That Food Guy
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Sonny's Barbecue - A Changed Perspective
(727) 341-2990 http://www.sonnysbbq.com/
The ribs, two portions of what I would guess you call a half-rack
of ribs, were meaty, cooked to fall off the bone tender. They were very
flavorful. The order came with a selection of sauces; mild and sweet were our
favorites. The barbecue beans were tender and flavorful, an excellent side. The
macaroni and cheese was very good but not as creamy as I remembered from the
SPARC Field Day meal. Nonetheless, it too was an excellent side dish and the
blandness of the mac and cheese made a nice contrast to the spiciness of the
ribs in barbecue sauce. The broccoli was steamed tender, not overcooked, and
with the slightest sprinkle of salt or salt substitute, very tasty. The toast
was mildly garlic but toasted just right. We set the table with a roll of paper
towels instead of the usual soft paper napkins. That was a good idea; the
barbecue sauce is sticky and seems to migrate everywhere on your face and chin.
A damp washcloth would have been even better.
Sonny’s
Real Pit Bar-B-Q (my local store)
3650
Tyrone Blvd N, St Petersburg, FL 33710
A few weeks
ago if you asked me about Sonny’s Barbecue I would have said, “Yes. I have
eaten there a couple of times quite a long time ago.” My first visit was in
January of 2007. I would have added that I thought the meat was fine but that I
really didn’t care for the barbecue sauce, the vinegary Carolina style (and I did
try all of the sauces provided in a table rack of cruets). I would have
concluded my comments with I wasn’t at all interested in going back for a third
visit to Sonny’s; not that it was bad, it just wasn’t to my tastes.
To anyone
who grew up in California in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, Loves Barbecue and the
jingle, “When you’re in Love’s the whole world’s delicious” are well known. I
think most of us have eaten at Loves at least once. That of course would set
the bench mark for which all future barbecue encounters would be judged. Their
sauce was thick and clingy, tomato based and slightly sweet. When paired with
their excellently prepared beef, pork and chicken it was a defiant statement;
this is barbecue! Alas, Loves is no more. The once thriving chain has fallen
victim to corporate infighting and franchise disputes. They have a web site
that offers their barbecue sauce and I am thinking that I will order some just
to see.
Unfortunately
for Sonny’s, my memories of Love’s were strong and Sonny’s fare did not measure
up to what I expected or remembered; the benchmark set by Love’s. In all likely
hoods the meat fresh from the smoker at both places would have been comparable;
the conflict was simply in the sauce. That is the way it would have remained
had it not been for a chance encounter with a Sonny’s product I had never
sampled before. It was sort of a blind taste test. My amateur radio club,
SPARC, was participating in the National ARRL Field Day, a marathon of radio
communications for twenty-four hours. The club provided the evening meal:
barbecued ribs in a thick sweet sauce, macaroni and cheese in a succulent thick
cheese sauce, barbecued beans that were scrumptious, a wonderful coleslaw and a
magnificent cornbread (descriptions may reflect that I was very hungry at the
time). Kidding aside, it was a delicious meal. I asked around, curious about
this new barbecue place with the excellent food. I was, to say the least,
flabbergasted when I learned it was Sonny’s.
The wife and
I agreed that one day, when we had been busy and time was short for dinner, we
would order out from Sonny’s, an outing of rediscovery. That night was tonight.
We telephoned in our order; Ribs for Two ($21.97 Enjoy an overflowing
plate of our Sweet & Smokey or Classic Dry Rub Ribs served with your choice
of three Sidekicks and Garlic Bread or Homemade Cornbread. Not available at all locations.)
Ribs For Two was available at the Tyrone store. We selected our sidekicks; (Sidekicks: Crinkle Cut French Fries, Baked Potato - Not available at
all locations, Baked Sweet Potato, Homemade Macaroni &
Cheese, Corn on the Cob, Original Recipe Bar-B-Q Beans, Fresh Made Coleslaw, Vegetables
- Varies by locations, Backyard Garden Salad - Varies by locations, Loaded Mashed Potatoes - Not available at all locations, and Cinnamon Apples - Not available at all locations). Our first
choices were macaroni and cheese, barbecued beans and cinnamon apples. The
cinnamon apples were not available at the Tyrone store so we then chose
vegetables. There was an additional choice of either steamed green beans or
broccoli. We chose the broccoli. We also selected the garlic bread.
