. Main Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84101-1602
(801)364-4268

On the second day of our JUS convention we had a two hour break for lunch and decided to go out to find something. We walked around the corner from the hotel and along the way, passed a truck selling tacos on the street. This intrigued me quite a bit as I like exploring in this manner, but it was warm and there really wasn't any seating in the area. If you know me, I am not a big fan of al fresco dining and get even more jammed-up if I can't sit down and enjoy my meal comfortably, so we trudged along. We found a pub about twenty yards away and decided to venture inside.

On this day, The Beerhive had one guy sitting at the bar and it looked as if the place was brand new and had just opened recently. It was a beautiful bar and room with a ice trough along the bar meant to keep your drinks cold during your visit. I thought that was a nice touch. We asked for a menu and were informed that they don't have food, but they do serve food from the Vienna Cafe next door. This should explain the two names at the top of this post. The Beerhive had an incredible array of beers available, including many of the craft brews made by Squatters Pub. I was quite impressed with their offerings. I ordered a Poligamy Porter, with the understanding that you can't have just one. It was quite tasty to say the least.

For lunch my buddy James ordered the Chicken Roladen, which is a chicken breast stuffed with Guyere cheese and topped with a mushroom cream sauce and I ordered the Swiss bratwurst. We sipped our beers and chatted about the conference and it seems as if the food arrive in no time at all. James said his chicken meal was great, but he was all about the bratwurst I had ordered. The bratwurst came with German potato salad, a large dollop of brown spicy mustard, red cabbage and a large roll. The roll was actually split as if I would want to put the bratwurst on the bun, but it seemed to big for the roll to me. Additionally, I found the roll to be cold and hard and sent it back. Our bartender was very apologetic and came back with my roll having been toasted with butter on a grill. It was very good. My bratwurst had a wonderful pork flavor and went very well with the spicy mustard that accompanied it. I found the potato salad and the cabbage to be very flavorful as well. This was really great food.

James and I finished all of our lunch and were quite satisfied by the fact that we had stumbled upon this gem of a restaurant. The next time I am in Salt Lake City, I would love to go straight to the Vienna Cafe and have a great German meal. This meal brought back a ton of memories for me of when I lived in Germany while my father was in the military.

For my first visit to The Beerhive and Vienna Cafe, I have to give them four Stiffy's. Great food, great beers and a wonderful atmosphere!

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

Squatters Pub & Bar

Squatters Pub & Bar
147 West Broadway (300 South)
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
(801)363-2739
www.squatters.com

I recently spent a couple of days in Salt Lake City while attending the JUS convention. It was a wonderful opportunity for me to hit some of the spots I missed last time I visited and seek out new places. My main goal was to dine at The Red Iguana, but unfortunately, that didn't happen. However, I did make some wonderful discoveries, so not all was lost.

My flight got into Salt Lake City pretty late and by the time I reached the hotel it was close to 11:00 in the evening. Since I hadn't eaten much that day I decided to head out to see if we could find a spot nearby. My buddy James was with me for this convention and he wanting to grab a bite as well.

Not far from the hotel we found Squatters Pub & Bar. It should be noted I visited there that last time I was in town, but only had some of their great beer on that trip. We were surprised to find the location not only still serving food that late, but quite lively with a room full of people eating and enjoying their various beers. We settle in at the bar and order a couple of beers while perusing the menu. It was typical pub fare, so we both decided to order burgers. I got the Black & Bleu burger and James had the BBQ Buffalo Burger. Both came with a hearty serving of fries on the side and arrived after a very short wait.

When the bartender gave us our food I asked her for a bottle of ketchup. She turned around, grabbed one and gave it right to me with the label facing her. Since I recognized the shape of the bottle, I knew it was Heinz and was more than fine with that. I pour out a good portion of ketchup to accompany the fries and start to dig-in. At the very first bite, my first thought was that they had substituted Heinz in that particular bottle. It had a weird flavor that I really couldn't put my finger on. Trying to be a trooper I continued to forge ahead. However, after about my fourth or fifth French fry, I had to turn that bottle around and read the label. Turns out she gave me "Organic" ketchup. Now you would think this would not make a difference in the flavor, but I am here to tell you that it was a very noticeable change and not for the better if you ask me. I looked around for other ketchup bottles and noticed that there were a number of regular Heinz Ketchup bottles on various tables. My feeling is that the "Organic" ketchup should only be given to a person if that is what they specifically ask for, or when somebody asks for ketchup the wait staff should ask, "Regular or organic?" Just a bad way for me to get started. Although I am glad I didn't put it all over my burger.

