August 15, 2014 - Roma Cafe - Mesa, Arizona

Today I was invited to have lunch with the ladies from 7th Street in the Las Palmos community.  They had chosen the Roma Cafe as the site.

I was given a choice between soup and salad with my entree.  I chose the soup because it was a bean soup.  The soup was quite hearty with lots of skinny…skinny pasta…and it wasn’t angel hair....vegetables and beans.

For my main entree  I ordered the Pasta Primavera...choosing the white sauce over the red sauce.

My main entrée was loaded with all types of vegetables….lots of pasta. There are a few things that I can be critical about, however…..the food tasted so bland…no pepper flakes….no grated cheese was offered to us or could be found on the table…they served us rolls…it would have been more conducive to serve us hard crusted bread like a baguette.

Carol Richmond ordered the lasagna.

Marty Nelson tried the manicotti:

The portions were huge.  I don’t think that I would ever return to this restaurant for another meal.  The best part of the whole experience was after the meal when our server told us in broken English. You-a come up to the front-a to py-a your-a bill.  I no-a make-a many trips back and a forth-a.  It just sounded so female Italian to me…and believe me since I am one…I can laugh at it.

Roma Café

7210 E. Main Street

Mesa, AZ 85207

(480) 654-0558

August 13, 2014 - Queen Creek Olive Mill - Queen Creek, Arizona

My first visit was today with my niece, Mary Ellen.  We arrived in time to eat lunch and then take the tour of the olive tree groves and the manufacturing and pressing area.

For lunch we started with the Olive Mill Antipasto Plate – thinly sliced Genoa Salami, Calabrese Salami with port wine grapes, Chardonnay Herb Mascarpone, fontina cheese, Country Olive Mix, and Mediterra bread.

The roasted garlic served on this tray was perfect and added a great taste.  We were served three different types of cheese - fontina, fresh mozzarella and provolone.   Each cheese went well with the bread and the salami...then add some roasted garlic on the bread..or on the cheese...and it was heavenly.  I would have been satisfied with just this for lunch.

We split a Manzi Panini – olive brined boneless chicken breast, fontina cheese, garden basil, Sun Dried Tomato and Parmesan Tapenade, White Balsamic Herb Crème, rosemary focaccia. Served with homemade chips (I didn't ask but I am sure by the taste...they were fried in olive oil.) Our choice of drink was the Prickly Pear Lemonade….and we split a huge slice of brownie for dessert…did I say slice?  The piece was about half the pan.  (And, yes, they make a Chocolate flavored olive oil.)

Mary Ellen doesn't like olives...just olive oil...so guess who was able to try all the different types of olives that were served with the panini?

We took the tour...ours was given by the General Manager...starting in the new tree olive grove.  Then we moved inside and listened to how the olives were pressed for oil...and then processed.  One thing I didn't know was that everything is crushed including the pit.  Extra virgin oil means that there was no heat in the processing and no chemicals.  It is the highest grade of olive oil obtained only from the olive, using solely mechanical means which do not alter the oil in any way.

I have always used only extra virgin oil....but did not know the true meaning behind extra virgin oil.

We also spent time in the product room where we tasted several of the products.  I bought the

Asiago Parmesan Tapenade.  (Sorry my picture turned out terrible.  I just couldn't seem to get a good picture of this product.  I love tapenades...and I know this will always be one of my favorite.)

and the Garlic Parmesan Crema.  Because olives contain no bad cholesterol this can be used as a substitute for mayonnaise...I am going to try this on my next ham and swiss cheese sandwich.  There were so many products that I could have purchased but decided to limit myself to one or two for each visit.  

The Queen Creek Olive Mill

25062 S Meridian Rd,

Queen Creek, AZ 85142
(480) 888-9290

Hours

Monday - Thursday

8:00am-5:00pm

Friday - Saturday

8:00am-9:00pm

Sunday

8:00am-5:00pm

July 24, 2014 - Sparky's Garage - Dillon, Montana

I visited with Joshua, Jody, Judson and Jonah Hayes.  I ordered the 1/ 3 Rack of Sparky’s Ribs with corn-on-the-cob and cole slaw.  Judson ordered the 1/ 2 Rack of Sparky’s Ribs with baked beans and a baked  potato.  Jody ordered the BBQ Chicken Sandwich.  Joshua ordered the Smoked Chicken Salad – romaine topped with candied pecans, bleu cheese crumbles, craisins and red onion.  Judson ordered his usual wherever he goes – a hamburger.

Our ribs were delicious – slow cooked pork ribs.  Judson and I choose the homemade “Original Sauce” while Joshua tried the homemade “Hot and Sassy” BBQ sauce as his dressing on his salad.  He said there was quite a bite to it.  I thought our Original sauce was a perfect taste for any type of barbecue.

The restaurant had a wonderful décor – lots of tins signs from days gone by.

Joshua, Jody and I started our evening with a micro brew – Salmon Fly Honey Rye (Madison River Brewery in Belgrade, Montana). It was really good.

I thought a cute touch were our napkins – shop rags.  Our silverware came rolled in a shop rag.  Great creativity.