The on-line menu is not all that easy to read. The to-go
section lists a family of four selection and under ribs and specialties it list
the ribs for two but they are available to go – you basically have to read all
the menu to find your choices.
Ordering over the phone went smoothly. In spite of the
receptionist being in a high noise area, we didn’t have to repeat ourselves and
the read back of the order was correct. She was polite and helpful and on
request totaled the order for us. Our name given, she said the order would be
ready on-call, just ask for Andersen, at the take-out window in about ten
minutes.
On arrival we opened the packages and surveyed our
purchase. At first I thought the side orders were a bit on the small side. But
considering the size of the barbecued ribs portion it was indeed a meal for
two. Enough a meal for two that we split one portion of the ribs and saved the
other for the next night. All we would need would be a side made at home to
make the meal complete.
The ribs, two portions of what I would guess you call a half-rack
of ribs, were meaty, cooked to fall off the bone tender. They were very
flavorful. The order came with a selection of sauces; mild and sweet were our
favorites. The barbecue beans were tender and flavorful, an excellent side. The
macaroni and cheese was very good but not as creamy as I remembered from the
SPARC Field Day meal. Nonetheless, it too was an excellent side dish and the
blandness of the mac and cheese made a nice contrast to the spiciness of the
ribs in barbecue sauce. The broccoli was steamed tender, not overcooked, and
with the slightest sprinkle of salt or salt substitute, very tasty. The toast
was mildly garlic but toasted just right. We set the table with a roll of paper
towels instead of the usual soft paper napkins. That was a good idea; the
barbecue sauce is sticky and seems to migrate everywhere on your face and chin.
A damp washcloth would have been even better.
Out of curiosity, I looked at the catering menu. The cost
per person of the food serve at the Field Day was about $10.99. That pits the
catered meal on a par with our meal, a dinner for two at $21.97 (you know, with
tax and all that stuff). Considering the entrée, the ribs, will last us through
two meals, even with adding a home cooked side, the cost per meal for our at
home meal will be just a bit over six dollars, pretty reasonable for an
excellent, satisfying meal.
I don’t know if the ribs were on the Sonny’s menu before.
They may very well have been there but as I mentioned, the menu isn’t all that
easy to read; an unusual grouping at least on the online version. From this I
have learned to read the entire menu even if I have already decided what I want
to order. Otherwise I might just miss something better. In this case
happenstance reintroduced me to a restaurant I would have otherwise ignored.
Now, if someone asks me about Sonny’s, I will say, “Yes! I have eaten there and
they have some wonderful things that call for another visit one day soon.”
Labels: Amateur Radio, bar-b-q, barbecue, barbecue sauce, barbecued beans, club, garlic toast, love's, mac and cheese, macaroni and cheese, ribs, Sonny's, SPARC, St Petersburg
¶ 8:29 AM 0 Comments
Friday, September 09, 2011
Super Buffet - Seminole, Florida
Super Buffet – Seminole, Florida
11227 Park Blvd. North Seminole, Florida 33772
(727) 320-9888
The wife’s and my birthday are quite close. In fact they are just separated by just one week by day and month although the years are quite a bit farther apart. It does make it easy for friends who like to take you out to eat on your birthday. It is sort of like getting two for the price of one.
As our birthdays for this year approached, family friend called us and asked to take us out to dinner. A date and time was set and all that remained was where.
We do what married couples do and refrain from voicing a preference to allow the other the choice. As the date grew closer Martha suggested a Chinese place she knew and liked. Neither of us knew about it so it would be a new and novel experience, a broadening of our horizons. Janis and I drove over to pick up Martha just as a Florida thunderstorm began to unleash its fury. By the time we arrived at Martha’s house the squall line was sending gusting winds and rippling waves of rain racing across the streets. After picking up Martha I was the last one back in the car and as a result became sopping wet from the rain. I hoped that would dry before reaching the restaurant.
