Saffron Valley

(Disclosure, I went to the Sugarhouse location but there wasn't a Zomato for that one.)

Google Maps is a lovely tool when it works. It gets us places and helps us find one of the two places you buy that thing that you need in the middle of the afternoon on a Wed when you totally forgot you needed the thing for the unrelated thing. A universal human experience I know.

But it also lets us find random spots we otherwise would overlook or forget about too quickly. Such is my experience with Saffron Valley Sugarhouse.

I am a fan of Indian Cuisine. A huge one in fact. Both in intensity of my fandom and in fandoms per cubic ounces. The mix of spices and combinations of flavors, the vibrant colors, I don’t know people can’t be willing to give it a try at least.

So anyway armed with a random craving and friend willing to give it the old college try we stumbled across this place. As we entered we were greet and immediately lead to our table. The decor was rather striking, to the point that I find it worth noting here. It had a hominess with wooden tables and decorations but was also sort of modern and stylish. They had stainless steel cups that I was tempted to ask where they had bought them.

But I digress. Amongst the Indian restaurants of this valley there is a pretty common take of doing a buffet for lunch. The general idea being that people come in, try a number of things, and then come back and have those same or similar things when you come for dinner. It’s practiced enough that I had assumed it to be some sort of industry standard.

However there is a different philosophy at play here at Saffron Valley which I found rather delightful.

The Thali.

Basically it’s a scope or a bunch of stuff. Each day they have a series of specials and you pick which Thali you want. Mine had a chicken, a lentil, a veggie thing, a paneer thing, a curry thing, some Nann, some rice, and a Gulab Jamun.

It. Was. Awesome. I was less then dilligent about getting all the names for the everything but it was astounding. Two of the dishes, (one a mushroom and pepper dish, the other a lentils one) are not things that I enjoy. In fact I may actively dislike them in most preparations.

But boy howdy. The lentils started tasting as I expect and then literally blossomed with flavor in my mouth. It was fragrant and lovely and deeply savory and so entirely unexpected. The mushrooms and peppers in the other dish were a delight. Earthy and rich and flavorful sort of everything a mushroom can be. I was on cloud nine there.

There was a also a Tikka Masala Paneer that was just perfectly on point and really just about everything was delicious. I was, if I’m honest, a little disappointed in the Pakora. The coating on the outside of the vegetables was a little cake like. It wasn’t as crispy as I like that to be. But once more the flavor was absolutely on point. So minor things.

This place is good. Go there. Eat there.

See you in the Chow Line,


-The Fat Kid

Fat Kid Reviews: Rice Garden

I’m basically a garbage disposal with a refined pallet. This paradox of culinary character leads me to try many things that other people are more leery of. And that brings us to the Rice Garden, a place I have only exclusively found in Smith’s Grocery Stores.

As I was going to college up in a town northward of where I currently reside, one of my favorite treats was to take the bus down to Smiths and get a nice plate of the chinese food in the store in the front. For years I didn’t even know the name of it. I just knew that they had delicious food.
They have a pretty nice little menu. Over the years I’ve tried most of it. But as far my taste buds and stomach are concerned there’s really only three things there.

The Orange Chicken, the Barbeque Pork, and the Rice Noodles.

The Orange Chicken is crunchy fried chicken chunks in a sauce. Though honestly it turns out more like a glaze. It’s sweet but counterbalanced with this bright acidity that you don’t always see done well in low to midrange Chinese food. The crunch on it is what always sells it for me. The glaze never saturates the coating enough to make it soggy, so even if it’s been sitting for a little bit it’s not chewy or goopy. Just a nice crunch.

The Barbeque Pork is something of an experience in and of itself. It’s set in larger pieces in the tray and they will pull out and chop up the amount you want right as you order it. It does wonders for keeping it juicy and fresh. It’s something you don’t usually see in impulse buy food and does wonders to make it feel just a little like something special. The sauce you can ask for with it is a lovely rich sort of brown sugary, soy infused BBQ sauce that just brings everything to life. Make sure to ask for extra if they’ll let you.

My favorite part, and the part I find myself craving in the dark part of the uncaring darkness, is the Rice Noodles. They’re basically just an egg and vegetable fried Taiwanesse rice noodle. But boy oh boy. That texture, the light seasoning and the little chucks of scrambled egg. It’s just lovely. And if you mix in the leftover sauces from you entrees? Boy howdy. That’s all I want out of life some days.
That right there is my 2 item combo. The one driving way of the way and or waiting for almost an hour in a Smiths for. Is it a high class meal? Ha! Nope. But do I find it driving out to West Valley or up to Logan for? Yeah. Kinda.

Anyway. Like, share, comment as you so desire.

