Niwot Tavern

New Restaurant #4:

Niwot Tavern

7960 Niwot Rd.

Niwot, CO

Sunday, May 6th, Paul & I headed into the little town I grew up by for lunch. We wanted something different & hadn't tried yet. The Tavern has been in this shopping area for a while, I had been drivin by it all this time.

Tuesday night my brother was raving about their pickles.... and, well, that was it. I'm sold on fried pickles.

Paul & I started the meal with the fried pickles, which were spears. They were AMAZING!!! Almost as good as So Long Saloon's in Manhattan, KS. Paul also had me try them with peanut butter. Something he had tried a few years back & every time he wants me to try 'em nobody has PB until now. It was alright, but I LOVE ranch!

Maine course I ordered an Adult Grill Cheese: American, Swiss, Bacon, Tomato. It was amazing! The fries were also really good, crispy just like I like them. Paul ordered the Sunday special all-you-can-eat fish & chips with a side of cole slaw. I had to taste the fish, agreement on the taste, fabulous! He also enjoyed the fries. However, the slaw was not creamy enough for him or me.

I enjoyed the atmosphere. A lot of oak furniture, booths, & bar with mirrors. The service was prompt & very nice.

Prices were average. Pickles were $6.50ish & sandwiches were a little more. I also noticed they have happy hour daily from 4-6. Not only on drinks but with appetizers, pickles at $4.50.

They have a room for hosting parties or meetings. Holidays they offer certain specials, for instance on Mother's Day they're having complimentary flowers & food specials of Brioche French Toast with Bacon & Fresh Fruit for $8.50 and Apricot Glazed Chicken with Pommes Annna & Tender Asparagus for $12.95.

If you're ever in the little, loaded town of Niwot, Colorado, stop by cottonwood square for a drink & snack at Niwot Tavern. If you're not into bar food there's also a really good Chinese place, among other restaurants.

~ Cheers ~

The Blue Moose

 NEW RESTAURANT #3:

The Blue Moose

3030 Wanamaker

Topeka, KS

Friday, April 27th, Paul & I were craving a new restaurant. Something in Topeka that we haven't tried yet...which these days that list is getting narrow. After a post on Facebook for any recommendations, we went with The Blue Moose. Even the name is catchy! However, as soon as we were ready to head out the tornado sirens went off. After 20 minutes of watching the news & waiting for the big red blob on the radar to pass over us we were out, no rain will stop us.
After arriving, the atmosphere was nice, very large place with lots of seating. I even noticed a room for private parties. They also have a bar area.
Price was reasonable for a nice sit-down place. Not cheap by any means. Prices ranged from a small salad for $3.99 to a pasta dish at $12.99 to Filet Mignon at $26.99.
Service was great! Very timely, checked on us but didn't hover & answered our questions.
The menu was large & had something for everybody. They have an after 10pm menu & nightly drink specials (10 bottles of wine for $10 each, $1.50 beer/draft & last nights: $3.50 Moose-ritas). I taste tested the Moose-rita -YUM!!! It looked like a blue margarita. Two things I always have to get when trying a new place: 1. Fried pickles 2. Spinach artichoke dip. This time I went with the pickles (above picture). They were horizontal slices (a first for Paul & I), the breading stuck nicely to the pickle, & the ranch dip was fabulous! Thick & a hint of garlic. Then onto our entrees. Paul & I had a hard time deciding (guess we'll have to return). Paul ended up going with a Chicken Madeira Pasta: "Sauteed chicken & mushrooms in a rich Madeira wine cream sauce. Tossed with tender Campanella pasta & Parmesan cheese." It was amazing! I, being the cheese lover I am, went with the build your own Mac & Cheese (picture below): "Cavatappi pasta tossed in our rich six-cheese sauce. Topped with garlic buttered bread crumbs." I added Pit-Smoked Ham. The sauce was delicious! The ham on the other hand, there was nothing special to it. I will add Sauteed Mushrooms & another meat next time.

For dessert, Paul went with a cheesecake & I did a trio sampler (creme brulee, peach cobbler, chocolate peanut butter parfait). The cheesecake was the more cream cheesy type, not the rich, small kind. The peach cobbler Paul liked, too many oats for my taste. The parfait was rich, but good. The creme brulee, awww-mazing!

We left with full bellies, empty pockets, leftovers, & as couple satisfied critics ;) 

If you're in the mood to try something different I would highly recommend The Blue Moose, because their menu changes up those 'regular' dishes.

