Have you Hurd.... About one big reason I wished I lived closer to Reynoldsburg?

Probably not the least amount of suspense in that title question...  You know the answer somehow revolves around great food that is offered somewhere in Reynoldsburg.  Plus, if you have ever been willing to sit still long enough for me to tell you in person about my new almost favorite place.  Almost favorite because I don't live quite close enough to dine there often enough to count myself as a "regular."  It's a small family owned and operated restaurant called Scali Ristorante in a strip mall near SR 256 and E. Livingston.  They are open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday and lunch on Thursday and Friday.

The first time I heard about Scali, I was skeptical.  Mostly because the person who was recommending the place to me was a bit of a skinny runt.  Yes, he will be reading this and I have indeed called him that to his face.  I suppose everything is relative though, given that I am well over 6 feet tall.  I didn't earn the moniker Big Mike as a clever play on words.  I really am a big guy and many other seem small by comparison.  *smile*  We were scouting locations for a small company gathering and I told him I wasn't going to recommend it without trying it first.  Since that first memorable lunch visit, I have returned a handful of times in the company of several different parties and they have always exceeded my expectations.  Another good friend once told me that when people love that they do, it shows in the quality of their work.  The folks at Scali all must love what they do and it definitely shows.

Tonight, we were hosting a friend and co-worker in town from South Dakota for training.  I received an email earlier in the day with the weekly specials and like a little kid I began asking every five minutes "is it time to go to dinner yet?"  We opened the meal with a couple of their signature appetizers, the asiago and prosciutto grill (sliced prosciutto wrapped with asiago cheese grilled and served with a calmata and roasted pepper sauce) and the stuffed mushrooms (capicola, salami blended together with a mixture of Italian cheeses and baked in a light butter sauce).  Both plates went back to the kitchen empty and left smiling faces in their wake.  I was prepared to arm-wrestle for the last portion of the asiago and prosciutto grill.  Thankfully, nobody else was really feeling competitive and they let me have it.  I glanced at the empty plate and for a moment I wondered "was any of that supposed to be a garnish or was it all meant to be consumed?"  *grimace*  It all tasted good, so I am going to go with 100 percent edible and 0 percent garnish.  Furthermore, I let someone else have the last stuffed mushroom.  I know that sounds strange coming from me, but it was Random Act of Kindness week recently.  I also stared at it longingly before wistfully letting it go.
 

Stuffed Mushtrooms

Asiago Prosciutto Grill

The salads arrived quickly on the heels of the appetizers.  It was a pretty even split in our party between the Italian (house) and the Caesar salad.  I opted for the former with the crumbled blue cheese added.  It was a pleasant mix of greens, with tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, kalamata olives, house made croutons, crumbled blue cheese, and Italian dressing.  I am sure it would have been wonderful straight up, but I found it hard to resist the container of fresh grated Parmesan on the table any longer.  It was even better than a shaker with large slots in it.  A nice size glass of it with a lid and serving spoon.  An invitation to to go bat **** crazy with the cheese!  Know what I mean?    I put a generous sprinkle over the top.  WOW!  Rabbits wish they had food like this.  Not to belabor the point, but more clean plates and the excitement builds for the main course.


When I received the email of weekly specials, just like Jerry McGuire they had me at "Pork Ragu."  It was pork tenderloin coarsely diced and sauteed in olive oil and onions, slowly simmered in tomato sauce and served with pasta.  The pasta was similar in shape to rigatoni, but it was much bigger around.  An ideal platform for the sauce and other enhancements.  I just had to hit it with a good dose of Parmesan cheese.  The tomato sauce had a robust tomato flavor, the chunks of pork were well seasoned and fork tender.  I resisted the urge to lick my plate clean, but managed to almost lick it clean relying on a spark of creativity with my dinner fork and sheer determination.  YUM!

Progress?   Remembered
halfway through the gelato..

I was already feeling caloric overload when the waitress quietly slipped the dessert menus onto the table and let us know the gelato flavors of the day.  When I was a young boy and my Grandparents lived on Sandgate Road in Sharon Woods, my sisters and I would walk over almost daily during our summer time visits to the Friendly's ice cream parlor and grab a cone from the take out counter.  I don't think I ever ordered anything but strawberry.  It was just a matter of whether I ordered a single or double scoop.  The strawberry gelato at Scali reminded me of those daily summertime trips. Amazing strawberry flavor for this time of year and I even found a couple of big chunks of fruit in there.  -smile-   Maybe it's a lot colder outside tonight...  Maybe I am a lot older now...  My Grandparents don't live on Sandgate Road anymore and the Friendly's has been gone from that location for years, but...  It made me feel a little younger... and a lot warmer...

