#117 - Hanami Japanese Restaurant, College Park, MD

I was in College Park, running some errands and catching up with former colleagues.  I had some time to myself in between all this, so I wanted to grab some lunch.  And I wanted something new and different.  There really are a lot of restaurants in the CP area that I've never even heard of or been to.  And surprisingly lots of ethnic restaurants.  Very different than when I was in school and worked there.  I hadn't had sushi in a while, and so I was on a mission.  Hanami Japanese Restaurant is rated as one of the top restaurants in CP.  It's in one of the many strip malls in the area.  I had a little trouble finding it, because honestly I'm not used to looking for addresses when I'm there.  I just know where things are, or what they're near to.  And when I figured out where I thought it was, there was a car on my butt so I had to drive around in a couple of circles.  It's a very small place, with 15 tables and a few seats around the sushi bar.

I have to say, I was very disappointed when I first got there.  The server wasn't very nice at all when she seated me.  Not rude, but very disinterested.  And after a couple of minutes she came up and said "ready"?  I was taken aback, because I had never experienced that before.  For a second I thought about leaving, but decided to wait it out and see.  It has to be the #2 place for a reason, so I was determined to see it through.  She did get better as the meal went on, and by the end was nice, and even helped me make decisions on what to get.  Who knows what happened.

There were only a few other people in the restaurant the whole time I was there.  Usually that's not a good sign.  But I didn't get there until almost 2PM, and it was 2 days before Thanksgiving... in a college town.  Most of the students had long bolted for home.

I started with the Haru Maki, the fried Japanese spring roll.

Man, this was really good!  Not sure what kind of meat it was, and still wasn't sold on the server at that point so I didn't ask.  But it had a lot of flavor.  The duck sauce on the side was also delicious, and had a definite kick.  Lots of red pepper flakes in there.  I could have gotten another serving of the rolls and devoured them just as fast.  But instead I ate the carrots and dipped those in the duck sauce too.  The meat toned down the sauce because when I ate the carrots I could taste the heat a lot more.

After lots of contemplation, I went with the Sunny roll.  It was one of 3 that the server recommended

Shrimp tempura, cucumber inside, with spicy crab, caviar and crunch on top

I was pleasantly surprised by how big this roll was.  And the individual pieces were huge.  Both of the sauces were so good, and I made sure to get every bit of it as I ate.  I was a little disappointed that it was fake crab rather than real, but the roll was still really delicious.  Real crab would make it outstanding.  The down side is that they only give you chopsticks.  Sure you could request a fork/knife.  But by the time I needed them, I was almost done.  So at that point I was determined to finish it all with the chopsticks. 

A few weeks ago I was having lunch with my friend Shawn, and he put the sliced ginger into the soy sauce and let it marinate, and then ate it.  I usually never eat the ginger because it's so strong, even though it is good for you.  But the soy sauce is a fantastic idea.  Tones the bite way down.

A few minutes after I first arrived a Japanese couple showed up, and they were seated next to me.  But after about 5 minutes they moved a little closer to the sushi bar, but still at a table.  They ordered the Hanami boat, and when it came out I think I understand why they moved closer to the bar. 

This isn't their actual boat, but it gives you an idea.  I wanted a picture, but I felt kind of weird going up to their table.  Had they been next to me I would have definitely done it.  Holy crap that's a lot of sushi!!  15 pieces of sushi, 36  pieces of sashimi, and 2 chef's rolls.  And it's super expensive...$78.  And what is even crazier, is that it was just 2 of them... and they tore through the boat like their lives depended on it.  They got the boat as I was finishing my rolls, and they were almost finished with it all before I was even done with my one roll.  And they talked the entire time. 

They have a "Fall Harvest" menu, and the desserts on it looked good.  And so since I hadn't gone overboard on the appetizer or roll, I decided to try one.  Again, the server helped me make my decision of the green tea cheesecake.

O...M...G...this was outstanding. Even though it was deep fried, there wasn't much of a crust, and what crust there was, was very light.  The cheesecake itself was so creamy and delicious.  You could definitely taste the green tea, but it wasn't overpowering at all.  Just a very good flavor.  The first bite was very warm, but it got colder as I got towards the larger end.  I thought the whipped cream was a very odd accompaniment, but it was light and airy and really worked pretty well.  The whole thing reminded me of the fried stuff at the state fair.

