Moochie's Meatballs

I'm gonna keep this short and sweet, you know why?  I am getting sad and hungry sitting here at my computer without a Moochie's sandwich in my mouth.  Seriously, it's depressing.


If you drive east on 800 south in Salt Lake City, it is very likely that you would pass 232 east without a second glance...  What a stupid thing to do.  Find a parking spot and step inside for a taste of some of the best sandwiches around.

I saw this joint on DDD (see video below) and I knew I had to try it next time I went to Salt Lake.  But what about Ruth's Diner?  Could I sacrifice a trip to my can't miss diner in order to try this new place?  Solution: Moochie's for dinner, Ruth's for breakfast next day.  Bangarang. 

I ordered the Philly cheesesteak sandwich with sauted mushrooms and bell peppers.  If you like it with a little kick (like I do) you've gotta take advantage of their extensive pepper bar filled with jalapenos, cherry peppers, pepperoncinis, etc.  Oh, and don't forget the sauce as seen in the picture below--it's a creamy jalapeno sauce with just enough spice to tingle the back of your tongue.

The highlight of the sandwiches is the bread.  Somehow they find a way to keep it from getting soggy, so you end up with delicious, crusty, chewy bread as the platform for the delicious meats and sauces Moochie's has to offer.

My wife loved the meatball sandwich; the provolone cheese was hot and gooey and the meatballs were fantastic.  There is nothing bad to say about this place.


My one regret I had as I left was that I didn't get some of their fries.  They have regular and (my personal favorite) sweet potato fries which sent their deep-fried aroma through the air that made me want to ask the table next to me if I could try just one of their little beauties.  Give them a try.


Here is the video clip that had me hooked--until I tried it for myself and I was truly converted.

Click HERE to chek out Moochie's website for maps, directions, and the full delicious menu.  Let me know how it goes.

Cheers!

El Taco Riendo

So after dabbling in some delicious French pastry which, although scrumptious, is a little pricy, I am back to cheap undiscovered eats.  Next time you are craving Mexican food, don't turn to Taco Bell, Del Taco, or even Rancheritos.  Instead, head south on Universtiy Ave. til you get to the shining silver diner that used to be Wingers, but now has been converted into a little piece of Mexico.


El Taco Riendo is not a sit-down, look-at-the-menu restaurant, but it still incorporates some of those elements.  After ordering at the register, you find a seat and wait for your food to be delivered to you, but unlike many fast food style restaurants, the waitress promptly brings you a basket of steaming chips and fresh salsa.  You can also take a few moments before your food arrives to get some small plastic cups full of the many salsas offered at the salsa bar.  I really loved the creamy avocado salsa that was a mix of salsa and guacamole.

 I ordered a gordita, which is nothing like the gorditas Taco Bell has to offer.  If you haven't tried a real gordita before (like me until I tried this one), it is like a thick fried tortilla which is cut in half and stuffed with any variety of things.  The gorditas at El Taco Riendo come with two types of cheese--one that melts and another that stays crumbly--and your choice of meat.  I chose the carne asada and was not disappointed.  Top that off with some fresh cilantro, onions, guacamole, and a squeeze of lime and you are in business.  You've gotta give this a try.

 My wife went with the quesadilla, which also comes with your choice of meat.  At the suggestion of the lady at the register, we went with the pork al pastor.  Al pastor is pork prepared with a sweet and slightly spicy marinade and finished off with pineapple along with onions and garlic.  The huge tortilla was the best flour tortilla that either of us had ever tried.  So, match a tasty tortilla with gooey cheese and savory pork and we had a can't miss plate on our hands.  We would definitely order both of these items again, although the tacos, nachos, and tortas looked worthy of an order as well.

El Taco Riendo is the perfect place for a casual night of dining.  I'd take this place over Los Hermanos or any other Mexican restaurant in a heartbeat.  Best of all, my wife and I got out of there with full stomachs and a full wallet: we only spent $10.58 between the two of us.  Check them out:

El Taco Riendo

465 S. University Ave

(801) 373-1266

Buen Provecho!