The Super Buffet is but one store in the massive Seminole Mall. Except for the sign there is little to tell what lies within the particular storefront. By the time we pulled up in front of the restaurant, the rain had subsided to a light sprinkle. I was only half dry. We entered through double doors trimmed with brass. The foyer in subdued lighting features the cashier, the hostess and a decorative fountain. Off to the sides are two dining areas. In brighter lights ahead was the food service area. There were several serving bars featuring cold foods on ice and hot foods in steam trays. Just a note in passing, at most other restaurants of this type, self serve, all you can eat, customers pay first and then are seated. Here you are seated, you have your meal and you are presented the check. For the buffet, lunch (11:00AM to 3:30PM) is $7.39 per person. For dinner (3:30PM to 11:00PM) and all day on holidays the cost is $12.99 per person. There is a re
duced rate for seniors and children
We were seated in less than a minute. The waitress took our beverage orders and bid us to begin making our selections for dinner. One serving bar is labeled Italian. There are is eclectic mixture of dishes there including some that appear to be Italian inspired, even a small pepperoni pizza. However, I am afraid that much was lost in the translation. Other serving bars are labeled salad, seafood, Chinese, and dessert. Of note, not found in most other oriental buffets, there is at the end of the food service area a grill station for Mongolian barbecue. We started off together but wended our individual ways through the aisles between the food service bars.
I started down the Chinese/Oriental aisle. There were a few signs missing but most offerings are labeled. To sample as much as possible, I took a bit of as many items as my plate would hold.
There was teriyaki chicken, General Tso’s chicken, a mushroom and seafood delight, fried rice, yakitori chicken, sweet and sour chicken, an egg roll and some tempura. On the way back to the table I passed the sushi section and stopped for a few pieces as well. And lastly, the salad bar beckoned with some stuffed green olives.
I did notice that there was copious ice under the cold foods and the sushi. All of the hot foods were indeed hot and to touch the surface of the table was painfully hot. I also noted that the presentation trays were shallow and did not hold a lot of food. They had to be replenished often. During dinner I noted that the staff members were frequently busy stocking and replenishing the food items. The food would appear to be f
resh from the food preparation area.
I will preface my critique with this: The food served at the Super Buffet is certainly on a par with the other local restaurants of this type. None of the foods are spectacular but on the other hand none of the foods are really bad. I think many of the items are mass prepared outside and then heated or cooked to completion before serving. As such they suffer the same ailment as other mass produced foods – designed to offend as few people as possible, they truly please even fewer.
The chicken selections were tasty but I really had to look close to see rather than taste if it were chicken teriyaki, General Tso’s chicken or chicken yakitori. The sweet and sour chicken is what is called the New York style, I believe. It is breaded and fried chicken morsels. Alongside is a
container of red sauce that you ladle over your chicken morsels. This presentation certainly pales in comparison to the traditional Chinatown version with peppers, onions and pineapple. The New York style, although done well as far as it goes, really suffers in comparison because of the lack of the traditional accoutrements. The egg rolls are the smaller variety and nicely crispy fried. The filling is basically cabbage and they benefit from a dunk in hot mustard or chili sauce. The tempura selection was limited to slices of zucchini and sweet potato. They were very good, the batter fried light and crisp and the vegetables tender but not soggy. Enjoyment would have been enhanced if there were some additional tempura selections. The fried rice was more a saffron-style yellow rice and didn’t have any particular significant taste. Personally, fried rice is one of my favorite oriental-style comfort foods but I found the Super Buffet example lacking in breadth of ingredients and seasoning.