See you in the Chow Line,
-The Fat Kid

Fat Kid Reviews: Red Rock Brewery

As I am a bit of a geek I have somehow stumbled backwards into tickets to Salt Lake Comic Con and Fan-x every time they’ve had on. I know right? It’s completely unfair. However as a consequence of this I have developed some little rituals based around the con.

The one that is relevant here is the “Post Con Decompression Dinner That Happens At Red Rock Because It’s Really Convenient Even With That Stupid Sidewalk Closure”. It is a most ancient ritual and most important. As we’ve done it like three times.

But anyway. This year the staff was entirely unbalked by the Ursala and Wizard being seated. Drinks were ordered. A beer and cider that smelled delicious but I am otherwise unable to comment upon.

For appetizers I got the Mexican Street Corn (a personal favorite dish) and the fried pickles. The aioli they used for the corn and as a sauce for the pickles was delightful. Fatty and spicy with just a hint of other spices floating beneath the surface. It was quite good. My corn itself was a little cold, but honestly I didn’t mind all that much. It still tasted delicious though in retrospect I should have brought it up.

But such is life.

The pickles were very nice. Crispy breading and a slightly spicy pickle that hovered between that crunchy and soggy point. You know that perfect pickle point? Right there. Only with breading. Crispy breading.

My entree was a special that they had up for Octoberfest (a varient of which seems to live on the menu).

The Pork Schnitzel ala Holstien.

A golden fried piece of pork, with a demiglace and capers. Served topped with a fried egg. On the side there was some buttered spaetzel, some braised apples and cabbage, and a warm potato salad.

I know right? That’s why I ordered it.

The pork was beautifully fried and the sauce was quite tasty. It came off as a hair underseasoned, until I made sure I got a caper or some of the potato salad and then it was perfect.

The cabbage was… well… cabbage. I couldn’t tell if there were apples in it and by itself they were… cabbage. The spaetzel was delightfully buttery but a little one note.

That potato salad though. By the gods of food and hearth it was wonderful. It was mustardy but not aggressive. It was aromatic. It was like mustardy flowers of heaven opening in your head.

It was tasty is what I think I mean. But all of them apart, even the bad poetry salad, paled for how fantastic they all were as a composed bite.

Just delightful. The kind of mouthful that makes you reconsider your feelings for “german food”.

But yeah.


Like, Comment, Share, if that’s your game.

And I’ll see you in the Chow Line.

-The Fat Kid

Fat Kid Reviews: Bumblebee

 (Full Disclosure I went to the location in West Valley City but it did not have a Zomato page at the time of this being posted.)


The surge in food trucks of a few years ago has started to live out its life cycle. Though (thankfully) our food trucks seem to be going nowhere, there is a number of successful food trucks who have made the move to brick and mortar. Bumblebee Korean American Fusion just happened to be the one in closest proximity to me.

Of all the types of food I’ve had Korean is the one I have the least experience with. It’s mostly due to proximity. However, this place made it more of a priority for me.

When seeing the decor and general vibe of the place is fun. They have sort but legally distinct from videogame characters on the walls and a friendly atmosphere. Before I did this review I actually ended up going here three times, and the experience was pretty consistent. Which honestly, is a mark in the pro-column.

But anyway, on to the food.

They have a mix of Korean and American played well together over all. They’re Bulgolgi (stewed beef) was generally the hit and regardless of vehicle. Sandwich, taco, fries, bun, or piled on top of more Bulgolgi. It was properly delicious. Their chicken and pork are tasty but pale when compared to the beef. Most of their sandwiches and K-Pop fries came slathered in a mix of sauces. They hit all the right notes though a bit more acid would have moved it from “delcious but a hair sweet” to that move where you through your head back and mouth “oh my God” to the ceiling.

We had two main dishes (that weren’t just the korean meats wrapped in something). The Kalbi Burger, and the Katsu Burger.

The Kalbi was a burger made from Korean short ribs. It was simple but tasty.

I’m a bit fan of Katsu which is a pounded and fried piece of pork served with sauces or over rice. They had a Katsu burger that I very much enjoyed but it had the same issue of being just a little too sweet and needing just a little bit of acid. It wasn’t until after I had finished that I notice the pickles on the condiment bar and realized that that would have fixed my problem wholesale.

They had a “snack” (little appetizer sized portions) called “Noodle Poppers”. I purchased an order out of morbid curiosity.

They were weird. Little fried balls of rice noodles topped with cheese and some of their tasty sauces. It was arguably one of the strangest legitimately food items I’ve put into my face, but there was something strangely delicious about it. The texture was just lovely. Crunch followed by that lovely chewy smoothness that only a really good rice noodle can give you. I suggest giving them a shot.

So I guess the lesson for todays review is… always look at the condiments.

And also check this place out.

Like, Comment, and Share if that's your thing.

