10 Burgers You Need to Try

November 15, 2018December 5, 2018 - Scott Leave a comment

There’s just something about a burger. The way they sizzle on the grill. That smell that makes you change your dinner plans as it wafts in through your open car window on your way home from work. That first bite, when your teeth meet the slightest bit of resistance on the crust before sinking into that juicy, beefy goodness.

Great, now I’ve made myself hungry. Oh well, occupational hazard here at LRF Headquarters.

In any case, here are ten of the best burgers I’ve had recently. I don’t want to say “Top Ten,” because I’m always finding new ones.

The Juicy Lucy at The Blue Boar (Cobden, IL)

Juicy Lucy burger at The Blue Boar Cobden IL — The Juicy Lucy ($8.99).

I’ve mentioned this one before. A half-pound of ground chuck stuffed with American cheese. This one gets a bit messy, but then again, if you don’t get some on ya, were you really eating a burger? Or, if you prefer Bleu cheese to American, try the Bleu Lou for 50 cents more. (If you don’t know what Bleu cheese is, you’re happier not knowing. Just try it. Trust me.)

Cheddar Bacon BBQ Elk Burger and Cowboy Yak Burger at The Grubsteak (Estes Park, CO)

Elk Burger Grubsteak Estes Park — Cheddar BBQ Bacon Elk Burger. $15.75

Yak Burger Grubsteak Estes Park — Cowboy Yakburger with bacon and a roasted Anaheim Chile. ($16.25) Paired with a Stinger Honey Wheat from Estes Park Brewery ($6.00)

Yes, I’ve mentioned these before too, but anything that reminds me of the Rocky Mountains is worth repeating.

The Grubsteak proves (not that I had any doubt) that a burger doesn’t have to be made of cow to be delicious. They also have burgers made of buffalo and duck. If you’re feeling REALLY adventurous, try the Duck, Duck, Juice (then tell me how it is; I haven’t tried it yet). This is a duck patty glazed in a house made re-duck-tion of orange juice and teriyaki, then topped with caramelized onions.

Re-DUCK-tion. I see what I did there!

via GIPHY

The Grilled Cheese Burger and Mac N Cheese Burger at The Burger Bar (Springfield, IL)

Obviously, I love burgers, because I’m writing about them. I also love a good grilled cheese sandwich. So what do you get when you put them together? This.

Grilled Cheese Burger. Burger Bar Springfield IL — $8.99 with the homemade chips.

Yes friends, why put an 8-ounce cow patty on a bun when you can put it between TWO PEPPER JACK GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICHES?

For that matter, why eat your macaroni and cheese as a side dish when you can just put it RIGHT ON THE BURGER?

Mac 'n' Cheese Burger. Burger Bar Springfield, IL — $9.25. Comes on a nice croissant bun!

These are just two of the 11 specialty burgers on the menu at The Burger Bar, a nondescript joint on the south end of Springfield. If those don’t appeal, build your own burger (single, double or triple) from the menu of 23 toppings, seven sauces, six cheeses and four types of buns.

Honestly, as intriguing as the specialty burgers are, I think I would recommend the build your own option. That way, you can control the flavor better, I think. Besides, how else are you going to get your BBQ Pork and Cole Slaw burger with hot giardiniera, tzatziki sauce and ghost pepper jack cheese on a jumbo English muffin? (I don’t think I want to be around you if you order that, but technically, you could.)

Even if you’re not a burger fan (if you’re not, why are you reading this?), just go for the fun. I went with my wife in February, and the owner was there handing out Valentine’s Day roses to all the ladies. He stopped to chat with everyone at every table. It’s that kind of a place.

Big Sky Burger at Longhorn Steakhouse

OK, let’s get two things straight right off the bat here.

One, yes, this is a chain restaurant. It is perfectly plausible for a chain restaurant to have good food. Longhorn does. It’s OK to say that.

Two, this thing is on the lunch menu. But it shouldn’t be. This is WAY too much food for lunch.

My wife and I have three levels of full. There’s comfortably full, which is just what it sounds like. Then there’s “stuffed,” which is when you eat more than you need to, and you’re probably going to need a nap later, but it was worth it. Then there’s “stupid full.”

Stupid full is “you should have gotten a box 15 minutes ago.” Stupid full is “I’m not going to eat again for three days!” Stupid full is when you cross the line from culinary pleasure to pain. It is a line not meant to be crossed.

The Big Sky Burger pushed me right to the edge of stupid full. Maybe I’ll try it again for dinner sometime, when I’ve had all day not to eat anything else in advance.

Big Sky Burger Longhorn Steakhouse — $14.49 for all this beefiness.

The Big Sky starts with a really good burger. Then they top that with shaved prime rib, Swiss cheese, those crispy onion things, arugula (which if you’ve never had it, tastes like peppery lettuce), and “steakhouse mayo” on a potato bun. It should be eaten slowly. And yes, there is no shame in asking for a box and taking half of it home. Why do you think they give you those big steak knives for a burger?