James said his buffalo burger was good and I have to admit the burger I ordered was good as well. Squatters has some great beers on tap and seem to be known throughout the area for their beers as I found other locations pouring some of their brews through their taps. If you are ever in the area I suggest you try their Polygamy Porter. It is so good you won't be able to have just one!

I'd probably hit Squatters again if I got back to Salt Lake, but would probably just have some beers. My overall experience really got jammed-up by that rotten ketchup. For this visit to Squatters Pub & Bar, I have to give them three Stiffy's.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

Five Guys vs The Brickyard

About seven or eight years ago while on a trip to Richmond, VA for a race, my cousin and I planned to meet for lunch. He told me he had a new place he wanted to take me that he thought I would really like. That place was Five Guys Burgers and Fries. They started that company in northern Virginia and were beginning to expand throughout the state at that time. I was really impressed with their burgers and fries and began telling everyone they needed to try this place when they had the chance. It took a while, but one day while driving around Orlando, I saw a new Five Guys opening and was ecstatic that they were now in Florida. I took some of the guys from our JumpTV office and they loved the burgers and fries as well. Five Guys makes good burgers and fries, but I have figured out why they are so successful.

In my opinion, Five Guys is so successful because they serve a good burger in a quick service manner that far surpasses their competitors. Their fries are also pretty tasty as well. However, I am going to tell you, they are not the best burger in my town. For me, that distinction goes to The Brickyard. I think it is important for me to break this argument down and tell you why I feel this way.

The other day I was on IM with a buddy of mine, affectionately known by me and a few others as Pony Keg, when he asked me if I have ever been to a Five Guys. I told him I had and liked their burgers, but I still felt there are better burgers out there. He too agreed, stating that he thought they were also a bit expensive. In fairness, I haven't done much comparison in that area, but do remember my last meal being over $10. He and I both went back and forth for a couple of exchanges saying there is something about Five Guys that isn't quite right, but we couldn't put our fingers on it. Finally, he pointed out the exact problem I have with them compared to others. His IM said, "I think it is that their meat has no flavor." At that moment, you could have knocked me over with a feather. It is exactly what I couldn't put my finger upon previously.

The Brickyard in Daytona Beach is an independently owned restaurant that serves great burgers. The burgers are cooked over an open flame and are made with prime ground chuck. I think what is most important that sets them apart from Five Guys is that you can get your burger cooked anyway you wish. At Five Guys, all burgers are served well done. Sorry, but I am a medium rare kind of guy that believes burgers are juicier and more flavorful when cooked in that manner. In the simplest terms, a burger at The Brickyard has far more beef flavor than a burger from Five Guys. It is something I thought during my last Brickyard visit about three weeks ago, but didn't confirm until Pony Keg broke me down.

The Brickyard is just a small restaurant here in Daytona Beach, but there are restaurants like this all over the globe. You just have to hunt them out and try different places. Again, don't get me wrong, Five Guys makes good burgers. I just think you can find even better if you look around and keep an open mind. The Five Guys in Port Orange opened a few months ago and now they are opening a new one right here in Daytona Beach about five miles from my house. Will I go there and have a burger when they open? Probably. Will that be my go-to place when I want a good burger? No. By default I will always choose The Brickyard as my first choice.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

Carrabba's Italian Grill

Carrabba's Italian Grill
2200 W. International Speedway Blvd.
Daytona Beach, FL 32114
(386)255-3344
www.carrabbas.com

The generosity of women continues to amaze me. On September 4th, my wife and I celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary. How she has put up with me for 11 years, I will never know. My hope is that what happened to us at Carrabba's on that day is not a hint of things to come.

We had to attend a wedding that afternoon and on a whim decided to go to dinner to celebrate our anniversary. We also invited our friends Ronda and her husband Jeff to join us. My thoughts about where to go included Stonewood Grill, Bonefish Grill, Carrabba's or Gene's Steakhouse. How I made such a colossal mistake in choosing Carrabba's over all the others is still a mystery to me. We told Ronda and Jeff we would meet them around 4:00 at Carrabba's.

We get there a little bit late and find them waiting for us in the lobby area. I notice that there are a ton of tables open, so I ask Jeff how come they haven't gotten a table yet. Jeff tells me they were told they do not have enough wait staff to handle all of the tables at that point. I am sorry, but if you open your doors and you are short on staff then the manager on duty needs to take some tables. That's just my opinion. Admittedly, we only waited about 10 minutes, but when it was time to get a table we were escorted past no less than 20 tables and booths to a table located right outside the restrooms. I immediately voiced my displeasure and asked to be seated elsewhere. We did get another table suitable to our liking and sat down to peruse the menu.