See you in the Chow Line,
-The Fat Kid

Hospital Food

So there was a lack of an update for mid August. This was partially due to mismanagement but mostly due to an extended stay at a local hospital. I’m (mostly) fine afterwards but as I owe the internet a new article I decided to do a simple review of LDS Hospital inpatient kichen.

Now admittedly I was there for far longer than I actually got to eat. Part of my treatment was full gastric rest. Which by the way, if you can in any way avoid I suggest it. It’s…. Not fun.

But anyway, eventually I got to eat something. After four days of nothing but IV fluids I got to have a little italian ice. It was hard frozen and very difficult to eat…

But by the jiggling belly of the Gourmand it was delicious. Bright and sweet.

I mean it was basically sugar water. But man. That and a diet Coke? Heavenly.

The next day was basically just ice cream and the like. And drinking my water, through my mouth. Like a sucker.

Finally after what seemed an age of man I was allowed solid foods. Graham crackers taste amazing when you’re starving by the way. But my first real meal.

I had a salmon lunch with mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli. I mean I could have gone exciting but decided to play it safe.

The salmon was a little dry and would have been bland if it hadn’t had a nice little tartar sauce to go with it. Not the best I’ve had but pretty tasty. The broccoli was… well… steam and generally inoffensive. The potatoes needed some butter and cream but given the source it was what it was.

Time passed and the next day I was up for food again. Due to a misunderstanding about an “allergy” of mine my dinner ended up being Ice cream and steak.

I know right? Break my heart.

But here’s where something entirely unexpected happened.

That was a damn fine steak. Now it was small, it was well done, but it was a truly fantastic little bite of food. Juicy, good texture, perfectly seasoned and a truly memorable dinner. I was (and still am frankly) entirely blown away by it.

But hey, sometimes you see greatness in the strangest places.


See you in the Chow Line,
-The Fat Kid

Fat Kid Reviews: Express Thailao

I love strange little places. The kind of out in the middle of nowhere that make you for just a moment doubt the life choices that lead you to this series of events.

I jokingly start this entry off because that was my first reaction as my friend and I pulled into the out of the way strip mall in which Thailao sat. I can say that I was quite happily wrong.

There are many words you could use for the inside of the establishment, but I find humble is perhaps the most accurate. The decor was equal parts trying to hard and a little worn down. It wasn’t impressive.


But the moment we walked in, even before I could register the room or anything else, we were greeted warmly. The service was just amazing. All that were in the shop was the jovial and ernest man out front and the lady in the back. He hovered and took care of us like we were family coming in. It was just lovely.

We ordered the Chicken Satay, Chicken Noodle, and Massaman Curry.

He asked me if I wanted to make it spicy. “Medium spicy or Spicy” he said with knowing nod. I being a fool said “Spicy my good man!” (I didn’t actually say this but it makes for a better story.)

They serve their soda in the can which isn’t a mark against it, it’s just more of a personal pet peeve.

But the food. The Chicken Satay was delightful. It was perfectly cooked and seasoned. The peanut sauce was delectable and earthy. They also served it with this mixture of fresh vegetables in a spicy, sweet, vinegar sauce. Of eveything we had this was perhaps my favorite. There was this almost faint alkaline taste from the cucumbers that was just striking.

The mains were like the appetizer delicious. Unlike the appetizer they were spicy. The curry for me was the stand out of the two however. It had a nice burn to it but so many flavors dancing around it, with the coconut milk rolling in ease each bite.

Then there were the Chicken Noodles. Now first I must say that they were delicious. They were sweet, sour, savory, salty, all layered on top of each other. I almost couldn’t stop eating.

Almost.

Because I’d ordered it spicy. And so now I know what it’s like to french kiss the heart of the Sun.

It was hot. I’m even sweating a bit remembering it.

However, if you aren’t as impulsive as I am, or think that our closest star is giving you the come hithers, then go here. Go to Express Thailao. I don’t think you’ll regret it.


Like, Comment, and Share if that's your thing.

See you in the Chow Line,

The Fat Kid

Long time no see

I started this blog with the intent of doing pretty much what we've done. Review things. Talk about food. Throw down the occasion recipe.

And then it stopped.

I frankly got burned out. Trying to work full time in a very stressful education situation is like that. I didn't have the money to go out, and then I didn't have the time, and then I didn't have the energy.

So I just sort of... stopped.

I thought about reviving it, just about any time I ate something delicious. And occasionally when I didn't.

But things have changed again for me. And I'm gonna be giving this an even bigger shot.

I've started a Patreon! One that is not just devoted to my writings culinary but also other things. You are entirely welcome to support or not. It's been a long time so I totally get if you've lost interest. But I'm gonna be getting stuff on here. A minimum of once a month, two if I hit the goal.

