Baja Jack's

Baja Jack’s is one of the many new restaurants that has popped up in Owasso in the past couple years and by the look of the lunch crowd, they’re not struggling!

And it’s no wonder, with their colorful island atmosphere, unique build-your-own-burrito setup, and sizable salsa bar, a trip to Baja Jack’s makes for a fun & festive meal!

Baja Ambiance

The bright atmosphere is mirrored by the friendly faces at Baja Jack’s, including the owners who are usually scrambling to keep the lunch crowds happy.

Baja Jack's Co-Owners

The burritos may be their most popular item, but they also offer a variety of other tasty dishes including quesadillas, tacos, and rellenos, empanadas, as well as ceviche and fresh guacamole appetizers.

Baja Fresh

I got a carne asada empanada, made in the style of taco stand soft tacos, and was pleased with the well-seasoned, tender beef with freshly grilled onions and peppers encased in the pleasantly thin tortilla. They describe these as being like authentic taco stand tacos, without having to stand, and while no one has matched the quality of the Tulsa taco stands I’ve been to, it was fairly close to the real deal.

Baja Jack's Empanada

My friends opted for the build your own burritos, and it’s amazing how different they turned out! One ended up being a thick & hearty meal, while the other ended up being a fresh yet creamy salad. Both were very happy!

BYOB

And One Very Different Burrito!

I loved that they offered a free salsa bar; I’d have to say that their Cilantro Lime was my favorite – I always love this fantastically fresh food combination and give kudos to them just for offering this!

Salsa Bar

We topped off our lunch with a light & fluffy “Strawberries & Cream” dessert – quite the delight!

For the Build Your Own Burrito, customers get to choose from 35 different ingredients: Carne Asada Steak, Shredded Chicken, Carnitas Pork, Shrimp & Crab, Baja Fried Fish, and Grilled Whitefish for the meats; Lettuce, Diced Tomato, Fajita Onions, Raw Onion, Fajita Peppers, Green Cabbage, and Fresh Avocado for the vegetables; cheese choises of Monterey-Jack Cheese, Pepper-Jack Cheese, Cheddar Cheese, Melted Queso Dip, and Cotija Cheese; Cilantro Rice, Mexi-Rice, Refried Beans, and Vegetarian Black Beans for the fillings; Cilantro, Jalapeno Peppers, Serrano Peppers, Creamy Lime Sauce, Holy Guacamole!, Sour Cream, Fat Free Yogurt, Pico De Gallo for some exciting and unique extras; and finally, patrons can choose Tortilla, Wheat Tortilla, Baja Bowl (lettuce), or Taco Salad Shell wrappers.

Tags: Baja Jack's Burrito Shack

This past week I had one of those dreaded summer colds, you know, the type where you’re hot and sweaty and the 103 degree temperature doesn’t help things.  So it got to the point that, even though it was sweltering outside, I had to have my time tested remedy: Dr. Pepper and hot and sour soup.

Cold Remedy #1: Dr. Pepper and Hot and Sour Soup

Whether it actually works, Dr. Pepper has been tauted as a cold remedy, hangover remedy, and general picker-upper to many over the years.  After all, the drink was created by a pharmacist in Morrison’s Old Corner Drug Store in 1885.  Maybe it’s the sugar, maybe it’s the carbonation, or maybe it’s just the unique flavor the makes people crave it when they’re feeling low; whatever the case, I’ve been using it, couple with hot & sour soup, and it’s always done the trick for me!

The reasoning behind having the soup during a cold makes much more sense: the warm broth and hot spices alone are enough to clear out the stuffiest of sinuses.

So last Friday, when I had the stuffiest of sinuses, I headed to Royal Dragon’s Chinese buffet to get the necessities:

Dr. Pepper & Hot and Sour Soup

If you haven’t been to Royal Dragon, they have a large number of items to choose from, including most of the usual Chinese buffet fare of fried foods, chicken, beef, pork, and vegetable dishes, and heavy sauces, but occasionally you can find duck and other surprises there.

If you want something a little more special, they also offer a variety of fresh dishes off of the menu.