Personally I don’t care for sashimi. Therefore, my selections from any sushi bar are very limited. On this visit I selected some California rolls and avocado rolls. They were both the inside-out makizushi rolls. Each selection had a rolled coating of tobiko. They were well made, the avocado still a lustrous green without any darkening from air exposure. They tasted good and seemed quite fresh. If I eat a California or avocado roll and taste fish I know there is a problem in the kitchen. In this case there was no taste of raw fish, just the taste of the ingredients. I did notice the service area was well iced and there was not a lot of product on display. There is more than adequate portions wasabi and gari awaiting the diner.
The true gourmand can’t go to an all you can eat restaurant and eat but one serving. For my next foray I decided to try the Mongolian grill. There is a nice selection of ingredients including vegetables, (such as sprouts, green peppers, onions, broccoli florets, etc) meats (chicken, beef and pork) and seafood (white fish, shrimp). The ice table is cold. They stock small amounts of food in the trays which I guess would help to insure freshness. I made my selections of some bean sprouts, mushrooms, green peppers, broccoli, chicken and shrimp. They use flat plates instead of bowls that I have encountered elsewhere. I handed my selection to the chef and he went to work. The grill is not the round Mongolian grill of myth. It is a rectangular flat grill with an at
tached open flame grill that any short-order cook would instantly recognize. I would miss the flourish of the serving, a swish off the edge of the grill into the awaiting bowl. The grill was hot; I could feel the heat even through the sneeze guard. But I noticed the chef used a spritz of water and a dome for much of the cooking – steaming more than frying. The food is cooked with less caramelization than is done on the traditional Mongolian grill and the presentation is more colorful. There is a list of four sauces available and I chose the teriyaki. It was a tasty dish, the vegetables cooked to tender with just a bite. It was an enjoyable conclusion to the main courses.
I tried some samplings of the desert bar. They had a nice selection of melons, strawberries and lots of petit fours style cookies and cakes. The fruit was firm and fresh and refreshing after the heavier fare of the main courses. It was a nice sweet ending to a dinner with loved ones and friends.
Their take home menu features a list of combination plates and traditional Chinese food choices in small and large containers much like a traditional Chinese take-out shop. As well, the menu lists the majority of the buffet items for take home at $3.75 per pound lunch and $4.95 per pound dinner. Sushi and sea food have a different pricing schedule. You can have it your way; eat in or take out.
Super Buffet – Seminole, Florida11227 Park Blvd. North Seminole, Florida 33772
(727) 320-9888
The wife’s and my birthday are quite close. In fact they are just separated by just one week by day and month although the years are quite a bit farther apart. It does make it easy for friends who like to take you out to eat on your birthday. It is sort of like getting two for the price of one.
As our birthdays for this year approached, family friend called us and asked to take us out to dinner. A date and time was set and all that remained was where.We do what married couples do and refrain from voicing a preference to allow the other the choice. As the date grew closer Martha suggested a Chinese place she knew and liked. Neither of us knew about it so it would be a new and novel experience, a broadening of our horizons. Janis and I drove over to pick up Martha just as a Florida thunderstorm began to unleash its fury. By the time we arrived at Martha’s house the squall line was sending gusting winds and rippling waves of rain racing across the streets. After picking up Martha I was the last one back in the car and as a result became sopping wet from the rain. I hoped that would dry before reaching the restaurant.
The Super Buffet is but one store in the massive Seminole Mall. Except for the sign there is little to tell what lies within the particular storefront. By the time we pulled up in front of the restaurant, the rain had subsided to a light sprinkle. I was only half dry. We entered through double doors trimmed with brass. The foyer in subdued lighting features the cashier, the hostess and a decorative fountain. Off to the sides are two dining areas. In brighter lights ahead was the food service area. There were several serving bars featuring cold foods on ice and hot foods in steam trays. Just a note in passing, at most other restaurants of this type, self serve, all you can eat, customers pay first and then are seated. Here you are seated, you have your meal and you are presented the check. For the buffet, lunch (11:00AM to 3:30PM) is $7.39 per person. For dinner (3:30PM to 11:00PM) and all day on holidays the cost is $12.99 per person. There is a re
duced rate for seniors and childrenWe were seated in less than a minute. The waitress took our beverage orders and bid us to begin making our selections for dinner. One serving bar is labeled Italian. There are is eclectic mixture of dishes there including some that appear to be Italian inspired, even a small pepperoni pizza. However, I am afraid that much was lost in the translation. Other serving bars are labeled salad, seafood, Chinese, and dessert. Of note, not found in most other oriental buffets, there is at the end of the food service area a grill station for Mongolian barbecue. We started off together but wended our individual ways through the aisles between the food service bars.