Will I go back?  Definitely.  The server aside, the experience was really good.  And the food was excellent. 

#116 - Seasons 52 - Columbia, MD

This is the first year since moving to Oklahoma that I've been able to come back to Maryland for Thanksgiving. The first couple years we played Thanksgiving weekend. And even after Bedlam got moved to the following week, I was still really busy. And since my parents really don't do much for Thanksgiving, and normally I would see them a month later for the bowl game.  Unfortunately we've struggled this season, so our bowl chances are extremely slim. And our last home game was Nov 15. And Maryland played Rutgers at home this weekend. So it all kind of worked out.

My flight landed at almost 8 Monday night, so my original plan was to find something near the airport. But really, the options are very limited. I had found a place, but as we were driving away from the airport I changed my mind. And decided we would go somewhere in Columbia, which is a little more along the way home.

Columbia Mall is about a mile from my old house. It's one of my favorite malls in all of Maryland.  They've got all the stores you want & need and it's not usually super crowded. Most of the mall is enclosed, with the movie theater and a few restaurants outside.  In the past few months, a new part of the mall opened up outside, kind of adding a new walkway, almost like a courtyard.  They added about 15 new stores and a couple of restaurants.  Originally we were going to eat at Maggiano's.  But then I saw Season's 52.  I had seen the same restaurant in Houston and suggested to my parents that we try it, but they weren't too fired up about the menu.  But we looked again that night, and they decided to give it a try. 

Seasons 52 is a seasonally inspired restaurant, and we found out that they had just begun to feature their winter menu last week.  I was really surprised to see how many locations there are.  None in Oklahoma; go figure.  But I swear almost everywhere else in the country.  One of the first things you notice is that everything on the menu is 475 calories or less.  I really like that.  I wish more restaurants would go that direction.  It's very warm and inviting inside; dark woods, dark walls, light music, fireplace in the waiting area and a wine room with huge windows.  I think the room is more for storage, but it looks like you can go in there and taste as well.  We were seated in the bar area.  The bar itself is in the middle of the space, and there are booths all the way around.  There's a large open kitchen in the main dining area, and another seating area on the other side of the bar.  

After we had been there about 10 minutes the music all of a sudden changed and got quite a bit louder.  I was really surprised, then realized that there was a guy sitting literally in the bar with the bartenders, playing the piano and singing.  He was really good.  Never seen anything like it, especially on a random Monday night. 

We started with edamame.

I really like that the salt comes on the side.  Most places put way too much salt on it, and it is complete overkill.  Also, this was Japanese tea leaf salt.  So yummy.  By the end I was just eating the salt straight.  Probably not the best idea, but I couldn't stop eating it.

I went with the caramelized sea scallops

butternut squash and leek risotto, broccolini, lemon butter 

This was absolutely delicious.  The scallops were perfectly cooked, and the caramelization added great flavor.  I'm not usually a fan of butternut squash, but it really worked in the risotto.  The squash was firm but cooked through, a good contrast to the creaminess.  The leek wasn't prominent, but you could kind of taste the flavor in the background.  The broccolini was just okay.  I wanted to substitute the caramelized brussel sprouts but it comes with bacon so I knew my parents wouldn't eat it if I didn't like it.  And I didn't want to waste it.  My mom had the trout.  I was really surprised at how big of a piece it was.  I tried a bite, and was sold.  And then ate a couple more bites when she was done eating.  My dad had the sesame grilled salmon salad.  The presentation was very unique, with the salad coming in this large glass jar to keep it separate from the salmon until served.  Both the top and bottom are open, so the server lifts the jar off the plate, and the salad kind of falls onto the rest of the plate.  It's really kind of cool and I was caught off guard by it, so didn't get to take a picture.  The glaze on the salmon was really delicious.

I wasn't even thinking dessert, and we had actually already gotten the check.  And then the waiter walked by us with the tray towards another table.  He saw me looking, and asked if I wanted one.  I hesitated, but then decided to at least listen to what they were.  I couldn't even begin to tell you what they all were because he rattled them off so fast.  But I also couldn't resist.