Les Madeleines

TIME TO SPLURGE!!

As I stated in my first post, I want to help you find the best eats for a reasonable price here in Provo, Salt Lake, and everywhere in between.  This time, however, the food is a little on the pricey side, but oh so worth it: you've gotta try Les Madeleines Patisserie and Cafe in downtown Salt Lake City.

I heard about this joint on The Best Thing I Ever Ate and knew I had to give it a try.  Unfortunately, clips from that show are not as accessible as those from DDD, so a picture will have to do.

 You are looking at a Kouing Aman, the specialty of Les Madeleines.  How can I explain the deliciousness of this experience without giving you one to try for yourself?  Well, it is a crispy, flaky, crunchy, sticky, sweet-yet-salty, buttery, croissant-y, decadent pastry unlike anything I have ever tried before.  It is the most famous item at Les Madeleines and as such, you can buy no more than six at a time unless you call ahead.  You better get there pretty early or else you may be out of luck.

From my experience, there are two ways to eat the Kouing: the delicate layer-by-layer method, and the chomp down with reckless abandon method.  Whichever path you choose, you can't help but smile as you enjoy the harmony of flavors and textures as your teeth sink through the crispy exterior and fall into the pillow of buttery flakes hidden inside.  They say that drugs, alcohol, and sex were all invented by people living too far away from a Kouing Aman who needed a substitute for the REAL high that only comes from this sweet pastry.   

As I said at the beginning, this isn't like going to pick up a few donuts to start off your morning; these delectible delights will cost you about $4.50 each.  So when you go--and trust me, you really need to go--think of yourself as going to a gourmet restaurant for breakfast, expecting to pay more than a few bucks like you would if you just stopped for a bagel or two.  Life is short.  Eat!

Click HERE to check out the Les Madeleines website for their full menu, hours, and location information.  And if you aren't lucky enough to be here in Utah to partake of the Kouing Aman, you can order online and be enjoying your bit of heaven in no time.

Cheers!

Carrabba's Italian Grill

Okay, okay... I know that this blog is about showing the hidden gems that Utah has to offer, so why am I doing a review of Carrabba's, a famous nationwide chain restaurant?  It's delicious, that's why, alright?  When I started this blog I had the hope of helping you have fantastic dining out experiences, and I would feel like I was hiding something from you if I didn't share my love for Carrabba's.  What follows is a very specific menu that my wife and I enjoy every time we step into the cozy dining room at Carrabba's Italian Grill.  Give it a try and I guarantee 100% Italian bliss.

You start, of course with the hot, steamy slices of chewy bread served with olive oil and Carrabba's special spice and herb blend.  When the time comes to order, follow my every word:

Watier:  "What can I get for you tonight?"

You:  "We are going to split the Italian Chicken Pizza and get two salads.  I'll get the (insert "Mediterranean," "Caesar," or "Italian" here)."

Your date:  "And I'll get the (same options as above)."

Seems pretty simple, I know.  But each of these dishes is absolutely top notch.  My salad of choice is the Mediterranean, it has romaine lettuce topped with pepperoncinis, olives, fresh tomatoes, and the kicker--sliced fennel.  The end product is a fresh, tangy salad which wakes up your palate for the rest of your meal.  My wife prefers the Caesar, which is solid as well, and I am sure that the Italian is great, too.

 

Here is the menu's description of the Italian Chicken Pizza: "Grilled chicken in our Italian-style sweet and sour sauce with pine nuts, scallions, romano, fontina and mozzarella."  The highlights of the pizza are threefold.  First, the thin crust, cooked to crispy perfection in the blazing hot brick oven.  Second, the sweet, tangy tomato sauce which is unlike any I have ever tasted.  And third, the pine nuts which add a unique crunch and nutty flavor to send this pizza over the top.