I started down the Chinese/Oriental aisle. There were a few signs missing but most offerings are labeled. To sample as much as possible, I took a bit of as many items as my plate would hold.
There was teriyaki chicken, General Tso’s chicken, a mushroom and seafood delight, fried rice, yakitori chicken, sweet and sour chicken, an egg roll and some tempura. On the way back to the table I passed the sushi section and stopped for a few pieces as well. And lastly, the salad bar beckoned with some stuffed green olives.I did notice that there was copious ice under the cold foods and the sushi. All of the hot foods were indeed hot and to touch the surface of the table was painfully hot. I also noted that the presentation trays were shallow and did not hold a lot of food. They had to be replenished often. During dinner I noted that the staff members were frequently busy stocking and replenishing the food items. The food would appear to be f
resh from the food preparation area.I will preface my critique with this: The food served at the Super Buffet is certainly on a par with the other local restaurants of this type. None of the foods are spectacular but on the other hand none of the foods are really bad. I think many of the items are mass prepared outside and then heated or cooked to completion before serving. As such they suffer the same ailment as other mass produced foods – designed to offend as few people as possible, they truly please even fewer.
The chicken selections were tasty but I really had to look close to see rather than taste if it were chicken teriyaki, General Tso’s chicken or chicken yakitori. The sweet and sour chicken is what is called the New York style, I believe. It is breaded and fried chicken morsels. Alongside is a
container of red sauce that you ladle over your chicken morsels. This presentation certainly pales in comparison to the traditional Chinatown version with peppers, onions and pineapple. The New York style, although done well as far as it goes, really suffers in comparison because of the lack of the traditional accoutrements. The egg rolls are the smaller variety and nicely crispy fried. The filling is basically cabbage and they benefit from a dunk in hot mustard or chili sauce. The tempura selection was limited to slices of zucchini and sweet potato. They were very good, the batter fried light and crisp and the vegetables tender but not soggy. Enjoyment would have been enhanced if there were some additional tempura selections. The fried rice was more a saffron-style yellow rice and didn’t have any particular significant taste. Personally, fried rice is one of my favorite oriental-style comfort foods but I found the Super Buffet example lacking in breadth of ingredients and seasoning.
Personally I don’t care for sashimi. Therefore, my selections from any sushi bar are very limited. On this visit I selected some California rolls and avocado rolls. They were both the inside-out makizushi rolls. Each selection had a rolled coating of tobiko. They were well made, the avocado still a lustrous green without any darkening from air exposure. They tasted good and seemed quite fresh. If I eat a California or avocado roll and taste fish I know there is a problem in the kitchen. In this case there was no taste of raw fish, just the taste of the ingredients. I did notice the service area was well iced and there was not a lot of product on display. There is more than adequate portions wasabi and gari awaiting the diner.
tached open flame grill that any short-order cook would instantly recognize. I would miss the flourish of the serving, a swish off the edge of the grill into the awaiting bowl. The grill was hot; I could feel the heat even through the sneeze guard. But I noticed the chef used a spritz of water and a dome for much of the cooking – steaming more than frying. The food is cooked with less caramelization than is done on the traditional Mongolian grill and the presentation is more colorful. There is a list of four sauces available and I chose the teriyaki. It was a tasty dish, the vegetables cooked to tender with just a bite. It was an enjoyable conclusion to the main courses.I tried some samplings of the desert bar. They had a nice selection of melons, strawberries and lots of petit fours style cookies and cakes. The fruit was firm and fresh and refreshing after the heavier fare of the main courses. It was a nice sweet ending to a dinner with loved ones and friends.
