weier.net

I should have written this a long time ago since we have had to try to tell this 15-minute-long story approximately 10 times already since we came back from Los Angeles.

So let's try to get this recorded for posterity.


Q: What is up with that picture of you and some dude and a pregnant girlfriend cardboard sign?

A:

Backstory: We enjoy a podcast called Doug Loves Movies. The premise for this podcast is that comedian Doug Benson brings his friends (usually other comedians) - whoever is in the same town as he is while touring - up on stage with him in front of the live audience and they have an entertaining gabfest about what's happening in the world, sorta bent towards cinema. The culmination of this activity is a game called "The Leonard Maltin Game" in which the celebrity/contestants on stage bid to be able to guess a movie from a short description and a list of the cast in reverse order, ala "Name That Tune" - "Doug, I can name that movie in 3 credits". Since these people have things to promote they started bringing items to give away to the crowd...and the game morphed into a way to give promotional gifts to the audience. The people on stage would play the game, each of them for a chosen audience member, whichever player won would determine who in the audience would receive what is commonly referred to on the show as the bag of crap. Now Doug, who is pretty much constantly stoned during his shows, was in a situation where he had to remember a large list of names. He asked the crowd to bring nametags to make his life easier, and the crowds ran with it. I would say that more than 50% of people brings signs to the shows we have attended.

...still writing...but saving for now...

http://www.freestyleyogurt.com/


Must Have
-------------


Very Good
-------------
+ St. Paul Strawberry (lowfat)
+ Irish Mint (nonfat)

Good
------------
+ New York Cheesecake (nonfat)
+ Strawberry Granola topping


Take It Or Leave It
-------------
? Mint Chips topping (overpowering)
? Strawberry Bobos topping (fake tasting, overpowering)

How are we only reviewing this now? We have been here like 5 times? Gah.


Must Have
---------
+ Devils on Horseback
+ Charcuterie


Very Good
---------
+ Apple Salad -- apples, toasted hazelnut, celery root, radish, fried pigs' ear
+ Korean Pork BBQ

Good
--------


Take it or Leave It
---------
? House Shiraz
? Octopus - we have had lots of octopus/squid here, and usually been pleased - The broth was good, the peppers and arugula were tasty -- but this pressure-cooked octopus was texturally very strange; I'm trying to think of how to describe it. Hmmm...maybe ' 1/4" thick seafood fruit roll-up'?

http://teresasmexicanrest.com/menu.html

Must Have
----------
+ Alambre -- ribeye strips and bacon, peppers and cheese on 4 tortillas...oh sweet jesus this is heaven. (Only downside is they are way light on the guacamole and sour cream sides)


Very Good
----------
+ House Margaritas -- PS: The pitcher filled the glasses about 4.5 times
+ Table Salsa -- simple, effective, a nice little bit too it without ruin life for grandparents

Good
----------
+ Table Chips -- as one would expect, would be nice to be warmer
+ Carnitas Verde -- We probably would have rated this higher except for the flavorgasm from the Alambre overshadowing it.

I don't know how I haven't reviewed this yet - since I have only been eating here since 1990.

http://www.cecilsdeli.com


Must Have
------------
+ Reuben (Classic)
+ Hamantashen cookies -- ALL OF THEM!!!!
+ Russian Reuben
+ Pastrami and Schmere -- pastrami, cream cheese and raw onions...perfect for first dates and pre-love-making.
+ Cottage Cheese -- probably just Old Home...but it is perfect.

Very Good
-----------
+ Spicy Reuben
+ Rachel (called a Turkey Reuben here for some reason)
+ Potato Salad
+ Coleslaw
+ Pickle (comes with your sammich)
+ French Toasted Turkey Club -- stick anything between two piece of French Toast and you've got me sold.

http://www.ryedeli.com/

You Might As Well Kill Yourself If You Were There And Didn't Eat This
-----------
+++ Challah French Toast


Must Have
----------
+ He'Brew Messiah beer
+ Coleslaw (sammich side) -- apple-cider vinegary, nice twang to it.


Very Good
----------
+ Open-Face Reuben (with corned beef) -- perfectly cooked meat, but I need more Russian dressing - but that's just me.
+ House mustard -- POW!! Strong stuff.
+ Poutine -- Very nice job. Didn't blow my mind...but I'll eat it any day.
+ Dirty Egg Cream -- Synthetic concoction of booze and Egg Cream ingredients. Much better that the real thing - but not as good as other beverage options.