As I headed back out into the cold and dark.  Only question I had is "when are we going back to Scali?"              

Perhaps a Lazy Chameleon, but not a Lazy Crew in the Kitchen...

Happy Birthday Jodi!  Thanks
for the invite!

I know I have been saying repeatedly that I will eventually get better with my cell phone cam and always get a picture before I devour my food...  With this post, I am sure you are going to wonder if I need to get into some sort of 12-step program to help me reach that goal...  In my defense, I wasn't really expecting to post anything about my visit last night to the Lazy Chameleon in Powell.  I was going along with my wife for a birthday celebration for one of her friends and co-workers, Jodi.  It was originally going to be drinks only.  Dithering back and forth about whether to venture out into the weather, time slipped away and we didn't have time to fix dinner before we left, so we had dinner along with our drinks.




It was in that moment of satisfaction after polishing off the killer buffalo chicken salad, I remarked to my wife about how great it was... That she asked me if I had taken a picture first?  I suppose if we were on TV, she would have given me a Leroy Jethro Gibbs inspired slap to the back of the head when I furtively said 'nooooo.'  -grimace-  Trying for at least a partial save, I snapped a picture of the empty plate.  That would at least give some reference as to the healthy portion of the salad.  What filled the plate before I started was a generous bed of chopped romaine (not a single core in there either), matchstick carrots, diced tomatoes, shredded cheddar, and crispy buffalo chicken.  The greens and other enhancements were good, perhaps exceptional for a bar/live music venue and the buffalo chicken was crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, sliced perfectly, and complemented by a perfect application of buffalo sauce.  A pleasant bite, but not enough to set my mouth on fire.  I opted for the blue cheese dressing, which was also well above average.  Definitely some chunks of good blue cheese in there.  Not sure if they make the dressing in house or if they just buy a good dressing.  Either way, it was delicious and more than enough to satisfy my late night appetite.

The plate was full before I
snapped the pic.

My wife ordered something more common for this type of venue - pretzel bites.  A large platter of big soft pretzel nuggets with a creamy mustard sauce for dipping.  Response to the mustard sauce was mixed.  I liked it and my wife didn't.  She prefers some sort of beer cheese sauce for dipping.  I sneaked a couple of pretzel bites when she wasn't looking and they were warm, soft, and had a good coating of coarse salt.  Perfect with just a dab of that mustard sauce.  Yum!  Needless to say, that plate went back empty to the kitchen as well.  Others in our party sampled the crab cakes and fried cheese wedges.  Nothing but a shower of compliments and more empty plates.  The drink selection was good, with a number of good beers and hard cider on tap.  She ordered the Fat Tire Amber and I went for a Johnny Appleseed hard cider.  Why does everything taste better on draft than out of a bottle?  Can't remember the last time she had more than one beer in an evening.  If they were real tires, she could have had enough for a tricycle when she was done.  -big smile-

The menu at the Lazy Chameleon is fairly simple.  I find when visiting venues like this, the simpler the menu... The better the food...  If the menu reads like the Sears & Roebuck catalog, chances are it is all coming into the kitchen frozen.  Nobody is really cooking in the kitchen, just reheating.  That is clearly not the case at the Lazy Chameleon.  They are doing some serious cooking in that kitchen.  The menu tilts a little towards seafood, but still a few options for someone like me who isn't really a fan of the surf.  I am sure I will go back soon and I will definitely have dinner there again.  