Their take home menu features a list of combination plates and traditional Chinese food choices in small and large containers much like a traditional Chinese take-out shop. As well, the menu lists the majority of the buffet items for take home at $3.75 per pound lunch and $4.95 per pound dinner. Sushi and sea food have a different pricing schedule. You can have it your way; eat in or take out.
Labels: barbecue, buffet, Chinese, eat in, fried rice, grill, Mongolian, Seminole, super, sushi, take out
¶ 5:30 PM 0 Comments
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Cracker Barrel - St Petersburg, Florida
Cracker Barrel – Friday August 19, 2011 St. Petersburg, Florida
It had been quite awhile since our last visit to a Cracker Barrel. Although their Front Porch rewards program is now defunct, the e-mailing list persists. The latest offered the Country Brisket Plate special, slices barbecued brisket on Texas toast, French fries, a side of coleslaw and extra barbecue sauce and garnished with slices of sweet pickle; and all for just $5.99. Sounded like a good deal. We have had favorable outings at Cracker Barrel in the past. We owed out friend Martha a dinner out so we called and set a date.
This Cracker Barrel is the closest to our house, it just off the 275 Freeway on 54th Avenue in St. Petersburg, Florida, a leisurely 15 minute drive. We arrived in a lull, just before the dinner rush I would guess. We were seated almost immediately in a sparely occupied dining room. It was pleasantly much quieter than normal, the hard surfaces do echo ambient sound, and we were thankful for the small crowd and a much quieter dining experience.
Our server, Deborah, was quickly there to take our beverage order. She was friendly and efficient. During the course of the meal she was there to refill beverage glasses and to check on our progress. She was there often enough that we never needed to call for her but never hovered too near the table.
We had not told Martha about our predetermined choices. We wanted her to have free choice from the menu. Janis had already decided on the Chicken and Dumplings ($8.29) from the Country Dinner Platters section, her long time favorite from the Cracker Barrel offerings. She already had her side orders selected, corn, fried apples, cottage cheese and biscuits. Martha found the menu insert about the Country Brisket Special ($5.99), the offering that had brought me there, and in an example of coincidence, ordered the brisket. The brisket comes with a choice of biscuits or corn muffins. Martha was unable to decide when our server, Deborah, suggested that she could provide one of each for Martha to try and then the order was complete.
Janis’s chicken and dumplings were, as she said, “…as good as they always are.” She was thoroughly enjoying them. The serving was more than ample and as is her habit, asked for a take home container to split the meal and enjoy the second half as tomorrow night’s dinner.
Martha’s and my brisket plates were almost identical but only similar to the as advertized picture in the e-mail and stapled to the menu. The as advertized picture would lead one to believe a more substantial and better cooked serving was in the offing. Certainly it needed more work in presentation. Martha enjoyed her meal and had no particular complaints. The meat was slightly tough, more so than to cut with a fork, it needed a bit of pressure with the table knife. Perhaps the meat had been in a steam table dish too long. I think it was more of an oven roasted brisket rather than a true barbecued brisket. It was not big on flavor and therefore benefitted from the barbecue sauce. The sauce was vinegary Carolina style sauce, not to tart and not to thin, very good for that style of sauce. The base Texas toast was crispy as it should have
been. The fries were fine but needed a dash of salt. The coleslaw was tasty and just about the right serving for the size of the dinner platter. With the biscuits and butter, considering it was the “Special” at a reduced price, it all made for a satisfying meal of moderate proportions. There was one additional deficit we didn’t realize until the meal was completed. Our brisket platters did not have the sweet pickle slices. In retrospect I think the sweetness of the pickles would have made an excellent counterpoint to the tartness of the barbecue sauce and would have enhanced the enjoyment of a nearly marginal meal. My curiosity about this dish has been satisfied and I probably will not order it again in the future as there are too many other things on the menu I like better.