Royal Dragon Buffet

Royal Dragon has a grand and elegant atmosphere, and while we did opt for the buffet over the fresher menu items, I still left satisfied and feeling much more clear in the head.  This seemed to do the trick, at least for the time being, but there was another remedy that my Chinese friend had urged me to try as well, so over the weekend that’s what I did.

Cold Remedy #2: Ginger Tea

Ginger tea is easy to make, requires only a ginger root, is thought to be a great cold remedy, and is pleasant tasting to boot!

You just take a fresh ginger root and slice it into pieces:

Ginger Root

Boil it in water for a good 20 minutes or so.

And voila, your tea is ready.  It should be highly concentrated for the best results and served hot.

Ginger Tea

I’m not sure if it helped with my cold, but I quite enjoyed the taste of the ginger tea and will definitely be making it again as a pre-bedtime bevvy.

Tags: Dr. Pepper, ginger tea, hot and sour soup, how to make ginger tea, Royal Dragon

Blue Moon Cafe

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day and when a restaurant rises above my lofty early morning expectations I get excited.  Along comes Blue Moon Cafe with a diverse breakfast menu that consists of interesting dishes such as Lox & Bagel and Migas (a Tex-Mex dish using eggs, tortilla pieces, cheese, vegetables and various spices).  Christine and I chose more typical breakfast items for our first visit, but we were impressed with the gourmet twist Blue Moon Cafe brings to the table.

French Toast w/ Sausage

Since Christine and I hadn’t ate out for breakfast in quite a while I knew I had to get my old standby – French Toast ($5.50).  There is a pretty wide spectrum of what I would call “good” french toast but I must say the French Toast at Blue Moon Cafe was spectacular!  The bread tasted homemade and there seemed to be an extra spice added to the batter – possibly nutmeg or maybe just magic? I’m not sure.  I also ordered the homemade Sausage Patties (2 for $1.75) and they were worth every penny – my only problem was I had to keep my wife from eating them.

Egg-a-Muffin

Christine chose the Egg-a-Muffin ($5.95) which is a play on the all American Egg McMuffin.  What makes this breakfast sandwich stand apart is the choice of special ingredients such as coppocolla ham and provolone cheese.  These little touches elevate the flavor beyond what most breakfast sandwiches have to offer and the fresh english muffin and fluffy scrambled egg bring it all together.

When it comes to an affordable breakfast Blue Moon Bakery & Cafe can not be beat!  The patron dining besides us spoke highly of of the Huevos Rancheros she was happily eating and wanted that to be mentioned.  Christine and I can’t wait to go back to this little restaurant on Brookside and try their lunch and dinner selections.  Fish tacos anyone?

Baker St. Pub & Grill

Bars are a dime-a-dozen in Tulsa but a bar that provides some tasty eats to go along with your beers is another story.  Then there’s pubs where food takes priority over the drinks and Baker St. Pub & Grill is one of those.  Eat, drink, and be merry applies here and the grub goes beyond just your typical Bangers and Mash.

When you walk into Baker St. you know what kind of experience you’re in for right away – TVs everywhere, raucous sports fans cheering, and all around drunken behavior amidst British hodgepodge.  The atmosphere is eclectic because Baker St. Pub’s decor attempts to transport you into the fictional London home of Sherlock Holmes. 

Hummus Plate

After being escorted to our booth we ordered beverages and decided upon the Hummus Plate ($8.49) for our appetizer.  The Hummus was light and refreshing – accompanied by flat bread and crisp veggies.  This was far from normal pub fare, but we knew we were in for some fried treats and sandwiches later on.

London Platter

After making a tough decision between Bangers and Mash and the London Platter – I decided to go for the London Platter ($11.99) which consisted of beer-battered Atlantic cod along with crispy shrimp and fries.  The cocktail sauce really notched up the flavor and the tartar sauce tasted just right for the fried fish.

Baker St. Reuben

My lovely wife, Christine, chose one of her all-time favorite sandwiches – the Reuben.  Christine tries Reubens at all kinds of restaurants and spoke highly of the Baker St. Reuben ($7.99).  She thought it was definitely above average – mainly because the bread was toasted well and not soggy like so many others.  