You didn't think I was done there, did you?  Dessert?  Yes, please.  I have heard that they have other specialties, but you've gotta go with the Sogno Di Cioccolata (Chocolate Dream) with a scoop of Blue Bell vanilla ice cream.  It is a layered dessert that goes like this from bottom to top: fudgy brownie, chocolate mousse, whipped cream, repeat, topped off with a drizzle of chocolate sauce.  It may sound too rich, but it all just works.  The textures are fabulously blended together and the cold, silky ice cream adds a new temperature element that is divinely inspired.  Take a look.

Now I'm sure that you can go a lot of different routes at Carrabba's and leave satisfied, but this meal is honestly one of the best I have ever eaten.  On top of the food, the friendly, quick-but-not-rushed service and cozy atmosphere make Carrabba's a hit every time.  Click HERE to go to the Carrabba's Italian Grill home page to find your nearest location and get there ASAP.

Cheers!

Thai Ruby

Less than a stone's throw away from the Mecca that is Jay Dawgs lies a little Thai restaurant named Thai Ruby.  Upon opening the front door, you feel like you've stepped off an airplane into a new Eastern existence in exotic Thailand--the warm lighting, modern Asian decor, and the undefinable smells are unlike any you will find in Provo, UT.  One look at the menu will also make you question whether or not you were just sitting in the SWKT Tower mere hours beforehand; if it weren't for the italicized captions listed beneath each of the dishes, you would have no idea what you were about to eat.  However, you must conquer your fear of the unknown if you want to experience the unique Thai flavors that Thai Ruby has to offer.

I have three dishes that I can personally recommend, but if word of mouth holds any weight, I have yet to hear a bad review of any plate served at Thai Ruby.  My personal favorite is the house special curry with chicken.  The dish is composed of a red curry with chicken, pineapple, tomatoes, peppers, and other spices which give it just enough kick to make the back of your tounge tingle.  Top all that off with a touch of coconut milk and basil and you have yourself a winner.  The bowl of brothy goodness is served with a huge bowl of rice--assuring that any visitor will leave with a full stomach.  My mouth is honestly watering right now as I think back to that sweet, savory, spicy dish I had so recently, yet seemingly so long ago. 

They say a picture is worth 1000 words...

in this case, one bite is worth 1000 pictures.

This photo really doesn't do the dish justice.

I got ahead of myself.  I should have talked about the appetizer first; but if you only knew how good that curry is, you'd understand why I had to talk about it first.  The chicken satay appetizer is fabulous.  It is skewered chicken breast slices marinated and grilled to perfection served with a side of peanut sauce.  In all honesty, the chicken is just the vehicle to get that peanut sauce into my belly.  I can't tell you what's in it or what makes it so special, but you'll never want to go back to the old chicken nuggets once you've given this thai version a try.

The last dish to which I can personally testify of its greatness is the pad thai.  You could call this dish the gateway drug to all the delicious flavors that Thai food has to offer.  With so many ingredients in this dish, it is classified as a "do not try this at home" dish which has people flocking to their favorite Thai restaurant to get some more.  It is the Thai equivalent of Italy's spaghetti with tomato sauce--when it is done right, there is nothing to beat it.  If you are wanting to try Thai for the first time, this is definitely the dish for you.

Click HERE to check out Thai Ruby's website, complete with contact information and a complete menu.  Give this place a try and expand your idea of what Asian cuisine is all about. 

Cheers!

Eat for Less

No restaurant review for today, but I heard about a deal on the radio today that could help you eat for less.

Text "food" to 53535 and you will receive daily texts with offers for restaurants in Provo/Orem, Salt Lake City, or both.

I tried it out today and got an offer for Wallaby's Smokehouse: buy one meal, get one free. 

Try it out and save yourself some dough next time you go out.  Leave me a comment with any good experiences you have.

Cheers!

