The Savory Sites of Summer

Dennis, where have you been lately?  I'm getting that question a lot these days, as it has been several weeks since my last blog post.  Here's what I have concluded...eating for the Grub Hub really comes pretty naturally.  Writing for it...that's a different story.  As I relax on this lazy Labor Day (following my son's birthday lunch at Five Guys), I thought I'd take a minute to reflect back on six savory sites of summer. 

A Taste of Louisiana (Denham Springs, LA)
The summer began as our family attended my niece's wedding down on the bayou.  I was fortunate to attend the rehearsal dinner at a quaint little cajun eatery outside of Baton Rouge.  The bride-to-be suggested the popular Crawfish Moulon...a delicious crawfish cornbread dressing, smothered in their delectable crawfish etouffee.  Was it ever good and was I ever full! 

Deanie's Seafood (New Orleans, LA)
Following the family wedding, we decided to spend another day in cajun country.  At the strong recommendation of a few of my N'awlins friends, I tracked down a local place called Deanie's. It's the real deal if you want fried seafood.  A bowl of boiled and seasoned red potatoes got us started (complimentary with the meal) and then I had the standard Combo Dinner of fried shrimp, oysters and catfish.  Delicious!  If I had it to do over again, I would probably 86 the oysters and opt for more shrimp.  I resisted the Giant Seafood Platter...mainly because it was $52!  (By the way, the best oysters in the world are the char-grilled oysters at Drago's in New Orleans!)

Daddy D'z BBQ (Atlanta, GA)
We celebrated the 4th of July in Georgia this year, so it only made sense to seek out Hotlanta's best cue.  A little bit of research led me to this hole-in-the-wall near historic Grant Park.   I'm pretty sure my wife and children were nervous when we drove up...you see, this is not your trendy chain restaurant from the suburbs (see the photo above).  We did get a few stares as we entered, as we obviously didn't know the routine.  In quick fashion, however, we were seated and welcomed by a friendly server.  My order...the Ribs and Chicken Combination, accompanied by "real" mac-n-cheese, fried okra and fresh, hot cornbread.  It was when my daughter asked if she could get a second order of mac-n-cheese that I knew my family's confidence in me was rising.  And since it was a holiday, we washed it all down with some hot peach cobbler. 

The Silver Skillet (Atlanta, GA)
Featured on the Food Network's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, the Silver Skillet is a famous little breakfast and lunch cafe located across I-75 from The Varsity.  On the day of our visit, the Skillet was packed with people enjoying a late Saturday morning brunch.  I didn't have to peruse the menu long.  I knew what I wanted as soon as I saw it...grilled corned beef hash, 2 eggs, biscuits and gravy.  A great breakfast and a lot of it!  I know it sounds a bit odd for breakfast, but I ordered the Lemon Ice Box Pie for dessert, as it had been voted one of the "5 Best Pies in the USA" by Life Magazine!

Martin's BBQ (Nolensville, TN)
My brother-in-law, who lives in Franklin, Tennessee set this one up when our family was up for a visit in July - and boy did he ever hit a homerun!  A few of us teamed up and ordered the Big Daddy Sampler...1/2 rack of ribs, 1/2 lb. of pork, 1/2 lb. of brisket, 1/2 smoked chicken, 6 wings and 3 pints of sides.  Mr. Martin knows how to smoke meat...that's for sure.  I can't wait for a return trip!

Fincher's Catfish Kitchen (Talladega, AL)
If you like fried catfish, you gotta give Fincher's a try!  It's off the beaten path (about a 40 minute drive from B'ham)...but it's worth the effort to get there!  Just a few days ago I stopped at Fincher's for lunch with about 10 of my co-workers, as we had just wrapped up an overnight staff retreat at the nearby Shocco Springs Conference Center.  We started with an order of fried dill pickles and some ranch dressing for dipping (don't knock it 'till you try it).  For my meal, I had the 2 piece filet, fries and cole slaw.  The fries could have been a little crispier, but everything else was simply amazing!  It wasn't my first time to Fincher's and I'm quite certain it won't be my last.