And as long as we’re talking about chain restaurants. . .

Southern Smokehouse Burger and Queso Burger at Chili’s

Chili’s is known for a lot of things. Health food ain’t one of them. But their Big Mouth Burgers are.

My favorite one on the regular menu is the Southern Smokehouse burger. It comes with bacon, cheddar, pickles, Awesome Blossom petals (again with the crispy onion things), as well as lettuce, tomato and garlic aioli. This burger is served with a side of BBQ sauce.

A note on “aioli.” This is a Food Network-y word that has found its way onto mainstream menus, usually as a burger topping or something to dip your fries in. It’s not as fancy as it sounds. Aioli is basically mayonnaise with garlic.

A new burger that Chili’s has come out with, though, is quickly becoming my favorite there.

Chili's Queso Burger — With a Strawberry Sprite and a side of black beans. I LOVE their black beans!

The queso burger is simple, but awesome. It’s half of a pound of beef wot is ground covered by queso dip, tortilla strips and pico. It’s messy, but oddly not as messy as it sounds (or looks on the menu). The best part? It’s included on Chili’s 3 for $10 menu, which is the best deal going in casual dining right now. A beverage, appetizer and entree all for just $10.

Now a lot of restaurants like this will have some kind of three-course deal like this. Usually, however, it will only include their bottom-of-the-barrel basic menu items. Not Chili’s. They are putting their most popular items on this value menu, I am assuming to get more repeat business. I think it’s working.

Oh, going back to the “stupid full” concept for a minute. Chili’s also has a monstrosity now on their menu called the Boss Burger, which they bill as “the burger all other burgers report to.” On top of an already good-sized burger, they pile brisket, rib meat, jalapeno-cheddar smoked sausage, bacon, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, BBQ sauce AND ranch. That’s ridiculous. I haven’t tried it. I don’t plan to. If you like, get two or three people together to split one and let me know how it was.

The Veggie 21 and Freshman 15 at Bulldog Burger Company (Starkville, MS)

When I go to visit my son and daughter-in-law at Mississippi State University. . .wait a minute. . .WHAT THE #@$% IS A VEGGIE BURGER DOING ON THIS LIST?

Easy folks, I promise it will be OK. We’re not talking Morningstar Farms here. The Veggie 21 is a vegetarian burger that I will totally fight you for.

Veggie 21 Bulldog Burger Starkville Mississippi — $10.95. Try it with a side of sweet potato fries!

I’m not sure exactly what they make the patty out of, but it’s not just a bunch of black beans or tofu squished together and wishing it was meat. It has a flavor all its own that you just have to try to believe. Then top that with provolone, red onion, tomato, Bibb lettuce, sweet potato hay, basil and mayo. It’s almost enough to make you consider vegetarianism. That is, at least until you see. . .

Freshman 15 Bulldog Burger Starkville Mississippi — The Freshman 15. $11.95.

This one will put you under the table, but it’s delicious. That patty on top of the burger patty is a huge slab of mozzarella, coated in panko breadcrumbs and fried. Takes the concept of “cheeseburger” to the next level, doesn’t it? Add Bibb lettuce bacon, tomato and “sassy sauce.” No, I don’t know what’s in the sassy sauce, but it’s pretty tasty.

I’m always on the lookout for a good burger, so you can expect there will probably be an update/sequel to this post at some point in the future. Meanwhile, go GETCHA SOME!

Eatin’ and Drinkin’ in the Land of Lincoln

September 19, 2018June 27, 2020 - Scott Leave a comment

By my count, there are 421 restaurants in the greater Springfield, IL area, though a few of them may have closed while I was counting. Here are four of my favorites.

Little Saigon

Just about every town has some kind of Chinese restaurant, either a buffet or a hole in the wall carryout place. Some are better than others, but they all pretty much taste the same.

I have found that Thai and Vietnamese food is much more interesting. One of the best places to get it around here is Little Saigon on Wabash. It’s not fancy, but oh is it delicious!

One of my favorite drinks to cool off with in the summer is a Thai Iced Tea ($4.95). Imagine a sweet tea with condensed milk added and you’re getting the idea. They also have 20 different flavors of freezes (also $4.95), which you can get with black pearl tapioca at no extra charge.

Thai Iced Tea Little Saigon Springfield Illinois — Thai Iced Tea

Their menu has a wide variety of Thai and Vietnamese dishes, plus a few Chinese standards for the somewhat less adventurous. The Crab Rangoon appetizer is some of the best around.