El Mexsal

If you are feeling like branching out to not only a new restaurant but also to a new international cuisine, head down Freedom Boulevard in Provo and try some pupusas at Mexsal.  What are pupusas, you might ask?  Well, they are these:

To put it simply, it is a tortilla stuffed with beans, cheese, and pork in any combination.  They are served steaming hot with curtido--lightly pickled cabbage with onion, cucumber, and carrot--and tomato salsa.

I served my mission in El Salvador and pupusas are by far the most popular food in the country.  The best thing about them is that they typically cost only 25 or 35 cents a piece, so you can get stuffed for about a dollar or a dollar twenty.  Now in the States, a pupusa from a small restaurant like Mexsal will cost you about $1.20, but still, for under 4 bucks you can get three of these bad boys and leave more than full--trust me... I'm a big boy but after three of these, I 'm down for the count.

Mexsal has the best pupusas I have tried since being back in the U.S..  They also feature several other traditional Salvadorean dishes, and a full menu of Mexican plates.  The restaurant also gives each table a basket of chips with a delicious house-made salsa.  I'm not gonna lie to you, I have only tried the pupusas and one bite of a friend's enchiladas, but I trust that the other dishes are solid as well.

Try this place.  You won't be sorry.  Click HERE for the address and phone number.

Cheers!

Ruth's Diner

If you are anything like me, you love two shows on Food Network: The Best Thing I Ever Ate and Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.  I heard about Ruth's Diner on "Triple D," and I knew I had to give it a shot.  Here is what I love about the little joint:

-The diner is less than 15 minutes from downtown Salt Lake, but the scenic drive up Emigration Canyon makes you feel like you are miles away from the hustle and bustle of the big city.

-You can eat inside if the weather is cold, but eating on Ruth's huge patio overlooking the canyon makes your dining experience even more unforgettable.

-Just after you are seated, you will taste the most delicious dinner roll in town.  The rolls, which are delivered daily from a local baker, are crusty on the outside, warm throughout, and deliciously chewy inside.

-The house salad wouldn't be anything special if it weren't for the fresh-sliced mushrooms they throw on top.  They add a special change of texture which contrasts nicely from the crispy lettuce and cucumbers.

-The menu has great variety.  From chile rellenos to meat loaf, capresse sandwiches to Cajun bleu burgers, and Jamaican chicken to mac' and cheese, they have something for everything--and it is all bursting with flavor.

-If you can believe it, dinner is not Ruth's specialty.  Their breakfast is what made them famous.  After one bite of their biscuits (which come with every meal... see below) I knew that we had found a winner.  Ruth features the old classics like biscuits and gravy, eggs Benedict, and huge omelets, but their unique dishes such as pulled pork Benedict, pecan cinnamon roll french toast, and huevos rancheros are favorites as well.

 

Want to see more?  Click HERE to see Ruth's complete menu.  Click HERE to go to the Ruth's Diner homepage for address, diner hours, and much more.

If you need more convincing, here is the clip from Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives:

Trust me, this place is worth the drive.  Enjoy.

Cheers!

WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT?

Welcome to THIS IS THE FOOD.  I’m a student at BYU wishing I could live the life of a foodie.  My wife and I try to get out and taste the delicious food that Provo and Salt Lake City have to offer whenever our budget spares us a few extra dollars.

Here is the dilemma: do we go to the same restaurant as last time, knowing that we will leave satisfied? or do we try a new joint, risking a letdown for the possibility of finding a hidden gem?  If you have ever had this battle wage as you decide where to eat, I am here to help you take that step beyond Café Rio and Macaroni Grill, to help you explore the many delicious eats that Provo, Salt Lake, and everywhere in between have to offer.

Come and check in regularly to see the latest restaurant I have reviewed; and when it’s time for a break from mac & cheese and hot dogs, you can go out with the confidence that your new dining experience will leave you coming back for more.

Cheers!