Cheers!

Baker St. Pub & Grill is above average when it comes to food, drinks, and service.  It seems like an ideal place to catch the next big sporting event.  The atmosphere can be a little rowdy, but hey, sports + beer = cheers!

Baker St. Pub & Grill is located at 6620 S. Memorial Dr.

Tags: Baker St. Bar & Grill, fish and chips, hummus, reuben

This weekend my husband and I ventured to Catoosa to stop in at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino for some food and fun!  We typically gamble at the Riverspirit Casino because it’s closer to home but when it comes to dining out the selection at the Hard Rock seems so much better.  We love, love, love to eat at McGill’s but this time we decided to stop in for a more casual dinner at Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill.

Crazy Good Chicken!

We went to Toby Keith’s about six months ago and we knew the portions would be HUGE so we decided to skip our usual appetizer round.  The country cooking at TK’s offers interesting selections like calf fries, black eyed peas, and Southwest creamed corn.  Adventurous types should enjoy the down-home, rib-sticking countrified fare. 

Ribs & Chicken

I ordered the Ribs & Chicken ($19.99).  St. Louis style ribs served with margarita marinated rotisserie chicken.  Both the ribs and chicken were very pleasing and juicy.  I choose their amazingly flavorful mashed potatoes and crispy okra for my sides.  Their red-skin potatoes are mashed up with garlic, butter, sour cream, green onions along with salt and pepper.  It’s sort of like eating a loaded baked potato but in a creamier mode.

16oz Chicken Fried Steak

Eric decided to have the 16oz Chicken Fried Steak ($16.99) and thinks it is the best chicken fried steak he has ever had.  It is so big that the 1 lb hand breaded sirloin is served on a platter sized plate and could easily feed an army of people.  Eric ordered his dinner with two potato sides – mashed potatoes and freedom fries.  It’s a shame Eric will not try any vegetables besides potatoes. 

Buttermilk Pie

For dessert Toby Keith’s offers a modest variety of pies and one brownie dish.  We went with the most unique selection – Buttermilk Pie ($4.99).  The pie was delicious but extremely sweet and rich.  It reminded us of eating cookie dough but there is nothing wrong with that!

Cowboy Up!

After eating at Toby Keith’s we were almost too stuffed to play any more slots!  That is probably a good thing because we weren’t doing very well anyway.  For a nice diversion from the cards, craps and slots stop in at Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill!

Tags: Buttermilk pie, Chicken Fried Steak, mashed potatoes, St. Louis Ribs

Ichiban

Yesterday I met a couple family members and went to lunch at Ichiban located on 41st and Memorial.  You practically have to either have been there before or go with someone ”in the know” to find the place.  There is not a sign, nor open windows showcasing happy lunchers eating.  It’s a small hole in the wall that appears to be a closed down restaurant, but what you will find inside is a bustling eatery.

Ichiban Salad

I can remember going to Ichiban about 10 years ago and the same little old lady waited on us then too.  She serves everyone in the restaurant so be sure you’re not in a hurry if you’re heading there around the lunch rush hour.  The menu is very limited – in fact I think Ichiban has about five items in all.  The old adage quality not quantity applies here.

Teriyaki Beef

For lunch I ordered the Teriyaki Beef – tender skewers of beef served with rice, salad, and a delicious thick teriyaki glaze sauce.  The lunch was not too heavy yet was big enough to share with others at the table.

Teriyaki Chicken

Also ordered at the table was the Teriyaki Chicken – I liked this even better than the beef!  The chicken was juicy and grilled to perfection and again, the teriyaki sauce is out of this world. 

Chicken Curry - Just Say No!

One dish that was not a big hit was the Chicken Curry.  It was more like a gelatinous gravy than a curry sauce.  It was very disappointing but there was enough chicken and beef to share anyway.

If you go to Ichiban stick with what they’re known for – their teriyaki dishes. The portions are good and the prices are not bad.  Don’t expect mind blowing atmosphere, hip waiters or pretentious dishes - just let the food speak for itself.

Tags: Ichiban, Teriyaki

"I write, I eat, I travel, and I'm hungry for more."