Sparky’s Garage

420 E.  Poindexter Street

Dillon, Montana 59725

(406) 683-2828

July 20, 2014 - Mooyah Burgers and Fries - Billings, Montana

The Hammlers - Bob, Kristin, Zach, Kaleb and Madison - went to Mooyah Burgers and Fries with me  for dinner after my arriving in Billings for some medical tests tomorrow.

The fare was several different choices of fresh, handmade burgers - served on fresh hot buns - cheese if you prefer - many choices of toppings.   I ordered a burger with Swiss cheese on a white bun with mayo, grilled onions, mustard, pickles and lettuce.  The meat was tasty.  The problem was the staff put the lettuce on the bottom of the burger with the curved side up....this cause the burger to slide out of the bun.

The staff forgot to put the grilled onions on my burger.

My bun, as were others, was not hot...in fact...the top of bun was cold.  Here I was looking forward to a nice warm butter grilled bun.  Those are my favorite buns with burgers.

The burger was served with a generous order of fries...they were hot and good.

The meal was served in a small sized type of jelly roll pan.  Quite unique!

They are known for their milk shakes..but when we ordered we were told that the milk shake machine was not working.

All and all it was not a good dining experience.  I don't think that I would return for another meal.

Mooyah Burgers and Fries
2695 King Avenue. Suite D
Billings, Montana 59102
(406) 294-3797

June 6, 2014 - New menu item at Nona's Coffee House - Havre, Montana

I met Linda Hoover and Larry Saski at Nona's Coffee House in Havre, Montana for breakfast this morning.
Linda and I ordered the Breakfast Cristo.  This morning was the first time that Leann has offered this item on her menu.

Three slices of Italian bread liberally layered with eggs, bacon, ham...then dipped and cooked in a maple butter.  You will need a knife and fork to even begin to eat this breakfast sandwich.  I have never seen a breakfast sandwich quite like this.  And, it is served with a slice of cantaloupe.

It's a keeper.  You must try this breakfast sandwich.  If you bring a friend...ask if you can share it.  Very filling.

May 10, 2014 - Ristorante Giuseppe - Scottsdale, Arizona

Dinner with Joshua, Jody, Judson and Jonah Hayes .  I started with Pasta Fagioli…we shared an order of Bruschetta (lots of chopped tomatoes dripping in olive oil…just like Grandma used to make…served on thinly sliced hard roll bread and large grated pieces of parmesean cheese)…then shared an order of Eggplant and Zuchini…Four big baked pieces smothered in cheese and red sauce.

Pasta Fagioli

Bruschetta

Eggplant and Zuchini 

Joshua and Jody split an order of Linguine  and Clams with Red Sauce. 

I ordered Pasta Alex…and the waiter suggested that since tonight they had homemade gnocchi that I get that for the pasta with the Pasta Alex sauce.. so I did….spicy sausage…oil…garlic…tomato…cream and pesto...yummy but there were lots of red peppers in the sauce….really had a bite to it.

Judson ordered Mostaccioli with Red Sauce…and one large Meatball.

Of course we had dessert  - I ordered the homemade cannoli…the creamy filling was light and delicious…not too sweet….everything about this treat was perfect.  Jody and Judson shared a piece of Chocolate Non-flour Cake…it was delicious and heavy.  I love those Italian cakes that are heavy.

Great Cannoli

We brought two bottles of wine because they encourage that with no corking fee.  It is just part of the ambience at this local eatery where the food is delicious and the crowds are huge.  It is a small family owned business with about ten tables inside and a few outside.

If you didn’t live in Scottsdale you would never know that it was there…except for those people who go there with their Scottsdale friends…then bring in the crowds.

And, of course this is Scottsdale where we shared bites of food with our neighboring table…then sips of wine….only in Scottsdale…and that’s what I love about this city.

Our service was absolutely wonderful.  The young man who was our waiter had so much fun with the two boys…and made it an enjoyable dining experience for both of them.

Joshua uncorking the wine!

 

 

Ristorante Giuseppe

 

13610 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 9

Scottsdale, Arizona 85254

(480) 991—4792

www.giuseppescottsdale.com

Hours:

Monday – Friday 11:00 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Saturday 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Sunday 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Cash only accepted – no credit cards



May 10, 2014 - Soul Cafe - Scottsdale, Arizona

Breakfast this morning with the Hayes family at the Soul Cafe...

I ordered the Granola Raspberry Pancakes – two fluffy raspberry pancakes topped with their homemade granola (with lots of nuts) and three slices of bacon.  

Jody and Judson each ordered the Some Like It Hot – two fluffy zucchini, onions, red peppers and jalapenos pancakes with jalapeno infused bacon.

Joshua ordered the green pork chili over eggs.

Granola Raspberry Pancakes with Bacon

Green Pork Chili over Eggs

Soul Café

Corner of Pinnacle Peak and Miller

Scottsdale, Arizona

Hours:

Tuesday – Saturday 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Sunday – Monday 7:30 p.m. – 2:00 pm

(480) 515-6254

Chef Sheila Bryson