KUOLDITS

hark back to my first blog entry about the sudanese food booth at the farmers market. got it? now get this. one of my favorite places to eat authentic international food is now at a permanent location! don't worry though, she is still at the farmers' market faithfully every saturday only now if you missed it, you can ----- I started this post a while back and unfortunately the restaurant didn't make it. so never mind going. but head to the slc farmers market next season and get some delicious sudanese food. you won't regret it.

Small town burgers are usually good (part II)

So small town burgers are usually good...except this one in Green River, Utah. This one is great! It doesn't take long to realize that Ray's Tavern is an icon of this small town, a staple both for locals and the nature lovers who flock to Green River to recreate. The half-pound behemoth with a flock of fries is big enough to share, but tasty enough not to. Loosen your belt, you're burning tons of calories river rafting anyway. Seriously, this burger means business, and it may be the best, authentic, home-made, diner-fresh burger I've ever sunk my pearly whites into. The town of Green River is small enough that you can't miss it—It's across the street from the only grocery store. The fries weren't bad either: big steak cut, not too greasy. Of course it's still in Utah so there is fry sauce to be had, but it's rural Utah so there is also beer on tap. (OK there is beer on tap anywhere in the state, let's not propagate the stereotype too much). I don't know Ray, and I don't drink beer, but I dig his Tavern down there in Green River and I'm totally devoted to his beefy burger. I'll be back Ray...I'll be back.

Small town burgers are usually good

The 50s throwback icon of Snowville, Northern Utah.

This burger was mediocre but the ambience is what I came for.

If you've ever made the trek along U.S. 84 North to Idaho, you've driven past Snowville, Utah: population, like, 15 or something. You may or may not have noticed the last pit stop before crossing the Potato state line depending on whether or not you blinked while passing. Now I've always thought that Snowville was just a Flying J station for bladder relief, such was my exclusive use of it the last several years I've been travelling to Idaho. But it's more than that...not much more. But on a venture further down the village's one main road I happened upon this gem of nostalgia circa 1950. Alas, the food isn't superb, but I can't say I ever expected culinary perfection from a middle-of-nowhere burger pit. I mean, sure they have way more than burgers. Their menu must have 100 different omelets to choose from, as well as classic diner fare, you know, chicken fried steak, patty melts and the like. The real charm, however, is not just in the literally hundreds of dusty Coke bottles from every era of history, but the fact that they actually collect these bottles, which is oddly endearing. The whole place exudes affection for a certain stereotype of what it means to be from middle America and the values it comes with. And let me tell you, that stereotype isn't a caricature at all. It's real. it's believed, even striven for. It was delightfully actualized in every archetype of country folk that either entered or worked at Mollie's the night I was there. Of all the images of America that Hollywood exaggerates, it's the cowboy movies that zoom in on small towns of the proud US of A that get it exactly right. In these towns (as in Snowville) everyone knows everyone and waitresses really do call you "hon." But not to trivialize, it goes much deeper than that. There is something about the people, the place and the fondness for another time that gives the sense it's as deep and intricate as their own DNA.
But, I had a party to get to in Idaho so my pleasant trip down Americana Lane had to end. It may have been a diet buster, but this mediocre burger with a side of greasy fries—surrounded by good people and aged Coke bottles in the small-town diner of Somewhere, USA—never tasted so good.

The Comeback

I have found that it's easier for me to blog lately. You get in a groove and, well, it just happens. You all were right! (well, those of you who said, "hey, keep at it, it gets easier). The only thing is that I have't been "keeping at it" on this blog. Suddenly I have several blogs! Here is the really weird thing about it all: while this blog still is (or will become again) a review of culinary explorations around my city, state, or wherever I am, I am forging ahead with a weight loss blog as well. An oxymoron you say? well, maybe. But I think the juxtaposition is just oozing with potential. I'm on a mission to find extremely delicious food in places where you'd never expect, and do it all in a way that's health-conscious and "line" friendly. But of course I'll cheat along the way. The thing with lifestyle changes opposed to diets is sometimes you cheat and it doesn't change your lifestyle. So that's all I'm going to say about that. For you gentle readers who will see this...thanks for sticking around. Hopefully much MUCH more will come.

tempted by the tofu of another.