No, of course I didn't get the entire tray.  The server explains all the desserts, and you can choose one... or two... or 3 if you must.  I took the one on the left, which was called Mocha Macchiato.  Chocolate mousse, vanilla mousse, chocolate cake, whipped cream, sprinkles.  So delicious.  Dad had the one on the far right, which was something with pumpkin.  So everything on the menu is 475 calories or less.  But the server made sure to point out that the desserts "may" be more.  But they are all little, with only a few bites in each one.  So as long as you are good and just get one, you should be okay.

Will I go back?  No question.  My parents both raved about their meals, and I'm very interested in seeing what they offer during the other seasons.

My Chef's Hat - Farro Salad with Asparagus & Feta

I've been trying to eat more grains and beans lately. Not all the time, but a couple times a week. You can never really have too much fiber. Well, I guess you could, but it would take a whole lot... lots more than I would ever eat in a day. But even though the grains and beans are good for you, by themselves there's not a whole lot of flavor. They need help to taste good. Chick peas are one of my favorite beans, and I probably eat those more than any other. Grains are another story. Most of them are so mealy and chewy, and I'm just not a big fan of that. I'm trying hard to get past it though. I've done it with quinoa, and am working on it with farro.  Until about 9 months ago I didn't even know what farro was. But then one day we were having lunch at Karsten Creek golf course, and their lunch special was a dish made with it. I had them bring me a small taste... and to my surprise, I really liked it. It was still chewy, but the dish had really good flavor.  So I bought some and looked for recipes on Pinterest.

A recipe that I've made a couple of times but am just now getting around to posting is Farro Salad with Asparagus and Feta.  

Here is the official picture

And here is my version

I really enjoy this dish. Even though there's tons of fiber from the farro, asparagus and chick peas, its still a very light dish. I cook the farro in veggie broth, same as quinoa, to infuse it with more flavor. I also toast it first to bring out the nuttiness. I've toasted it both with and without the butter, and I use Smart Balance spread to keep it lighter.  I've always kept it vegetarian, but I think grilled chicken would be a nice addition.

The recipe calls for the farro to be cooled after cooking. But since I make this for lunch, I don't have time to wait for that. It also says to steam the asparagus. But instead I sauté it in a small pan. Adds more flavor and color.

The only drawback to this dish is its very savory and earthy, so about 15 minutes later I'm ready for something sweet.


Recipe found on Burp!

Shared On

Foodie FriDIY
Merry Monday

#115 - Whiskey Cake Kitchen & Bar, Oklahoma City, OK

A couple weeks ago I had taken the day off work. Its very rare that I get to do that during football season, but the way the schedule worked, we had a few weeks between home games in October & November. Originally my plan had been to just run some errands in Stillwater, but once I realized Mistletoe Market was that same weekend, I decided instead to go to OKC.  I did some shopping at Penn Square Mall, and then wanted to eat before heading down to Bricktown. As usual I couldn't decide where to eat. I thought about going to Midtown, but looked and couldn't find anything I was really craving. I had seen Whiskey Cake Kitchen & Bar numerous times, and had also seen that friends had eaten there in the past and really liked it. So since its right outside the mall, and I was super hungry, that was enough to sell me.

I liked this place from the very beginning.  They grow a lot of their own herbs and vegetables, right out in the front of the restaurant

Inside are more herbs, grown by the staff themselves. They also give away free basil, as well as recipes for pesto.  They also sell spreads, candles, and oils. 

The restaurant itself is pretty big, with lots of different types of seating: tables, booths, outdoor patio, and in the bar area its long high-top tables. I temporarily thought about sitting on the patio, because it was a great fall day, but way too windy. So I sat in the bar area, at a regular table. There's a large, open kitchen, a couple of TV's in the bar, and good music playing.  There's not really a waiting area in the front, but towards the restrooms there are a couple of couches and a big TV. So while you wait, its like you're just hanging out in your living room. The whole place is a combination of farmhouse and restaurant.

Whiskey Cake is a farm to table restaurant, which means they either grow their own items or get everything locally. They also make most of their bread. The bar doesn't just serve cocktails; they also create their own juice drinks. I didn't get one, but the couple at the table next to me did. She really liked her Beetle Juice; he didn't like the Popeye at all. He said t had way too much cilantro. Cilantro is pretty strong, so I can see it being overpowering, especially in a drink.