The atmosphere was tough to judge on Saturday night.  It was a night for live music ($6 cover charge per person).  The bands were Hott Lucy and Fat Dog.  From talking up the massive crowd, it had been awhile since the members of Fat Dog had performed together.  So it was a bit of a reunion concert for them.  They were both excellent bands, playing a good variety of popular music from different eras (heard cover for the Beatles, Bon Jovi, Journey, Van Halen, and even Tool).  Only downside...  At my age, it was too loud, even when the music wasn't playing (did I mention the massive crowd).  I felt like if we were anywhere other than a bar, the staff would be wearing those earplugs like the baggage handlers wear out on the runway at the airport.  Just like any man who occasionally  forgets he is married, I took earplugs for me and none for my wife.  Her ears are still ringing as I type this.  Not sure how much that matters on a personal level, as she only listens to me about half the time.  -smile-  Good news is that the waitress was adept at interpreting my rough hand signals when ordering additional drinks (mime tipping a glass to my lips then point to the person who needed one), food (wave and point to the item on the menu), and bringing the check when we were ready to leave (hand across the neck to cut it off and signature pattern on my hand).  Despite the crowd, the waitress checked on us frequently and our glasses were always full and empty plates and glasses cleared away quickly.  Thought I could hear strains of the Donna Summer song in my head (She Works Hard for the Money).

Overall, we both had a good time in spite of our advancing age... -chuckle- It was well worth the trip out into the snow and cold.  We'll just remember to take two pairs of ear plugs next time if there is going to be live music.

B Spot Long-Term Test Drive Volume Two

Since B Spot offers a Smasher's Special for the month and the cycle has yet to repeat, that gives me a good reason to go back at least once a month...  To see what extra goodness they are offering in the current month.  I haven't always embraced the Smasher, but I tell the wait staff on every visit how much I am waiting for them to bring back the Patty Melt from last fall.  I have eaten a lot of patty melts from a lot of different places in my short span of years and I would say the one at the B Spot is far and away the best.  It was so good, I am saving it for a third volume of the long-term test drive.

This volume is from my second or third visit (my soon-to-be 44 year-old brain can't recall). It was definitely my wife's first visit.  Beth isn't lucky enough to work within driving distance for lunch and the dinner crowds were unbelievable in the beginning, so it took us awhile to make a visit together.  After listening to me describe the outstanding offerings on all my previous outings, she decided it didn't matter how bad the crowd would be...  We were going to wade into it like two teenagers into a mosh pit...  Although not being teenagers any more, we availed ourselves of the Call Ahead Seating.

It was a pleasant evening, so we didn't mind waiting a little while for a table.  Hoped for a spot on the outdoor covered patio, but ended up inside instead.  As you may have already gleaned from earlier postings, Beth is not quite as adventurous as me with her food selections.  She knows what she likes and sticks pretty close even under intense pressure to break outside the norm.  This evening was no exception, as she opted for the bacon cheeseburger with a good dose of ketchup.  It used to hurt my feelings when she put ketchup on her steak.  Now I know not to take it personally.  She puts it on just about everything.  -smile-  

I ordered the Fat Doug.  In spite of the name, I didn't feel as though my girth expanded even slightly during the meal.  This is good, since I have been working to become a shadow of my former self.  Given that I was watching my carbs, I asked them to hold the bun and the waiter didn't even flinch. Absent the bun, the stadium mustard was on the side, but I promptly poured it over the top.  I wanted to experience the Fat Doug full force.  Even though I have never met him, I like him.  His taste in burger toppings is eclectic, but it works.  Cole slaw, pastrami, and stadium mustard.  Not sure I ever would have come up with that, but having tried it... It's a winner.  As you can tell by the speed with which I devoured it... Camera shutter speed was too slow.  Just got the empty platter.  I promise I am getting better at that.  We shared an order of their colossal onion rings.  Covered with a light batter, fried to a perfect golden brown and dusted with coarse salt.  mmmmm...  

Beth also sampled a beer from their extensive list of quality brews and I enjoyed a chocolate shake.  The B Spot offers a number of interesting flavors and suggests different adult-beverage enhancements for each, but I passed on that since I was driving.  As a side note....  My dislike of machine made milk shakes is nearly as strong as it is for pansy Parmesan cheese shakers.  I have held it quite a bit longer too.  Imagine my surprise when the waiter informed me that I would have to wait a few minutes for my shake as they had a flurry of orders and the machine needed time to recover.  I ask him to confirm... "You make your shakes with a machine?"  He responded proudly that they did and assured me I would not be disappointed.  He was right.  It was thick and rich like no other.  They even brought out a straw that was a larger diameter than any I had previously encountered.  I swear it was the size of a vacuum cleaner hose.  I took a picture of the shake suspended in the straw after more than a minute on a warm summer evening.  Definitely had some staying power.

