Feeling Nostalgic

During the past couple of weeks I've been house-sitting for some friends and their dogs. As I would drive from their house to me house to check on things I kept passing by the sole remaining location of the Big Ed's Hamburger "empire" which had its pinnacle in the lay 1980s and early 1990s; Ed Thomas had 50 restaurants mostly in Oklahoma with a handful in southern Kansas.

My father loved to eat at Big Ed's and I remember always being fascinated by the idea that Ed offered a free meal to anyone who would order the special 12 inch loaded burger and accompanying trough of French fries if it could all be eaten within 45 minutes by a single person. I never knew of anyone who tried but I am sure many made the attempt. Big Ed's also offered a really large burger as a family style option which would be sliced like a pie for serving/sharing.

Personal financial problems stemming from health care needs for his wife following a bad car wreck compelled Ed to sell his beloved business in 1996. Ed Thomas himself died in early 2009. One location remains, located at 122nd and North Pennsylvania Avenue. You can still order the larger burger for your family.

So today for lunch, feeling a bit nostalgic for this place my father loved and that I had some pleasant memories of family time as a child, I stopped at Big Ed's. I ordered a bacon cheese burger with mayo and made it a combo with their French fries which the cut fresh each day and cook upon each order and a medium Dr. Pepper.

The burger was solid. It was clearly made to order and a had a nice taste to it. The bacon was crisp, the cheese just perfectly melted, and veggies were fresh. The fries, while clearly freshly cooked and cut just that morning, were very weak on flavor; no seasoning at all, just cut and then cooked in the hot oil before being served. They were hot which is a plus, but they were bland.

The burger will bring me back but the fries won't be ordered again. It's been years since I've eaten at Big Ed's (long before my died dad and that was 1997). 

It's funny how nostalgia works. I'm glad I stopped in as it gave me some pleasant memories and a solid burger!

Sticky at Sully's Saloon

It's my first night in Louisville for the yearly conference that I attend. For dinner, my group of friends I walked 4th Street Live for a place to settle for dinner. There wasn't a wait at Sully's (a place we've never visited in previous years--not sure it even existed) so we picked it.

Walking to the table should have been the first hint that this could have been a poor choice. The floor was absolutely sticky!--as in it hadn't been thoroughly cleaned/mopped in a long time. Additionally, there was a strong odor of something that smelled like spoiled beer, but this odor was restricted to one area along our walk to our table. Looking around we noticed that we were basically the only ones present...but that would change somewhat over the next hour or so. Sticky and smelly don't create an atmosphere that is pleasant for a place to eat (or do much else).

As we began looking at the menu and asking our server questions on his personal favorites and other popular items, we were informed that several items on the menu were not available tonight because they "ran out" at a private party the previous night; basically any item which featured pulled-pork was off limits tonight. I settled on the "Good Morning Burger" which featured country ham, bacon, cheddar cheese, over easy egg, maple bourbon aioli on a toasted bun. As I'm writing this and reflecting on what was served...I don't think the country ham ever made it on the burger. each of the other guys got the "Dublin Burger"...a basic burger with tobacco onions and BBQ sauce. Two of us had the cheeses garlic mashed potatoes as a side while e others had French fries.

Over all the food was pretty good!!!

However, that smell and the stickiness greeted us again as we left...it won't greet me again. I don't care how great the food is at a place, if your atmosphere is not condusive to a basic standard of  quality dining then it won't include me as a customer.

Shackin' Up with Irma

I must admit that I behaved like a glutton during a recent visit to Irma's Burger Shack near NW 63rd & Western (original location) in Oklahoma City.

Eating a burger with top quality No Name Ranch beef isn't being a glutton. Eating a hot link sandwich isn't being a glutton. Unfortunately, when you take a top quality beef burger and put two delicious hot links on top you're getting awfully close to that glutton line. But then you end up taking a running long jump across that magic line when you add delicious chili and a fried egg on to said burger with links. Yes, I crossed that line at Irma's...and while I am pleasantly full and am 100% NOT ashamed of crossing that line of gluttony on this experience of exploration.

The Wynnewood Thunder is one of Irma's specially burgers (No Name Ranch beef, hot link, chili, fried egg, and pepper jack cheese). It was simply delicious! The only thing that I can think of to make this meal with featuring Oklahoma raised beef is to compliment it with an order of fried pickles and ranch...yep, just a plain ole' night of Okie style gluttony...and I'd do it all over again (perhaps soon!!).

On previous explorations at Irma's I've enjoy other sandwiches. The "Which Came First" is one of my favorites! It features a blackened chicken breast, green chilies, pepper jack cheese, and a blackened egg...it's so tasty that you won't waste time contemplating whether the chicken or the egg came first.

Head on over the either of Irma's location (mid-town or northside) and chow down soon!

And remember, happy eating is only and adventure away.

Kimchee Burger??

Over the past two or so years I've heard about S & B Burgers and witnessed a couple of their locations being built near two areas of Oklahoma City that I frequent. But it was not until a couple of days ago that I seriously thought about seeking one out for a dining experience.

I posted a question on Facebook and Twitter for my friends/followers to address asking about their opinions on S & B Burgers. There a wide variety of responses from casual acquaintances to close friends whose opinions I would highly respect. Some gave preferences for other burger joints in the area...some that I like and some that I find are "just ok"...while others were very adamant that S & B was a great choice. When one particular set of well-respected friends said that it was one of their favorite places I knew I had to try it...and soon. I text Michael & Deanna to see if they had dinner plans for that night.  They did not and were agreeable to meet me at the North May Ave. (Quail Springs area) location.

Imagine my surprise to learn that Monday nights (this was a Monday) was $5 burger night!!!

Based upon previous recommendations, as well as those presented in response to my question, I decided to try the "Hot Lips"...a Korean BBQ grilled patty with leaf lettuce, grilled onions, and house made kimchee...and, since the burger was only going to be $5, I also ordered a "Blue Colombian" taco...coffee-crusted braised beef with onions, cilantro & blue cheese guacamole served on top of two double layered 3-inch diameter corn tortillas.

I like blue cheese but I'm not a major fan. This taco's guacamole had a STONG blue cheese flavor which ended up growing on me after a couple of bites. The coffee flavor on the beef was an extra bonus "something special". It was something that I know I will grow to enjoy and will love to order again.

Overall the "Hot Lips" burger was good. I was a little disappointed in the lack of major heat or intense flavor of the kimchee itself. However, after two weeks in Korea this past summer, true kimchee can grow "old" on my palate so I'm sort of glad that I was able to enjoy the hint of flavor without the burger being overwhelmed with the fermented cabbage mixture. While there are many other burger styles I plan to try, I'll definitely revisit the "Hot Lips".

I'm pleased by my visit to S & B Burgers and will absolutely add it to my list of favorite places to visit!