Little Saigon has 11 different soups, including variations Hu Tieu (a clear bean noodle), Mi (egg noodle) and Pho (rice noodle). If you really want an authentic pho experience, try the Pho Saigon ($9.95). The roast beef, meatballs, onions and cilantro are recognizable enough, but there are other cow parts involved that I could not quite identify. Definitely an Andrew Zimmern moment for a Midwestern white guy such as myself.

via GIPHY

Let me pause for a moment and address the word “authentic.” I’ve never been to Vietnam. Or Thailand. Or India (more on that in a minute). I really have no way of knowing if the pho I’m eating in Springfield, IL tastes the same as what you would find the locals eating in Southeast Asia. So when I say “authentic,” I am judging by how many people eating in the restaurant look like the people working in the restaurant. Or if they are speaking a language native to the ethnicity of the food being served. If it’s home cooking to them, then as far as I am concerned, it’s authentic.

Now back to this menu. As is common in East Asian restaurants, some of the entrees have a picture of a chile next to them, indicating that these are spicy dishes. Some Thai and Vietnamese restaurants are known for really cranking up the heat. Little Saigon is not one of those. Depending on who’s in the kitchen, you might get a little more curry on some days than others, but there’s nothing really outlandish. You can always ask them to dial it down too. They will make any dish just the way you want it.

Curry Noodle Little Saigon Springfield Illinois — Curry Noodle ($9.95) Normally comes with onion and green onion, but my wife doesn’t like onions.

Curry Fried Rice Little Saigon Springfield Illinois — Curry Fried Rice. This one has chicken, but you can order it with any meat that you want. **LRF PRO TIP:** If you order something other than a fried rice dish, get a side of fried rice for only $3 extra. You’ll be very glad you did.

Gateway to India

I have been a fan of Indian food for quite some time. I like to try things that are different, and from my point of view, Indian is about as different as it gets. The colors, fragrances and spice combinations are unlike anything else I have ever encountered.

I have yet to meet an Indian restaurant that I haven’t liked (St. Louis has some REALLY good ones), but the one that started it all for me is Gateway to India on Chatham Road just south of Wabash.

I must confess; I have never actually ordered off the menu here. The first time I came was for the Sunday lunch buffet, so I could try a little bit of everything. And that’s all I’ve ever done since. I guess I just don’t want to limit myself to one thing.

Before I even get to the food, I want to mention the service. My wife and I eat out a lot (probably more than we should). As a result, there are several places in the area where we definitely qualify as regulars. There’s just something about being known in a place when you walk in. It makes a restaurant feel like an extension of your home, or at least the home of a family member you enjoy visiting. I love that. My wife is sick of hearing me say how much I love that.

So how cool is it then, when you can walk into a place where the people look nothing like you, have a different primary language, cook food that’s like nothing anyone in your family tree would have ever made, and you STILL feel like you’re at your sister’s place? Where they know your drink order, and your favorite table? Where they notice if one of your family members didn’t come this time, and ask how they’re doing? Where they know what your favorite menu item is, and make it special for you if it’s not on the buffet that day—before you even ask—even if it’s been two months since you were there last?

That’s what we get at Gateway to India. Every single time. The Patel’s absolutely spoil us. It’s the best!

So what’s good at Gateway? Honestly, I recommend you go for a lunch buffet and just try everything. This cuisine, as I said, is so different from anything else you’ll eat, that you probably ought to sample until you find something you like.

Some of this food can get really spicy though (again, it depends on who’s in the kitchen that day). So if hot is not your thing, here are some relatively safe bets:

Naan—a buttery, fried bread, kind of like a pita. This goes with everything. In fact, I have seen several Indian customers use it as a utensil. It’s certainly good for mopping up sauces.
Tandoori Chicken—smoky leg quarters cooked with onions and peppers and gosh knows what else. Very craveable.
Vegetable Korma—a vegetarian dish in a bright yellow sauce. I think coconut milk is involved. Quite mild.
Chicken Makhani—this one can scooch up to medium heat some days, but it’s a good entry-level Indian dish. The red sauce has a creamy, nutty flavor. People I have taken to Gateway that weren’t fans overall usually still like this.

Gateway to India Springfield Illinois — (Clockwise from top left) Naan, Chicken Makhani, Saag Paneer (spinach and homemade cheese over Jeera, which is lightly spiced Basmati rice)

Pie’s the Limit

Pie’s the Limit has an absolutely genius concept. They take the build-your-own system used by sandwich shops and fast-casual Mexican restaurants like Chipotle and Qdoba and apply it to pizza. For $8.99, you can custom design your own 11-inch pizza with ANY combination of seven sauces, eight cheeses, nine meats and/or 16 veggies. Anything you want, and as much of it as you want for the same price. The Pie’s the Limit! (See what they did there?)

Our go-to used to be the one on Freedom Drive off of Lindbergh because it was the closest to us. However, this location has unfortunately become a COVID casualty. There is another location closer to downtown on MacArthur, and now there’s even one in Champaign!

