#3 - Mama Roja - Oklahoma City OK

We wanted to eat at Lake Hefner last night.  Redrock Canyon Grill was our first choice--and one of my favorite restaurants in OKC--but last month it almost burned down in a fire. Good news is, they said from the day after the fire that they're going to rebuild. I had never been next door to Mama Roja's, but had always seen lots of people waiting to be seated, so we decided to give it a try. 

The wait was about 35 minutes, which apparently is pretty normal for a Thursday evening.  But it seemed to go by pretty fast, and we got a great table on the patio, right next to the roll-up windows.  If it wasn't 500 degrees outside that would have been an even more prime table with the windows open.  It's got a great view of the boats on the lake, and very serene.

It's a Mexican place so of course I had to have a margarita.  Lo and behold, one of their specials is the Thunder Up, so I didn't need to look any further.  I don't remember what was in it, but it was blue and really tasty, so I had 2 of them...

We started with the chili relleno appetizer, on the recommendation of our server.
Stuffed with fajita chicken, black beans, cheeses,cornmeal crusted and flash-fried. Served on verde sauce and drizzled with chipotle sour cream.
I've never seen a chili that big!  It was really good, and the cornmeal crust gave it a great flavor.  The first bite I took hit hard, so there must have been a few chili seeds still in there.  But I just took another sip of the margarita, and all was well.

I guess I'm on a fish taco kick, because I decided to try them here too.  They had a choice of grilled or fried, so I decided to try one of each
Flour tortillas filled with grilled or crispy Haddock, Baja slaw, tomatillo-avocado sauce, chipotle sour cream and fresh mango salsa.
The grilled haddock was okay, but a little over-cooked.  The fried was much better.  The sauce had great flavor, and the mango salsa was very light and tasty.  The borracha beans were awesome!

We were full, but decided to split a sopapilla since it's nothing more than some bread, sugar and  honey.  Well, the split didn't really work since I hate half and Beau didn't touch his half.  But I controlled myself, and left the other portion there. 

Will I go back?  Yes!  The margaritas are good, the chips/salsa was very fresh and they bring you queso with it too, and the location is fantastic.  I also want to try some other stuff on the menu.



My Chef's Hat - Avocado Basil Pasta with Bacon

Avocado, bacon, and pasta...3 of my favorite things to eat!  I could probably eat bacon every day, but I don't need my cholesterol to go through the roof, or gain 500 pounds.  So, only in moderation and only every few weeks.  However, last year at the Fiesta bowl when we had a daily buffet breakfast at the hotel, I ate the bacon like it was my job.  About the third day my mom asked me "do you eat like this every day"?  It was then I realized I was probably going a little overboard.  If you think that stopped me, then you don't know me very well...besides, it was only one week.  So I continued to take full advantage, and once I got home it was probably 2 months before I even looked at bacon again.

It's been about a million degrees outside since Sunday, and the last thing I wanted was something heavy for lunch.  This recipe said it was a refreshing summer meal.  So I was sold... Avocado basil pasta with bacon it was.

I had to hold myself back from eating all the avocado while I waited for the pasta and bacon to cook.  I didn't have fresh lemons, so I was stuck with the bottled lemon juice.  It was okay, but I know it would be even better with fresh.  Note to self:  always have fresh lemons on hand.  They cost like 20 cents each.  I also didn't have pecorino romano cheese, so I used freshly grated parmesan instead and it was still great.  So no need to buy another chunk of cheese that will just sit in my fridge. 

Here's the recipe version:

And here's my version:

What a great lunch!  It was light, had lots of flavor, and I could have easily eaten another bowl.  But then I guess that would defeat the purpose of the light part.  If I was eating it for dinner I would probably add some grilled chicken, just for a little extra healthy protein.  Also, the fresh garlic was probably a little strong.  A reviewer suggested sauteeing it in a little olive oil first, or using garlic powder.  I'll try both ways, and see which one works better.

Yes, this will definitely make it onto my regular lunch rotation.


