Archive for the ‘Cheesy Goodness’ Category
It’s your lucky week folks…Because I was on vacation last week and unable to get a post out, this week you get to read up on two of pop culture’s culinary treasures. And not only is there a double dose of PCC this week, but this next spot is straight from our very last whirlwind culinary adventure to and from Central Florida.
Knowing that we would be driving to Orlando, we figured it would be a great opportunity to incorporate some PCC worthy stops along the way. So we studied our route and realized that we would be driving through Cincinnati right around lunch time on our first day, and if you lived in our household, you would know that Cincinnati holds something near and dear to Adam’s heart…chili! But this ain’t your ordinary ol’ chili…no-no. This is Cincinnati chili, which is a VERY different concoction. Not only does it differ in texture from a lot of chili out there, but it also has dramatically different tastes and is served in a unique way. Standard Cincinnati chili has a variety of spices that are common to other chili recipes, but there are also a few key ingredients that truly change the flavor. Although the exact amounts and types of ingredients are typically kept secret by the variety of restaurants that serve it, cinnamon and chocolate are well known key players. So to those of you who haven’t tried it, don’t go in thinking it is going to taste like “chili,” or you will be disappointed, because Cincinnati-chili just has such a different and amazing flavor. The other thing that makes this chili stand apart is that it is most often served in a certain “way”…2-way, 3-way, 4-way, etc. If you are unfamiliar, let me explain. This chili is most often served over spaghetti, making it a 2-way. Then a variety of ingredients can be added from beans to onions and most famously cheese. A 3-way of chili, spaghetti, and cheese seems to be the most popular with the 4-way’s addition of onions coming in at a close second. Coneys are also another very popular way to consume the chili…basically just an ultra flavorable and cheesy chili cheese dog.
Now Adam isn’t the only one who enjoys this dish in our family…I am a fan too thanks to my upbringing. My father is from Cincinnati and grew up eating it on a fairly regular basis. He actually even took my mom there when they first met to see if she liked it and would thus be a “keeper” :). Thus, I also grew up eating it on all of our visits back to my dad’s hometown, although I’m not sure I am quite as big of a fan as he is…at least I wasn’t. 😉
Growing up I had only ever heard of Skyline Chili.., a Cincinnati favorite and staple around the city, and what my dad lived off late nights in college. Naturally when we would go back to visit, Skyline would be where we would stop. Adam too had frequented the chain, having traveled a lot for work before he met me and had fallen in love with the stuff. Lucky for us, you can buy cans of it at Kroger, and if I happen to be out of town you know what will be cooking at the Davis house. 🙂
That being said, I have to admit that I was not very open to trying other Cincinnati chili places. However, when we saw the following clip on Food Network’s “Diner’s, Drive-ins, and Dives,” I knew I might have spoken to soon…
Looks good don’t it? This clip introduced us to Blue Ash Chili. Opened in 1969, they have been serving their famous though well-guarded Greek-style family made chili recipe to hungry locals non-stop (only two people know the recipe…the owners…and it was only passed down from owner to owner). During our visit, we had the privilege of meeting Charlene, who now owns the popular restaurant with her husband. She explained that when they bought Blue Ash a few years back, it had kind of been mistreated by its then owners. But not anymore…they have done a fantastic job bringing back the old regulars and new faithful followers alike; and with their amazing homemade chili and a million other delicious menu items, they are truly a contender for best Cincinnati-chili spot in the city.