Guess who’s coming to Tulsa!  Anthony Bourdain – the world renowned chef, author, and host of Travel Channel’s No Reservations.  The intimate night of the chef’s delicious musings will be sure to please as he discusses his eclectic adventures, cultural experiences and more. 

Bourdain is known for his incredible culinary talents, exotic travels, explicit and sometimes brutal judgements, and for consuming daring cuisine such as cobra in Vietnam, fermented shark in Iceland and sheep testicles in Morocco.  Ironically when asked the most disgusting thing he has ever eaten, Bourdain states it’s a chicken McNugget.

The show is scheduled for Saturday June 12, 2010 @ 8:00 PM.  Tickets are on sale now at Tulsa Performing Arts Center. 

Bourdain is a 1978 graduate of CIA, author of Kitchen Confidential, and guest judge for Bravo TV’s Top Chef among many other distinctive accomplishments.

Tags: Anthony Bourdain

Hmong Cafe

Hmong cuisine is a combination of flavors and influences from Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Burma.  It’s a melting pot of Southeast Asian ingredients such as hot peppers, cilantro, garlic, lime, lemongrass, fish sauce, mint, ginger and other spices and herbs. In fact, Hmong cuisine is known for its extensive use of fresh herbs – which I love! Every Spring I plant a variety of herbs and cook with them daily, so Hmong cuisine is perfect for me.

Watermelon Bubble Drink

I had heard about Hmong Cafe but had never been before last week. I met a couple lunch dates and headed there around noon. It’s sort of a hole in the wall located off 31st and Garnett in a little shopping center. It was so hidden to me I spent 10 minutes or so driving around looking for it – one of my lunch companions did the same and the other had no problem finding it. After arrival we were promptly seated and ordered beverages. They serve Boba and slushies – fun!

Fresh Spring Rolls

To start we ordered Spring Rolls ($3) comes two in an order. These are not the fried Americanized Springs Rolls, oh no – they’re the fresh, healthy kind wrapped in rice paper. Inside that gummy wrapper you’ll find fresh shrimp, “meatloaf” (tasted like tofu to me), veggies and a ton of delicious herbs including mint and cilantro. It is served with a spicy dipping sauce.

Yellow Curry with Sticky Rice

For lunch I ordered one of my favorite dishes, Yellow Curry ($7) – chicken with carrots, potatoes, onions and green bell peppers served with sticky rice. These ingredients are in your every-day-run-of-mill yellow curry but somehow this one blows away all the others! It was creamy and spicy and took me back to the wonderful Thai delivery I used to order two times a week when I lived in Los Angeles. I was hooked from the first bite.

Sliced Beef Lahb

Also ordered at the table was Lahb salad ($8) sliced beef served with fresh herbs and spices. These spicy salads are served room tempature and come with a bunch of fresh mint, basil, cilantro and green onion. Light and yet very filling!

Phad Sea Eaw

Phad Sea Eaw ($7) was another choice this day and is a dish consisting of flat noodles with chicken, eggs and veggies. It is served with a sweet soy sauce and was a hit.

I enjoyed Hmong Cafe so much I went back the next night and ordered the Red Curry ($7) which is served with beef, pineapple, bamboo and snow peas. I *think* I liked it even better than the yellow curry – I don’t know though, it’s a tough decision!  Regardless, I think I’ve found my new weekly haunt. 

Tags: Hmong Cafe, Lahb salad, Phad Sea Eaw, spring rolls, yellow curry

Eureka Springs!

Recently, Christine and I took a much needed vacation to the town in which we got married – Eureka Springs.  This small town is filled with independently owned shops, boutiques, diversity, and most importantly, outstanding cuisine.  My reflex as soon as we get to Eureka Springs is to run to a little hut of a funnel cake stand.  I am instantly reminded of the Tulsa Fair and how great deep fried batter is.  After settling down and doing a bit of shopping, Christine and I discuss where to go for dinner.  We decided upon the magnificent Rogue’s Manor.