Recipe found on Recipe.com



My Chef's Hat - Crispy Shrimp with Ginger-Orange Glaze on Toasted Israeli Couscous

I'm trying to incorporate more shrimp into my diet.  It's low in calories and really healthy.  Plus it's super versatile...grilled, baked, fried, steamed...you name it, I love it.  But for some reason I hardly ever make it at home.  I found this great-looking recipe the other day on Pinterest (surprise, surprise), and decided to try it out... crispy shrimp with ginger-orange glaze on toasted Israeli couscous. 

There's a lot of ingredients for the 3 parts--sauce, couscous, and shrimp.  If I had been paying attention I could have done more of it at the same time and sped up production by at least half. But I was doing laundry at the same time and got a little distracted.

Here is the recipe version:

And my version:

I was a little heavy-handed with the cayenne pepper in the sauce, and unfortunately all the crispy panko deliciousness didn't stay on the shrimp when I took them out of the pan.  But those are both easy fixes.  In the past I had always only made regular couscous because it's faster, but I really like the texture and taste of the pearl couscous; and it's even better when it's toasted.  On the blog where I found the recipe she said she used Trader Joe’s Harvest Grain Blend, a blend of Israeli couscous, orzo, baby garbanzo beans, and red quinoa.  I think I'll try adding in some quinoa next time.  I bought some the other day and haven't figured out what to do with it yet.

This dish is definitely a keeper!  It's light, refreshing, and very flavorful. 


Recipe found on Eat. Drink. Smile.


#2 - Nhinja Sushi - Oklahoma City OK

I was craving sushi for lunch, and Sushi Neko was the intended stop.  Unfortunately it's not open on Sundays.  I was disappointed because I'd heard great things about it, but I didn't let a little thing like that stop me...so option #2 was Nhinja Sushi & Wok.  We went to the Edmond location, which just opened.  It's owned by the same people that own Kang's, also in Edmond.

Before I go any further, let's go back in the history books on sushi & me. I always assumed that sushi was all raw, so I refused to try it. Then in 2007 we were at the Maui Invitational, and Brandon & Shane wanted sushi. Once they convinced me I could order "real" food at the restaurant, I agreed to go along. I did decide to be brave because I figured if I was going to try sushi anywhere, I should do it in Maui where it would be super fresh. I was not a fan, because it had raw something in it. Thank goodness I had ordered a big fat pork chop for myself!  But a couple months later I tried sushi again--cooked this time--and became a fan. Now, I have what could be considered an unhealthy obsession with it.

Nhinja is a fast-casual dining concept, where you order at the counter and they bring your food out to you.  We started with the lettuce wraps.  It was very tasty, but we got the monster lettuce pieces.  So when I wrapped it, I had to bite through about 10 layers of lettuce to get to the chicken.
All natural chicken, water chestnuts, scallions, rice sticks, garlic soy
Next came the sushi.  We got 4 rolls (L-R below):  spider, spicy tuna, samurai, and dragon).  
All natural chicken, water chestnuts, scallions, rice sticks, garlic soy
The spider is an old favorite...the only thing I hate is trying to eat the end pieces, because the tail is just kind of sticking out.  The spicy tuna was CRAZY spicy.  I ate one, and my tongue was on fire for 5 minutes.  I felt like they marinated the tuna in siracha sauce.  Even the rice was orange.  I only ate the one.  The samurai was good, but the grilled steak on top was just okay.  And then came the dragon.  Turns out that stuff on top is cooked eel.  I was expecting the worst, but I trusted Dean's suggestion, was very pleasantly suprised!  The flavor of the eel was very mild.  It was topped with eel sauce...which, interestingly, doesn't have any eel in it at all.

Will I go back?  Definitely!  The service was fast and efficient, and the prices were very fair.  The manager came and checked on us a couple times.  The lettuce wraps are huge, so I would only suggest that if there's at least 3 of you, especially if you're going to get sushi as well.  They also have rice & noodle bowls, and wok dishes.  I saw several groups order those items, and they came out just as fast, and steaming hot.  Next time I'll try either a bowl or a wok dish.

Repeats with a Twist - El Palomino, Stillwater OK

I hardly ever ate Mexican food when I lived in Maryland, and I'm really not sure why.  There are lots of hispanic neighborhoods there, and a big one near my parents' house so I'm sure there are endless options of authentic Mexican, and not just the Tex-Mex chains you see all over the place.  Once I moved to Oklahoma and started eating lunch out with Dennicia and Shan a few times a week, Mexican pretty much became a staple in the rotation.

