Land, Air, and Seed

WOW. It's been a very LONG while since I've posted on this blog. I should absolutely change that...let's start now!

So, I find myself near the end of day two of a nine day work related trip to Washington, DC. Last night I met with a "niece" and her boyfriend to eat some Italian food; perhaps I'll do a post about that dining experience as well. My plan for most of today had been to visit a local burger joint that I've frequented on a few other trips to the District. However, as it came dinner time I thought: "David, perhaps there is some place near your hotel that you've never dined at before and you should try tonight.

So I pulled out my iPhone and opened up my Google Maps app and searched for restaurants. Out of the many options located within  mere steps of my hotel I saw "Founding Farmers", a place I had considered at my last trip to D.C. in December 2016. I read some reviews and looked at the menu; Founding Farmers is one of these restaurants that specializes, as best as it can, in being a farm-to-table concept in which most of the ingredients are locally sourced. It looked like a solid place and would only be a 2-1/2 block walk away. The reviews must be pretty good, because the place was packed with both locals and visitors to the District. Being alone for the evening and due to how crowded the place was (a family of four was told it would be at least a 45 minute wait) I opted to sit at the bar...I still waited nearly 20 minutes for a bar stool to open up.

Having had already looked at the menu online I had an idea of what I was interested in trying. I did ask the bartender, Paul, a few questions and he made some recommendations. I had not seen seen the meatloaf online (it was there I just notice it) and was leaning that route rather than the steak and enchiladas which I did see online. The steak and enchiladas were under the "signatures" portion of the menu which is why I had taken notice of them originally. I asked Paul for his recommendation between the two of them and he said hands down, no questions, the steak and enchiladas. I ultimately went this route because I do love good enchiladas (I judge Mexican restaurants by this staple dish and I have not returned to some Mexican places the otherwise get "high marks"...if you can't make those right, you don't deserve to call yourself a Mexican restaurant, but I digress) even though I'm not a big fan of eating steak (insert the calls for demanding I surrender my Oklahoma citizenship card). Paul added that the steak and the chicken enchiladas were accompanied by sweetened corn on the cob.

My findings: the steak was much better than I was prepared for (that means it was GOOD) and the chicken enchiladas would make any quality Mexican restaurant a regular feature in my food play book (that means they were also GOOD). The star of the plate, however, was actually the sweetened corn on the cob. The sweet corn was coated in a sauce that highlighted the natural sweetness of the corn yet provided a savoriness that was just WOW. I could have easily forgone a dessert order and asked for another cob instead. And I truly contemplated it. So in the battle of land, air, and seed, in which all three were very strong competitors, worthy adversaries, the seed (sweet corn) won the day.

Speaking of dessert I asked Paul for his recommendations from among the lengthy list. He said the beignets or the apple pie (in that order, he insisted). But the chocoholic in me just wanted to try the three-layer chocolate mouse cake: devil's food cake with semi-sweet chocolate ganache served with house-churned strawberry ice cream. The cake was TALL and pretty and I enjoyed the strawberry ice cream so much more than the cake. The cake was a tad dry for my tastes and seemed more like a dense traditional cake rather then devil's food. The ganache was tasty but much thinner that I'd prefer as a true ganache for what should have been a truly decadent cake. But that ice cream, that sensational blend of cream and strawberries...think of that ice cream social from your church where all of the ladies (or guys) made a batch of their own homemade ice cream (preferable in the hand churned makers, but the electric ones work too)...picture the most delicious crowd pleasing favorite and then multiple it by ten. YES!!! That's how good this strawberry ice cream was. I'm not sure if I regret having gone with one of Paul's other recommendations, because the ice cream was that much of a privilege to enjoy.

I know beyond any doubt that I will return to dine at Founding Farmers...and it could easily occur within the remaining seven days of this trip.

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.

Cajun Food + Digits

During my recent visit to Louisville, KY for work some of my colleagues and I opted to venture out for lunch on our own rather than dining at the convention center.  One of my colleagues had previously visited J. Gumbo's in downtown Louisville (a very short walk from the Kentucky International Convention Center) and made a compelling recommendation to the rest of us.  She was so right about the quality of the food that we returned there for a second visit during the week...yep, that good!