It has been a savory summer, indeed!  If you find yourself traveling across the south anytime soon, plan to give one of these Grub Hub recommendations a try.

Saw's Soul Kitchen

There used to be a day for me when a trip into the city of Birmingham would always include a stop at Dreamland BBQ.  Now don't get me wrong, Dreamland is still a fine option, but there's a new downtown dining destination in my book.  It's Saw's Soul Kitchen.  Having recently opened in Avondale (just east of downtown), Saw's is the quintessential hole-in-the-wall...it has an off-the-beaten-path location, an old sign still left from the previous owner of the building, 6 small tables (that you have to hover over if you have any hope of landing one), a few picnic tables outside on the pavement, and a line of people out the door (especially at lunch).  The menu, which is a large chalkboard on the wall, is pretty simple and consists of classic southern cuisine. 

If you're a Grub Hub follower, you know that burgers are a big deal for me.  And in my quest to find the best...Saw's has managed to move to the top of my Birmingham list.  On my first visit (about a month ago), after walking in the door and seeing a few burgers being delivered to other tables, my mind was made up.  Suffice it to say...boy knows his burgers.  They're big, flavorful and have a perfect meat-to-bun ratio.  If you're making your first trip to Saw's, I highly recommend the burger.  Add a pile of fresh onion rings on the side and you've got yourself a meal you won't soon forget.

On my second trip to SSK, I found myself wanting (needing) to eat a bit healthier.  I had a buddy that had recommended the fish, so I decided to go with the blackened amberjack sandwich.  Wow!  A thick, hot, juicy filet seasoned with just the right amount of "black."  I tacked on a couple of sides...the greens (which were fantastic) and the deviled eggs (which were average).  And since I was eating healthy, I decided I needed some fruit, too...so I ordered the strawberry cobbler.  Here's my only critical word for Saw...dude, you need to warm up your cobbler before you serve it.  It tasted good, but it was cold. 

One of the great things about SSK is that there's enough variety to keep you coming back!  Here's just a sampling...pulled pork and greens piled onto a mound of grits, fried green tomato BLT, fried chicken salad sandwich, pulled chicken sandwich with white sauce, smoked sausage, fried shrimp sandwich, and more!  Bottom line..great southern food at a reasonable price.

See ya at Saw's!

Mugshots...Where the Bun's a Big Deal

This week, I ventured to Vestavia Hills, Alabama to meet a long-time friend for lunch.  He had heard of the Grub Hub (not surprisingly) and recently suggested I add one of his favorite eateries to my list of man-food establishments.  It's called Mugshots and that's where we went.  With eight locations across LA, MS and AL - these folks pride themselves in serving up great burgers.  I decided to put them to the test.

A little bit of pre-visit research on their website led me to the statement, "It is all about the bun."  This made me nervous, I have to admit.  After all, if the best thing a guy can come up with about his burger is "the bun" - there ought to be reason for concern.  Nevertheless, I pressed on.

The menu was filled with many of your standard items...appetizers, salads, sandwiches, desserts...and, of course...burgers.  I was there for the burger, so I didn't waste my decision-making energy on the other sections.  Our server came to take our drink orders fairly quickly and I will give Mugshots kudos for having Coke Zero as an option (more restaurants need to learn this lesson).  My glass was large, which I like, but I did have to ask for a refill on two different occasions.  For some of you, that's seems immaterial.  But for others, I know you can feel my angst.

Upon delivering my beverage, I said to the gal, "This is my first time here, what would you recommend?"  Her soft response went something like this, "Well.....the burgers are pretty good."  To be honest, I was hoping for a bit more confidence.  Something like, "the burgers here are PHENOMENAL...I mean, the other stuff is good, too...but if this is your first time, you gotta go with a burger!"  It was the lunch hour and she was busy, so I gave her the benefit of the doubt.