I also never ate avocado.  I had this irrational fear of it, and just assumed I wouldn't like it.  My first summer here, on a retreat at Mr. Pickens' ranch, I gave in and tasted a tiny bit of guacamole--and immediately fell in love.  Since then I eat avocado almost every day :)    Not only are they delicious, but they're good for you too.

Last night I went to dinner at El Palomino.  I started with a Margarita Legendario...that's not the exact name, but it doesn't matter. It was cold, strong and delicious!  After talking for 20 minutes and mindlessly eating warm chips and awesome white queso, we finally realized it was time to order some dinner.  Palomino's makes great chimichangas, carnitas and fajitas.  But, remembering my "repeats with a twist", I knew I needed to find something new.

I decided to try the blackened shark tacos.  It was something I'd never had anywhere, it sounded good, and I figured the seafood would at least help to counteract all the chips & queso I had eaten.
Homemade Flour Tortilla filled with Blackened Shark, Honey Ancho Bacon, Shredded Lettuce, Grilled Onions & Peppers, Sharp Cheddar, Tomatoes, Avocado and Baja Cream
Boy was I glad with my choice!  The shark has a mild flavor, and the cream sauce was a perfect accompaniment.  I was full after 2 tacos, so on the 3rd I just ate the filling.  

Will I go back?  Of course!  And the shark tacos are high up on my list.  Palomino's is probably the best Mexican in town.  It's owned by the same people that own El Vaquero, which I can walk to in about 3 minutes from my house. But I would drive the 10 minutes across town to El Palomino in a heartbeat. 

Recommendations Please!!

Thanks to Janaki Cash for the recommendation of foodgawker.com for new recipes!  I had already kinda found the site, as some of their recipes are  on Pinterest.  But I'll definitely be using the foodgawker site more.  Thanks also to Mindy Walthall (better known to me as Maryl) for recommending Murphy's Hamburgers in Bartlesville.  I'll definitely add that to the list.  And thanks to Jerry Winchester...he didn't officially recommend S&B's Burger Joint to me, but I saw a post on his facebook page so he gets the credit!

As I was looking up the Murphy's website (which they unfortunately don't have, BTW) I came across roadfood.com.  Wow, it's exactlly what I need for my food tour!!  Between the eating tours, restaurants and recipes, this site will definitely keep me busy and hopefully provide me with lots of options for when I'm out of town. 

So if any of you have a favorite restaurant or someplace that I absolutely must try, please let me know!  I'm always open to suggestions, and will make sure to give you the credit you deserve :)

My Chef's Hat - Oven Baked Garlic Parmesan Fries

I wouldn't normally do 2 new recipes in one day, but I needed to use the potato and wanted something different than my old stand-by recipes.  Thanks again to Pinterest, my new potato recipe is Oven Baked Garlic Parmesan Fries

I've already made a similar recipe, cutting the potatoes into chunks and using different spices.  Both recipes are really good, and I think my mood will determine which one I make next time. 

Here is the official recipe picture:

And here is my version:

I'm batting 1,000 today on new recipes!  The potatoes are baked not fried, use very little oil, and are finished with fresh parsley and a little fresh parmesan (which I forgot to add this time). The parsley added great flavor, and it's a great way to use some of the parsley I'm growing in my herb garden.  


Recipe found on Babble



Donning My Chef's Hat - Blackened Salmon Tacos

Last night I had taken out some salmon for dinner, but when I heard Jerri Beth was making tacos for dinner, I couldn't resist. So, the salmon became my lunch. I wanted something a little more creative than a boring salmon sandwich. A few minutes later, thanks to Pinterest I found my first new recipe...Blackened Salmon Tacos with Corn Salsa and Cilantro Lime Ranch.

I realized I'm not quite channeling my inner Rhee Drummond, because I didn't take pictures along the way. But I was on a time crunch.

After a quick stop at Wal Mart to pick up a few items I needed, I set off to make this dish. BTW, don't go there on a weekday around lunchtime. They have 30 registers, but only 4 were open and the cashiers were slower than molasses.

The picture below is from the official recipe...


And here is my version...

I know mine will never look as pretty, but that's okay cause it's all about the taste!