So we made it to Cincinnati and Blue Ash by lunch time on our first day of travel and after hitting the road bright and early at 6, we were definitely hungry. It was definitely bustling inside the restaurant, but we were able to be seated right away and quickly attended to. Of course we already knew what we would likely be ordering, but we still took a moment to peruse their very extensive menu; and although I knew what I wanted, from the looks of their gigantic and awesome looking club sandwiches (which they call ‘Double-Deckers’), I can tell you those items were not just on the menu as filler…plenty of people were ordering them and they looked delicious! (so I know what I’ll be ordering on my next visit ;)) Still, needing to test out the chili, Adam ordered a traditional 3-way and 2 cheese-coneys (his standard order) and I got a cheese-coney and cole slaw; and our waitress Anna had them out to us in a flash. It all looked almost too good to eat…almost ;)…
That first bite sure took me back…as eating Cincinnati chili usually does, because until you have tried it, I can honestly say it’s unlike anything you have ever had before. But there was definitely something different about this taste. Blue Ash’s chili is quite different than the Skyline I grew up eating, and the best way I can describe it is that is tasted…well….more homemade…fresh. What stood out to me was how you could tell it was fresh and made in house, never frozen. It was thicker and meatier than others I have tried, and you could taste the “chili” aspect, which I personally enjoyed a lot better. I think this is because I typically eat coneys and I liked the fact that the chili was not as runny or messy. Adam also greatly enjoyed it, and pretty much couldn’t stop thinking or talking about over the next week!
Maybe it was the mountain of cheese…maybe it was the REAL chili…maybe it was all of it together in a homemade way, but overall I was just so impressed with the environment and quality of the Blue Ash Chili product. It truly felt like it was time honored and appreciated; and needless to say, by the end of our meal we were sufficiently stuffed!
SIGNATURE DISH: Definitely chili…I think the name of the restaurant speaks for itself…and chili they do have, from their coneys and Chili Philly (featured on Triple-D) to the 2-way through 6-way! They are even making lasagna with chili…come on! I guess it clear to see that they aren’t afraid to tackle a dish with their signature chili. They know their chili is “where it’s at” and that means it can go on anything.
TASTE: I wish I could find the words to describe how much I liked this in better words than “I REALLY LIKE IT! Of the two of us, I was just glowing after we left, because something about their chili was just better for me; and although I Adam really liked it…I LOVED it. You can’t beat the fresh, wholesome and good taste while still sticking to its good ol’ Cincinnati flavored roots.
AMBIANCE: I like the feel of this restaurant a lot. Typical of many of the other Cincinnati-chili staples in the area, Blue Ash felt like a diner would…but definitely updated. Everything was clean, orderly, while still feeling like a good local hangout. It was nice and buzzing at lunchtime, which added to the feeling of it being a place that people just want to frequent and hang, which I love.
PRICE: For 3 cheese-coneys, an order of cole slaw, a soda and a traditional 3-way…less than $15.00. That is AMAZING for two people for lunch!
SERVICE: I mentioned above that the service was very quick and very friendly. Anna did a great job of answering our questions, checking in with us, and overall just being patient with the “out of town tourists.” We also had another server who was just as good, and Charlene was so sweet and just a joy to talk to. It was great getting to know a bit about the restaurant straight from the source; and you could really tell just how much love she and her husband have for Blue Ash, and they convey that to their customers through providing a great product and working hard to please each and every person that comes through the door.
We had a wonderful visit at Blue Ash Chili and I really hope we can stop by for a visit again soon. So if you’re looking for amazing food, wonderful service & hospitality, and a down-home yummy experience, I definitely recommend Blue Ash Chili. I am happy to give Blue Ash Chili 4 1/2 ‘Little Piggies.’
America turned another year older this week and I hope everyone had a fun filled and relaxing holiday weekend. Adam and I certainly enjoyed the time with our family, but unfortunately got a hold of a nasty stomach bug that managed to move its way through the family throughout the weekend. Without going into gross detail, let’s just say food has not really been that exciting these last few days, nor has it been a topic I have been very interested in discussing. However, I would hate to disappoint you PCC fans, so I will buck up and introduce you to another tasty delight.
Everyone I know loves some type of bar food, whether mozzarella sticks, wings, burgers, nachos, or whatever a particular joint is known for; and although I don’t make it a point to eat bar food all that often, I do enjoy certain dishes to nosh on every now and again. What makes bar food so appealing to many people is that they are easy to eat items that are served at bars and pair well with beers…not to mention the greasy goodness. 😉 In fact, bar food is so popular across the nation that Travel Channel even produced an entire show to feature spots they had picked out from around the country to be considered the best bar food in their “Food Heavens” series, Bar Food Paradise; and it happened to be while watching that show that we scouted out this week’s feature spot for their signature bar food creation…Irish Nachos!