SO I guess what I really wanted to say ultimately is...

See you in the Chow Line,

-The Fat Kid

Fat Kid Reviews: Fat Kid Mac And Cheese

So this is one time I have to go full disclosure on this one. My brother (the Illustrious Chef Fatty) actually works for and is in some ways the face of this particular food truck.

I know right? Though the hardest to believe part is the simple fact that we had nothing to do with the truck until he was hired a few months ago.

But gentle readers, I promise to give you the same level of food critique that I always do, as I am his older brother so need to crush his ego as much as anybody else.

So... To the truck. Well atmosphere-wise there's not a terrible amount going on as it's food coming out of a truck. The truck is clean and when I went my brother was out front being personable and loud. While not quite a full carnival barker he would have made a good impression. His decries of "Fat Kid Love" were non-sensical enough to grab interest and say what you will about my bias he was a personable server and got me my food quickly.

Now... on the Mac and Cheese.

There's something deeply linked to childhood in that gooey pasta mass. Not unlike is said about pizza and other more private delights "even when it's bad... it's still pretty good."

This however was really good. Like... damn good. A rich cheese sauce but with niance and deep flavors mixed in. Thier toppings mix in to create a truly magical mix of flavors. Each one is specially chosen and crafted to add to the expieriece forged in the take out cup your are holding in your hands.

Though it was arguably the best mac and cheese I've ever had, there were too points of critque that need to be put out. Their basic mac is rich. Like Bill Gates and Richard Branson merged like Voltron well daaaaaaaaaamn rich.

However this is only a problem with just the basic mac itself. A little of their house made slightly acidic ketchup or barbeque sauce and that problem sorts itself right out. I know that many of you will (or should) balk at the idea of ketchup on mac and cheese but this mac with this ketchup make a complete and wonderful experience.

The other small critique is that the veggies provided need a bit more fat kid love. They were kind of bland in compared with the rest of the ingredients. However that's something they said they were aware of and trying to work on. A great group of people working there and on a purely personal note, it's nice to see my brother's dreams come true.

So please go and track down this particular food truck. If not for the group of Fat Kids that would love you to, then for the Fat Kid inside us all.

Or you know... cause it's really tasty.

See you in the Chow line,
-The Fat Kid

Fat Kid Reviews: Caffe Niche

One of the greatest things of our modern era, in my reckoning, is the "Explore around me" feature on many map apps (Google Maps is my poison of choice.). As I somtimes do I found myself in a part of town I rarely frequent with two hours to kill and a need for breakfast food. So I whipped out my smart phone and magicked myself some recommendations.

I settled on Caffe Niche.

My first impressions of the place were less then ideal. Not that anything was off per say, but the place was trendy to the point of almost off putting (The decor and music being the prime offenders). However despite that, I did find myself enjoying what could only be described as the "vibe" of the place. I could see myself returning should the food be good enough.

The menu was small, elegant, and could have come off as hipster gibberish. Everything was marked with additional adjectives in front. "Local" being the frontrunner. I settled on the Corned Kobe Beef Hash, a side of Local Sausage, and some Local Coffee. I felt like I'd walked into an episode of the League of Gentlemen, which is a very weird show I enjoy.

At this point I have to give the waitress a fair bit of credit because I had two pens explode and she quickly helped me out with narrey a giggle at the suddenly Blueman. The service was fantastic, the perfect balance of attentive without breaching into pushy.

Now, before I move to the food, allow me a poetic indulgence.

Food, at its best, is more than just nutrients to jam into our face ports. It is an art that transports us across time and place. It can remind us of lost love and pull us back to time we had forgotten. It is the most primal of artistries because it ties inot an experience that all human kind relates.

I point this out because that is what their food did for me. The boldly saged sausage perfectly seasoned and cooked. The fresh bread with real butter and the perfect eggs over crispy and chewy potatoes with the beautifully assertive corned beef breaking in to make the whole dish sing.

As I sat there the reality of where I was faded and for a moment I as an eight year old boy sitting at Nana's table digging into breakfast before we ran down to work the garden down the hill.

Basically I lived the critic's part from the Disney film with the Rat Chef.

Now I'm not saying every person will time machine away once they taste their breakfast. But I can say that I did, and I enjoyed the hell out of breakfast.

So... probably worth a shot.


Like, Comment, and Share if that's your thing.

See you in the Chow line,
-The Fat Kid

Fat Kid Reviews: Dem Po Boyz BBQ

I like barbecue. There's something delightfully gluttonous about it, something deeply American. There are few times when I feel like a patriot and oddly it's mostly as I'm chowing down on some ribs or smoked pork. There's an almost spiritual component to it that always makes me think of that "soul food" moniker.

Also it's just damn tasty.