I usually don't get an appetizer, but I was starving and was having lots of trouble deciding on an entrée. So I started with the deviled eggs. The server told me they change all the time, and today was bacon jam. He sold me on bacon

These were really good. I was kind of surprised at the size of the serving for just $5. And they definitely did not disappoint. The bacon jam was delicious, and added just a little bite to the creamy eggs.

After lots of indecision and some help from my server I settled on the chicken & cheese melt. He raved about it, and it had everything I love in it. I was bummed that I couldn't substitute parmesan fries for the chips. The sides are sold as separates, not substitutes. He also told me the fries were a lot and I probably wouldn't be able to finish them. I appreciated the thought, but clearly he's never seen me eat fries.

Rotisserie chicken, pesto mayo, avocado, BLT, dill Havarti, toasted sourdough

The sandwich was fantastic. And big! The chicken was hot, the cheese was melted and gooeyy, and you could tell the bread is homemade. The only improvement would be to add red onion and toast the bread  I bet you could request that. Have to admit, he was right about the fries. No chance I could have finished a big serving. The chips are definitely freshly fried and very good, but I wish they were warmer. Mine were probably the end of a batch.

Apparently the real star of the show is their whiskey cake dessert. But I knew I couldn't do it because I was already full. And I wasn't going home any time soon, so I didn't want to order one to go. And after I saw how big it was, I knew I made the right decision.

I will absolutely be going back...soon.

#114 - Irma's Burger Shack, Oklahoma City, OK

My mom and our family friend Hazel came to town for my birthday last month.  Well, they were really in Dallas to visit Hazel's family, but since they were that close, they drove up to Stillwater for a couple of days.  Hazel hadn't been to Oklahoma in probably 20 years, so we drove down to OKC to show her around.  Of course our first stop was the OKC National Memorial.  It's such a beautiful spot, but I hate that it's really there because of such a horrible tragedy.  

I'm embarrassed to say that I am so unfamiliar with downtown.  I've lived here for almost 8 years and there's still so much I haven't seen or done.  Normally when I go downtown I go to the Bricktown area and that's it.  And when I go for the OKC half marathon I drive down that morning; after the run it's all I can do to crawl back to my car, drive home, and lay on the couch the rest of the day.  Now that the home football games are done, it's my mission to get down to OKC more often, and do more stuff.  There's museums, restaurants, shopping, and lots of other touristy things to do.

One thing I have learned about downtown is that it's broken up into "character districts", and it's a lot more than just Bricktown.   There's the Arts District, Automobile Alley, Deep Deuce, and Midtown, just to name a few.  And what I like is that nothing is super far from each other.  You can walk from Bricktown to Midtown.  I did it once.  I wouldn't recommend it on anything other than a beautiful day, and probably wouldn't do it at night, but it's only about 20 minutes at a brisk pace.  

After we left the memorial, we drove around Bricktown, I showed them a few sights, and then we were hungry.  I got on TripAdvisor, and one of the first places that popped up was Irma's Burger Shack, which is in Midtown.  I had heard good things about it, and saw they had a veggie burger for my mom, so we were set.  Midtown is very compact, and they sure pack a lot of restaurants, businesses and shops into a small area.

Irma's is in a strip mall in a very cool building.  They're on the corner, but they take up 3 sides of the corner so it's a good-sized place.  Here's a picture I found online

The inside has lots of cool memorabilia, and reminds me of a 50's style diner.  The desserts are right there by the cashier, probably to make you feel guilty for not ordering one when you go to pay. There's also a small counter at the bar where you can eat as well, and there were a few guys sitting there.  But we opted for a regular table.  We arrived right during the heart of lunchtime, and the place was packed.  But thankfully we were seated immediately.  

I like that the beer menu is printed on the napkin holder.  And that it includes everything you need to know to make your beer choice.  That way it's always right in front of you, but it's not in your way.  it's not a huge selection, but really it covers all the main types of beer.  I was in charge and I was the driver, so I decided to skip the beer this time.

Hazel had never tried fried pickles before, so of course we had to get an order

They were very good.  A little saltier than I would have liked, but the ranch helped tone that down.  My mom isn't a fan of fried pickles, and Hazel thought they were too salty.  So that left me to eat most of them.  But I was good, and didn't go overboard.

My friend Dianne had recommended that I get the No-Name Ranch burger.  I thought that was a really weird name, but it turns out that's actually the name of the ranch where they get their beef.  Good enough for me!

