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!

Rabbit, Snake, & Elk Walk into a Bar...

...well, not so much a bar but the Lonesome Dove Western Bistro in Ft. Worth's Stockyards.

I'm on my final push toward home on a multi-day road-trip, I called a friend whose family had recently visited Ft. Worth.  From her posts on Facebook I knew that they had eaten somewhere nice in the Stockyards.  So I gave her a call and she helped to direct me to Lonesome Dove.

Walking in to this rustic saloon styled restaurant I was cautious as to what culinary "delights" might await me.  Beyond recommendations from friends who have traveled through an area I also base my first impressions on the "others" who I see dining.  Yes, there were obviously other tourists, like myself.  Additionally, I know a place in a "touristy" area is good if locals area also dining.  Several of the "others" included what appeared to be business professionals from Ft. Worth's neighboring downtown neighborhood.  My first instincts were that I was in the right place for my lunch en route home.

I'm not sure where the geographic dividing line happens to be between those areas where having a house brewed iced sweet tea available happens to be, but apparently Ft. Worth is not "southern" enough to be safely within the sweet tea zone.  Needless to say I was polite about mixing in some Splenda into my iced tea.

As my server introduced the menu to me, upon learning this was my first time, he mentioned that any of their appetizers could be served in smaller tasting portions and mixed together.  Well that sounded awesome as I was trying to be a little budget conscious as this was the end of my road-trip.  I made a selection of a rabbit-rattlesnake sausage as well as a slider made from an elk sausage.  Due to the mix in the sausage it was difficult to distinguish the rabbit from the rattlesnake; I've eaten rabbit before and could tell there was something "extra" with it but I'm sure I'd never be able to identify it as rattlesnake.  Whatever the combination of flavors it was very tasty.  The elk sausage slider was also a wonderful treat; not too gamey but still something a step up from beef.

Left: Elk Sausage Slider with Seared Foie Gras and Blueberry Jam
Right: Rabbit-Rattlesnake Sausage with Spicy Manchergo Rosti and Creme Fraiche

For my entree I selected the "Daily Stockyard Special" which was tenderloin tacos.  Let's just say that having a great steak in Ft. Worth's Stockyards is a treat and this spin on tenderloin within two lightly fried soft taco shells was just wonderful.  The true highlight, however, was the red bell pepper soup.  "Just magical."  That's truly all I can say to do the soup justice!!  If the soup was all that I had tried on this day I would still be able to present a highly positive review of Lonesome Dove.

"Daily Stockyard Special"
Tenderloin Tacos with Red Bell Pepper Soup,
Mexican Rice, and Spicy Guacamole

If you're in Ft. Worth or the larger Dallas Metroplex it would be very worth your time to venture on out to the Stockyard's and saddle yourself into a seat at Lonesome Dove Western Bistro.

And remember, happy eating is only an adventure away.

Quiet in the Garden

Following some "Chopstick Fears" (addressed on my other blog), I've made it a point to visit a few Asian restaurants "near" my home so that I can practice using chosticks prior to my upcoming trip to South Korea.  While my friends whom accompanied me tonight did laugh a few times and my attempts, they can't deny that I made it through my meal without resorting to fork usage tonight <grin>.

Tonight's venture took us to Seoul Garden, a Korean restaurant in Mid-West City, OK.  In addition to my chopstick practice I also want to rekindle my taste buds toward Koran dishes.  I ordered the beef bul-go-gi as I remembered it being a favorite of mine during my last trip to Korea.  As our meals were being served we were offered to help ourselves with the miso soup; just add onions, mushrooms, and seaweed to whatever suited each of us individually.  It was served with white steamed rice, chicken egg rolls, and the table spread of kim-chi, potato pancakes, cucumber kim-chi, and other items which were served family style.

I thoroughly enjoyed every bite!  Things were not as spicy as I had thought (maybe even hoped) but the food was absolutely wonderful.  While Seoul Garden is not near my home or work locations and is a bit of a drive to get to, it is still a location which I can definitely see myself returning.

The only downside to the whole experience was the overall lack of customers in the large dinning room.  Granted it was a Wednesday night during the summer, but I would have hoped that a restaurant with as high a popularity rate as Seoul Garden would have had more diners.  Perhaps they are busier during other times, but tonight was just a quiet night in the Garden.

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

Pho - nomenal

A cultural delight has developed in the heart of one of Oklahoma City's historic neighborhoods.  Beginning in the 1970s and continuing into the early 1980s, refugees from southeast Asia (primarily Vietnamese) began settling near the intersection of NW 23rd and Classen.  Numerous Vietnamese restaurants, bakeries, grocery outlets, etc., were soon opened.  As the visual characteristics of the community began to reflect this cultural arrival this area of town earned the nickname "Little Saigon".  This community was even featured in a National Geographic article called "73106: Lemongrass on the Prairie."

As the community has matured in a thriving and important part of the greater Oklahoma City community, a more politically correct"Asian District" now identifies the area.  Many of the smaller grocery outlets have given way to a large supermarket, Super Cao Nguyen, which provides a multitude of imported grocery items (not just from east or southeast Asia) as well as fresh meats and produce.  People from all over the metropolitan area know that this community is the best place for east and southeast Asian culinary arts.

As a celebration for my recent birthday, some friends wanted to take me out for dinner.  They left open to me the choice of where to eat and, since they had already taken me here before, I announced that I would love to eat at Pho Lein Hoa. This restaurant features the Vietnamese noodle soup known as Pho (pronounced fuh).  Pho includes rice noodles, any mixture of beef (or sometimes chicken), a variety of herbs and spices, and thin transparent broth.  Pho will often be served with a side of fresh been spouts, basil leaves, peppers, and limes (for juice) to help add additional flavor and texture to your soup.

Once at Pho Lein Hoa each member of my party had an order of two of their delicious spring rolls.  These Vietnamese versions include a rice paper casing filled with vermicelli noodles, lettuce, thin strips of pork and shrimp.  The spring rolls are then served with a side of peanut sauce for dipping.

I then ordered the "P9" or the Pho Chin for my entree.  This pho is prepared as noted above but the beef preparation was a well done brisket.  I did add lots of shredded basil, some sprouts, a couple of slices of jalapeno peppers and a little bit of spicy Sriracha chili sauce.  I ate and ate and ate and it was all so wonderful.  To me, the best part of the whole bowl was the little bit of broth left at the bottom.  By this point all of the excess spices and flavorings had migrated to the bottom and their high concentration within the remaining broth was so over powering and yet amazing.  I don't recommend spooning out the excess broth flavor mixture; just pick up the bowl and drink it!

While there are many places within the Asian District, end even in other neighborhoods in Oklahoma City, I will never remove Pho Lein Hoa from my list of OKC's "must eats".

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