Saturday, October 12, 2013

Creekside Pub and Brewery



Written by Leann Pettit
We came across Creekside Pub and Brewery in Regina driving back into town from the east on the Trans-Canada Highway. From the road, it looked like a local gem and the online menu definitely grabbed our attention with the variety of entrees and house made items.

We were surprised that there is no hostess and diners seat themselves. On a nice night (and especially after a Riders game), it can be very difficult to find a table. Definitely check the second floor and around the bar. We got very (very, very) lucky and found a table on the deck outside and were able to enjoy a lovely early fall evening in Regina.

We ordered the bison burger, a bison patty topped with cheddar cheese and served with fries (or soup, tossed salad, caesar salad, or "lagers" - more on these later). The fries were addicting and the burger was good (nothing to write home about, really).

We also ordered the Pig and Fowl, a chicken breast and a pig "wing" - a marinated pork tenderloin. Both were delicious, the chicken was moist and the pig "wing" was good, shaped like a chicken wing.

We also ordered a side of the house made "lagers" - which are potatoes soaked in beer and then fried. They are the texture and crispiness of potato chips, with a nice hoppy finish, a perfect accompaniment to your meal, or order them as an appetizer to share while hanging out and drinking a few beers.

Friday, October 11, 2013

Smokin' Guns




Written by Leann Pettit
Smokin' Guns, an unassuming, but amazingly delicious, barbecue joint has very fast service, friendly wait staff and very tasty food.

We ordered the "Triple D Platter" - which included turkey, brisket and burnt ends and is served with two sides (we ordered the mac and cheese bites and the potato casserole).

On the tables, Smokin' Guns provided their original house sauce, a spicy sauce (the spiciest of the spicy sauces we tasted in town) and a dry rub.

The turkey was very moist, but a little on the bland side, however, was delicious in the dry rub, which  brought out the turkey's smoky flavor.

The burnt ends were dark, incredibly moist without being overly fatty. They were delicious on their own, but also tasty in both sauces and dipped in the dry rub. The burnt ends at Smokin' Guns were the best we tried in Kansas City.

The brisket was on the drier side, I wouldn't order it again.

All of the meat at Smokin' Guns was served dry and diners could add their own sauce. The restaurant is also very well lit with lots of seating.

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Jack Stack Barbecue




Jack Stack BBQ, with four locations around Kansas City, serves a varied barbecue menu with a high class restaurant feel, while also serving other specialities, such as shrimp, burgers, salads and more.

We ordered the sampler platter, which came with chicken, burnt ends, baby back ribs and polish sausage. The platter is served with coleslaw and fries, however, we opted to switch the fries for the cheesy potato casserole.

Our server brought us extra sauce, both the house classic sauce and their spicy sauce. We were also offered a "hot" sauce, which we decided not to try.

The chicken was moist and served on the bone - a half breast and a wing. It was a lot of meat on our chicken. The sausage was pretty typical of sausage, but the meat's flavor definitely got a pop with the spicy sauce.

The ribs, which were just short of a half rack, were meaty and the meat was very tender, with a nice, chewy bark which was a nice texture contrast to the moist meat of the ribs.

The burnt ends had a very nice smoke ring and were very moist, however, a little fatty compared to Jack Stack's neighboring BBQ joints. The burnt ends were very tasty all on their own, a perfect combination of beef and smokiness, but were also delicious in both the classic sauce and the spicy sauce.

For dessert, we tried the carrot cake, as it was highly recommended. The cake, a warm cake with a comforting flavor of cinnamon and nutmeg is topped with a warm cream cheese frosting and walnuts. While the cake doesn't look intimidating, it is very large and should definitely be shared.

Jack Stack serves very large portions, and the combination plate was the perfect amount for two people to share.

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Ironbound (Newark, NJ)


Written by Leann Pettit
Located inside the Renaissance Newark Airport hotel is Ironbound. The restaurant, partially attached to the hotel's bar, serves American fare, and very large portions.

We ordered the Fettucini, which is made with pesto and served with grilled chicken, mozzarella and tomatoes. The dish was very delicate and light, a nice meal pre-flight.

We also ordered the Roast Beef Melt, with American cheese instead of the swiss. The sandwich was much larger than expected, and definitely request more napkins from your waiter, you're going to need them, The sandwich is juicy and decadent, savory and rich and a whole lot of messy.

Monday, October 7, 2013

The Lucky Well



Written by Leann Pettit
Former Food Network Star, Chad Rosenthal's much anticipated new restaurant, The Lucky Well, opened for dinner in Ambler at the end of September.

I had the pleasure to experience Ambler's newest dining establishment during a preview night held the Saturday before opening.

The menu, definitely has a slant towards barbecue, offering St. Louis style pork ribs, beef brisket, chicken and sausage, also has offerings of salads, seafood, appetizers, soup and more.

The two of us dining together opted to try Rosenthal's barbecue and ordered the pork ribs and the brisket, as well as ordered three sides: mac and cheese, slaw and cornbread.

The meats are served in full and half orders. We ordered half orders of each meat, which was still a lot of meat for two people.

Ribs, which can be dry at other barbecue places, were moist, with a lot of meat on them and the sauce was "finger-lickin" good, smoky and a perfect compliment to the ribs.

The beef brisket, which is served sliced, and topped with the same house sauce as the ribs, was expertly cooked - juicy and tender - and barely needed a knife to cut it up.

The sides were also perfect pairings for the barbecue. The cornbread was dense and sweet. Our server, Skyler, told us the secret ingredients are burnt honey and jalapeƱos. The slaw had a nice spice and heat, while provide that freshness and crunch to balance out the meatiness of the barbecue.

Overall, our meal was delicious, and very huge. The Lucky Well also offers a full dessert menu and a full bar menu, with a large craft beer list on draft and in bottles.

The ambiance of the restaurant is very light, airy and classy. I have been to many, many barbecue joints around the country, and The Lucky Well has a feels much brighter inside while you're dining. The decorations are very crisp - black and white photos of farms, farm equipment, and animals - and, in the corner behind the bar is the wooden sign that hung outside Rosey's BBQ in Ambler.


The Lucky Well opens for dinner on Monday at 5 p.m., reservations can be made on OpenTable. Learn more about The Lucky Well on their website.