The burger was delicious.  I like that it's only a 6-ounce burger, so it's not massive.  My burger came with lettuce, tomato and onions.  I added blue cheese and avocado, and a side of the chipotle ranch.  The ranch had a kick, but wasn't overpowering.  It worked really well with my burger, because the blue cheese toned it down a little.  The fries were fresh and hot. Hazel had ordered onion rings with her burger.  I forgot to take a picture, but they were breaded, just like I like them.  So of course I had to try one.  They were really good too.

Will I go back? No question. They have homemade milkshakes that looked really good, but I was full from the meal. And next time I also want to get the onion rings, and try another one of their burgers. 

My Chef's Hat - Honey Cinnamon Roasted Sweet Potatoes

I've always been extremely picky when it comes to veggies. As a kid I would only eat the broccoli stalks--my parents went with it because at least I was eating something. My dad tried to make me eat a piece of okra once (they steamed them so they were gross and slimy)and for some reason I thought the seeds made it taste bad, so I picked out every single seed. I never liked brussel sprouts, and was hot and cold with peas. But I would eat green beans all day long.

I also wouldn't eat sweet potatoes for a really long time. At Thanksgiving my mom would eat the potatoes and I would eat her marshmallow topping. I know they're really good for you, but I always had a hard time with the texture.  I've gotten better, and make them occasionally. But I'm really making an effort to eat them at least every other week.

I was having salmon for dinner tonight, and wanted a different side than my normal standby recipes. And since its ridiculously cold outside, I wanted something comforting. As usual, Pinterest came to the rescue with Honey Cinnamon Roasted Sweet Potatoes. 

Here is the recipe version

I gotta be honest...I can't even post the picture of my first attempt, because I broke the most important rule of the recipe:  don't burn the potatoes.  And I did it exactly the way they said I would: dumping the marinade onto the baking sheet.  I only burned one side though.

The other day I made these again, and even though a couple still got burnt, overall it was much better

Problems aside, this dish was awesome. The smell permeating through my house, a combination of cinnamon, honey and nutmeg, was absolutely amazing. I didn't have pumpkin spice but I would guess that would be really good too.  The potatoes were perfectly cooked. Soft but not mushy. And honestly, even though they were burnt they still tasted good, because the burn was from the honey. 

There's also a recipe for creamy honey cinnamon dip. It sounds fantastic, but I decided to pass on it this time.

Will I make these again? No question.  I just have to work on getting them golden brown next time.  And make the dip.

Recipe found on Averie Cooks

My Chef's Hat - Cilantro Thai Chicken and Thai Noodles with Spicy Peanut Sauce

As I was browsing back through this blog I realized I've got a few "new" dishes that I've made numerous times but have yet to write about. So its time to fix that, and there's no better time than tonight. Enter Cilantro Thai Grilled Chicken and  Thai Noodles with Spicy Peanut Sauce. 

I'm a huge fan of Thai food, well really Asian food in general. It is so flavorful, but usually at restaurants the portions are huge and who knows how much oil and/or sodium they cook with. So I love finding recipes I can make at home and control what goes in it.  I had found the chicken recipe first about a year ago on Pinterest, and then found the noodle dish while looking for a complementary side dish.

I think people either love cilantro, or they hate it.  I'm definitely on the love side.  Its a strong herb, but it adds so much flavor to recipes.  I've tried to grow it a few times, but have had no luck. I tried it from seed, waited 6 weeks, and never got anything more than about an inch long.  I bought small plants and it grew for a couple weeks, then died.  And it doesn't like a lot of heat.  And my backyard is a magnet for the sun and blinding heat.  So its not the best combination.

I don't make this dish that often, because the peanut sauce is a little heavier than I normally cook. But I ate a very light lunch, so I was good to go. 

Here are the recipe versions

And here is my version

So much flavor! There's a lot of strong ingredients in the marinade, but they work well together and grilling the chicken just enhances the depth. I've used a variety of veggies in the noodle dish, just depending on what I have in the fridge. Tonight it was broccoli, red peppers, and mushrooms. The recipe calls for frozen veggies, but I've never tried it with them.  This time the peanut sauce really wasn't spicy, but probably because I didn't put enough chili garlic sauce. The sauce is simple and yet really delicious. 