Now, to be bluntly honest, one bar food I’ve never really gotten down with is nachos. Don’t get me wrong…I love chips and salsa or even chips and cheese, but there is something about them loading all that other stuff on top of those chips that turns me off. However, with that being said, when I saw what these “nachos” were, I just knew that my typical feelings on nachos were not going to hold true; and lucky for us it was very near our former hometown. So off we went to sample this amazing looking and famous bar food creation at J. Gilligan’s Bar & Grill.
J. Gilligan’s Bar & Grill, located in Arlington, Texas (very near the Texas Rangers’ ballpark) has been serving up cold beers and various bar foods to its patrons since the 1970’s; and although they serve up just about any type of typical bar food you can think of, what has been setting them apart since 1979 is their origination of “Irish Nachos.” Pay attention, because it was the list of ingredients that made my ears perk up and got me thinking there may be a type of nachos I might actually like. These nachos are created on a large skillet with a base of natural cut cottage fries with skins (potatoes), topped with melted cheddar cheese, bacon, chives, onions, tomatoes and jalapenos. Now can you guess what may have changed my mind about nachos? 🙂 If you guessed a base of fried potatoes, you guessed right. I mean that is one heck of way to start off some nachos; and in addition, there are all the other items that I love (well besides jalapenos), but there are no beans, no sour cream, no other random Mexican ingredients…just plain tasty ingredients.
Knowing this place was near the ballpark, we knew the next time we were headed to a Texas Rangers’ game we would have to make this place our pre-game destination; and especially after we decided we were moving, it was even more pressing that we make a trip. So a few weeks before we were no longer going to be Texans, we headed out to our first baseball game of the season and made a little pregame pit stop for the famous nachos. When you arrive at J. Gilligan’s, I will admit that it doesn’t look like much, rather just a typical local bar that just happens to be in Arlington. Even when you step inside it appears just like you might expect…lots of neon signs, long metal tables, old cushioned metal chairs, and that sort of dank smell that comes with older bars. All that being said, it also has that certain old and familiar charm of fun evenings out, gathering with your friends to watch the game, and maybe a karaoke night or two…all-together very inviting and fun. And in that spirit, we were quickly helped by a waitress and placed our order for some Irish Nachos, sans jalapenos.
It wasn’t long before she placed the skillet in front of us, and literally by the look on faces, you could have heard the food angels singing above us! The dish looked amazing & delicious; and tasted every bit as good as they look, likely thanks to the fact that they do not scrimp on the cheese. I mean, with each bite that cheese oozes out and brings all the flavors together. Also, what makes these so good is that unlike tortilla chips that you don’t want to get all soggy and gross, these “nachos” are actually thinly cut potatoes that already have a soft texture that allows for flavors to soak in…so the soggier…the better! 🙂 One caveat is that although each bite was tastier than the next and the addition of the chives and tomatoes added a zest and sweetness that was very welcome, these nachos are definitely on the heavy side, and I could only put down a few bites. Still, as bar food goes, these bites were every bit worth it! In fact, Adam enjoyed them so much, he took a group of guys back there a week or so later after another game. Ya…these “nachos” are clearly bar food worthy!
SIGNATURE DISH: They have many dishes on their menu, but these “Irish Nachos” are for sure their signature and at the top of the list. J. Gilligan’s faithful love them so much that they go through 3,600 potatoes and 80 pounds of cheddar a week…HOLY NACHO!
TASTE: I think I described it pretty well above, but these are crazy good! They are sort of a wonderful mix of home fries, potato skins, loaded cheese fries, but on a much more original and tastier scale. The fresh cheddar they use rather than a cheese sauce also makes these just plain ooey gooey and delectable; and the simple switch in the base ingredient from chips to potatoes have taken a traditional dish to much tastier and untraditional new height.