With a 750-degree revolving deck oven, your pizza is usually ready in about five minutes. They stay busy, but they also move things along. There’s usually a fairly steady stream of people coming in, but I’ve never had to wait for a table.

It’s hard to make specific recommendations in a place like this, since you are essentially designing your meal yourself. I’m not even about to try to do the math to figure out how many potential combinations of ingredients there are. Suffice it to say you’ll never run out of options. Here are a few we’ve tried:

Pie's the Limit Springfield Illinois — Chicken and Spinach with Cheddar Jack Cheese and Spicy Sriracha Marinara.

Bella Milano

A lot of people think that because I’m Italian on my mother’s side that I would be an Italian food snob. That’s actually not the case. I’ll eat at Olive Garden. Or the Spaghetti Shop. Or a Lean Cuisine chicken Alfredo fresh out the microwave. I don’t care. With my family background, Italian food isn’t ethnic to me. It’s just food.

That having been said though, I really do appreciate places that do it well. Around these parts, the legendary place to go for Italian food is The Hill in St. Louis, a small neighborhood that was settled by northern Italians in the late 19th century and stayed that way. Lots of family-owned restaurants on The Hill, from casual to fine dining, but they all have a certain distinct flavor that is immediately recognizable to anyone who has ever been there.

One of the best tastes reminiscent of The Hill in Springfield is Bella Milano on far West Wabash. They started about 15 years ago in Edwardsville, on the Illinois side of the Mississippi. From the toasted ravioli to the Milano salad with provel cheese and crispy prosciutto, Bella Milano definitely brings the St. Louis vibe to Springfield.

At Bella Milano, you can go family style starting at $35 with a salad for four and two pizzas or entrees to share. Or you can order off the menu. There’s always a special or three as well, so make sure to ask about that.

LRF Pro tip—the dinner prices are significantly higher than the lunch prices. HOWEVER, if you go to lunch on Sunday, you get the lunch price, not the dinner price as is common in most establishments. Needless to say, we go on Sunday a lot. Going tomorrow in fact.

Lots to enjoy on this menu. I recommend just about anything labeled as Bella Signature, particularly the Tortellini, the Spaghetti Carbonara and the Pasta Three Way (pictured below).

Bella Milano Pasta Three Way Springfield Illinois — Spaghetti, ravioli and penne in meat sauce, topped with lots of provel cheese and a meatball, and baked. $13.99 on the lunch menu.

Hungry yet? My work here is done. Now go GETCHA SOME!

Eight (or so) of My Favorite Breakfasts

August 17, 2018September 19, 2021 - Scott Leave a comment

They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I’m not sure who “they” are, but they sure say a lot of things, don’t they?

In any case, here at LRF Headquarters, breakfast is usually two cups of coffee.

Low-Rent Foodie Headquarters — Having kids in the food service industry does wonders for your decor.

Lately, I have been favoring Blonde Espresso or Guatemala Huehuetanango from Redbud Coffee.

Now this liquid breakfast may be enough to jump start a workday, or get me through third service at church, but at some point, some actual food needs to enter the equation. For this reason, I am a big fan of Sunday brunch.

So when exactly does breakfast end and brunch begin? I don’t know that it matters, really. I’ve seen brunch start as early as 10AM and breakfast served all day. I’m not as concerned with when it’s served as much as who’s serving it.

via GIPHY

A favorite here in Springfield, IL is D’Arcy’s Pint. They are known far and wide for their specialty horseshoes, and their long lines if you don’t time your arrival just right. For the longest time, they weren’t open on Sunday either, but then they started serving brunch.

Combine brunch with specialty horseshoes, and you get the Irish Breakfast Shoe.

This non-menu item was most noteworthy to me for having two kinds of bacon—American and Irish Rashers (which taste a lot like Canadian bacon, if you’ve never had them).

Canadian bacon is an ingredient in one of my favorite breakfast/brunch items, Eggs Benedict. A traditional Benedict is two poached eggs and Canadian bacon served on an English muffin topped with Hollandaise Sauce. This is tasty enough, but why stop at traditional?

The Yankee Clipper Diner in Beacon, New York, serves up five different kinds of Benedicts. My favorite there is the Copenhagen Benedict.

Yankee Clipper Beacon New York — The Copenhagen Benedict substitutes corned beef hash for the Canadian bacon.

My daughter’s favorite at the Yankee Clipper is the Nutella Banana French Toast.

I would say, though, that my favorite variation of Eggs Benedict is the Crab Cake Benedict. Crab cakes are awesome on their own, but get that poached egg yolk running through them with the lemony tang of a good hollandaise, and that’s some next-level breakfast right there. The first time I ever had this was at Ann Sather’s in Chicago. A Crab Cake Benedict plus a cinnamon roll the size of your face makes for great fuel before a day game at Wrigley Field.