Having family heritage from Cajun Land in southern Louisiana I am sometimes skeptical of gumbo.  Over the years I've been pleasantly surprised and overwhelmingly appalled at what different restaurants will serve as a gumbo.  So I made my initial order with some skepticism.  To help tame down the skepticism I did order a "split decision"...for $1 over the price of the more expensive of your two options you can get two medium bowls of food rather than one large bowl of a single item.  My two items? Well, one had to be Gumbo (just to try it) and the other was the Voodoo Chicken.

First the Gumbo: well it wasn't Aunt Mary's (best I've ever had, with close honorable mentions for my dad's other sisters) but it was very close!  Let's just say that gumbo coming anywhere close to being compared with Aunt Mary's (in a positive light) is gumbo that gets a thumbs up from me.  Second the Voodoo Chicken: if you can't handle spicy then DON'T order this because it is HOT HOT HOT.  I had to actually tame it down some by mixing in some sour cream.  Despite its heat its flavor is AWESOME.  I strongly recommend it!!

For our second visit two days later I did a single order of Crawfish Etouffee.  It was light and creamy and served over rice.  It could have a used a bit more crawfish mixed in, but overall a wonderful flavor!!  The highlight, however, of this visit wasn't the food (which was great).  The highlight was the flirtacious attention from one of the waitresses.  Well, those who know me know that I can flirt back and let's just say, "whoot, whoot", that SunShyne gave me her "digits".  It's her "birthday month" and she is just having fun celebrating.  She was lots of fun and a great help at J. Gumbo's.  I'll definitely be back again.

Until next time, happy eating is only an adventure away.

Getting a Little Crusty

The "Classen Curve" at the intersection of Classen Avenue and Grand Boulevard (near NW 63rd and Western Avenue) in northwest Oklahoma City is just bustling with activity.  There are lots of shops and restaurants catering to a variety of tastes.

One of my favorite restaurants at Classen Curve is Upper Crust Wood Fired Pizza.  Upper Crust features a diverse menu and yet features hand-tossed thin New York style pizza cooked over open flame in one of its two brick ovens.  While there are pre-designed pizza options on the menu you can also have one made to suit your tastes.  Upper Crust also provides featured options which are not necessarily on the menu.  On my first visit the night's showcase pizza was a wonderful Italian meatball.

Tonight I joined some friends at Upper Crust and, again, was far from disappointed with my selections.  One of tonight's off-menu features was an Italian Nachos: fried spinach chips topped with spicy ground beef, peppers, pepperoncinis, olives, and a variety of cheeses.  Simply a light and delicious way to start the evening.

 Following the nacho appetizer, my friends and I each ordered the Farmer's Market Salad: Boston Bibb lettuce, mixed with arugula, fuji apples, candied walnuts, and Gorgonzola cheese and tossed with a tasty white balsamic vinaigrette dressing.  The crispness of the apples and the mixtures of the sweet and sour flavors provided such a wonderful in-between course.

For our main course we made selections from the pre-designed menu.  Each pizza has an approximate 12" diameter and can easily feed two (even three if you've enjoyed salad and appetizers).  My friends slit a Numbers (pie sauce, fresh mozzarella, pepperoni, spicy sausage, crispy prosciutto, and jalapenos) while I selected a Flying Pig (pig sauce, fresh mozzarella, “bricked” chicken, smoked bacon, and ranch swirl).  The Numbers looked so delicious and spicy.  The Flying Pig is a bacon lover's dream; the flavors just worked so well together.  I'm so glad that I was able to bring about half of it home with me so I'll have another round of enjoyment for lunch tomorrow!  The Flying Pig is definitely one of my favorite pre-designeds.  Perhaps I'll build my own next time just to see how creative I can get.

the Numbers (well, 2/3rds of one)

the Flying Pig (half covered with freshly grated Parmesan)

Whether you're out for the start of a night on the town or just venturing out of your neighborhood for a nice bite to eat you should consider Upper Crust.  You won't be disappointed by their pizzas.  I do still intend to try something else from their menu and yet I've always gone for the pizza.