AMBIANCE: J. Gilligan’s is not overly aesthetically pleasing, but nor is it out of the ordinary from any other neighborhood bar; and it admittedly has its charm. It is old school and not fussy about the details, and they seem to like it that way. They don’t apologize for the way they look and it doesn’t seem to deter the faithful flock of continuous patrons. I think what is most enjoyable about a place like this is that there is no need to feel pressure to look over the top good…which a girl like me can definitely appreciate! 🙂
PRICE: Since this is your typical down home bar, the prices are extremely reasonable, with a full order of these nachos coming in a whopping $6.49! I would say that is a pretty good deal, especially since the two of us could barely finish the full order. Additionally, all of their other dishes looked like reasonably prices; and you won’t find no $10 beers here. Like I said…great place for a pre-game stop to get started with food and drink so you won’t spend so much at the ballpark…cause we all know how outrageous those prices are!
SERVICE: In all, we received very adequate service, and our server was very friendly and engaging. Like any bar, it appeared that you could order at the bar or from a waitress at one of their tables, and possibly it was because they were not very busy when we visited, but we got our orders through very quickly. However, I could see how given a busy weekend night or during other sporting events that it may take a bit longer to get attentive service, but on our visit we were helped very promptly and very happy with the service.
Overall this dish is one I am not sure can be easily duplicated, but one I know I want to have again. With that being said, thanks to their creation of this most heavenly bar cuisine…I give J. Gilligan’s Bar and Grill 4 1/2 ‘Little Piggies.’
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Two weekends ago we had to privilege of taking a little weekend get-away to visit some great friends of ours, Dario and Jaclyn, at their home in downtown Austin. Admittedly, this trip had an ulterior motive, in that we wanted to spend time with them, but we also knew we could easily squeeze in 3 – 4 PCC-worthy restaurants during the trip. ;) In fact, I don’t think Adam and I can go anywhere anymore without thinking about what fun and famous restaurant we’re going to try on the trip. I know…it’s a disease! 🙂
Well on this trip, the first place on our list was the Hula Hut, an old favorite of Adam’s he would always try to squeeze in when passing through Austin during his work travels. We were recently watching an old episode of Travel Channel’s "Rachael Ray’s Tasty Travels" and were pleasantly surprised to see that she visited Hula Hut during her trip; and because we knew we were heading to Austin in the near future and Adam is a big fan, we thought it only appropriate to add it to the Pop Culture Cuisine menu.
Now if you are from the Austin or Dallas areas, you are sure to be familiar with Chuy’s, the uber – popular chain of tex-mex joints scattered throughout both cities. Well…Chuy’s owners (Mike Young , John Zapp and Andy Norton) also created the extremely popular Hula Hut in 1993. Located on beautiful Lake Austin, they decided this joint needed a jolt of life, rather than another typical tex-mex place that are scattered around every corner in the state. So why not mix it up a bit and pretend we are in the tropics? Thus, Hula Hut and the term “Mexonesian” was born. Yes I said it…“Mexonesian,” or in other words a fusion of Mexican favorites with a Polynesian/island flair, complete with palm trees, grass hutch tops, and tiki torches. In other words, it feels as if you stepped off onto a tropical island when you step inside.
Hula Hut is a massive establishment, but one that is packed to the gills on a Friday or Saturday night, especially when the weather is nice. Patrons love to be able to sit outside on the two back patios and watch the sun set over the lake while enjoying a drink. Also, free chips…and you know how much people love those! 🙂 Dario and Jaclyn arrived shortly before us and were able to put our name in for an outdoor table. In the meantime we were lucky enough to score an outside table by the bar and enjoy that same scene I described earlier. Unfortunately, right after placing our drink order, we realized our waitress was “feelin’ a little good” and was likely not going to be of much service. Yes…she was drunk!, but we didn’t let that ruin the evening, and by the time we were seated, it had all become quite comical. If fact, when asked if she was ok, she openly admitted how "wasted" she was from other patrons buying her shots, and we all had to laugh and tip our hats at her candor. 🙂
After being seated, I decided to order one of their fun lemonade type drinks as a fun start to the evening…
It was cool and refreshing and not too sweet, but as drinks like this go, because it was so smooth, it could be very easy to drink far too many. ;) So, I just had the one and that was good enough for me!