Red Dirt & Racing

Last weekend I got out of the house for the first time in a long time!

Southeast, Kansas & Oklahoma City

Saturday, we met up with the others in OKC for lunch at a little Mexican restaurant in Brick town. We found the place in a round about way, between the guys' "I know my way" directions & girls' "well the map says here" left it  for a good sight seeing trip around Brick town. Food was pretty good, loved the sopapillas! On our way back to the truck we caught the end of a flash mop.... later on we busted our on flash mob moves! Waaaaay better!
Next stop, drive by rustic furniture stores where we got our dreams on. Second stops: Tener's & Langston's western stores, which didn't leave us empty handed ;) Last stop prior to the hotel, was a very classy, stalkerish liquor store, in an area where white was rare. Nice people just a little to "can I help you?" for my liking.

 That evening we got our glitz on for the races!

Watched & betted on some quarter horses. Good thing there isn't a track near Topeka, this could be my addiction. After all thanks to my skills we went home about $22,000 richer.....

 HA! I wish! I'm still learning the lingo.

After the last horse crossed the finish line we were off to Brick town to see what all the hype is about.

Ended up havin a couple brews at Coyote Ugly. Not a bad bar; cold beers, good tunes, would be better if there were more people & if you're just passing through (the coyote's repeat their sayings quite often). When Eric Church's 'Smoke a Little Smoke' played out we of coarse had to get on the bar. A pretty big deal for me! I'm not one to get on bars... or tables... heck I have a hard time walkin as it is :)

 Sunday, we were back at the track for some people watching. Oh I mean horses and....

 Ostriches and.....

 Camels!

 

 The winner: G.R, a pretty good jockey. He was reining first not only on a camel, but an ostrich & multiple horse races that weekend.

 Relaxation on a Monday evening

Yep, Classy I know. However,  it was a little too early for me to meet Bert.

A little store in Burlington, KS where we stopped on our way back to Topeka. 

I scored my first Tervis cup here... aka: adult sippy cup. Stay tuned for the Tervis travels ;)

All-in-All a great first weekend out.

New Restaurant #2

KC Smoke Burgers

1610 West 39th St.

Kansas City, MO 64111

March 22nd, after leaving KU Medical hospital, Paul & I followed another restaurant recommendation... KC SMOKE BURGERS. Their location was great, in an area by other little shops, restaurants, business' & down the road from KU Med. When entering, you can either sit-down order or walk up to the counter for to-gos. After reading their menu I was over whelmed with all the burger options. They also had other choices, gyros, salads, and challenges. Paul is normally not one to turn down a challenge, but he decided with the hour drive home wouldn't be good with a meat coma that usually follows the scarfing.
This picture shows the list of challenge options:

Paul & I both ordered burgers, well I wanted an gyro, but thought since this is a burger joint better go with what they know. So, I got the lamb/beef gyro burger! Amazing & HUGE!!!

The burgers came out on their own little grill thingy & branded, I love these little unique touches!

 

If you're ever in this area & craving some good ole smokey, grilled, meat, we recommend this little joint! 

Depending on the day you're there, they also have great daily specials!

New Restaurant #1

 d'Bronx

 3904 Bell St.

Kansas City, MO 64111

 March 8th, Paul & I were leaving KU Medical Hospital & one of my nurses recommended this fabulous sandwich/pizza shop. Their location was great, right by business' & the hospital. The atmosphere was nice, busy but that's always good for them, right. Order's took place at a counter, cold sandwiches were made in front of you & hot ones were done in the back with the pizzas.
I ordered the Bell Street Bomb: roast beef, turkey, salami, herb cream cheese, provolone, lettuce, tomato, may, vinaigrette on a sub roll. Price: $6.75 Picture below. It was DEEE-Liscious! but hey anyone that puts cream cheese & provolone on a roll in my book is awesome!

Paul ordered the d'Bronx Meatball Parmigiana. Price: $6.25 He liked it & would recommend it to anyone who loves a good saucey meat-a-ball-a (my Italian accent typed out :).
Once I took a bite of my sandwich & decided it was amazing, I had to look around & get a peek at their pizzas, which you could buy by the slice, 16 inch, & 30 inch! Caught a view of the slice version, huge & covered with toppings.

On top of the subs & pizzas, their menu also included dinner specials (lasagna, calzones), salads, soups, sides, & desserts. Prices were very reasonable too!

If you're ever in the KU Med area we highly recommend this 'Authentic Deli and Pizzeria!'