April 23, 2015 - Sweet Chili - Asian Bistro - Bozeman, Montana

Sharon Carter, Mary Jo Brown and I ate at the restaurant between sessions of the Madison Range Compact Knockout Teams.

Mary Jo chose the Tiger Prawns in Yellow Curry – stir-fried tiger prawns with onions, celery, eggs, milk and Chinese cabbage in yellow curry sauce.  Sharon picked the Alaska King Salmon – grilled  with sea salt, black pepper.  Served with homemade mango salad and tempura asparagus. (The asparagus looked yummy. They were lightly battered in what looked like tempura.)

I ordered the Green Beef Curry – strips of beef in a coconut milk, broccoli, tomatoes, zucchini and basil leaves in green curry.  Hot but delicious.  I chose the brown rice…and was it ever delicious with the green curry poured over it.

All three of us ordered Ginger Tea...it had a thick sweet taste to it.  Mary Jo ordered Mango Sticky Rice for dessert.  Sharon and I ordered Crispy Milk With Green Tea Ice Cream – two square chunks of battered coconut milk.  It wasn’t too sweet but was satisfying as a finish to dinner.  The green tea ice cream was smooth and creamy.  I have had green tea ice cream before this dinner…and didn’t care for it…but I really liked the ice cream served with the fried milk.

What I really liked was the presentation of each entrée, the ambience of the restaurant, the good company and good conversation.  I single rose was at our table…and a single cream colored thick pedestal candle burned on our table as we ate.  The dinner was elegant.

Sweet Chili – Asian Bistro

101 E. Main, Unit 1

Bozeman, Montana 59715

(406) 582-1188

(406) 582-0988 – FAX

www.sweetchilibozeman.com

Hours:  Monday – Thursday 11:00 a.m – 9:00 p.m.

             Friday and Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.

            Sunday 12:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

April 23, 2015 - The Club Tavern and Grill - Bozeman, Montana

Mary Jo Brown, Sharon Carter and I ate breakfast at the restaurant in the Gran Tree Inn because we are staying here during the bridge tournament. 

I can’t even tell you how the breakfast tasted because it was served to us cold… not even warm…just cold.  I would really write this up as bad except that yesterday’s lunch was so good.

Mary Jo and I  had lunch in the The Club House Tavern and Grill on April 22, 2015.  Because we a nannosecond late for the breakfast hour, we both ordered the BLT…and it had fresh large tomato slices…really fresh lettuce…crisp bacon and a great tasting sauce on the whole wheat bread which I had been toasted.  I ordered the side of a small Caesar Salad…it was huge…and it was delicious…fresh lettuce…lots of shaved Parmesan.  I just never expected something that big as a side.

I am sure happy that we were late yesterday which forced us to order the BLT.  This morning I don't know if there wasn't enough wait staff for the number of tables eating...but then it is a bridge tournament...or not enough cook staff but breakfast tasted as if it has sat a long time waiting to be taken to our table.  The toast had not been buttered when it was hot.

April 22, 2015 - Montana Aleworks - Bozeman, Montana

I had dinner tonight with Ann Zorn.  We decided to try the Montana Aleworks because it was right after bridge and we needed a drink.  They call their Happy Hour Group Therapy...and that's what we needed...Ann more than I because she had to put up with me at bridge table.  Ann ordered a Shiraz….and I had an Outlaw Brewery Gamble Amber...it is brewed in Belgrade, Montana....dark and tasty.

We both ordered the Open-Face Steak Sandwich -  8oz. New York Strip with Texas Toast, Housemade Slaw and Fries.  My steak was juicy…nothing tastes better than grain fed beef.  The fries were coated with a very tasty seasoning.  I felt these were the best tasting seasoned fries that I have had. Two pieces of Texas Toast and tasted buttery…just the way I like it.

April 21, 2015 - Main Street Eatery - Bozeman, Montana

I am in Bozeman with Mary Jo Brown....my favorite bridge partner from Helena, Montana.  We began our day before playing a 2-session play through Open Pairs with breakfast at this small eatery which is located in the back of the building on E. 9 Main.

Mary Jo ordered the Eggs Benedict with Salmon…lots for fresh spinach, onions, tomatoes, asparagus, artichoke hearts and mushrooms on the English Muffin covered Hollandaise Sauce (which Mary Jo said was very good tasting).  The Salmon was served to the side of the English Muffin…and tasted just as it should…no fishy taste…fresh salmon and smoked…her eggs were cooked to perfection.  It was also served with hashbrown potatoes.

I ordered the Biscuit and Gravy with four pieces of crisp Bacon.  It didn’t quite match up to the Biscuits and Gravy at the Early Bird in Helena…but the important aspect was that the biscuits were homemade and light and fluffy.  I thought the Gravy part of the dish was too salty.

Main Street Eatery

9 E.Main Street

Bozeman, Montana

(406) 587-3205

Hours:  Open Daily 7:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

April 20, 2015 - Early Bird Cafe - Helena, Montana

I am in Montana to play bridge in the Regional Bridge Tournament.  I flew into Helena and stayed with one of my favorite bridge partners, Mary Jo Brown.  We are leaving for Bozeman this morning so we decided to hit our favorite breakfast spot.

We both ordered the Biscuit ‘n Gravy…MJB with sausage and egg…me with four pieces of crisp bacon.  The biscuit and gravy was served piping hot…they gravy was divine..not too salty..not thick and pasty tasty…it was perfect.  The biscuit was big and fluffy.  I just loved them.

Mary Jo Brown says, “it’s the Best Breakfast in Helena.”