Our waiter shows up pretty quickly to take our drink orders and we made our dinner choices. I ordered veal Marsala and decided to go with soup and garlic mashed potatoes as my side. Everyone else got salads with their entrees and vegetables as their side, except Ronda who also chose the mashed potatoes. Our soup and salads arrived in short order and the first thing I notice about my soup is a layer of grease across the top of my lentil and sausage. I decide to power on and give the soup a solid stir before taking my first taste. The soup was cold, so I remove the bay leaf I find on my spoon and sit it along with my spoon on my bread plate and begin to wait. Surely the waiter will come back to check on us and I can get him to bring me another soup or heat this up. Well, that never happened. After about 15 minutes our entrees show up. The expediter delivering our entrees sees that I have not eaten my soup and asks if there was anything wrong with it. When I tell her it was cold and I was waiting for our waiter to return to tell him, she immediately apologizes and makes an offer to get me another. However, at this point our entrees are on the table and I don't want to eat soup as my meal gets cold. Again she apologizes profusely, which I appreciate, and promises to send over the manager. She leaves and about 30 seconds later I hear the manager telling the kitchen to check the temperature on their soups. Oh well, too late for me, but maybe that will help others.

I cut into my veal Marsala to find it nice and tender. It has a great flavor, but when I take a bite of my garlic mashed potatoes, they are cold as well. I am beginning to see what is going on here. Either these foods are not being stored at safe temperatures or sides are being put on the plates way too early before the main course. I ask Ronda how her potatoes are and she agrees that they are cold. At this point, I just really want to get out of there. I leave my potatoes on the plate and finish my veal. The manager never comes to our table, so I ask for the check. Next to us is a table of six with a number of children and when I see their dishes come out it is clear the way to go at Carrabba's is pasta. All of the pasta dishes being served were steaming hot.

I take full responsibility for this debacle as I should never have gone to a chain like this for an anniversary dinner. Its just that I like Carrabba's and we never go because my daughter doesn't like it. Given that she put the kibosh on a suggestion of Bennigan's two years ago and then they closed their doors two weeks later, I should be taking her advice. I was so upset after this meal that if Johnny and Damian would have been in the restaurant that evening, I would have clunked their heads together they way Moe does Larry and Curly. It was the worst!

I have had good meals at Carrabba's in the past, but I am done with them now. For this, my last visit to Carrabba's, I give them one Stiffy.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry

Havana Cuba Restaurant

Havana Cuba Restaurant
210 N. Woodland Blvd.
DeLand, FL 32720
(386)736-7726
www.planetdeland.com/havanacuba

In posts past I have commented on the plethora of independently owned restaurants located in DeLand. I continue to be amazed with the number of these restaurants and the good food that they serve. Unintentionally, my friend Kelly has seemed to become my DeLand restaurant dining partner. She and I have discovered a few places and have also failed to find some locations we were looking for, but that is the beauty of having so many choices. Recently, Kelly told me about a small Cuban location called Havana Cuba that we needed to check out. Since I am always ready for a new food adventure and love Cuban food, I immediately agreed.

Kelly and I arrived at Havana Cuba just a little before noon and it is a good thing that we did. The restaurant is small and cozy with seating for about 30. As soon as we sat down we were greeted by our waitress who took our drink orders. We ordered sodas, but it should be noted they do have a selection of Cuban sodas available. I thought that was a great touch that added to the authenticity of the place and made a mental note to try one on my next visit. For lunch, I ordered the Cuban Sandwich and Kelly ordered Arroz con Pollo, chicken with yellow rice. After taking our order our waitress took our ticket to a gentleman sitting at a table with a couple of other people and he went straight to the kitchen. The restaurant began to fill with others while we waited for our food and chatted. It wasn't ten minutes before our waitress returned with our food. This was really quick service.

I ordered the full sandwich, but will tell you a half would have been plenty. As a matter of fact, their special that day was a half of sandwich with a side of black beans and rice. I did order a side of beans and rice, but with a full sandwich it was way too much food. The portions here are generous. Kelly's chicken and rice looked outstanding and she confirmed my suspicions by saying it tasted really good. My sandwich was packed with ham, pork and cheese with a great Cuban bread pressed just right. The beans were flavorful and the rice fluffy and hot. We were very pleased with our food. Our waitress came back to check on us often and kept our glasses full.

It appears this restaurant is family owned with everyone pitching in. While it is small, they serve up food that is big on flavor and size. If you enjoy Cuban food and like a nice, family atmosphere when you dine out, you have to check out Havana Cuba Restaurant. I know I'll be back often.

For my first visit to Havana Cuba Restaurant, I give them four Stiffy's.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Harry