The Flying Saucer

If memory serves, everyone one of the blogs I’ve done to date has been a blog about food. I suppose this is a good thing since it’s a food blog but I had to let everyone know about the “Flying Saucer”.

While meeting with some folks in Dallas this past week we indulged in several beers at several different locations but the only must stop I noted is the Flying Saucer. There are a couple of locations in the Dallas area and this day we hit the Addison location.
It’s not often that I get to indulge in beers at 2:30 in the afternoon but I’ll use the excuse that I wasn’t driving and this is where we ended up. Unfortunately we had just eaten lunch or I would have knocked down a bratwurst with my beer. The food menu appeared to be the standard bar menu but the beer menu is what fascinated me.
This location has over 200 beers in house (bottles and draft) covering all shades of the beer spectrum. Don’t be afraid to ask the bar tender for some help, I did and he did a great job guiding me though the menu and providing samples. Multiple samples!!!
As usual, I stayed in the dark end of the spectrum indulging in a Murphy’s Stout (Draft), Left Hand Black Jack Porter (Bottle) and a brew I wish I had and should have know about prior to this visit, the New Belgium 1554 (Draft). This was the highlight of my trip. The 1554 is a Schwarbier (Black Beer) type that is, as described by the Flying Saucer web site, “Other than being dark in color, 1554 has little in common with Porters or Stouts. The beer is fermented at relatively high temperatures using European lager yeast that imparts a refreshing, zesty acidity. Chocolate and coffee tones in the nose give way to a surprisingly clean finish”.
Now I’m on the quest to finding the 1554 in the bottled version here in Boise. I’ve got some good leads so keep your fingers crossed.
Make sure to visit the Flying Saucer at any of their locations and see for yourself what a wonderful place this is. It’s like finding Oz only you won’t want to go home!!!!!!!!!

http://www.beerknurd.com/

Moose’s Tooth

I’m going against what I said in a previous blog about waiting to make three visits to an establishment prior to writing the blog. After visiting this place a second time my thoughts are confirmed that this is one of the best Pizza places I have ever been to and is a must visit when in Anchorage. I would wait until next year though. After being there for 4 days this week I can honestly say I've seen my first 4 days of winter. It never got above freezing and snowed most of the time. Welcome to AK!!!

The “Tooth”, as some of the locals call it, has a pizza menu consisting of 38 of their favorites as well as the build your own menu, 6 salads, sandwiches and my favorite, 17 hand crafted beers on tap.
This visit I indulge in the “Greek Gyro” pizza that consists of the traditional cucumber yogurt sauce, greek sausage, roma tomatoes, red onions and provolone cheese. This flavorful pizza is served up on a hand tossed crust that mixes the perfect amount of crunchy and chewy. Caesar salad made a nice side dish.

OK!!! BEER!!! Oh yeah!!! 17 of them!!! My first visit to this establishment earlier in the year was a blur. I think I must have tried all 17. This time I proceed with a little more patience and sampled the Pipeline Stout, Prince Williams Porter and the First Tap – Smokin’ Willies Porter. All three were some of the best dark beers I’ve had in a long time but the Smokin’ Willies jump out as the clear choice of the night. Not much different than their PW Porter but I preferred the milder hops flavor of the Smokin’ Willies. Since I was driving I only had two while waiting on the pizza to go but next time I will be sure to take a cab down and back to allow myself the means to indulge in some of the other fine brews or possibly something sweet like the “Pipe Line Stout Chocolate Cake” or “Moose Pie”. Or maybe, I'll get a growler to take back to the room!!! Wish I would have thought of that before now. @$%#!!!

Sub vs.Sub vs.Sub vs.Sub????

OK, I know it’s been a while since the last blog and for that I apologize. I have a new rule in blogging. I plan to visit a restaurant or eatery three times prior to blogging about it unless they really piss me off, disappoint me beyond belief or some other reason that would fall into the category. I might even be so thrilled I can’t wait to let everyone know about it. It can happen. Ha, Ha, Ha!!!

And now…..for the much anticipated moment and your chance to get warmed up for the presidential elections, except you get three choices, the Sub vs. Sub blog. Yeah!!!!!! Bells….whistles…streamers…etc.

I want to know your favorite sandwich joint out of the three chain sub shops listed. I’m sure that most of readers have been to each of these multiple times but really haven’t put much thought into which one they would go to if they were side by side.

Subway – Yep. You’ve been there a thousand times but is it because you really like it or is it just really convenient?
Quiznos - Yep. Just ok with me. I eat here mostly in airports. Good substitute for a fast food choice on the road but not going out of my way to find a location in town.
Blimpie – Yeah. I certainly like this one better but they don’t seem to be as conveniently located as their top competitor.
Port of Subs – Hooray!!! Hands down my favorite of the three. Relatively new to this area in comparison but widely located throughout the west and growing. I would actually like to own one or five of these. Yummy!! If for some reason you haven’t been yet. Go before you vote. I think you’ll side with me on this one. Not and over abundance of these around town yet but more popping up every year.

In addition to your votes I would also be interested in tying sub shops local to the Boise area. Write in a tell us your favorite. Cobby’s, Deli George, Hugo’s???? Just some of my favorite non-national chain sub shops and delicatessens. Has anyone been to Gandolfo’s?????? Also new to Boise, haven’t been yet but hear the advertisements on the radio.