Rogue's Manor

Potted Montrachet

Rogue’s Manor  wine menu is longer than the Canterbury Tales and the food makes you feel like a king.  Christine and I ventured to the wild side of appetizers and chose the Potted Montrachet  ($7)  This dainty looking plate packed a creamy goat cheese spread incorporating sundried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, Kalamata olives, and herbs – served with toast points. 

Rack of Lamb

Along came a Rack of Lamb ($44) which was worth every penny.  I was not let down as this plate delivered layers of flavor with its housemade Merlot sauce and the lamb was cooked perfectly medium.  The side of horseradish mashed potatoes were creamy and tangy.

Seafood Casserole

Christine was in a seafood kind of mood and dove right into the Seafood Casserole ($29)  The casserole contains a hearty amount of salmon, scallops, and shrimp sauteed with white wine, sherry, and herbs.  It comes topped with Hollandaise and Swiss cheese.  If I wasn’t so busy devouring my own entree, I would have stole hers.

Ermilio's

Mussells

The next night we were in for quite a treat as we got to experience the best in family Italian dining – Ermilio’s.  This little home-cooking eatery is a treasure to all who go there and you can tell by the line out the door.  After we were seated we were served my wife’s favorite complimentary starter – bread with roasted garlic.  Our choice for an appetizer were the Mussells.  Drenched in garlic, diced tomatoes, and olive oil we enjoyed each and every one. 

Halibut with Risotto

After hearing the waiter describe the specials, I knew I had to have the Halibut with Risotto.  FAX ME SOME HALIBUT! (I berated my wife with this Seinfeld reference all night) The halibut was seared perfectly and cut like butter with a fork.  The risotto tasted like a mixture of creamy rice with bruschetta spread and it paired well with the fish.

Shrimp Provencale

Christine had the Shrimp Provencale which was served on top of a linguini.  The large shrimp were as described and the olive oil, garlic, shallots, white wine, fresh tomato, cream, and parmesan cheese rounded out this tasty sauce. 

We were both filled to the gills (get it, we ate a lot of seafood!) and decided to hold off on dessert.  But then we remembered the homemade Tiramisu and we knew we had to take some to go.  We enjoyed it later as we had fond memories of our favorite Eureka restaurant, Ermilio’s.

Fried Pickles

Loaded Potato Wedges

Amid our visits to these two great dining establishments we visited many independent eateries which were charming and simple.  From Fried Pickles at the New Delhi Cafe to Loaded Potato Wedges at the Balcony Cafe located in the Basin Park Hotel – our meals were splendid and as diverse as the town itself.  We enjoyed the delicious cheesecake (caramel apples on mine, Christine’s had blackberries) at Peace Love & Cheesecake and took quite a bounty of sweets home from Two Dumb Dames Fudge Factory for family and friends.

Peace Love & Cheesecake

The main thing I remember is that first bite into my funnel cake at the beginning of the trip and thinking how great it was that we were in Eureka Springs.  So, if you’re looking for a weekend getaway Eureka Springs is a quick drive and will promise to be full of tasty adventures!

Tags: cheesecake, Ermilio's, Eureka Springs, fried pickles, halibut, Mussels, potato wedges, rack of lamb, Rogue's Manner, seafood casserole, shrimp provencale

Merritt's Future of Donuts!

I didn’t know I was in for a surprise when I went to Merritt’s Bakery this morning, I just knew I was going to get a tasty donut.  Upon entering the bakery and picking my number I was about to resort to my routine of getting one of their cinnamon rolls.  Instead, my eyes were drawn to some colorful signs describing their selection of “new fun flavor” donuts.  They had a rainbow of colored icings which you wouldn’t normally find on a donut – green, pink, red, and purple.  Outrageous flavors such as Hibiscus and Green Tea were the reason for these colors.

Green Tea Donut

I decided to give the green tea donut a go and happily walked out the door with curious thoughts in my mind.  I hurried home and tried the donut.  It  tasted mostly like sugary icing with small hints of green tea flavor.  The green tea complimented the sweet dough of the donut but I was really yearning for more infused flavor.  Oh well, I will be back to try the other fun flavors soon – and of course, I’ll report the sweet low down.

Tags: green tea donut, Merritt's Bakery