Early Bird Café

724 W. Custer Avenue

Helena, MT 59601

(406) 457-1503

Breakfast Hours:  Monday – Friday 6:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

                             Saturday – 6:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

                             Sunday 7:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

April 15, 2015 - La Canasta - Phoeniz, Arizona

I took the light rail downtown this morning.  I went to my son's office to sign my tax return.  I took him out to lunch.  We tried La Canasta's for the very first time.

Joshua ordered the Woodman’s Dinner – Green Chile Beef …cubed beef cooked in roasted chili peppers....served with rice and refried beans.  It was delicious. I tried a bite. 

I ordered the Machaca Dinner – it is shredded beef cooked with peppercorns, onions, roasted chili peppers, and tomatoes…served with rice and refried beans.  I loved this meal.  The beef was very tasty...as was the refried beans.  I love tearing off a piece of tortilla...filling it up with a little meat...a little refried beans...a little rice...and some of the lettuce salad that is served on top of the meal. That's the way to eat a good Mexican dinner.

Each of our meals was served with one huge homemade tortilla that came wrapped in tin foil like a burrito…it was steamy hot.

I think they served the best salsa I have ever tasted with their chips to begin the meal.

La Canasta’s

723 s. 7^th Avenue

Phoenix, AZ 85007

(602) 254-7295

Hours:  Monday – Saturday 6:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

                              Sunday 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.    

April 9, 2015 - The Grille at Las Sendas - Mesa, Arizona

I visited  with Annabelle Furgerson and Dona Pierce.  Dona and  I started with a Skinny Margarita…very good…then I ordered Brie and Proscuitto Bruschetta – brie, prosciutto, seasonal fruit and berries with Balsamic Reduction.  This was delicious four slices of bread -  each with a healthy slice of brie…a thin slice of prosciutto…topped with Balsamic Reduction – one slice with a blackberry…one slice with a strawberry…one slice with raspberry…one slice with a small section of orange.

Annabelle ordered the Queso and Chips – homemade Queso Dip served with red, white and blue chips.  I helped Annabelle nosh them down…the dip was outstanding….not too hot but lots of peppers taste.

I also ordered the Blue Moon Fish and Chips – Blue Moon Battered Pacific rockfish, Fries, Coleslaw and Homemade Tartar Sauce.  I wasn’t impress with the fish…the batter was pretty greasy…the fries were pretty so so…the Tartar Sauce was very tasty.

I want to come back here…sit out on the patio and watch the sunset as I sip margaritas and noshed on appetizers.

The Grille at Las Sendas

Las Sendas Country Club

7555 E. Eagle Crest Drive

Mesa, Arizona 85207

(480) 396-4000

(480) 306-9000 – Fax

Dascha Williams – Restaurant Manager

dwilliams@lassendas.com

www.lassendas.com

March 29, 2015 - Half Moon Windy City Sports Bar - Phoenix, Arizona

I visited on March 27, 2015 with Mike and Carol Thompson to watch the Gonzaga University Men’s Basketball Game vs. UCLA in the Sweet Sixteen round with the Phoenix Chapter of the GU Alumni.

I ordered the Pretzel Fondue – fresh baked pretzel breadsticks cut in long wedge sticks served with a rich white cheddar and asiago cheese sauce infused with Old Style Beer.  These were quite tasty with our Fat Tire Beer as we waited for the game to begin.  Later Mike and Carol ordered a pizza…1/ 2 cheese and 1 1/ 2 Pepperoni.  I ordered the Italian Sausage Sandwich “wet” – spicy Fontanini Italian Sausage topped with Sweet peppers and grilled onions….with added giardiniera.  It must have been the added giardiniera that made the sandwich blistering hot.  Ordering the sandwich “wet” means that the hard roll or bun is dipped in the au jus or drippings of the roasted beef.

I visited on March 29, 2015 with Joshua, Judson and Jonah Hayes to watch Gonzaga University Men’s Basketball Game vs. Duke in the Elite Eight with the Phoenix Chapter of the GU Alumni.  Once again I ordered the Pretzel Fondue…quite tasty with my Fat Tire Beer.  We ordered a Cheese Pizza for dinner – a 3^rd generation family recipe from Chicago, featuring a butter and herb flavored cracker crust topped with Papa Moizo’s sweet red sauce, mozzarella and asiago cheeses.  I love thin crust pizza…so this was a perfect pizza for me…and it was but in small squares…this is also the way I like to eat pizza.

History:

Growing up on Chicago’s North Side I fondly remember walking with my dad down to the street corner to get an Italian Beef or Chicago Dog.  We’d walk with our brown paper bags and setup to eat on a local park bench.  Once a week we’d visit a friend of my dad at his Italian restaurant on Irving Park, who would sit and tell stories from when they were kids.   

    On the weekends my grandfather would make his Chicago Style Cracker Crust Pizza.  He would teach me how to roll the dough and the difference between fresh & dry herbs.  The undeniable passion for flavor and authentic ingredients were part of those memories and what we are carrying forward to our friends in Arizona.  Our dogs are true Vienna Beef served in S. Rosen’s Poppyseed Buns from Alpha Bakery.  We fly Eli’s Cheesecakes to the store each week.  The Italian sausage and meatballs that fill our Chicago baked hoagies are produced by Fontanini, a Chicago landmark.  As for the pizza...that’s ours, made here in Arizona, fresh every day. A Chicago family recipe shared with our family in Arizona.

      Our focus with the Half Moon Windy City is to capture some of the essense of the Chicago through the food, the design of the restaurant and the excitement of the sports that I grew up with. I hope you enjoy the midwest hospitality experience!  (This is printed on the menu…as told by Clay Moizo.)

Half Moon Windy City Sports Grill

2121 E. Highland Avenue

Phoenix, Arizona 85016

(602) 977-2700