Another great variation of Crab Cake Benedict is served up at Kitty’s Kafe in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Kitty's Kafe Gulf Shores Alabama — $8.99 for 1 egg, $11.99 for 2. With some cheesy grits on the side, because Alabama.

There are so many awesome places to eat in Gulf Shores, that’s going to have to be its own post.

As it turns out though, I don’t have to go to the beach or Wrigleyville for my Crab Cake Benedict fix. They have them right up the road at the Chatham Cafe, which is getting to be one of my favorite places to go for breakfast. Since it’s easy walking distance from where I drop my car off to get it worked on, I have had occasion to try several of their offerings while I wait. I’ve already mentioned the breakfast horseshoes. My new go-to is the Breakfast Burrito, pictured at the top of this post. Two eggs, chorizo (not too salty or greasy), onions, peppers and cheddar cheese wrapped up and served with hash browns for $8.29.

While we’re on the subject of local diners, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Sunrise Cafe on South 2nd Street in Springfield.

One of my happiest days was when the indoor smoking ban was enacted in Illinois. Before that, you couldn’t walk three steps into the Sunrise without dying from smoke inhalation. I am so grateful that this is no longer the case.

The Sunrise is known for arguably the best cheeseburgers in Springfield, but their breakfast is no slouch either. My favorite is the Sunrise Country Breakfast, which is two eggs, a 6-ounce smoked pork chop, potatoes and biscuit & gravy for $7.25.

Sunrise Cafe Springfield Illinois — $8.50 if you add a chop. I added a chop. Some pretty tasty pancackes too!

Eating out for breakfast is a family tradition for long road trips. We’ll leave stupid early, get down the road a ways, and then find a place to eat. Our one rule is that we never eat anywhere that we have at home. And my personal, unofficial rule is to avoid nasty hotel food whenever possible.

One year ago this week, we moved my middle son down to Florida. We had a great breakfast going down, and another coming back.

A fantastic diner with tasty food, friendly service and great prices as well is the Cozy Table in Benton, Illinois, just off I-57. This is the Country Omelet.

It is FOUR eggs and sausage with hash browns and a half order of B&G for only $6.19!

For an off the charts brunch experience, though, I recommend Oy! In Atlanta, Georgia.

Walk through the front doors and be overcome by a tangible wave of bacon aroma (apparently, despite the Yiddish-sounding name, it’s not a kosher restaurant).

“OY” stands for “Overindulgent Yumminess,” but it’s also what you’ll say as you waddle out after stuffing yourself with their decadent Challah French Toast Casserole, smothered with syrup and caramel sauce. Or the Challah Egg and Cheese Soufflé.

Challah Egg and Cheese Souffle Oy Atlanta — $8.99 for small, or $12.99 for regular, pictured here. Small is enough. Regular is suicide.

Their Monster Pancakes are 14 inches across (the size of a large pizza, if you’re keeping track). They come in six different flavors, plus the Pancake of the Day. For $10.99, you can even get one of these stuffed with bacon.

via GIPHY

Going out for breakfast is great, but sometimes, I just want to sit at my own dining room table with my family and have breakfast for dinner.

Hungry now? I hope so. So go GETCHA SOME!

LRF Rocks the Rockies: Part 5–Trail Ridge Road

July 13, 2018September 2, 2018 - Scott Leave a comment

OK, so all this talk about driving and dining in the Rockies, and I haven’t even mentioned Rocky Mountain National Park yet. Estes Park, as I mentioned, is the eastern gate to the RMNP. The western gate is at Grand Lake. Between those two towns is 48 miles of twisty, winding heaven on earth known as the Trail Ridge Road. If you are in the area in the summertime, or early fall (to about mid-October), you MUST take this drive.

The Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous highway in America, peaking out at 12,183 feet in elevation, a good 200 meters above the tree line. The drive takes about three hours, and you WILL want to stop and take some pictures.

Or, if you’re REALLY adventurous, around July 1, the Old Fall River Road opens up. This was the first motor route into the park, before there was a Trail Ridge Road.

The Old Fall River Road is 11 miles of switchbacks and steep climbs, on a one-lane dirt track, with no guardrails. Kind of looks like this.

Old Fall River Road Rocky Mountain National Park — You REALLY don’t want to be in a hurry on this road. For several reasons.

Also, it’s a one-way road up to Fall River Pass at 11,796 feet. So once you start, there’s no chickening out and going back. You are committed to finishing this journey. (On the bright side, there’s no oncoming traffic.)