In my several visits since, I have worked my way around the menu somewhat methodically...  And the only B in the name I have yet to sample is the BOURBON.  One of these days I will grow up.  I have enjoyed it all - fried bologna (insanely thick cut), brats (tasty and generous stadium style link), and even the crispy chicken.  I was never considered anything even remotely resembling a chick magnet, but I can still order one at the B Spot.  Probably not any healthier than a burger, but variety is a good thing.  One of these days I will get around to sharing a post about my Patty Melt Dreamin'... In the meantime, I look forward to my next trip... Patty Melt or not...

Some other places on my hot list for future visits... Super Chef in Gahanna...  Wedgewood Pizza in Grove City...  And the Hofbrauhaus Grandview location...  Please stay tuned for further updates.

B Spot Long-Term Test Drive, Volume One

With the onset of yet another Arctic blast here in Central Ohio, it is a Herculean task to get Beth back out for dinner in the evening.  To paraphrase a line from Austin Powers...  Frigid temps, snow, and ice are just not her bag, baby...  If not for me, she would probably be living much further South and perhaps perilously close to the center of her universe... Mickey Mouse Land...  -chuckle-

Since I just got started, I thought I should find something in the archives of my brain to turn into a new post.  To keep the proverbial presses hot in my personal blogosphere until either the spring thaw arrives or cabin fever sets in and we visit yet another Columbus dining hot spot...  After some brief rumination on the matter, I opted for Chef Michael Symon's B Spot where the B stands for burgers, brats, bologna, beer, and bourbon.  It only seems fitting, since my weekly Chipotle lunch crew really started pushing hard for me to start on this blogging career after I sent them emails about my earliest visits there.  Those visits coincided with my decision to make my entry into the modern world and finally get a cell phone.  I practiced by taking pictures of the grub.  Sometimes I failed and didn't remember to take the picture until after I had devoured the offerings and I would just send them a picture of the empty plate and describe in vivid detail what was there before I had eaten it with the excitement of a child on Christmas morning.

Here is Volume 1...  Day 1...  I say that because I actually was there when they first opened to the public along with my good friend, Mike Reed.  We arrived early and engaged in some casual banter with a pack of young healthcare professionals (physical therapists was my bet, based on their attire and attitude) who were also milling about smartly near the door.  As Mike and I did our pre-game stretches, they inquired if we intended to run past them when the doors opened.  I responded not past them, but rather through them... They laughed and said they were fine with that, they would just ride in on our backs.  Thankfully, the crowd never got out of control and nobody got hurt.  We got a great spot on the covered patio (much quieter than inside the restaurant) and enjoyed the sunshine and gentle breeze.

You can't tell it from the photo, but the egg has a double yolk... That
more than makes up for the polite smack down I got earlier... -smile-

We took the opportunity to quiz the waiter on the full range of offerings and even dug into Mr. Symon's culinary history (waiter was a bit vague on that) and kept our eyes peeled for any sign of the celebrity chef.  I decided to knock down the first B and ordered up a Lola burger. There is absolutely nothing better on a burger than a fried egg, bacon, and american cheese...  The Lola is pretty close... Cheddar instead of American and some pickled red onion too.  I got some polite smack down from the waiter for suggesting a modification. Apparently high-maintenance doesn't fly with the preset specials at the B Spot.  I can respect that.  It was a home run straight up.  Start with a healthy size, expertly grilled patty, put it on a spectacular also expertly grilled bun and cover it with toppings all cooked (or pickled) to perfection.  I am sure in a pasture somewhere, cows are eagerly lining up to be a part of this winning combination.  I found my way to the pickle bar for some Tony Packo's Hot and Sweet Pickles too(or is it Sweet and Hot... either way....  mmmmmmm)...

The waiter featured the Porky Fries (house french fries covered with cheese, pickled jalapeno peppers, and pulled pork).  He didn't mention the price.  Good thing, because I might have skipped them if he did.  Aside from my ridiculous price sensitivity...  They were quite delicious and with a pleasant level of heat - in my book that is somewhere around medium.  If you like spicy/hot food, this would qualify as zesty, perhaps barely hot.  -smile-  We shared the fries and it was more than enough for two.  Mike played wheel man and he kindly charged my cell phone en route, so I gladly paid for them.  Gas prices being what they were, I may have ended up on the winning side of that trade.  Washed it all down with a tart, ice cold lemonade.. Which they refilled for free at least twice.