a couple of weeks ago now my friends and I followed a whim and found ourselves driving to a location we had never before been. the famous salt flats of western utah. breathtaking. bizarre. worth the two hour drive if you are in salt lake city. and as if the salt had a power to make us hungry, we returned back to the valley grumpy and famished. so hungry that you just don't know what sounds good. you know the kind. enter evergreen. the vegetarian cafe that, like the salt flats, was always an intended venture never before realized. really it fit the theme of the day and forth we did sally for the second time that day. with courtesy the first victim of our hunger we demanded pot stickers of the cheery waitress. she happily obliged and we were happily surprised. tasty with the right mix of gooey and crispy. indeed some of the better pot stickers you can get in this town. sated enough to look at the menu without blurred vision we took to the serious matter at hand and asked the waitress about every dish. luckily there are only a dozen or so. behold our verdict:

curry meatballs. veggies and triangle tofu with (a damn good) peanut sauce. bbq chicken and potatoes.

keep in mind that everything at the evergreen cafe not only is vegetarian, but completely vegan. and fresh! this is truly a feat which took more convincing after we dove into the bbq chicken, double and triple questioning the waitress and then the owner to make sure it wasn't really chicken. had me fooled. not that that is the purpose of the restaurant. to fool. but it really is amazing the diversity of things they can make with tofu. i was a fan of the bean curd before, but i must admit that now, at least with the evergreen,  i am a total disciple.

taste for yourself. 755 south state street. prices are extremely fair as well and the food is made fresh when you order.

the doldrums of blogging and my solution.

Rather than think of all the reasons (re: excuses) for not updating my blog besides that fact that no one probably reads it, I feel the need to dive back into it; not only because I have been to so many great restaurants that are off the beaten path, but because I need to write and practice my writing. I have recently got a promotion at the newspaper where I work and want to improve not only my skill but my confidence in my writing. In truth, the main reason I never post is because it's high pressure to meet my own expectations pairing my culinary adventures with quality writing. It's overwhelming for me; like trying to pair a wine with a cheese for royalty. Actually, last time I tried to impress royalty (re: local prominent citizen) as a waiter at an upscale restaurant, it ended with Petite Syrrah (dark red wine) all over her white cashmere sweater and a tartar sauce shower for her husband. That may be a blog post story for another time but the lesson and hopefully the solution to my scant blog postings is this: to remember that a blog need not be so formal or perfect and the frequency of posting would improve what I am so nervous to accomplish (and over-do): literary cuisine. So here goes. cheers to you readers and happy blogging. happier eating.

ACME BURGER COMPANY

red. black. chrome. sea foam green? welcome to 1950 with a modern twist. and don't forget to enjoy the art, there is a life-sized jerry garcia-esque shark. its weirdly cool. oh yeah, the food: like the atmosphere, the fare offers a twist on the classic american burger (but don't worry, they have those too). its funny really. a food as original and approachable like a burger is catering to a more experienced and adventurous palette, offering the flavors of the world in burger form. korean, mediterranean, mexican, i mean i won't list every burger they have but suffice it to say, its all there. for every mouth. there is a catch however, as their menu changes at random. apparently at the whim of the jerry garcia hammerhead on the ceiling. i know. i asked.

lately i have been more than enamored with flavors of the southwest; a food genre that is becoming increasingly popular, in part because of chefs like bobby flay of the food network who promotes his southwestern flair every chance he gets, but mostly because it's just damn good cuisine. to illustrate, I give you exhibit a: the ACME BURGER COMPANY's bison chipotle burger. let that sink in for a second. you may ask your waiter "where is the beef" but it won't be because you don't see the pound of protein on your plate. it's because its not beef. it's BISON! like what you see on those old nickels you find between the cushions of your granny's couch. buffalo, dude! yeah, i know. its cool. tasty too.

okay, so they cook the meat with the chipotle sauce. brilliant! its smokey and distinct flavor is infused in every bite, and it doesn't drip all over you either. as if that makes this monster of a burger any less messy to eat.

as for the bun...pppfff. bun? as if. try red onion gourmet roll. supple, but sturdy enough to handle your grip without falling apart. no worries. for this burger you can forget condiments like ketchup and mustard, and yes, even that holy utah fry sauce, because this southwestern burger comes with a perfect roasted poblano pepper-infused mayonnaise. pickled peppers are there too as a necessary and appreciated side kick...get it? kick? cause they're spicy? HA!

don't be fooled, these gourmet burgers are every bit as approachable as the classic models they use as as guideline. think of it as an improvement on the model-T. and for $15 its not a bad upgrade. at all. you will not leave even remotely hungry. take a friend. or go alone (they have a bar where you can sit sans judgement and banter with the wait staff). the fresh, thick-cut fries are tasty too and yes, they do have fry sauce.

if you go: downtown on 200 west between 200 and 300 south. you really can't miss it. its attached to the back of p.f. changs--don't go there. so quit reading and go already, but don't forget to come back here and post your own opinion.

www.acmeburgercompany.com