Good
----------
+ Black & White Cookie -- had been sitting around a touch too long at 10PM...I bet fresh they are perfect.
+ Grilled Salami Sandwich -- their house mustard is very easy to kill a sammich with, super-potent. I would recommend ordering this sans any mustard and sauce yourself at the table. The fabulous sammich was completely overshadowed by mustard - very sad - cuz the salami was perfect.


Take It Or Leave It
-----------
? Egg Cream -- This is zero comment on THEIR egg cream, just that every decade I have one I forget that I don't think they are that great.
? Sour Pickle -- Again, zero comment on THEIR pickle...I'm just not that into sour pickles. Yahweh invented dill for a reason.

...time to do the most important update of the year...

1. Anne Hathaway
2. Julie Bowen
3. Alyson Hannigan & Cobie Smulders sandwich
4. Alison Brie & Gillian Jacobs sandwich
5. Carly Foulkes

(for comparison, 2011)

After purchasing a new car (and getting out of the dealership at 8:30PM after 2 1/2 hours) we decided to eat upscale.

Turns out that PB's Happy Hour starts at 8PM...and is a mindblowingly good from a price / performance calculation. They have around 8 plates for $3, and large well drinks are $3...and a selection of about 10 other beverage types are also $3.

I will update the food list on the original "Pittsburgh Blue (Part 2)" page...so we remember what to order.

Now we just need to remember to go there more often.

Must Have
--------


Very Good
---------


Good
---------
+ Mello Yello Peach
+ Coke Lime

Take It Or Leave It
----------


Probably Not
-----------
- Pibb Xtra Cherry Vanilla

The perfect holiday conversation starter...


Apple Pie Shots
------------------

1 gallon     apple cider
1/2 gallon   apple juice
5 cups       sugar
10-15        cinnamon sticks
1/2 liter    Everclear
1 can        Redi-whip

Combine the apple cider, apple juice, and the sugar. Heat and stir until all the sugar is dissolved. Add cinnamon sticks and cook the mixture. Once cool, add the alcohol. Top shots with redi-whip when ready.

We never made it to the original Heidi's before they burnt it to the ground...so...better notes this time.

http://heidismpls.com

Must Have
----------
+ Tongue
+ Mini Ceviche
+ Short Rib
+ Tenderloin


Very Good
----------
+ Spicy Butternut Squash and Potato Soup
+ Shefzilla Surprise -- (today it was a Scallop perched upon secret sauces)
+ North and South Walleye
+ Lamb Shank


Good
-----------
+ "The Bennie"
+ Oyster on the Half Shell
+ Ranch Salad


Take It Or Leave It
------------

This is like the 5th time we have been here, when we travel West/South...but I never write anything down...so...

Must Have
-------------
+ Neopolitan Shake


Very Good
--------------
+ Cheeseburger, Animal Style


Good
-----------


Take It Or Leave It
-----------
? Fries. (They were flaccid and undercooked.)


...additional notes:
http://www.badmouth.net/in-n-outs-secret-menu/

http://www.bar508.com/



Must Have
------------
+ Pretzels -- with Fuddrucker's dipping cheese.


Very Good
-------------
+ Italian Dunkers
+ Roasted Chicken Nachos
+ Mini Corndogs
+ Summit Beer-battered Chicken Fingers
+ Onion Rings


Good
---------
+ Garlic Fries -- s*%#-tons of garlic on these things...probably too much.

http://velleedeli.com/

Must Have
-----------


Very Good
-----------
+ Currito

Good
--------
+ Korean BBQ Burrito
+ Eggrolls


....nothing has blown my mind yet...but I would still eat here whenever the option presented itself. More experimentation needed.

http://www.wildbillssportssaloon.com/

Must Have
-----------


Very Good
-----------
+ Fries -- Ore-Ida Crinkle-cut, but, cooked to perfection


Good
----------
+ Pork Sliders
+ Chips & Queso
+ $2.50 Saturday-special Screwdriver
+ $2.50 Saturday-special Bloody Mary
+ Saturday-special BINGO


Take It Or Leave It
-------------
+ Southwest Taco Flatbread Pizza


Probably Not
------------
? Coleslaw -- booOOOoooooring.