 Atmosphere is interesting.  A little more adult feel than Red Robin, but similar in other ways.  Tables are spaced out more, so you don't feel too close to the other patrons.  Food and bar offerings are far superior. And there is that amazing wall of beer cans.  I believe it is well worth the prices they charge, but not a price I can bear on a regular basis for a burger and fries.  So Smashburger remains my odds on favorite here in Central Ohio.  It may be a once a month stop rather than weekly.  Somebody please twist my arm... I'll go twice a month.
-smile-  

I will tell you a tale of the shakes, onion rings, and some guy named Fat Doug in Volume 2... About the shake straw that was as big as a vacuum cleaner hose and still the shake was thick enough to hold position in the straw for more than a minute.  Made me take back every bad thing I ever said about machine-made shakes.  Well, almost every bad thing.  I still don't order them anywhere else.  Look for Volume 2 over the next few days...  I am reliving that chocolate shake already... And wondering what a good friend of mine might call my signature burger?

It hardly seemed like a pilgrimage, but that is what we called it...

Several years ago, a couple of good friends asked us what we were doing on President's Day.  She was working as a student pastor and he was a public employee, so they both were planning to enjoy a holiday off from work.  As luck would have it, my wife was as well.  Between the three of them, they hatched a plan to make pilgrimage (of sorts) to Cincinnati.  Their primary purpose was to spend an inordinate amount of time in the IKEA store there.  Knowing this would have little to no appeal for me, they built in a second stop on the pilgrimage.  A visit to Jungle Jim's Market.

Now I had never actually visited Jungle Jim's, but I had heard the tales of it's legend.  And occasionally even daydreamed about what it might be like.  I expect many foodies have likewise longed to walk slowly and methodically through its hallowed aisles.  For the uninitiated, Jungle Jim's is a grocery store on steroids.  They have an immense selection of just about anything one can imagine, and even a few things beyond one's imagination.  To amp up the excitement even further, there are a number of former King's Island attractions built into different parts of the store - inside and outside.  Needless to say, they had me at the mere utterance of the words "Jungle Jim's" and a new winter time tradition was born.  We have made the trip multiple times and always come home with a carload of good stuff and a humorous tale or two.

Since none of us was familiar with the area, finding a place to grab dinner before heading back north to Columbus presented a small challenge.  Thankfully, we spotted a La Rosa's pizza parlor right across the street from Jungle Jim's.  We enjoyed it so much on our first visit, we never even tried to find anywhere else on our return trips.  It just became the third stop of our annual winter time pilgrimage. It seems good fortune was shining upon us, as just a few months ago La Rosa's made the trip north to open their first location in Central Ohio.  It's on Hospital Drive in Dublin.

Perhaps it was no small coincidence that my wife and I made our first visit to the Dublin location on President's Day weekend.  We had been waiting for the 'new restaurant just opened' crowds to abate and were beginning to wonder if that might ever happen.  We woke up Saturday morning to the sight of moderate snow and high winds, making for potentially treacherous travel conditions.  I know what you are thinking.  PERFECT DAY for a trip to LA ROSA'S PIZZA!  And you would be right.  Since my wife doesn't like being out in bad weather, I didn't advise of the winter nastiness.  Just told her we're going to La Rosa's for lunch!

The dining room crowd was light.  The atmosphere was low-key and casual.  Just like the location we visited in Cincinnati.  Our waitress was extremely attentive and knowledgeable about the menu.  As it had changed a bit since our last visit, I had a bunch of questions.  She answered them all.  Being that Cincinnati is know as Porkopolis, it was only natural that we would start our pizza feast with a pleasant combination of pizza crust, Montgomery Inn pulled pork, and provolone cheese with a side of warm Montgomery Inn barbecue sauce.  La Rosa's calls them Rondos.  I call them gone before I could take a picture.  :-)



I was barely thinking about licking the barbecue sauce off my plate when our four meat pizza arrived.  We asked for the Foccaccia sauce (a combination of their house pizza sauce and garlic butter) and it was on their hand tossed crust.  It was wonderful.  I know you are wondering... Yes, I did use the leftover barbecue sauce on my pizza.  It was good with or without.  We likely would have eaten all of the pizza, but we were saving room for dessert.  I know that isn't something you usually do at a pizza parlor, but you will want to do that when you visit La Rosa's.  It was a tough choice, but we opted for the cinnamon dippers.  Thin strips of fried pizza dough rolled in cinnamon and sugar served with a side of warm vanilla icing.  FABULOUS.