Now technically speaking I've talked about this place before. Though not. Back at the beginnings of this blog we did a showing on the various Pastrami Burgers in the valley and the one I dubbed best was the one at The Grub Box. Now, for reasons that are ultimately none of my business, that lovely burger restaurant (who has improved on it's lack luster fries) is sharing it's space with Dem PO' Boyz a nice little local BBQ joint. The place is out of the way but the service was friendly, and the place was nice and clean if visual uninteresting.

But the look of this kind of place is completely unimportant. This kind of out of the way hole in the wall is about the food. And that... that was worth the drive out to Magna.

They had the usual menu set up for such places a variable number of meats linked to a set number of sides. Between my companion and I we tried four of the meats, and four sides. I had the ribs and the pork, the potato salad and the mac and cheese, while my companion tried the brisket, chicken, beans, and cole slaw. All said a respectable amount of food for the price point. I had two large ribs and a nice pile of shredding pork with similar amounts for my associate's choices.

The sauces were just fantastic. They used a mix of different region sauces, though the Carolina mustard heavy one on the pork and ribs may be my new favorite anything. I could drink that, it's actually pretty close to a recipe I've been working on myself and well, honestly they did it better.

The brisket had a nice bark and flavor to it, and it's sauce was very nice. Deep, rich, sweet but earthy, all those things you want in a BBQ sauce. The chicken had good flavor but either needed a little more sauce or was just dry. Not inedible but the weakest of the meats. The pork was very rich in flavor and just about perfectly paired with that yummy sauce. (Please note that I do not use the Y word lightly) The ribs were just about as perfect as I want out of ribs. Thick smoke ring. Fall off the bone tender. Deep smokey flavor and a solid complex rub. SOOO tasty. I highly suggest it.

I did feel that maybe some of the stuff could have benefited by just a tad more salt but otherwise that meat was all I want BBQ to be.

The sides were a mixed bag. I liked the cole slaw and the beans were good, though they had a flavor profile I hadn't had before, obviously made in house. Sweet but not too sweet, nice little bit of spice and a clear bean flavor. They were interesting, and pretty good otherwise. The mac and cheese was tasty, had the texture of a homemade baked version with just a touch of tomato and spice. Spicier then I expected but I came around to it in the end.

The two sour notes were the oddity of having to buy out drinks from a different register, which was just odd. I mean, understandable given the situation but odd, and the potato salad. It was just kind bland. It was like it was missing something, I just can't figure out what it was.

However, my dear readers, I humbly ask that you try this place out. Not for Dem Po Boyz, and not for yourselves. But for me. So that they can stay in business long enough for me to become a regular.

See you in the Chow Line,
-The Fat Kid

Fat Kid Reviews: Leger's Deli

As I was growing up some dear friends of my family owned a deli. Their ownership of it is a thing of the past now, but it left in me a particular fondness for "deli" food. Because of this long history of sandwich consumption I really love a nice local (even if franchised) sandwich shop.

Now I came to Leger's on the raving suggestion of my dear friend and sometimes contributor "Drasago". He found the place wandering around on his lunch and after eating immediately texted me. So I decided to give it a go on one of my Fridays. This was another place that I'd drive by a hundred times, and was always looking for an excuse to try out.

First impressions upon entering? It was a sandwich shop. The kind where the guy behind the gives you a sample of his meat because he's just that proud of it. Very friendly without being pushy. The guy was mellow, sort of blue collar energy and obviously loved his job. As I was sitting there waiting he brought a piece of corned beef, He told me about the local butcher who makes all the corned beef and pastrami they use. And man... was it delicious.

I ordered two sandwiches. His weekly special (which that week was a Reuben) and the "Kitchen Sink". I'll start with the latter.

Every place like this has a sandwich like the kitchen sink. I've seen it called the "Garbage Sandwich", or the "Po'Boy" or some variation on the theme. Some places will even give you the history of the term "Po'Boy" when you order it. But basically it's a bunch of meats and cheeses on a sandwish. This one in particular had turkey, roast beef, and ham with provolone, cheddar, swiss, and american cheese. And they were fantastic. I could close my eyes and pick out each individual note of the symphony in my mouth. It was a fantastic sandwich. Which segues perfectly into the next sandwich.

I didn't know what a perfect Reuben was until I had that special. I didn't realize that the thing wrong with so many Reubans I had had was that they had too much meat until I had this sandwich. It has become the template by which I gauge other Reubens. It was magnificent.

I enjoyed it is what I'm saying there. If that wasn't clear.

Now, the one problem and it's not really a problem, is that he has a weekly special that they rotate in and out. The Reuben was one of those so there's no easy way to tell when the next time it will be available is. Aside from physically asking. And where's the fun in that?

