Dickey's: A Review

Kenley J. was in town a couple of weeks ago and on his list of Utah food stops was the new (at least to our neck of the woods) Dickey's. Not really my typical eating establishment, but he loves BBQ and I'm always willing to try something new. Here's our take on this homestyle dining. We both really enjoyed the BBQ. I had a sandwich and I think KJ had a mixed meat plate. I was especially excited about the vanilla soft-serve cone that came with our meals. Truthfully, I don't think it's somewhere I will frequent, but Kenley thinks he will need at least one more visit. We'll see.

Slab O Pizza

Today we were SO hungry. You know, the point to where you feel like your big guts are eating your little guts. And when Holly, Tasha and I are all hungry at the same time, it means a quick trip to our favorite slice of pizza heaven. We call our friends at SLAB Pizza (and we really feel like they're our friends), race down the hill, and enjoy a bit of pie--okay, it's a lot more than a bit. Today, H & T were in the mood for Hawaiian Paradise and I can't resist the fennel, sausage & chevre. So, if your travels ever take you south of campus, pay them a visit. You will love the fresh ingredients, inventive combinations, and friendly service. It will definitely keep your little guts from being gobbled up. Who knows, we might see you there.

Communing in Downtown Provo

Yesterday morning, I met my Studio 5 friends on the corner of University Avenue and 1st North for a quick "come visit Campus Craft" piece about some new items we have in the store. It was fun. First of all, we filmed in front of the new (and highly acclaimed) Communal Restaurant in downtown. I'm dying to dine there, but am saving it for the next Utah County Kenley visit. Secondly, Courtney of cjane fame was there to encourage the development and support of downtown Provo. I love that she cares about the city and helps support local businesses. I've always enjoyed her blog, but she is equally DARLING in person. I was too shy to tell her that her praise of Rooster caused yours truly a 5-10 pound weight gain over the Summer (with no regrets, I might add).

If you get a minute and would like to join us, tonight (TUESDAY) from 5-9pm is our Christmas Preview Night--with lots of sale items and EVERYTHing (yes, every single thing) an additional 20% off. It only happens once a year--so come pay us a visit. If you're worried, the crowds usually die WAY down after 7 and there is still PLENTY of selection. The BYU Bookstore also offers the 20% off and LOTS of great sale items.

Rooster Dumpling

For months, I've been dying to go to one of Provo's up and coming new restaurants. Reviews for the Rooster Dumpling + Noodle Bar have been fantastic and so Kenley and I made plans to dine there while he was visiting. We had the restaurant to ourselves for a bit and enjoyed the modern and fun atmosphere. Of course, we forgot about asthetics just as soon as our food arrived! We sampled the Bulgolgi Beef and Veggies & Tofu dumplings. The bulgolgi was our favorite. For our main course we had the Chicken Curry Noodle Soup: grilled lemongrass chicken, pickled green chili oil, coconut curry broth. The piece de resistance was the Pok Fu Lam Village French Toast which I'm still smiling about (and working off). The food was so good, that the next night we called in an order to go of dumplings and dessert. I HIGHLY recommend it.

A Sweet Find

A little fairy brought me a taste of the Sweet Tooth Fairy's decadent delights today.
The grand opening of their new Provo sweet shop is Saturday from 11am-7pm. Meet you there!

Find a Penny

Somewhere in my Utah life, I've fallen into a dining out RUT. I'm not certain how it happened, but Cafe Rio and Rumbi Island Grill have monopolized my dining out dollars for the past several years. Don't get me wrong, an Aloha Mango Chicken Salad still makes my heart flutter. BUT, in an effort to spread my wings (or my mouth if you prefer) and embrace new and wonderful dining experiences, I've come to depend upon Your Heart Out--a wonderful blog dedicated to businesses, people, creators, and all things good in UT/SL county. I'm a devout reader. . .you might want to consider it yourself. So, when they posted a review of sorts on a new restaurant on University Avenue, I was intrigued. Thursday night after work, JaVan and I paid this up and coming establishment a visit. In fact, we had the whole Pennyroyal Cafe to ourselves. It's charming and eclectic--a Seattle-like spirit to it. We enjoyed the Pennyroyal Classic and a relaxed atmosphere. Granted, there was a console TV in the corner, a slight chill in the January air, and I don't really like to be able to see the kitchen where my food is prepared BUT that's what it's all about people--trying something new and EXPERIENCING. The employees were really nice and if you're looking for a yummy meal at a reasonable price, I'd recommend paying them a visit.