I know you are probably worried about the carb overload.  Since I could see the snow continually falling while we were enjoying the food and excellent service, I knew I would work it out later shoveling snow in the bitter cold wind.  Helped my neighbors with their shoveling too. Probably should have shoveled every driveway on the block, but baby steps.  -smiling-

One final note about La Rosa's and a pet peeve of mine.  It drives me crazy when pizza places give you a Parmesan cheese shaker with tiny holes in the lid.  No matter how hard you shake that thing, hardly any cheese comes out.  Grrrr... I usually end up removing the lid and pouring it out in some fashion.  I feel like I am committing a misdemeanor offense in doing so, but I do it anyway.  Chops to La Rosa's for using a real shaker with large slots in the lid.  A gentle shake gets you all the Parmesan cheese you need without the carpal tunnel syndrome you don't.  Sure hope they open a location closer to my house soon.  Since the closing of Belleria in December, this may be my new favorite pizza place.

I know it's spelled Jean, but it's pronounced like John... He was French, after all...

It has been 35 years since I took my star turn in a class play in Mr. "Super Duper" Cooper's class in the third grade at Penn Township Elementary in Butler, PA, but haven't strayed far from my mark.  I played one of the lead roles (Jean) opposite a good childhood friend, Matt Dunaway, in our ensemble production of "Stone Soup."  A tale of two French Legionnaires down on their luck trying to coax some much needed grub from a miserly bunch of foreign villagers...  They start out with a large pot of water over a fire and a good stone for flavor.  Since it was a third grade production, I am sure most of you have already jumped to the end in your mind and realized they end up with quite a smattering of ingredients in the pot by the time they are done and enjoy the cauldron of fabulous soup with their new friends.    (long, pleasant sigh)

Fortunately, tonight I didn't start out with a stone in the pot and I was using French sounding cookware instead of playing the part of a French Legionnaire.  (My wife was kind enough to let me use her Le Creuset dutch oven.)  Slight improvement on at least one count.  It is no secret I am not a big fan of cookware that weighs more than a small child, but I suppose it's growing on me...  

I had some leftover smoked ham in the refrigerator, which I diced up into a small container...  For the last few nights, I could hear it calling to me in my sleep.  "Michael... Please make me into a batch of HAM AND CHEESE SOUP!!!"  I am pretty sure I heard the words "immediately forthwith and without further delay" too, but I had to play a little hard to get...  -wink, wink-

It's a great recipe my sister brought home from her foods and nutrition class back in high school:

  4 Cups Water

  4 Cups Diced Ham

  4 Cups Diced Potato (I leave the skin on)

  2 Cups Diced Carrots

  2 Cups Sweet Green Peas (I use frozen)

  20 Ounces of Velveeta (cut in large cubes)

  Salt and Pepper to taste

  Makes 6 - 8 servings

I start with the water, ham, and potatoes (in a 5 quart dutch oven over medium heat) and bring them to a steady boil.  I add the carrots and return to steady boil for 8 more minutes.  I will usually add a good shake of salt and pepper at this point...  add the peas, reduce the heat and bring on the cheese!!!  It will take a few minutes for the cheese to melt completely.  Once it does, soup is ready to serve.  Hold over low heat, stirring frequently.  Once cheese is added, soup can scorch easily.  

I know in some quarters, Velveeta is looked upon with disdain and perhaps not even considered to be 'real' cheese.  In my household, I live by the Red Martin Axiom... Velveeta = The solution to every cheese lover's problem.  -big smile-

Since it was just the two of us for dinner, I sent some leftovers with my Mom for she and my grandma to enjoy later this week.  Gotta share the love.  Spring will be here soon enough, no matter what Punxsutawney Phil says.

I Even Had on my Barn Coat...