See you in the Chow Line,
-The Fat Kid 

Fat Kid Reviews: Pizza Rev

There's a couple of places around the valley that are working with this same idea. The "high-end but affordable" pizza. Upon entering that was definitely the theme of the place, from the decor to the menu. Though not wood or coal fired they had a nice big pizza oven right there to be seen. We had come for an early lunch so Chef Fatty and I were basically the only ones there. The service was personable and they were willing to modify our pizza slightly (I have to be careful about my spinach intake for health reasons). 

We got their sausage pizza with white sauce and the Mediterranean (sans spinach). They were out to us at fast food speed and smelled quite delicious. It's a thin crust pizza with some nice toasted char from the big oven. The cheese was a nice rich buffalo mozzarella and the white sauce was well seasoned but combined with the cheese and other toppings was quite rich. Almost too much by about half way in. It was at this point that we realized that we'd picked up two of the same kind of sauce.

Now... we realized that for the sake of review this was a problem but the lady behind the counter was exceptionally kind and gave us a little sample of their red sauce. And that was the point were this went from a decent but overly rich pizza to something fantastic.

Their red sauce is dynamite.

It's bright and fresh and incredibly delicious. Dipping the over rich white sauced pizza into it? Hindu Holy Cow. It was SO good. Now I admit I have a soft spot for that mix of marinara and Alfredo sauces but this was a really good combination, just fantastic.

Now for the critiques, the pizzas were a little small for the price point but you're really paying for the time in the oven and not the size. The toppings were of a nice high quality but a little sparse on the actual pizzas.

But personally I think that's sort of a wash as getting that perfect bite of the two sauces and the cheese and sausage or olives? That was totally worth it.

Like, Comment, and Share if that's your thing.

See you in the Chow line,
The Fat Kid

Fat Kid Reviews: Dragon Diner

This is perhaps my favorite Chinese food place that I keep forgetting the existence of. I've been here on a number of occasions over the years, but always with friends. So as a good friend of mine was in town we decided to hit the place up, as he was craving Chinese.

As it was Labor Day and many places were closed the small dining room was pretty hopping. We were quickly seated and though it was a rather clean and comfortable room the amount of people did slightly hinder easy conversation. But we powered on.

The service was solid. Personable without being personal. I was well tended to with my profound demand for liquids.  (I drink a lot of water and/or diet coke.)

After we were seated and had our drinks ordered, they brought out these little bowls of fried wonton strips with sweet and sour for dipping. I had not ever seen that down in a restaurant of this type and as I was quite famished it was well received. The strips were well fried and the sweet and sour was perhaps the best I've ever had. If it wasn't house made then it was bought in the back alley of a factory that made wishes come true.

The entries I tried (I talked everybody to let me have a bite of theirs in the name of bloggery) were the General Tso's Chicken, Pon Pon Chicken, Teryaki Chicken Bowl, and the Tangerine Chicken. All were quite delicious. The Pon Pon had a slightly different breading then the General's and Tangerine, but had a nice texture. A little more chewy in contrast to the crunchy. The Teryaki was unbreaded but well cooked.

The one critique I can give of the food I had, and I admit it was a small portion of the menu, was that the different sauces had many similarities. Not to say that they tasted the same but the differences were more nuanced. If they had been mixed together I probably wouldn't have noticed. But... that being said they were all delicious and I look forward to coming to this place again.


Like, Comment, and Share if that's your thing.

See you in the Chow Line,
-The Fat Kid

Fat Kid Reviews: Carlos' Kitchen #2

There are places that you drive by over and over again. You look out the window of your car and ask yourself "I wonder what that place is like". Bare minimum I've been driving by this place two to three times a week for years (it's on the route to my brother's house and out local game store). And every time that's exactly what I thought.

So one day while out lunching with my father we decided to give this place a go.

When we first entered I wasn't quite sure what to think. The decor was... uninspiring (think subtle stereotypes on a budget) and though the place was clean it had the look of a place that wouldn't be. I don't quite know how else to describe it.

Upon entering the hostess immediately greeted us like old friends. She was bright and friendly and asked us if we spoke Spanish. Sadly I did not, so the hostess had to translate what we said to the woman behind the counter.

The wait was a little long but the freshness of the food showed that this was a from scratch operation. They brought our food to us and I dug in quickly.

Pupusas.

I'll wait while you google it.

...

Seriously, if you have never had a pupusa you should consider yourself having missed out on a culinary milestone.

I tried a bean and cheese one, a cheese and pork one, and one filled with edible flowers. And oh my merciful Iron Chefs were they delicious. This wonderful mix of salty and savory topped with a brightly acidic and herbed cabbage slaw that made a wonderfully complete flavor. And BIG too. I got three (with beans and chips) and walked away quite full.

But delightfully so.