For the three of us, dinner and beverages, it came to $24.25, and with tip almost $30.00. At an bout $10.00 apiece, not too bad for an occasional dinner and night out with friends. If you like, you can compare the brisket meal I was served with the “as advertized” picture below.
It had been quite awhile since our last visit to a Cracker Barrel. Although their Front Porch rewards program is now defunct, the e-mailing list persists. The latest offered the Country Brisket Plate special, slices barbecued brisket on Texas toast, French fries, a side of coleslaw and extra barbecue sauce and garnished with slices of sweet pickle; and all for just $5.99. Sounded like a good deal. We have had favorable outings at Cracker Barrel in the past. We owed out friend Martha a dinner out so we called and set a date.
This Cracker Barrel is the closest to our house, it just off the 275 Freeway on 54th Avenue in St. Petersburg, Florida, a leisurely 15 minute drive. We arrived in a lull, just before the dinner rush I would guess. We were seated almost immediately in a sparely occupied dining room. It was pleasantly much quieter than normal, the hard surfaces do echo ambient sound, and we were thankful for the small crowd and a much quieter dining experience.
Our server, Deborah, was quickly there to take our beverage order. She was friendly and efficient. During the course of the meal she was there to refill beverage glasses and to check on our progress. She was there often enough that we never needed to call for her but never hovered too near the table.
We had not told Martha about our predetermined choices. We wanted her to have free choice from the menu. Janis had already decided on the Chicken and Dumplings ($8.29) from the Country Dinner Platters section, her long time favorite from the Cracker Barrel offerings. She already had her side orders selected, corn, fried apples, cottage cheese and biscuits. Martha found the menu insert about the Country Brisket Special ($5.99), the offering that had brought me there, and in an example of coincidence, ordered the brisket. The brisket comes with a choice of biscuits or corn muffins. Martha was unable to decide when our server, Deborah, suggested that she could provide one of each for Martha to try and then the order was complete.
Janis’s chicken and dumplings were, as she said, “…as good as they always are.” She was thoroughly enjoying them. The serving was more than ample and as is her habit, asked for a take home container to split the meal and enjoy the second half as tomorrow night’s dinner.
Martha’s and my brisket plates were almost identical but only similar to the as advertized picture in the e-mail and stapled to the menu. The as advertized picture would lead one to believe a more substantial and better cooked serving was in the offing. Certainly it needed more work in presentation. Martha enjoyed her meal and had no particular complaints. The meat was slightly tough, more so than to cut with a fork, it needed a bit of pressure with the table knife. Perhaps the meat had been in a steam table dish too long. I think it was more of an oven roasted brisket rather than a true barbecued brisket. It was not big on flavor and therefore benefitted from the barbecue sauce. The sauce was vinegary Carolina style sauce, not to tart and not to thin, very good for that style of sauce. The base Texas toast was crispy as it should have
been. The fries were fine but needed a dash of salt. The coleslaw was tasty and just about the right serving for the size of the dinner platter. With the biscuits and butter, considering it was the “Special” at a reduced price, it all made for a satisfying meal of moderate proportions. There was one additional deficit we didn’t realize until the meal was completed. Our brisket platters did not have the sweet pickle slices. In retrospect I think the sweetness of the pickles would have made an excellent counterpoint to the tartness of the barbecue sauce and would have enhanced the enjoyment of a nearly marginal meal. My curiosity about this dish has been satisfied and I probably will not order it again in the future as there are too many other things on the menu I like better.
For the three of us, dinner and beverages, it came to $24.25, and with tip almost $30.00. At an bout $10.00 apiece, not too bad for an occasional dinner and night out with friends. If you like, you can compare the brisket meal I was served with the “as advertized” picture below.