Both recipes call for sesame oil. But I learned a long time ago that less is definitely more with that oil, and use as little as possible. With the marinade I do half sesame oil and half olive oil; I don't coat the pasta in any oil at all, and I use olive oil for the veggies. 

I really like this dish, and every time I make it I say I'm going to figure out how to reduce the calories. Maybe a little less oil, less peanut butter or maybe even the fake peanut butter powder. I've tasted it before and its not bad. And since I add peanuts anyway, it will still have the flavor.


CLICK BELOW FOR RECIPES
Cilantro Thai Grilled Chicken (Found on Artsy-Foodie)

Thai Noodles with Spicy Peanut Sauce (Found on Food.com)

Shared On

Foodie Friends Friday 

#113 AND Repeat with a Twist - Mexicali Border Cafe, Tulsa OK

I was out delivering football suite tickets in Tulsa, and arranged to meet one of the suite administrators for lunch.  She had been the suite administrator years ago, before I even started; then moved to another department; and was back on the suite side this year. She suggested Mexicali Border Cafe.  Since I'm not very familiar with Tulsa, and am always up for Mexican food, I was sold. 

It's located in downtown Tulsa, so for lunch it's very much dominated by the business crowd.  But thankfully it wasn't too busy when we arrived. They've got a good sized patio out front, and then the main restaurant is basically split in half between the bar area and "regular" seating.  I think I might have eaten here once maybe the first year that I lived here. But since I can't really remember, it counts as a new restaurant.  

Of course we started with chips & salsa.  The chips were thicker cut, and also served warm. The salsa was good, but I feel like it lacks a little something in the flavor.  Not sure what that is though.  

Some of the salads looked really good and I briefly thought about getting one.  But then I remembered I was going to give blood that weekend and needed to get my iron up.  So red meat it became. 

I finally decided on the fajita chimichanga with white queso. 

I hadn't had a chimichanga in ages.  It was delicious.  It had just the right amount of queso on top, it wasn't nearly as big as I expected, and the meat had a ton of flavor. The borracho beans were also really good.  

Amy got the casserole

I completely forgot to take a picture when it first came to the table.  The casserole was in a baking dish, and the tortillas are on the side.  The server then puts it together into 3 rolls.  I really like the tableside service.  She said it was delicious.

As we were eating, we discussed how much better it would be if we were enjoying margaritas at the same time.  I normally don't deliver winter sport tickets for the suiteholders.  Partially because there's only 13 suites, and mainly because delivery would fall during the heart of football season.  But the way the home game schedule worked out this year, I would have plenty of time.

So that's where "with a twist" came from.  Last week we had a bye week, so after a full day of lunch at my favorite dive sushi restaurant in Tulsa, visiting a former suiteholder at the best retirement community I've ever been to, and delivering suite tickets to another office, it was Mexicali time.  I couldn't decide which margarita to get, but our server immediately suggested the Horny. Sounds a little risque, but it's called that because they use Hornitos tequila.  And it's excellent.  And strong.  And comes in a big glass.

My original plan the first time I ate here was to get the casserole the second time.  But after 2 1/2 margaritas, I needed something with a little more substance.  So it was back to the chimichanga.  And once again, it didn't disappoint.  Oh and the salsa was better this time. So maybe it was just an under-seasoned batch we got last time.  So really, the main twist was the cocktails.  On my next "twist" visit I'm determined to get the casserole, maybe an appetizer, and possibly a different margarita.  

One of the things that stuck out to me both times was the locations...one in downtown Tulsa, and 2 in Florida.  I thought that was really random, until we met the owner and learned that he's from Florida.  Which now makes perfect sense.

Yes, I'm definitely going back again.  I don't get to downtown Tulsa very often, but it is certainly on the list when I do.

#112 - The Shack Seafood & Oyster Bar, Oklahoma City, OK

One of the major perks of my job is getting to know so many wonderful people.  From suiteholders to club seat holders to the "regular" fan, it's been an awesome experience. When I deliver suite tickets, it runs the gamut; I'll go from dropping them off at the front desk to spending up to an hour with the suiteholder, just talking about life and OSU. Sometimes, that also includes a meal.  Rather than meeting one of the suiteholders at his office, we decided to meet for lunch.  He suggested The Shack Seafood & Oyster Bar.  