They also proudly show Philly Cheese Steaks on their menu. Which I didn't try... but due to my profound morbid curiosity will likely be trying sometime soon.

I'll let you know.

Like, Comment, and Share if that's your thing.

See you in the Chow line,
-The Fat Kid

Fat Kid Reviews: Piper Down Irish Pub

I go here a lot. It's one of those places that always feels like it's somebody's favorite bar. The decor embraces this eclectic patchwork of Irish and the aged structure of the building itself into a strange but strangely fun atmosphere. The service is consistent and nice.

But honestly I really don't care as much about all that. Because I go here for the food.

It's an odd menu. American food modified to be more... Irish. A burger with Corned Beef on top, "Irish Corndogs" (fresh dipped bratwurst corndog with a Guiness and mustard sauce for dipping.),"Irish Nachos" (Fresh Potato chips with cheese, pico, guacomole, and small diced corned beef), and other dishes of a similar bent. There's also a good selection of classic British Isles food, the best of those being the Bangers and Mash, and the Scot Eggs.

Now, this is a place that I just keep coming back to. Their Irish Nachos may be one of my favorite things to cram into my facehole. It's high quality, just odd enough to make you want to try one more, and be sad when you eat the very last one.

They use a very delicious corned beef that is perfectly tender and has a nice flavor to it. On a burger? It's just delightful. On it's own? Just as good. Even as I write this I can feel my mouth watering. And their brown gravy is just a work of art. Mmm... just mmm. That's my review of the food. The kind of delicious stick to your ribs stuff that you want to eat after a rough week.

They also have a rather nice selection of vegetarian and gluten free options (little shaky on my memory of the gluten so that might be a lie) that I have not personally tried but given their work with the things I have consumed I'd be surprised if their veggie stuff was not as good as everything else.

Their selection of drinks is quite nice. It's a full bar and they have some really tasty cocktails. I've only tried a handful but they've all be quite good. I'm really quite partial to the Duckfart.

But regardless of what you drink I can't say enough good about this place and it's incredible food. Give it a try.

Like, Comment, and Share if that's your thing.

See you in the Chow line,
-The Fat Kid

Fat Kid Reviews: El Paisa

This is one of those places that I've been meaning to write about for ages. But I haven't mostly because it's one of my favorite places to go, and well, on my proper favorites I don't always fully trust my judgement.

However! For the benefit of my readers, I shall attempt to temper my deep love of this place to let you know if it's worth your time. (It totally is.)

Off of the 201 State highway next to a tiny bakery and up from "The Great Sandwich Chinese Food" is a well decorated and lively Mexican Restaurant. If you come during the evening you'll likely see the tiny parking lot full and either Latin Karaoke or a live band playing. The atmosphere is always lively and fun, and though the service can be inconsistent at times it's never enough to spoil the experience.

But what this is really about is the food.

The food is just glorious. Authentic and the kind of yummy that makes you want to keep coming back for more. I have tried much of the menu and can bare minimum say that everything is worth a try. Their rice and beans are consistently fantastic and their house made corn tortillas (when you can get them) are just glorious.

My favorites on their menu are the Queso dip with Chorizo (which is extra but totally worth it), the Taquitos (which are far and away my favorite thing to cram into my face hole), the Chili Verde, the Enchiladas, and the just fantastic Tortilla Soup. (My mouth waters and the thought of those... Just so good.)

They also do a Weekday Lunch Taco bar that is well worth the time. Generally between six and ten different meats with a nice little bar with creme, various salsas, and veggies to top off, it's about nine dollars but well worth the time. I've had a number of gluttonous episodes at the taco bar... Just delicious stuff.

I'm not overly a fan of the hot stuff but I can take my spice and all the various sauces they make have not only heat but a great depth of flavor.

The last thing I feel the need to mention is their bar. I haven't tried much there, but I have tried a drink that is a little bizarre but has become my go to "Happy Time Make the World a Better Place" beverage of choice... The Avocado Margarita! A luscious mouth feel from the creamy avocado the flavors of the Tequila, the lime, and the avocado melding and turning into something truly bizarre, but utterly glorious. You're first sip is almost always "this is weird" but by the time you leave you'll be talking about how good it all was.

Not unlike all good things in life.

Like, Comment, and Share if that's your thing.

See you in the Chow line
-The Fat Kid

Fat Kid Reviews: The Other Place

So this particular review comes with a story.

My brother (Chef Fatty) and I had not seen each other for ages, and so we decided on a culinary adventure. He'd been to this particular place a time or two before and said that they produced solid food, so in the spirit of "why not" we went there on a Friday for their "Braised Lamb Shank".