My obvious next question was, "which burger is your BEST burger?"  This is where I began to feel a little uneasy.  "One of our most popular burgers is this one (as she points to the menu)...it has peanut butter on it!"  Really?  Did she just say what I think she said?  I wondered if perhaps she was new, but upon further examination, I noticed that at Mughosts you can order up all sorts of goofy things on your burger...peanut butter, cheddar cheese sauce (never do this), thousand island dressing (isn't there a place that refers to this as "special" sauce?), grape jelly, sour cream and more. 

The burger I went with is called the "McDonald."  I'm thinking they need to come up with a better name for their signature burger, don't you?  The description was as follows - "By far the best burger on the menu...8 oz seasoned beef patty racked (whatever that means) with strips of hickory smoked bacon, cheddar cheese, creamy ranch, smoky BBQ sauce, lettuce, tomato and red onion."  My two word evaluation:  tasty, satisfactory.  The meat was decent, but I'm doubtful that it was a fresh, hand-formed patty.  Back to the whole bun thing for just a moment...it was square and sweet...yes, you read that correctly, square and sweet.  Okay, I'll come clean...the bun actually wasn't too bad, but I did find myself leaving parts of it on my plate.

My buddy went with the "Pato" burger - a basic burger with a combination of swiss and cheddar cheese.  It looked good and I was glad to see he didn't go weird on me...and get the grape jelly.  The fry and onion ring combination is a good call...and there's actually a pretty decent dipping sauce that comes on the side. 

I'm not an anti-Mugshot-ite by any means.  I'll be back.  I'm certain my family would enjoy an outing, but with two members allergic to peanut butter, we'll certainly be careful in our burger selection!

March Madness Idea - Cheap and Delicious

I love March Madness...particularly the first weekend.  48 basketball games in four days!  It doesn't get any better this (although my bracket could sure stand to get better right now).  When you're trying to catch as many games as possible, it's essential to be set up with good game food.  Chips and dip will only take you so far.  Time doesn't always allow you to get creative, and when the budget is tight, you might not have the ability to splurge.  So what should a hungry fan do when he's hankering a game time snack?

A friend of mine in Naples, Florida put me onto this idea several years ago.  It's the CiCi's take-out cinnamon rolls.  Hang with me on this one.  I know that CiCi's is usually covered up with out-of-control kids attending their end-of-season soccer party.  I also know that the pizza is sub-standard, the salad bar is basic and the pasta is rubbery.  But I have to tell you...the cinnamon rolls are amazing!  Their Facebook page describes them like this..."Gooey, warm, sticky little two-bite buns that make your mouth water and your heart sing as you take that first bite."  The only issue I take with this description is that I've probably consumed a few in my lifetime in one bite, not two.  Sure, they are good in the restaurant, but they move to another level when ordered to-go (just about $4 for a box).  You see, when you place an order to take with you, the cinnamon rolls come to you straight from the oven, hot and fresh!

Let me give you a hint, though. Be ready to eat them right when you get home (this assumes you are able to make it home without reaching into the box as you drive).  Don't wait or let them sit too long.  And be ready to fend off the family...if you step out of the room for even a minute or leave the box unsupervised, you'll regret it.   Finally, make sure you have a gallon of ice cold milk on hand and enjoy!

Saw's - Get There As Fast As You Can!

Wow.  I may, in fact, have a new favorite place to eat BBQ in Birmingham.  Jim-N-Nick's, Full Moon, Johnny Ray's, Golden Rule and even (I can't believe I'm saying this) Dreamland are now chasing a new frontrunner in my book.  Recently, a friend said to me, "if you want a hole-in-the-wall with the best BBQ in town, you need to go to Saw's!"  His confidence and description encouraged me to add it to the top of my list of places to try.  Saw's BBQ is located in Homewood, Alabama just a stone's throw from Dawson Memorial Baptist Church.  Having grown up in Texas, I've always been a bit biased toward beef brisket.  So needless to say, I went into this "North Carolina" venture with a bit of skepticism. 