Labels: barbecue, biscuits, brisket, chicken and dumplings, coleslaw, cracker barrel, Florida, pickles, St Petersburg. Cuban. sandwich
¶ 6:14 AM 0 Comments
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Twin Dragon Mongolian BBQ - Anchorage, Alaska
Twin Dragon Mongolian Barbecue and Chinese Buffet - Anchorage, Alaska
Of late, errands have found me on the other side of town at lunchtime. On this day I made it a point to stop by for at least a takeout meal. Had I more time I would have filled my bowl with the ingredients of my choice and watched the Mongolian grill chef cooked my meal. Instead I ordered Mongolian beef on the luncheon special and my order was filled by the young ladies in the back room. While I waited I looked over the food bars. All neat and tidy, the food containers were full and the food looked fresh. I made a mental note that I must make the time and come back for a sit-down Mongolian barbecue dinner just like to good old days.
By the time I arrived home, some twenty miles out of town, my lunch was cold. I plated it and reheated it in the microwave. A quick photo and it was time to eat. The rice was a little uninspired, just seasoned rice and a bit of egg, the rice was a filler, but palatable. The egg roll was surprisingly crisp after reheating, the filling flavorful, quite good. The Mongolian barbecued beef was adequate in serving size, the meat tasty, nicely spiced and moist with just enough sauce to coat the meat and a bit left over to flavor the rice. I was well satisfied with the meal and I reminded me to go back for another savory meal soon (and I can go back for seconds).
The Twin Dragon is open daily for lunch through dinner. Luncheon specials offer a wide selection of mild and spicy dishes, Priced at a minimum of $7.95 for almond chicken, as an example, to a high of $9.95 for shrimp and vegetables. The menu has a large selection of ala carte entrees as well as combination dinners, you know, with four you get egg roll.
Twin Dragon Mongolian Barbecue and Chinese Buffet - Anchorage, Alaska
It had been a long time since my last visit to Twin Dragons, even longer since my first visit when I first moved to Alaska some twenty years ago. When I arrived, some kind soul told me that the Dragons served good food and, thankfully, I took their advice. The Dragons has a patina of permanence but is well kept and has an inviting presence, a comfort of familiarity. The Dragons boasts that it is Alaska’s best Chinese restaurant as well as being Alaska’s original Mongolian barbecue. Located on a side street off an awkward intersection, the Dragons longevity and continued patronage is a positive testament to what is found inside.
Of late, errands have found me on the other side of town at lunchtime. On this day I made it a point to stop by for at least a takeout meal. Had I more time I would have filled my bowl with the ingredients of my choice and watched the Mongolian grill chef cooked my meal. Instead I ordered Mongolian beef on the luncheon special and my order was filled by the young ladies in the back room. While I waited I looked over the food bars. All neat and tidy, the food containers were full and the food looked fresh. I made a mental note that I must make the time and come back for a sit-down Mongolian barbecue dinner just like to good old days. 
By the time I arrived home, some twenty miles out of town, my lunch was cold. I plated it and reheated it in the microwave. A quick photo and it was time to eat. The rice was a little uninspired, just seasoned rice and a bit of egg, the rice was a filler, but palatable. The egg roll was surprisingly crisp after reheating, the filling flavorful, quite good. The Mongolian barbecued beef was adequate in serving size, the meat tasty, nicely spiced and moist with just enough sauce to coat the meat and a bit left over to flavor the rice. I was well satisfied with the meal and I reminded me to go back for another savory meal soon (and I can go back for seconds).
The Twin Dragon is open daily for lunch through dinner. Luncheon specials offer a wide selection of mild and spicy dishes, Priced at a minimum of $7.95 for almond chicken, as an example, to a high of $9.95 for shrimp and vegetables. The menu has a large selection of ala carte entrees as well as combination dinners, you know, with four you get egg roll.
On a recent revsit to the Twin Dragons for lunch, I had this beef, Bell peppers, mushroom, onions and pineapple stirfry with a sweet and sour sauce. Very nice, very tasty.
To cook Mongolian Beef at home, see Mongolian Beef and Barbecue - Our On-Line Cookbook
To cook Mongolian Beef at home, see Mongolian Beef and Barbecue - Our On-Line Cookbook
Labels: Alaska, barbecue, Dragon, Mongolian, Twin
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