The Pennyroyal Cafe
155 N. University Avenue
Provo, Utah
(801) 341-0120
Open 11 a.m. - 2 a.m.
www.pennyroyalcafe.com

NOTE: this photo was taken by Cody Buell.

A Fun Factory Friday

There's something a little bit unsettling about admitting to the entire state of Utah that you're goal in life is to try every flavor of cheesecake on the Cheesecake Factory menu. For a glimpse of my admission click HERE. If you're watching closely, you might also recognize a few other familiar faces.

Check these three babies off the list for today!

FRESH STRAWBERRY
The Original Topped with Glazed Fresh Strawberries. Our Most Popular Flavor for 28 Years!\

CHOCOLATE OREO^® MUDSLIDE CHEESECAKE

Chocolate Oreos Baked in our Creamy Chocolate Cheesecake with a Chocolate-Almond Brownie Crust

LEMON RASPBERRY CREAM CHEESECAKE
Raspberry Vanilla Cake, Creamy Lemon Cheesecake, Raspberry Lady Fingers and Lemon Mousse

Voodoo Chicken Salad

One of my favorite places to eat (especially in the summer when I want something refreshing) is Rumbi Island Grill. I adore their Mango Chicken Salad. Last week on Good Things Utah, Rumbi shared their recipe for Voodoo Chicken Salad (also amazing). Oh, the joys of salad goodness! Thought you might all want a touch of culinary fun. Enjoy!

Chef: Devon Moreno

Ingredients: Chicken Salad

3 cups lettuce mix
2 Tbs.feta cheese
2 Tbs.diced tomatoes
¼ cup tortilla strips
½ cup voodoo dressing
½ cup hot chicken breast diced

Procedure: Grill the chicken breast, let it cool and dice it.
Place the lettuce mix on a salad plate.
Sprinkle the feta cheese and diced tomatoes over the salad.
Starting from the left side of the plate, place the tortilla strips in a line from the top to the bottom over the lettuce mixture. Place the salad dressing in a container on the side.
Sprinkle the chicken down the center of the salad.

Ingredients: Voodoo Dressing

1/4 cup Dijon mustard
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup chili paste
2 Tbs.crushed red pepper
3/4cup lite mayonnaise
1 1/2 cups sesame oil
1 cup rice wine vinegar
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1/4 cup minced garlic
1/3 cup pureed ginger

Procedure: Place all ingredients into a large bowl except the ginger.
Using an electric mixer, mix for one and one-half minutes.
Scrap the sides of the bowl and the beaters and mix for an additional 30 seconds.
Add the ginger to the dressing with a hand whisk and mix for one minute or until the ginger is totally mixed.

For more information visit: www.rumbi.com

Thai Village Visit

I know what you're thinking. First, you're thinking that this is a creepy picture. . .a really poor representation of my face. Next, you're wondering why I'd post such a ghoulish photo on my blog. The truth is that I'm not sure why I'd do such a thing. Maybe I just want to keep thing real. Maybe this was the only photo that could properly illustrate my feelings about my first Thai Village experience. I ordered the sweet & sour noodles (not pictured) and couldn't get past the first bite. I have a tendency to get really weird about what I eat the night before a race. . .the thought of reliving dinner from the previous evening at mile 8 makes me quiver. In no way should this deter anyone from visiting this fine establishment. In fact, Eric gobbled my noodles right up and Kimmy loves their food. So, another day, I'll give Thai Village another chance. For now, I'm content with the frozen yogurt we procured afterwards from my friends at Costco. . .maybe I should have taken a picture of that. I can guarantee my face would have looked semi-normal