While we continued to chat, I took some time to peruse the menu, since I was the only one of us who had never eaten here. Unfortunately, while we were waiting that hour or so, I had managed to eat my weight in chips and salsa and was no longer all that hungry. Therefore, I decided I would order an appetizer and then take bites of Adam’s dish, which turned out to be ginormous! So, I ordered a stuffed avocado that sounded tasty and Adam got his standard Roasted Chicken Pipeline Enchilada.
*I want to take a brief moment right now and mention that I can’t find the stuffed avocado on their online menu, nor must I have read the menu that closely. Being that it is an appetizer, what I am about to show you, I totally did not expect…
I read "fried" somewhere in the description, but I guess I didn’t fully grasp that the entire thing was literally fried! Oh well, it still looked darn good and I dug right in; and that was about as far as I got…one bite in. I must have missed the part in the item description that mentioned some ingredient that literally lit my mouth on fire on the first bite (that’s cause it wasn’t there!!! L). I know I have mentioned before that I am a major wimp when it comes to spicy foods, and this was not just spicy…it was downright hot! So hot in fact that I didn’t really eat any more bites past that. If feel that if something has this much kick, the menu ought to say something…you know…for wimps like me. What…am I just supposed to know that it is fireball avocado without any mention on the menu about it? Perhaps it is a new type of avocado from South America that I’d yet to experience. I mean, it’s possible…right? 😉 Well, let’s just say that it was a good think for those chips and salsa, or it might have ruined my overall experience. But, Adam’s dish was so big and one of the Hula Hut’s most popular items, that having some of it completely made up for my dish’s failure…
I mean let’s be real…this is the enchilada mother-load! It could give birth to like 5 normal enchiladas! Truthfully, I think we should just call it what it really is…a burrito. J Needless to say, Adam could not finish the whole plate and I was able to get in a few bites, which were great. It is a huge corn tortilla stuffed with chicken and cheese and then topped with a cheesy sauce that has a nice zing (a NICE zing…not a light your mouth on fire zing!). It’s a simple dish, but prepared well and with flavors that go very well together. Adam felt it was not as “awesome” as he had remembered, but we chalked that up to the fact that we now live in Dallas and he has had similar dishes since living here, where as when he used to visit the Hula Hut it was a very unique dish to him. Still, nostalgia aside, he thought it was just ok, although he admitted it did hit the spot and he managed to put a nice dent into that pipeline (and Dario ordered the same thing and must have really liked it, because he completely finished his…way to go Dario!).
Hula Hut is a fun, hopping, joint that fits in an area that loves to be unique, laid back, and eccentric. I mentioned above that it is very popular around Austin, especially on peak nights, so it would be wise to get there early or plan to wait. In truth, waiting can be a nice time to enjoy the boats coming in, watching the sun set, and sharing drinks and conversation with friends. Still, if that is not your style, be prepared, because it is not a quick ‘in-and-out’ sort of place. As I alluded to above, the ambiance is really fun and festive. One could say that they really took the Island and Polynesian theme and ran with it. But, it truly complements the laid-back atmosphere, and as they say “Undeniably different…undeniably Austin!”
Our service (once we were seated for dinner) was excellent (good job Leon)! We rarely had to wait on anything, including our food; and given how busy they were, I thought they did a fantastic job. As far as a signature dish for Hula Hut…I’d say they don’t really have one in particular, but their pipeline enchiladas and tubular tacos, aside from being unique in their naming, seemed to be the most popular and most ordered items. As far as taste goes, although it may not have lived up to the expectations (and memories), I enjoyed everything I tried, and even think that had my avocado not been so spicy, it would have been delicious. In short…the food was all prepared well, quickly, and hit the spot, not to mention that their prices are very reasonable, as well, ranging from $7 – $15 for most of their typical dishes, which for the amount of food they give you, I think is a good deal. Overall, we truly enjoyed our experience at the Hula Hut, but would likely only return in the future to take in the scenery and grab a few cocktails with friends; and with that, I give the Hula Hut 3 1/2 Little Piggies.