Until next time, happy eating is only an adventure away.

Needed Some SPICY Comfort

For the past few weeks I've had this cold thing that just won't leave.  It's intensity comes and goes and today it was especially strong while trying to resume work following Winter Break.  Since I was not feeling all that great I was definitely in need of some comfort food and a warm sandwich and hot bowl of soup just sounded like it would "hit the spot".

A co-worker/friend and I ventured to our local McAlister's Deli in Moore, OK.  McAlister's is one of my regular lunch stops because I just love the food and fabulous sweet tea.  While purusing the menu the word "spicy" just kept calling my name for my sandwich choice and I ultimately settled on the Spicy Southwest Chicken Griller.  This delight includes: "sliced grilled chicken breast topped with guacamole, fire-roasted corn and poblano pepper relish, pepper jack cheese and chipotle ranch on a ciabatta roll."  It is just wonderful to have all of those flavors in my mouth at once.

With your sandwich selection you have the choice of one of McAlister's wonderful side dishes.  Typically I'll go for some mac & cheese which would have fit wonderfully in with my comfort food quest today.  But today, in addition to the "spicy", I also wanted a nice cup of soup.  For an extra $2 you can have a cup of soup as your sandwich's side and I selected their rich and cream broccoli cheese soup.  The soup today was just a tad thinner than I prefer but the flavors were all still there.

And of course, in my opinion, not trip to McAlister's is complete without a cup of that fabulous sweet tea.  I just love to guzzle that stuff down which eating my meal and smile when the wait staff comes by to provide a refill.  One more refill for the road and I am just in sweet tea heaven.

Sometimes you just need to comfort food (spicy or not) and McAlister's delivered today.  I returned to work and a long meeting with a little extra "giddy-up" in my "go".

Until next time, happy eating is only an adventure away!

Bazinga for Red Beans and Rice

A couple of days ago I learned that my favorite place for fried chicken had closed down.  RIP to Bobo's Chicken!  Your deliciousness ... no, Bobo-liciousness ... will never be forgotten.

Now I begin my quest for the next "great" chicken place in Oklahoma.  Using the member based rating system on www.urbanspoon.com I decided to plan a visit to Jim's Fried Chicken in Nicoma Park, just outside of Oklahoma City.  Jim's had a 94% approval rating and some pretty great reviews.  Today, I was able to convince some friends to join me.

Jim's is housed in a small stand alone building along NW 23rd Street.  As we were arriving near 2:00 PM it wasn't a surprise to find only one other car in the parking lot.  We walked in and immediately heavenly scents greeted us; we all smiled up as we looked at each in reaction to the aroma.  As we ordered, a line began to form behind us.  This small restaurant was suddenly very crowded; most of these next orders were "to go" which might be best due to the small nature of the dining area.

We each ordered 2 pieces.  The others ordered one of the meal packages which came with choices of small sides.  I ordered a la carte and paired a medium size red beans and rice (a dish with lots of popular mentions in Urbanspoon's reviews) and a medium size macaroni and cheese (a hand written notice of this being available today).

The chicken (a wing and breast for me) was so warm and juicy and it had some nice spices in it.  It was GOOD chicken and yet, sadly, it was not good enough to rival Bobo's for me.  The one thing, however, that will most likely keep me returning to Jim's will be the red beans and rice.  I have a family back ground with strong southern Louisiana and Cajun influences.  I've had some amazing RB&R at a variety of places (like Lea's Lunchroom in Lecompte, LA) and this RB&R is absolutely the BEST that I've had outside of Louisiana!  It is smooth, well cooked (each the beans and the rice), WONDERFULLY seasoned, and even has andouille sausage mixed in (I would have liked a tad more andouille).

The RB&R alone will be enough to get me to return to Jim's and while there I'm sure I'll enjoy more chicken and mac&cheese (other group members also recommend the fried okra and fried fruit pies).

I do highly recommend that you venture to Jim's Fried Chicken and check it out for yourself.  Try the chicken, sure, but make sure and try the red beans and rice!!

Until next time, happy eating is only an adventure away!