I've mentioned it on this blog several times, but I'm not a huge fan of seafood in a landlocked state.  I refused to eat seafood for the first year I lived here.  I've since branched out, but I'm still careful.  Mike said it was really good, and had a Cajun flair, so I decided to give it a shot. 

This place was packed when I arrived, which was a good sign.  I pulled the door and it didn't open...and I was confused because it was noon and there were people inside...then I read the sign right on the door that said "pull door hard".  I complied, and the door opened.  Go figure.

From the outside, the building looks like an old, dated, falling apart building.  Hence the name The Shack.  On the inside it looks like a regular seafood restaurant, with wood walls and tables, really high ceilings, and lots of ocean/beach decorations and memorabilia.

We started with fried pickles.  Mike had never had them before, and they're one of my favorite appetizers.

They were thin sliced, not heavily fried, and really delicious.  A little saltier than I would have liked, but the ranch toned that down.  

Per usual, I had a horrible time deciding what to get.  Part of that was my seafood hesitation.  Mike and I both went back and forth on whether to be healthy or not.  I finally decided on the fried stuffed shrimp, and Mike got the fried crawfish.  So much for healthy.

Gulf shrimp stuffed with a blend of blue crab & shrimp

These were actually really good!  A little too much breading, but that was the only negative.  The shrimp were huge and there were 5 of them.  I made it through 3 1/2 before I couldn't do any more.  The chips were hot and fresh and delicious. 

Mike got the fried crawfish with dirty rice

I tried a bite of both, and they were both really good.  The rice had a ton of flavor.

Does this change my attitude about seafood out here in the Midwest? Not necessarily. I'm still very wary, and will probably still skip over the seafood portion of most menus. But at higher end restaurants, or when I know they fly in the fish regularly, I'll do it. 

Will I go back?  Definitely.  There were a lot of other items on the menu that I'd love to try. And I want to get something on the grilled or sauteed side.  And I saw that they have Saturday & Sunday brunch, with mimosa specials.  Can't beat that. 

#111 - Casa Perico Mexican Grille, Oklahoma City, OK

When I began working at OSU we had 63 suites; now, after all the construction in the west end zone is complete, we are up to 119. It takes me about a week to count, package, deliver and ship all the packages.  I originally shipped all of the suite tickets, but a couple years ago started hand delivering tickets to suiteholders within 90 minutes of Stillwater, so that includes Tulsa, OKC, and Enid. I've contemplated a trip to Dallas to deliver those tickets as well. We only have 4 suiteholders living down there, but they're some of our most important. I'm probably going to add that to the list moving forward. Hand delivery is less expensive than shipping, it gets me out of the office, and most important its a great touch point.  When I deliver in OKC and Tulsa I spend the night, because I have so many packages to distribute. 

After a full day of delivering tickets in OKC, I was starving. I was staying at the Four Points Sheraton by Quail Springs Mall, and wanted something different than the restaurants I usually go to when I'm there. I went on TripAdvisor and found Casa Perico Mexican Grille. It was only a few miles from the hotel, had gotten good reviews, and I hadn't had Mexican in a while. 

Its located on the corner of a dying strip mall. Literally 75% of the place is empty. I hesitated a little, but decided to forge ahead and try it anyway.  The inside is very warm and cozy, and it was about half full when I arrived.

The chips came out warm, which is a huge plus.  They came with white queso and salsa.  I was a little surprised, because normally white queso is extra.  But it was a pleasant surprise, because the queso was warm as well, had a little kick, and was really delicious.  

I started with a skinny margarita, and it came to the table in a shaker.  Love that, reminds me of Chuy's.  The server failed a little because she spilled a little as she served it.  But I didn't let that get me down.

Wow, that margarita has a serious kick!  Any thought I had to getting another one was shot after one sip.  But maybe next time, when I'm not so tired, I will.  

I almost always do fajitas the first time I eat at a Mexican restaurant.  I figure if they can do those well, everything else will be good too.  I went with the beef fajitas, and did borracha beans instead of refried.  I also decided to try the papas rancheras (thinly sliced potatoes covered with melted cheese and salsa) instead of rice, because the server raved about them.  

