Living out side of town several miles has its disadvantages when you’re in need of altering your dinner plans at home. Typically I have always thought of the Star Café as a place for a hearty breakfast or maybe one that could make your heart stop.
Saturday night is probably the first time to the Star Café in a good six months and the first time ever in memory for dinner. I used to see that they had a prime rib special on Saturday nights and often thought of stopping in. This night the special is Fish and Chips; I’m guessing it’s not flown in fresh.
They did have good menu selection including the favorites you grew up with; meatloaf, fried chicken, pork chops, mashed potatoes and gravy, etc. NOT like mom used to make. My mom used to make these types of meals almost daily when I was growing up. Clinging to those memories and looking at the meals being delivered to the other patrons I decided to get a burger and tots. My oldest daughter followed my lead with a corn dog (it actually looked green in color!!!) but the wife went for the fried chicken, mashed taters w/ gravy and canned corn. Not that the corn came in the can but this is defiantly the type of place that doesn’t serve fresh veggies. The burger wasn’t too bad, corn dog got eaten (she didn’t even get sick) and the wife split the chicken with the little one. The girls did strip the chicken of its oil abundant skin and found it to be eatable. Gravy was said to be floury, taters underneath were ok and the corn went untouched. Needles to say I would not rate this as a pleasant culinary experience but under the circumstances, it did in a pinch.
Once they start serving breakfast past 3pm; I may go back for dinner. Until then, I will visit for breakfast when feeling the need to raise my heart rate and cholesterol.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Friday, April 11, 2008
Chapala, Chapala, Chapala………….
Yeah you’ve seen them, been there done that but are they all the same? I think not.
The first Chapala restaurant I visited was in Hailey, ID close to 18 years ago. I assume it’s still there and remains number one. When I say number one I don’t mean it’s the best but I believe it to be the first in their existence. As you have or will notice on the marquis at the Chapala’s around the valley, they are all numbered in the order they opened their doors.
I can’t say that I have been to every location in the Chapala family but I bet I’ve been to most in Boise, Star, Nampa, Hailey and Garden City. They may all look the same, have the same menu and be owned by the same people but the food quality and presentation is quite different. I’m not referring to the common items such as tacos, burritos, enchiladas, etc. but the Arroz Con Pollo and the Carnitas just to name a couple. The differences are subtle in most of these items but the biggest and most noticeable is in the Salsa.
It’s obvious this delicious condiment is home made by each of the locations and not hard to understand why it’s so different. If I made a batch of salsa using the exact same recipe as you, I would bet they would taste different as well. My jalapeno may be hotter than yours and your onions may be sweeter than mine. But what really sets these places apart is consistency.
The most consistent and most visited by yours truly (close to my office) is the Garden City Location on Chinden. Good quality Mexican food served up fast and friendly. Best salsa in town, huh Jess? Make sure to try them for lunch and take advantage of the lunch menu pricing. Oh, and speak clearly when they ask you if you would like flour or corn tortillas. Nine times out of ten when ordering corn tortillas I get flour. I think it’s a game for the wait staff.
The first Chapala restaurant I visited was in Hailey, ID close to 18 years ago. I assume it’s still there and remains number one. When I say number one I don’t mean it’s the best but I believe it to be the first in their existence. As you have or will notice on the marquis at the Chapala’s around the valley, they are all numbered in the order they opened their doors.
I can’t say that I have been to every location in the Chapala family but I bet I’ve been to most in Boise, Star, Nampa, Hailey and Garden City. They may all look the same, have the same menu and be owned by the same people but the food quality and presentation is quite different. I’m not referring to the common items such as tacos, burritos, enchiladas, etc. but the Arroz Con Pollo and the Carnitas just to name a couple. The differences are subtle in most of these items but the biggest and most noticeable is in the Salsa.
It’s obvious this delicious condiment is home made by each of the locations and not hard to understand why it’s so different. If I made a batch of salsa using the exact same recipe as you, I would bet they would taste different as well. My jalapeno may be hotter than yours and your onions may be sweeter than mine. But what really sets these places apart is consistency.
The most consistent and most visited by yours truly (close to my office) is the Garden City Location on Chinden. Good quality Mexican food served up fast and friendly. Best salsa in town, huh Jess? Make sure to try them for lunch and take advantage of the lunch menu pricing. Oh, and speak clearly when they ask you if you would like flour or corn tortillas. Nine times out of ten when ordering corn tortillas I get flour. I think it’s a game for the wait staff.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Ahi Sushi in Eagle
If you haven’t seen or heard it’s there you should check it out. The wife and I went last weekend with a couple of good friends that we love to dine with and all enjoyed ourselves………pretty well.
It just wouldn’t be me if I didn’t have something to complain about. Why else would the wife dub me “the food snob”. First let’s start with the positives. I was impressed with the cleanliness although they just opened and that would be expected of every establishment serving food to the public. I was also impressed with the quality of the food. The rolls were very good (Skipper/Dragon) (Volcano Roll not so good) and the fish was very fresh, firm and cold. The price point was comparable to most and less expensive than top Sushi places in the valley. $140 for the four of us included the beer and enough Sushi to fill us all.
Now for the negatives. They had just an average wine selection and a way below average beer selection. Only two beers to choose from but the do have the large bottles as an option. Pricing on the drinks was average except for the wine that I felt was way over priced. Service was slow (typical of a new place), one brand of Sake and the music selection was weird to say the least. I can honestly say this is the only time I have heard Cyndi Lauper in a Sushi restaurant.
Next time you’re in Eagle check it out and judge for yourself. I’ll go back again. At least the next time I’ll know what to expect. Girl’s just wana have fu un……oh girls just wana have……..
It just wouldn’t be me if I didn’t have something to complain about. Why else would the wife dub me “the food snob”. First let’s start with the positives. I was impressed with the cleanliness although they just opened and that would be expected of every establishment serving food to the public. I was also impressed with the quality of the food. The rolls were very good (Skipper/Dragon) (Volcano Roll not so good) and the fish was very fresh, firm and cold. The price point was comparable to most and less expensive than top Sushi places in the valley. $140 for the four of us included the beer and enough Sushi to fill us all.
Now for the negatives. They had just an average wine selection and a way below average beer selection. Only two beers to choose from but the do have the large bottles as an option. Pricing on the drinks was average except for the wine that I felt was way over priced. Service was slow (typical of a new place), one brand of Sake and the music selection was weird to say the least. I can honestly say this is the only time I have heard Cyndi Lauper in a Sushi restaurant.
Next time you’re in Eagle check it out and judge for yourself. I’ll go back again. At least the next time I’ll know what to expect. Girl’s just wana have fu un……oh girls just wana have……..
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