Now let’s be real here. Some of us are afraid of heights. Some of us, to be more specific, are afraid of falling from them. To some of us, the mere thought of taking either of these drives is panic-inducing. Let me give you a couple of tips to help you rest easy:

Obey ALL posted speed limits. Down here in the flatlands, speed limit signs are frequently viewed as suggestions. 65 means 72, 70 means 78, etc. In mountain driving, speed limits are literal. 40 means 40. 20 means 20. On the Old Fall River Road, 15 means 15. All the way up. If you stay within the posted limits, you will be fine. I promise.
Don’t be a dumb@$$. I suppose this is a good tip in any area of life, but particularly in mountain driving. Don’t try to drive an RV, or church van, or heavy-duty extended cab pick-em-up truck up the Old Fall River Road. There’s nowhere to turn around, and precious few places to do a three-point turn. Don’t coast on a downslope of Trail Ridge Road to see how fast you can go without touching the gas pedal. Don’t take pictures of the elk herd while your car is still in motion. And for #@&*’$ sake DON’T TEXT! There’s no cell signal up there anyway.

If you follow these two simple guides, you will be treated to sights you just won’t see anywhere else. Sights like this:

Yellow Bellied marmot Old Fall River Road Rocky Mountain National Park — Yellow-bellied marmots are usually found at elevations of near 10,000 feet. The Old Fall River Road had just opened for the season when we took this pic, so this little guy hadn’t seen a car for a long time. It didn’t occur to him to get out of the way.

Chasm Falls Old Fall River Road Rocky Mountain National Park — Chasm Falls. This is just off the road. The thing about waterfall shots in Colorado is that if you walk just 10 more steps down the path, you get a completely different view. Every time.

Avalanche debris Old Fall River Road Rocky Mountain National Park — Avalanches are certainly still a thing up here. This one must have been a doozy!

Estes Park from Old Fall River Road Rocky Mountain National Park — If you look closely, you can see Estes Park WAY down there!

The Old Fall River Road ends at the back door to the Alpine Visitor Center on the aforementioned Trail Ridge Road.

Alpine Visitor Center from Old Fall River Road Rocky Mountain National Park — Almost there!

At that point, you will probably want to unpeel your white knuckles from the steering wheel and chill for a bit. I recommend that, as there is quite a bit to see at this visitor’s center which, as you might have guessed, is the highest in the nation. Then, you can take the Trail Ridge Road the rest of the way down to Grand Lake. (Bonus about mountain driving in a hybrid—you use virtually NO gas on the way down. We maxed out the mileage meter at least three times on this trip).

Mountain Mileage in Toyota Camry Hybrid — Gas? What gas?

Another pro tip: start this trip early on a Saturday morning. First of all, you’ll miss the early-afternoon showers that are common in the mountains, which will greatly enhance your high-elevation views. Also, you’ll arrive in Grand Lake just in time for the brunch buffet at the Fat Cat Cafe!

Fat Cat Cafe Grand Lake Colorado — Food and cats. What’s not to like?

First of all Grand Lake is NOTHING like Estes Park. Where Estes Park is tourist central, Grand Lake still looks like part of the old west. It does still draw a bit of a crowd though, so you may have to wait a bit for a table at the Fat Cat Cafe. No problem though—just help yourself to some coffee and a cinnamon roll while you wait outside on the boardwalk.

Miss Sally serves up a hearty brunch with all kinds of egg, sausage and potato dishes, as well as a plethora of fresh baked goods (save room for pie, because . . . you know . . . you need pie).

My favorite item of this meal was the huevos rancheros. Apparently, this is how they’re supposed to be. If you order huevos rancheros here in Illinois, you’ll typically get some scrambled eggs with some chorizo, maybe some green peppers, and salsa and sour cream on the side.

Oh, no no no. This was SO much better.

The huevos rancheros at the Fat Cat Cafe was more like a lasagna, with layers of egg, chorizo, fried potato, corn tortillas and cheese, baked like a casserole, and covered in, you guessed it, green chili. I think I had three helpings just of that.

So if you find yourself vacationing in Estes Park (hopefully not on the 4th of July—DANG but it’s crowded on the 4th!), suck up your acrophobia, take the drive to Grand Lake and GETCHA SOME!

But be careful with that green chili. Seriously.

LRF Rocks the Rockies: Part 4–Fort Collins

July 11, 2018July 11, 2018 - Scott Leave a comment

I have mentioned the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway in a previous post. Here is another day trip from Estes Park that I recommend. Come back down through the Big Thompson Canyon and hang a left on Rt. 287 in Loveland to get to the college town of Fort Collins.

If you love your craft beer (and boy do I), this is the place to go. Rocky Mountain snowmelt into the Cache la Poudre River provides the main ingredient for the product of 20-odd craft breweries. Some you may have heard of, such as New Belgium Brewing Co. (home of Fat Tire, among others), some you may not, like Funkwerks, Black Bottle and Horse & Dragon.

Since many of these breweries are within walking (or staggering) distance of each other, you might want to consider a brewery tour. I would recommend a guided tour though, unless you’re REALLY good with directions. I am convinced that whoever laid out Old Town had been on a few too many brewery tours himself. I like to think I’m handy with a map, but DANG! At least if you get yourself lost (not that this happened to me, except that it . . . might . . . have . . . happened to me), it’s a gorgeous town to get lost in.