The fajitas were excellent.  The meat was extremely tender, and had tons of flavor. They did go a little overboard on the onions.  I feel like there was an entire huge onion on the platter. But that didn't stop me from eating them.  The tortillas are homemade, which is another huge plus.  They must have just made them, because they were screaming hot and I had to take one out and let it cool down for a couple of minutes. The beans were really good, with a subtle kick.  There was sausage mixed in with the beans, which I've never seen before.  The papas were interesting and very spicy.  They were okay, but I probably wouldn't get them again.  The guacamole was definitely made fresh, and it was excellent.

Will I go back?  No question.  The drinks are strong, the food is really good, and it's a very relaxing, low-key atmosphere.

My Chef's Hat - Pesto Chicken Penne Pasta

It's been even longer since I posted a new recipe than posting new restaurants.  I've gotten back into my rut of rotating the same recipes over and over again.  And it's high time to change that.

I actually can't believe that I haven't posted this recipe yet, since I tried it about 18 months for the first time to make use of my basil plant that was going crazy, and have made it dozens of times since then. Pesto chicken penne pasta, courtesy of course of Pinterest.

The first couple times I stuck straight to the recipe of just pasta, chicken, and pesto. Then I started adding frozen peas, for a more complete meal.  Then sauteed onions and mushrooms.  And then asparagus.  And most recently zucchini, green beans, and/or baby spinach.  So now it's a huge bowl of happiness. 

Here is the recipe version:

Here is the pesto after I make it.  

And here is my version

I really need to cut back on how much garlic I use, because I swear I could kill demons with my breath all afternoon.  I keep telling myself that, and then the next time I again put too much garlic.  But the pesto is so good, and I can't get enough of it.  

This is absolutely one of my favorite dishes.  There are so many flavors and textures all in one bowl.  I just add salt & pepper to the chicken and grill it through.   I throw the peas into the pasta for the last minute of cooking, so they soften but don't get mushy.  I toss the asparagus (cut very small) and zucchini into the sauteed onions and mushrooms for a few minutes so it cooks through but still has some crunch.  And I like playing with different shapes of pasta.  Anything with ridges holds the pesto the best.


Recipe found on Sweet Anna's

Shared on

What's On The List

Showcase Your Talent Thursday

Repeats with a Twist - Roy Rogers, Frederick, MD

I've talked on this blog several times about my love of fried chicken.  There's really nothing better than screaming hot chicken straight out of the oil.  I've also talked about how when I was a kid, my mom never let me eat the skin...I had to throw it away and just eat the chicken.  The whole point of getting fried chicken is to eat the crispy skin.  Otherwise it's just a waste of time and effort, and it's just "chicken".  Roy Rogers was one of my favorite places to get fried chicken as a kid.  And then they had a Roy Rogers in the student union at Maryland.  I ate there way too often in college and the first couple years of work, and usually got the gold rush sandwich with fries.  I'm quite sure this played a large part in my waistline growing during that time.

Years ago Roy Rogers started to die out.  Then Hardees took it over and you could get "authentic" Roy Rogers chicken.  I don't think I ever ate it then.  Then the restaurant made a comeback and now they've got about 40 locations in Maryland, Virginia, New York & New Jersey.  On the last weekend of my trip to Maryland I went to a party in Pennsylvania. On my way, I came across a Roy Rogers, and just knew I had to go.  You can't turn that down.

I'm almost embarrassed to say how excited I was to go in.  I probably hadn't been to one in about 20 years.  Not much has changed.  It's a fast food place, but I love that they have a fixins bar where you can add your own burger toppings.  Plus they have a lot of different types of sauces

I had the hardest time deciding between fried chicken and the gold rush sandwich.  I went back and forth a million times, which probably creeped out the workers because I stood there for about 10 minutes deciding.  But eventually I decided on the gold rush with fries

Fried chicken, bacon, cheese, honey

Yep, still just as good as I remember!  The chicken was screaming hot, and the honey adds such a great sweetness to the sandwich.  The fries are a little thicker cut than other places, but still crisp, hot and delicious. Even though it was just fast food, I savored every single bite.  

Will I go back?  I'm not gonna lie, I considered doing just that on my way back home the next day.  But I resisted.  And I learned that they're opening a new location about 15 minutes from my parents' house!  The traffic in Montgomery County is ridiculous any time of day so I won't go unless I'm already going to be up there for something else.  But I may have to make the sacrifice once per trip back to Maryland.