Saw's is not a big place (10 small tables and 6 stools), but it was full of people.  The entire time we were there, there was never a moment that someone wasn't in line at the counter.  By the way, it's worth noting that there was a 5:1 ratio of men to women.  If you're going to dine in, be prepared to come out smelling like smoked meat...and know that it will stay with you the whole day.  (side note:  a few hours after my lunch, I picked up my son from school.  The first thing he said to me was not, "hi dad"... but rather, "what have you been eating?")

My wife went with the Pork Sandwich Combo, which came with one side (she had the potato salad and loved it) and a drink.  The pork was a perfect combination of inside/outside meat and it had great flavor!  The sauce is vinegar based and has a good balance of flavor and tang.  The sandwich combo is a great choice for a quick and inexpensive lunch!

As for me, I went with Saw's Sampler...two ribs, a quarter chicken and a pile of pork.  Now, I fully realize that spares and baby-backs are two different rib conversations.  I get that.  Someday we'll have that conversation.  Saw's does spares...they were tender and flavorful with just the right texture on the outside.  The chicken...simply delicious.  My "sampler" also came with two sides...I went with the mac-n-cheese (amazing) and the collard greens (also amazing).  I managed to peek in on the guy next to me and he had deviled eggs that looked pretty tasty.  Saw's also has a unique white barbeque sauce that goes best with the chicken, but before my meal was over, I was dipping everything in it! 

The service?  Quick and friendly.  I had to wait a few minutes on my mac-n-cheese (because they had run out and needed 10 minutes to "bake in" the top layer of cheese on the next batch), but it was worth the wait.  Crushed ice (although it was only available behind the counter, not at the drink station) and great sweet tea filled my cup that was a tad on the small side - but that was a small detail in comparison to the meal.

Bottom line...Saw's is a winner!  I will be back.  I will tell others.  If you like BBQ and you haven't been to Saw's...you're missing out...get there as fast as you can!  And if you think there's better in B'ham, I'd love to know about it.  

 

Best Burger in Birmingham?

For as long as I can remember I have enjoyed food.  And it doesn't have to be fancy or expensive to be good in my book.  At the top of my list...a great hamburger.  While I've never considered myself to be an expert at much of anything, when it comes to burgers, I do consider myself pretty savvy.

Over the years I've had the privilege of living in Texas, Florida, Colorado and Alabama.  At every stop, I've made it a point to seek out the best burger in town.  Many make the claim, few truly deliver.  (note:  in the future, I'll write on what I consider to be the best burger I've ever had).  Now that I'm living in Birmingham, Alabama, I'm on a mission.

Recommendations that have come my way include but are not limited to:  Mughsots, Five Guys, Lloyd's, VJ's on the Runway, Johnny Rockets, Becky's, Velma's and Green Valley Drugs.  I've tried some, but not all.  Most recently, I met a friend at Green Valley Drugs in Hoover (located off Hwy 31), a place he had mentioned as one of his favorites for a good burger.  It's an old-fashioned drug store equipped with counter, stools and a few booths.  The grill was in view right behind the counter and that gave me an opportunity to look in on the process. 

I went with the bacon cheeseburger ($4.60) - done up with mustard, mayo, lettuce, tomato, and a nice slice of onion.  By the way, here's an important burger principle for me - ketchup belongs on fries, not a burger.  The fact that ketchup was standard and I had to substitute was a bit disappointing, but not a deal breaker.  The meat was fresh and the patties appeared to be hand-formed. Size was pretty average, with thickness was somewhere between 1/2 and 3/4 of an inch.  As for the bun, it was basic, but at least it was toasted (which is crucial).  I do like my bacon crispy (which it was)...but it was  broken up into small pieces...not sure what that was all about.  Let it hang off the edge a little!  The tomato was outstanding...red, ripe and juicy.  Overall, a pretty straight forward burger and I finished every bit of it. 

So here's the summary on Green Valley Drugs.  The burger...good.  The chocolate shake...even better.  I'm pretty certain it's not the BEST burger in town, but suffice it to say, I'll make a return visit without hesitation.