Restaurant Review - Lone Star Taqueria

Curt and I had appointments in SLC today so we hit the next stop on the Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives SLC list - Lone Star Taqueria. Is it definitely a dive. It has a beat up old car on the outdoor patio, the chairs are all ancient metal chairs, old boots adorn the fence aroundthe patio and the place looks like it's 100 years old. However...

The food is AWESOME!

This is the guac, bean dip and chips. Sooooooooo good! The guac was pretty spicey too! The beans were mixed with fresh grated cheese and some kind of flavored sour cream - whatever it was, there was nothing left when we were through.

These are the fish tacos. I wasn't TOO excited when I saw the fish of the day was Salmon, but we vowed to try the house specialty, and this was it. I was NOT disappointed. It's fresh salmon, not battered, and just lightly fried - oh man, after these 2 I was ready to eat 5 more. The fresh, soft corn tortillas were delicious and the sauce was very light and flavorful! Seriously, just awesome. I may not be able to eat at Rubio's anymore after these fish tacos...OK, I still can, but I won't enjoy it quite as much :-D

I gotta give this place 5 stars, it was absolutely delicious! 2265 Fort Union Blvd - put it on your list of places to eat for sure!

Happy Birthday Dad!!!!

Well, I'm officially the worst son ever. I missed my dad's birthday on Friday. But it wasn't my fault!!! I ran out of gas! I got a flat tire! I didn't have change for cab fare! I lost my tux at the cleaners! I locked my keys in the car! An old friend came in from out of town! Someone stole my car! There was an earthquake! A terrible flood! Locusts! IT WASN'T MY FAULT!!!

Actually, I have no excuses, I have no alibi. It simply skipped my mind. And I know when his birthday is, just lame on my part.

So, Dad, HAPPY BIRTHDAY. I know you're not a big fan of birthdays since you hit the big ** (numbers deleted to protect the OLD!) but it's nice to remember you once a year at least. :-D

You are a GREAT Dad and Grandpa! Griff and I love you a lot. You're a terrific example of how to be a man, a father, a grandpa, a husband and missionary! Thank you for everything you do for me and Griff, you are very important to us.

I'll dig up some pics and add them here later (I don't have them on my work computer, and I need to get back to work :-) )

I hope your birthday was a good one down there in New Zealand, we miss you and appreciate the example you and mom are showing by sacrificing 18 months of your lives to help others. And for what it's worth, you don't look ** - so have an orange whip...or three. :-)

Incubus

Went to Usana for the Incubus concert!

I will let it be known that I tried to sell these tickets. When that became a non-option, I decided I better go and not let these great tix go to waste. And I'll let it be known right now, this may have been THE best concert I've ever been to!

All day long I was worried that they would play new stuff because they have a new album coming out. 311 just did this to us and played a lot of new stuff instead of the classics. It was still really good, but just a little disappointing (plus the new stuff is all mellow, we like the loud stuff!) Anyway, my fears were allayed immediately when they shot out of the gate with 3 straight songs from Make Yourself and Morning View and 5 out of 6! The other song was Megalomaniac, which they flat out ROCKED! I was immediately in a great mood and bouncing along with the other crazies in "The Pit" (these are by far the most fun tickets for a Rock concert at Usana - anything else is just weak by comparison.)

Then, instead of taking a break where the drummer or bass player has a super long solo, they hit a couple of acoustic songs that were truly amazing. On one song the drummer sat on a wooden box and beat on it like a bongo, it was So cool as it went along with the song, reminded me of the little kids in Chicago that would sit on the side of the street playing the 10 gallon paint buckets. I think it's SUPER rare that a rock singer can actually SING, and this guy has amazing range and rocks when needed and lays down a killer ballad when it's called for. The way they could change speeds, seemingly effortlessly, from one style to the next was SO dang cool. And this guy knocks out the songs start to finish and NEVER waivers, never hits a bad note, his voice never gives out, never cracks. It is really incredible. The guy must not talk to anyone between shows to save his voice. He must sign, or draw on a big white board to communicate. That and he drinks honey and lemon tea all day long, or something...

Anyway, after the acoustic songs, they hit the old school S.C.I.E.N.C.E album for 3 straight songs, and the place got CRAZY! I think I may have a cracked rib, and I definitely have a headache, but it was SO much fun. I've discovered I have really good balance and I'm pretty tough. When I got out of the pit alive, and wiped the sweat from my 5-head, I continued to enjoy song after song. No kidding, they played every song I could have hoped for except maybe 1 or 2, but with how many of my favorites they did play, I was super happy. I mean they played my favorite Incubus song 2nd, so I was stoked all night long. AND on one song they incorporated the cow bell, and on another the singer whistled a whole section. Everyone knows there isn't enough cowbell in rock, but do you realize how little whistling there is? It is a nice addition! :-D

Bottom line is, this concert did not disappoint even a little bit: hard rockers, love songs, acoustic, even a cover of Prince's "Let's get crazy" and everything in between! 5 out of 5 stars, I'd even give it a 6 if the scale went that high!

Red Iguana - Restaurant Review

I've long heard of the red Iguana, and it made it onto The Food Network's "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" http://www.foodnetwork.com/diners-drive-ins-and-dives/index.html

Curt and I went at lunch after a client meeting in SLC and this place did not disappoint! I believe what I said several times was that the "Killer Nachos" were quite possibly the best thing I've ever eaten. And I cleaned the plate! I was about ready to lick the plate when they were gone, but we had gone ahead and ordered Enchiladas Suizas too! WHY we ordered so much food it beyond me, but I'm glad I was able to try the enchiladas (and yes, I TRIED to eat them all, but there was just no way after the Nachos.) The Suizas come with the Mole Poblano, which when you read the ingredients you might think would taste pretty weird. In fact it was VERY tasty! Maybe not spicy enough for my liking, but very flavorful. Oh, the chips and salsa are really good too - just how I like it no chunks and really spicy!

The Red Iguana is right up there with Joe Vera's on the Mexican food list for me. I give it a solid 4.5 out of 5. I think if I had ordered fried Ice Cream as well it may have gotten the 5 (if they even have it, I didn't dare look at the dessert menu). If you're a fan of Mexican food, do NOT go at lunch time, the line was down the street. But DO go to the Red Iguana if you're in the area, it's just West on North Temple maybe 1/2 mile from the I-15 overpass. Go hungry!!!

great pic of Griff

"Oh yeah, I look good!" "Hey Everyone...come see how good I look!" :-D

We went to the park in the river-bottoms of South Jordan with some friends a while back and we trespassed on the waterfall out in front of Lifetime fitness and got this great pic!

Griff's last at bat of the season.

First pitch swinging, good contact right up the middle and showing some serious speed up to first base. He was 3 for 3 hitting off his coach, made 2 plays from the pitcher position to first base and one play at 3rd base - an unassisted out.

The other team was REALLY good, really well-coached, and their kids could really hit and field. I have to say I was a bit jealous. However, they had a cute little girl with downs syndrome. Well, she was on first base and her teammate hit a ball right up the middle that the 2nd baseman scooped and looked around. I yelled TOUCH YOUR BASE, not realizing the little girl was the one running to 2nd (slowly) and I got some stink-eye looks for sure. I'm going to hell.

Anyway, I'm super proud of Griff, he played really well, had fun, and I think learned a little about the game. And he really liked it, which is important.

So, NICE JOB GRIFF! Soccer is up next!

Haha, caught riding a girl's bike! :-D

He claims it was the only choice, I think he looks like he's enjoying it :-D