The atmosphere itself was sort of displaced in time. It had a distinct retro vibe, or to put it more clearly it had an old decor. We immediately joked about how this place would only appeal to old people and hipsters. And then we laughed and then we had a moment of awkward realization and then we were seated.

The service was friendly and they kept out glasses full (no small feat with Fatty and I). We ordered the Braised Lamb, some bacon, and a cup of the Clam Chowder.

Now... I eat a lot of Clam Chowder and I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to it. And this soup was very different than I was expecting. Unlike most Chowders I eat it had a very strong aromatic flavor. The carrots and celery were very pronounced, but somehow it really worked. They didn't mask or overpower the clam flavor in fact they seemed to dial it up. Very tasty and just a little different.

The braised lamb was just fantastic. Deep rich flavors, earthy tones, bright tomato tones, melt in your mouth deliciousness. It's very worth a trip out there. The spaghetti it was served with was underseasoned, the sauce was just the braising liquid from the lamb which was delicious, but the noodles were a little overdone and they hadn't salted the water.

But that being said this was a very nice a little trip and the food was very worth your time.

See you in the Chow Line,
-The Fat Kid

Fat Kid Reviews: Tandoor Indian Grill

Hey! I'm back.

Now I make it no real secret that I'm a fan of the Indian food. I tend to it as often as I can which is generally not often enough. It's one of my absolute favorites. Now this means that I really try to seek out the best of this that I can while at the same time meaning I'm not as knowledgeable about it on the whole.

However, that being said, I know what I like, and this place was pretty fantastic.

There's a trait of Indian restaurants to have a lunch buffet. A collection of various items served in little trays. You know... a buffet. However I've found that it's one of the better ways to gauge some of these place. It's a tactic I know. Get people in with a cheap(er) lunch and they'll come back for a more expensive dinner. And on this first trip to the Tandoor, well, I'll say I wish I had a date to take there.

When we arrived for my bribery luncheon (I can always be bribed with food) the place was far busier than I would have anticipated for a Friday afternoon. At least thirty people. But it didn't slow down. Many were not going for the buffet.

The service was friendly and fast, I honestly don't think I saw the bottom of my glass for longer then a minute or so. (Fantastic Ice Tea by the way). But our server was warm, friendly, and kept things moving. The place was clean and orderly. It was a very pleasant time.

And now for the real event. The reason you read blogs like this on the internet.

The Food. Now as I've said I'm not overly familiar with Indian cuisine. I've been eating it for about five to seven years or so but that doesn't make me an expert. However I know a couple of good markers that many if not most of these places do. Due to the general ignorance about this kind of food in the general populace you see a lot of the same dishes being thrown about with minor variations. Sort of like you see with Mexican and Chinese food. But if you check the vegetable fritters (pakora), the tandoori chicken, and the Tikka Masala you can generally get a good idea of how good they are. Those are things that I've eaten a lot of.

And they met my standards. I wanted to drink their Tikka Masala sauce, and honestly I nearly did. Their tandoori chicken was beautifully charred on the outside and moist and tender inside. And their pakora I think I ate about forty of them. Which is an exaggeration but really not nearly enough of one.

So I think that what I'm saying is that if you're in that area, I'd suggest it. It's quite good. I'll be going back to try the lamb sometime quite soon.

See you in the chow line.
-The Fat Kid

Recipe Corner with Chef Fatty: Bangers and Mash

((Sorry for how late this is going up... Fat Kid Been Busy.))

British food is not all brown sauce with grey lumps. There's also grey sauce with brown lumps. However they got a few things right. Recently I got turned on to the dish bangers and mash. When the fat kid and our dad were coming over for St. Patty's day I wanted to make a new way of doing it.  Here is the brain child from the dark reaches of my mind.

Caramelized Onions and Shallot Mashed Potatoes
2 bulbs of roasted garlic
3 large shallots julienned
2 jonathen apples julienned
2 large onions
2 tbl of thyme
Half and half
2 cubes butter
1 1/2 cup dubliner cheese
10 lbs yukon gold potatoes

Cut the yukon gold into even chunks (about one inch) and put them in water let them simmer til fork tender. As potatoes cook sauté the onions, shallots, and apples until caramelized. Drain the water out then add the butter, thyme, and garlic. Add half and half til desired consistency. Add caramelized veggies, cheese, and salt and pepper to taste.

Bangers
Buy some bangers (bratwursts will do) simmer in stout beer and throw on the grill till skin is nice and seared. Plate add potatoes and tasty is coming your way.

The Chubby Gnome's Review-O-Tron REMIX: Desert Magnolia BBQ

Yesterday I had the opportunity to revisit this barbecue joint and sample a much greater selection of items on the menu. I had both my lunch and dinner there the day before this writing, and both of them back up my original opinion on the restaurant. Read on for thoughts on some of the best barbecue I've ever eaten.