Since I am a recovering former auditor, I will begin with an IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE.  The restaurant I visited tonight for the first time is one of the latest to be opened by one of my personal heroes, Cameron Mitchell.  I was fortunate enough to meet him in person once after a promotional event and, like any star stuck teenager, all I could say to him was "I bet you have a Superman suit on under the rest of your clothes."  Judging by the strange look on his face, I needed to explain to him that I said that only because he was one of my personal heroes and not because I was thinking about what base layer he prefers when attending public events.  Since he sold his steakhouses to Ruth's Chris many moons ago, I rarely find myself going out for high end USDA prime beef.  I considered tonight to be perhaps the start of a comeback tour (however brief) and to say expectations were running high would be a monumental understatement.

The Barn at Rocky Fork Creek was exceptional on every level.  It is billed as a casual steakhouse and BBQ restaurant and you can definitely smell the hardwood smoke in the air.  Although I wonder if it is from the oak-aged bourbons they serve or the meat they are smoking in the kitchen. -wink, wink- 

My wife and I decided to kick things off with the BBQ Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp from the appetizer menu (served with a side of slaw).  Between the tangy house made BBQ sauce and smoky bacon wrap, I totally forgot I don't really like shrimp. They were gone so fast, I didn't even get a picture.  The slaw was a nice complement.  I like that the dressing was pretty straightforward with a colorful mix of shredded cabbages.  I don't why so many places feel the need to get cheeky with the dressing and put an obscene amount of spicy mustard or Tabasco or who knows what else in there.  Sometimes you don't have to be edgy to be good.

My wife surprised me and ordered a Bourbon Apple Punch.  Only fitting, since bourbon and rye whiskeys are a central feature at The Barn.  I wasn't sure I could handle that much character and instead ordered the Mary Pickford.  She shared a sip.  I shared a sip.  May have to have the Bourbon Apple Punch next time.  Woodford Reserve Double Oak is soooooo smooth.  She said I could keep the tequila.  Something to talk about as we eagerly anticipated the main course.  

The menu had good variety, but since this was our first visit, we decided to pay homage to some Black Falls Angus beef . Chateaubriand sounds a bit pretentious, but once I discovered it was just a generous cut of beef filet cooked for two...  We were all over it...  Well, once I agreed to let them cook it to medium...  She doesn't like it to still be mooing when it hits the table.  Even at medium, it was magnificent.  A lightly salty charred crust on the edges and melt in your mouth tenderness beyond that.  I tried a bite or two with the house made Bearnaise and steak sauce. Certainly didn't need any help, but had to try them.  They were outstanding.  I thought about pouring the steak sauce into my coat pocket to take it home with me, but realized I checked my coat with the hostess.  Better planning next time.   

One minor modification (standard offering is 16 ounce filet carved table-side, plus roasted vegetables, and roasted baby redskin potatoes) was to sub loaded baked potatoes for the roasted baby reds.  Vegetables were grilled until just tender with a nice char and seasoning on them. Loaded baked potatoes were fluffy with crispy skin on the outside.  Plenty of butter, sour cream, cheese, etc.  When the waiter asked if he could take my plate, I told him if he didn't I might lick it clean in front of the other guests.   

Still getting used to the cell phone and phone cam...Cake is half gone.

Thankfully, we managed not to go too crazy and saved room for a shared dessert.  We took the option at the top of the dessert menu - caramel soaked chocolate cake.  WOW!  The chocolate cake was so dark, my iPhone cam turned on the flash for the picture.  Unbelievably moist with a light chocolate frosting and rich caramel sauce for a great finish. It was the caramel sauce the really caught my eye in the first place.  So when it is this good, is it heavenly or sinful?                   

The atmosphere was laid back.  The dining room showed some enhancements, but I was thankful they preserved at least some of the feel of the barn's original occupant (another bbq restaurant who shall remain nameless).  The waiters and waitresses were decked out in denim and gingham with old school dark ties and apron.  Our waitress and the rest of the team were always nearby and exceptionally attentive.   

OK.. So for those who know me well... My birthday is coming up next month.. If you are wondering what to get me.. Cameron Mitchell gift card...  (just kidding).  Although I can't wait to get back to The Barn...  I'll be sure to wear my barn coat next time too.... If I get some good feedback on this post, I may share a funny story from my childhood about my barn boots, barn coat...  the talking tree at the old downtown Lazarus... and a calf my family tried to trick me into believing was a dog...  