Old Town Fort Collins Colorado — Kids playing in the street fountain in Old Town.

Flowers and brightly painted murals everywhere you look.

Alley Fort Collins Colorado — Every shortcut alley we took to get back to our car looked at LEAST this nice. Oh yes, and bikes everywhere. It amazed me how many people we saw on bikes in the mountains when people in Illinois will drive around the corner.

Plus, there are random, artistically-enhanced pianos scattered all over town that you can just sit down and play. (The more breweries you’ve hit, the better you sound!)

Fort Collins Colorado street piano — These must be a bear to keep in tune. Of course, it is a LOT dryer in Colorado.

But if you’d rather take a brewery tour without the frustration of getting misdirected, might I suggest Beau Jo’s Colorado Style Pizza? Beau Jo’s is a Colorado chain with half a dozen locations that is famous for Mountain Pies. Which look like this.

Beau Jo's Mountain Pie Fort Collins Colorado — (Front) Skier Mike’s, which is canadian bacon, chicken and green peppers on honey white crust. (Rear) Hamburger and Pepperoni on honey wheat crust. Both $12.50.

These are smalls. They only weigh ONE pound. An extra-large is FIVE pounds. You’d need a whole vanload of Low-Rent Foodies to tackle one of those bad boys.

Beau Jo’s pizza also comes in a Prairie Pie size crust, but what fun is that? Go big or go back to the cabin. The crust comes in honey white or honey wheat. (Note for the non-gluten folk—almost everything on the menu can be made gluten free for an additional charge). I recommend the honey wheat, which is delicious in its own right, but dip it in the honey that they keep on the table, and you’ll wonder why more pizza places don’t do this.

There are a mind-boggling number of choices for customizing your pizza. Beau Jo’s offers 11 different sauces, 15 meats, 18 vegetables and 10 different types of cheese to top your mountain pie. There are also three tiers of specialty pizzas, such as the Sky Hawk (pepperoni, Hatch green chiles, mozzarella and feta cheese); the Cajun (andouille sausage, pepperoni, onions, jalapenos, cheddar and provolone cheeses); and the Motherlode (salami, pepperoni, meatballs, bacon, Italian sausage, ham and mozzarella), to name just a few. (Note: the meatballs are NOT gluten-free.)

And of course, you have to have something to wash it down with, right? Did I mention that Fort Collins has a few beers?

Beers at Beau Jo's Fort Collins Colorado — Thirsty?

I love it when places with a large beer selection offer “flights” (those samplers with small glasses of several different kinds of beers). This way, you can try several different beers without getting too hammered to find your way home (or getting stuck with a whole pint of something you don’t like). At Beau Jo’s, you can go first class, or coach. Here’s a coach:

Coach Flight Beau Jo's Pizza Fort Collins Colorado — Clockwise from front (I think): New Belgium Citradelic, WeldWerks Hefeweizen, Odell 90 Shilling, Black Bottle Tropical Depression, Sam Adams Summer Ale

There are still a lot of Fort Collins beers that I haven’t tried yet, but my favorite so far is the Sad Panda Coffee Stout from Horse & Dragon Brewing Co. I don’t know why the panda is sad, but it made me happy!

So if you find yourself in Fort Collins (or Evergreen, Idaho Springs, Arvada, Steamboat Springs or Longmont), GETCHA SOME! (Before you do that, though, click on the pic below for a special deal on a gift card!)

LRF Rocks the Rockies: Part 3–More Estes Park

July 8, 2018July 11, 2018 - Scott Leave a comment

Usually you don’t put “light” and “buffet” in the same sentence, but that is what you get at the Baldpate Inn on Fish Creek Road south of Estes Park.

Baldpate Inn entrance, with view of Estes Park down in the valley.

The Baldpate is a historic B&B/restaurant that sits about 9000 feet up the side of Twin Sisters Mountain. The inn was named after the mystery novel “Seven Keys to Baldpate,” in which each of seven visitors thinks he or she has the only key to the inn. I haven’t read that book, but apparently, down through the years, a tradition has developed where visitors will bring a key when they stay at the Baldpate. As a result, the inn now boasts a collection of over 20,000 keys, which they keep on display in, where else, the Key Room.

They are also known locally for their soup and salad buffet. The salad bar is actually an old bathtub.

Baldpate Inn Salad Bar — Clean eating indeed!

Soup and salad doesn’t sound like a lot of food, especially at $16.50 a head, but between the choice of two hearty soups (we had chicken noodle and an EXCELLENT buffalo stew), fresh desserts and LOTS of homemade bread, you’ll get plenty.