The tacos were AWESOME!! The ranch dressing (which I made, instead of buying the high-fat version) had tons of flavor and the corn salsa added the perfect additional texture. Note to self: salmon doesn't blacken very well on the grill. Next time I'll follow the recipe and sear it instead.

This recipe will definitely make it into my go-to list.



Recipe found on Cooking Classy

My Krusade...

Well, in less than 24 hours my Krusade has expanded! I've decided to add a couple of new twists to this blog...

"The 100" - The original mission to eat at 100 new and unique restaurants in the next 18 months, with the following simple rules...
  • I've never eaten there before
  • no fast food (unless I've never eaten there)
  • no chains with more than 10 locations

"The Repeats...with a Twist" - I can't just completely cut out all the restaurants I've been to in the past! Let's be honest, options are pretty limited here in Stillwater. So I'll have to go back to a few of my favorite spots. But the catch is, I have to try something different on the menu. There's one exception restaurant, when I go home to visit my parents...you'll see that post next month.

"Donning My Chef's Hat"- I know it looks like I eat out all the time, but it's just the opposite. As a matter of fact, I cook dinner at home almost every night. I have my standard go-to recipes, but just like eating out, I get tired of rotating the same stuff every 2 weeks. So my last goal during this mission is to make at least one new recipe every week. I'm obsessed with Pinterest and find tons of recipes on there, so it shouldn't be too hard!

#1a - Cup n Cake - Bartlesville, OK

As we pulled into Bartlesville yesterday afternoon, we saw Cup N Cake gourment cupcakes, just a block from the caravan location.  So after we got everything set up, James, Mary Lewis and I walked to the store...we figured we could use the exercise after those burgers!

I'm sure you're asking yourself why I listed this as #1a, instead of #2. Well, it does have a breakfast & lunch menu, but I only had the cupcake, so it doesn't fully count.

This is a small, family-owned restaurant in the heart of downtown B'ville.  They have 38 varieties of cupcakes, but only make 6-8 different ones on any given day.  By the time we got there, however, the only kind left was chocolate orange.  At first I was bummed, but after looking at the list of all the varieties, I'm glad I didn't have to make that choice!  Mary claimed she doesn't like chocolate, but it didn't stop her from taking 2 bites of my cupcake :)The cupcake was delicious...moist, fresh, and the orange frosting definitely tasted homemade.  One of my students works downtown, and I've already told her that her most important job on the first game is to bring cupcakes for me & Mary!

I would say the only down side was the lack of variety by the time we got there.  But, we didn't get there until after 3.  I'm sure the lunch crowd wipes them out. 

Will I go back??  Well, I won't drive all the way to B'ville just for a cupcake!  But next time I'm there, definitely!



#1 - Fat Guy's Burger Bar - Tulsa, OK

So my first stop is, of course, a burger joint!  We were headed to the caravan in Bartlesville, and stopped for lunch at Fat Guy's Burger Bar in downtown Tulsa.  James Batley found the restaurant on Urban Spoon, and we agreed it was the place to go. 

I think I might need to call Guy Fieri for it to be on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives.  The menu is small, and let's be honest--I didn't see any healthy options.  But it was really good!  I had the Fat & Juicy Burger, and it was exactly that and more.  They actually warn you not to squeeze the burger when you bite into it, because it could explode!  I'm happy to say my white tee shirt was still clean and white when we left.  The fries with the caramelized onion aioli dipping sauce were really good.   

If you're in downtown Tulsa looking for a place with good, inexpensive food, then I definitely recommend it!



The Krusade Begins

Those of you who know me, know that I love food!  However, I'm also a creature of habit and tend to eat at a lot of the same restaurants.  So I'm starting this journey to broaden my food horizons.  My mission is to eat at 100 new and unique restaurants over the next 18 months.  When I first thought about this it seemed like a lot of ground to cover in not a lot of time.  But between away football games, vacations, trips back home, and all the places in Oklahoma where I've never eaten, it's much more manageable.

So my rules are simple:
*  no fast food (unless I've never eaten there before)

*  no chains with more than 10 locations

I've already gotten a good start today, with 2 new stops on our way to Bartlesville for the Cowboy Caravan...




UPDATE: Read more on my recent post, The Food Blog Journey