Familiarization Tour

Since this is my entrance to the blogging universe, I thought it only appropriate to frame the context of my potential future posts.  First and foremost, I am someone who loves to eat.  Since I was a baby, I have been consumed by the enjoyment of food.  Those times when I am not eating, I am always wondering about what to eat next and when.  I suppose it has abated somewhat as I have aged, but not to any great degree.  It has lessened just enough to make room for my number one hobby - cooking.  So I am sure most think, of course if he loves to eat he also loves to cook - for himself.  Surprisingly, a good bit of the food I cook will be consumed entirely by others.  If I am working a tried and true recipe, I may not even taste a sample. 

Though cooking is not my profession, it has certainly become my mission.  I have no formal culinary training.  All that I know I have learned from others.  One or two have been trained professional chefs, but most are folks just like me.  They have a love of food and a desire to serve others.  We all strive to bring the same creativity and passion to the kitchen as anyone who counts it as their vocation.  That is why I used the term "Shade Tree" in my blog title.  I want folks to be aware I am not a trained professional in this area.  Maybe just a semi-pro.  -wink,wink-

The are likely a scant few individuals who really care to read a steady diet of my cooking exploits if I'm not continuously sharing original recipe content and timely tips.  Could start to feel like a bad round of re-runs on cable TV.  So I will also be detailing my adventures at local restaurants.  Of course it will be local establishments around Central Ohio and not national chain restaurants.  It will be a good variety, but not anyplace the only serves vegan fare or raw seafood.  These are two types of food I have never enjoyed.  I am a carnivore to the core. When I come to town, cows start to shiver and chickens and pigs run for cover.  While I enjoy those naughty carbs too, I have been steering more towards just meat and veggies lately.  This doesn't mean I am health-food conscious.  I am "good food" conscious.  I only eat things I enjoy.  If it also happens to be what someone considers healthy, so much the better. Life's too short to eat bad tasting food, no matter how healthy someone says it is.  When I share my dining experiences it will only be with a slightly critical approach.  I will describe in a palatable amount of detail what I enjoyed (or didn't enjoy), but will by no means attempt to sample the entire menu in one visit or evaluate the offerings from every possible angle.  Any comments on atmosphere will be limited.  Price does matter to me.  Which means some of my favorite restaurants aren't necessarily the absolute best, but they are the best at a price I am willing to pay on a regular basis.  I won't travel just to visit restaurants and add reviews to the blog, but if do happen to take a trip I will certainly enjoy the local flavor and share my findings.  I tend to do a good bit of research in advance.  Hopefully, as folks begin to read what I write, I can get some feedback about possible locations when I am in unfamiliar territory.  I like to scout locations online in advance wherever possible.  I check the hours and take a peek at the menus to see if their offerings interest me and if it is convenient to where I will be staying. That last criteria has caused more than a couple of missed opportunities.  Southern California traffic means it must be REALLY CLOSE to where you are staying to be considered remotely convenient. 

I am sure I will add some flavor to my entries by sharing humorous tales along the way.  For instance, the one about the hotel concierge in New Orleans.  I told her it was my first visit to NOLA and I loved good southern-fried chicken.  She said she knew just the place, pulled out a map and spent several minutes providing detailed instructions on how to walk from the hotel to the restaurant.  At the end of these instructions, she drew a circle on the map at the end of the route and said it's called "KFC."  I was shell-shocked.  At least if she had directed me to Popeye's, I would be visiting a local restaurant.  Locals will tell you it is better there than the Popeye's restaurants outside of NOLA.  Rather than argue about it or embarrass her in front of other guests, I took the map, thanked her... And walked across the street to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse.  Hardly just a local restaurant anymore, but Ruth did get her start in NOLA.  Ruth has definitely not lost her touch.  I could've licked the plate clean at the end.  Way better than a long walk to KFC.  No disrespect to the Colonel.  Found out later that Willy May's Scotch House (sp?) was the place to go for fried chicken.  On the list for my next visit to NOLA.

Hopefully, this provides a good amount of context to future entries of this blog.  I'll be visiting The Barn at Rocky Fork Creek tomorrow night for the first time.  I am not a whiskey drinker, so don't expect any bourbon reviews.  I may go crazy and try the filet instead of my favorite cut of beef on the opposite end of the spectrum... strip steak...  Look for details on that tomorrow night...