When you’re finished eating, take your time to stroll around the grounds or lounge on the porch. If you go over by the hummingbird feeders, you’ll be treated to one of my favorite sounds in Colorado (second only to waterfalls). Where I come from, hummingbirds buzz like giant bugs and make me nervous. Here in Colorado, they whistle. Give a listen to this:

That’s the sound I woke up to every morning on the deck of our cabin on the Big Thompson River.

Need a warmup for the mountain hiking you’re going to do later? How about a little street hiking in downtown Estes Park? Many of the shops along the south side of Elkhorn Ave. are also accessible from the rear along the Riverwalk, which is essentially one long park stretching about a half mile from the Visitor’s Center to George Hix Riverside Plaza, where the Fall River meets the Big Thompson.

If you like ice cream, there’s somewhere to get it roughly every 200 yards in any direction in Estes Park. Another fun place for refreshment is Rocket Fizz, a shop that specializes in unusual and retro sodas. Grab one out of the cooler and enjoy it at a table out back along the riverfront.

Rocket Fizz Estes Park Colorado — A Black Cherry for the wife, and I’m going full Harry Potter with a Flying Cauldron Butterbeer.

If you find yourself still puttering around downtown when dinnertime rolls around, check out the Grubsteak.

The Grubsteak Estes Park Colorado — Betcha they got some MEAT up in here!

This pub is known for burgers, some of which trend to the unusual side. Elk burgers aren’t that weird, considering you are in the Rockies, which are teeming with elk. But have you ever tried a yak burger? If not, you need to. A slightly milder flavor than beef, but SO juicy!

If you’re wanting to get away from the tourist-packed downtown area, another place I recommend is Sweet Basilico for Italian.

Seafood Alfredo Sweet Basilico Estes Park — Seafood Alfredo with jumbo shrimp, bay shrimp, scallops and crab. $22

Shrimp Diavolo Sweet Basilico Estes Park — Shrimp Diavolo, with scallops and LOTS of red peppers. $20

Or if you’re in the mood for some BBQ, try Smokin Dave’s.

Smokin Dave's BBQ and Taphouse Estes Park Colorado — Dave’s Double Platter ($16.95) with brisket and ribs, accompanied by red beans & rice, smashed potatoes and a Rock Cut Pils ($6). There may or may not have also been a bowl of green chili involved.

They have two locations. We ate at the one on Estes Park Golf Course, which has an awesome view of Long’s Peak.

Longs Peak Rocky Mountain National Park — Longs Peak (elev. 14,259) from the Estes Park Golf Course.

I also recommend the roasted chicken, pulled pork and green beans at Smokin Dave’s. So go getcha some, and then come back for Parts 4 and 5, where we’ll talk about some day trips.

LRF Rocks the Rockies: Part 2–Estes Park

July 7, 2018July 11, 2018 - Scott Leave a comment

Our base camp for this Colorado trip was Estes Park, the eastern gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park.

Estes Park, Colorado — Entering Estes Park from the east.

Now if you are from a lower elevation, you’re going to want to hang out in town for a couple of days to get acclimated to the altitude before you go up higher into the mountains. Therefore, a grocery run might be in order while you’re waiting. I mentioned in my post on donuts that Estes Park has what is quite possibly the busiest Safeway grocery store in the country, at least during the summer peak months. Pro tip: go early, like 7 AM at the latest.

If you’d rather just sit and be served, though, here are a couple of good breakfast options. Just down the hill from the Safeway is The Egg and I, a Colorado chain specializing in breakfast, brunch, and lunch. My favorite item is the Mexican Omelette, stuffed with chorizo, green chiles, onions and cheese, and topped with the pork green chili I love so well (they spell it with an “I” on the end here instead of an “e.”).

Mexican Omelette from The Egg and I — Served with a tortilla and seasoned ranch potatoes.

You Need Pie!

Another local favorite for breakfast is the Estes Park Pie Shop, Bakery and Diner. That’s its official name, but it is usually referred to by its slogan, emblazoned on the banner outside: “You Need Pie!” They have everything from blue-plate specials to a Build Your Own Breakfast Burrito. Pro tip: tell your server “An egg would be perfection,” and they’ll add an extra egg to your order.

But of course, the not-so-subliminal message that lured you here in the first place was that you needed pie. They have some of that. 38 different flavors, to be precise. They cut their pies into six slices, not eight, so when you order pie, you’re getting a BIG ole slice!

But if that’s not enough of a sugar bomb for you, then you can do what I did and order a Pie Shake. This is exactly what it sounds like. They make you a milkshake and blend an entire piece of pie into it.

Pie Shake at You Need Pie — Half of my wife’s Caramel Apple Pie (center)–$4.75. My pie shake on the right–$7.00. There’s more in the container on the left. You can make one with any flavor of pie.

So a couple of days later, when you feel like eating again, maybe you’ll decide that a lighter lunch might be in order? Come back next time for more Yums from Estes Park!