June:
Frontier Pies
May:
April:
Screw Flanders.
Showing posts with label Sandwiches. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sandwiches. Show all posts
27.6.11
Welcome to the Food Blog!
Here in this blog I will introduce you to the surprising variety of food available in Rexburg, Idaho. Being a relatively small town, with relatively not a lot to do, and yet pressure to go on dates anyway, I decided it would be fitting to analyze the many local eateries and help you make important decisions such as "Where do I want to eat today?" or "What restaurant would be good tonight?" or "Where so I take my date to dinner?" Therefore, check out the reviews (written by an amateur connoisseur) and make your decisions accordingly. Since some of the restaurants are major chains that you can find all over the place, I chose to ignore those and focus on the smaller chains and local gems. for you convenience I will list what restaurants were reviewed in what month. You can also follow them as links. You can also also follow the labels to find specifics such as desserts, burger joints, or the coveted Top 10. (The labels are at the bottom)
June:
June:
8.6.11
Gator Jack's Sandwich Shack
Across from Porter Park, part of Hemming Village
Gator Jacks started in Rigby, but decided to expand to Rexburg. The first time I went to Gator Jack’s, it happened to be the one in Rigby. The place (especially the Rexburg one) is designed on the inside to give a murky, Louisiana Bayou kind of feel. It’s a little dark inside, but it augments the dining experience rather than detracts from it. They installed wood decks indoors, have fake trees; it’s really a cool establishment to go into. They offer Alligator Jambalaya for the really brave. Alligator meat is fantastic – it tastes like sweet pork (not chicken), and is one of my favorites. They also offer what are called Gator Bites. Gator Bites are these delightful little potato thingies that I could eat by the barrel. Note – by delightful little potato thingies I am not talking about tater tots. I’m not talking about fries. I’m not talking about chips. They are itty bitty potatoes, boiled and somehow magically seasoned to a state of scrumtralessence. Hence, the title of delightful little potato thingies. If you still don’t understand, go and try them – they’re amazing. They also give you a cookie with your order, which is usually a chocolate chip cookie that is a little bit heavy on the chocolate. No one has ever complained of that.
Alas, there is something to complain about. With all the sandwich shops in this town (3 Subways, a Jimmy John’s, and all the sandwich places I’ve blogged about), a competing sandwich shop needs to have good sandwiches. They don’t. There are many good things about Gator Jacks, but their sandwiches aren’t one of them. For one, they are expensive - $5 get’s you a four inch sandwich. A six inch sandwich is nearly $7. In Rigby, their bread was mediocre – the kind of fluffy stuff that sort of dissolves in spit. Rexburg does better bread, but they still don’t register well. The key to a good sandwich is balance. I have also recently discovered that the other key is texture. These sandwiches though fall short. The lettuce is limp and over abundant, the other vegetables aren’t nearly as strong a presence, and the sauces (e.g. mustard) are heaped on a little much. It was one of the messiest sandwiches I’ve had. The bread is soft, which is usually a good thing, but this resulted in a soft and unsatisfying sandwich. A crunchier pickle could make a huge difference, perhaps fresher lettuce, (that isn’t as shredded, and less of it) or onions in rings and strips instead of chunks. These are little things, and you may think I’m sandwich obsessed, but try the difference. Half the sandwich needs to be firm. The best sandwiches have crunch and resistance, as well as soft pliability. If the bread had been toasted more, that too could have helped. But in the end, sandwiches are not the strong point here. The ambiance and the Gator Bites, and maybe the jambalaya are the factors that give Gator Jack’s a fighting chance. They also have a breakfast menu and non sandwich items – those may be worth a shot too.
Idamont Café
Located inside the Craze – near the Cocoa Bean
Hidden inside of the Craze Fun Zone is the cheapest eatery in Rexburg. I normally try to avoid writing about food served at an entertainment establishment (I don’t plan on reviewing the food at Fat Cats for example), but the Idamont is nearly unknown and has generated interest. A friend of mine once brought it up because she saw the entrance to the café (specifically labeled as the Idamont) and thought it was a delightful looking bohemian eatery nestled in the middle of everything. It’s nestled, but it really isn’t that Boho. That’s what the cool kids call Bohemian. Boho Rap is a great song by Queen, according to the cool kids. But I digress.
Everything on the menu is cheap – I want to say less than $5. It’s also the only place I know that has PB&J sandwiches on the menu. Also hot dogs. The most fun item on the menu is the Dam burger, or the even more ambitious Double Dam. My favorite item is their pizza. However, you get what you paid for. The food is basically freezer food thawed out and microwaved. They wanted to feed college kids on a college budget, so they are doing it with college food. It’s the same stuff I would make, though sometimes I don’t feel up to the effort and have an extra $3 laying around. Not often, but sometimes. I don’t fault the Idamont either – their existence is mostly because of the mini golf and laser tag (excellent winter dates), and the food is just a perk. It makes for a cheap date, especially if you already have an established relationship and she won’t leave you just because you’re “frugal”. Not a first date for sure (dinner wise at least – the mini golf is cool). You can really seem like a BYU-I insider when you eat at the Idamont. There are other restaurants for Rexburgers (citizens of Rexburg) only, but none of them will go to the Idamont – just the poor students. It’s worth a visit.
7.6.11
Mill Hollow Frozen Yogurt
1st E near the Pinnacle Building
I like frozen yogurt, but really, what I want most is a sandwich. Hamburgers count as sandwiches, and you won’t find those at Mill Hollow, but what I really like is their sandwiches, so I’ll elaborate on the namesake yogurt later. Mill Hollow is a pleasant little log cabin turned restaurant, on the outskirts of the Date District. I kind of get the drift that it is family run. Like most sandwich shops, you go, you select your meat (what the price depends on) and then select your bread, cheese, and toppings. Therefore, like most sandwich shops, you need to have a good idea of what makes a good sandwich (balance of toppings more than anything). Mill Hollow does an excellent balance – not too much, not too little. They don’t give you a sub or hoagie style – you get thick slices of sandwich bread, fantastic sandwich bread, and then they add the items requested in perfect order and amount. Their sandwiches are works of art. You can even get them toasted/grilled, so the sandwich is warm and the cheese is melty. While I usually have a hard time justifying going out for a homemade style sandwich instead of making my own at my place, I acquiesce from time to time, because it’s totally worth it. It’s also a great place for dates – classy, yet not uncomfortably over the top. Their variety is wide but not overwhelming, and service, while not instant, is quick and accurate.
Their frozen yogurt is good too. You can get it in a bowl, cone, or shake, and they introduce flavors that aren’t common but are fantastic. Blueberry (and strawberry) cheesecake? It’s like eating the real thing. My favorite is the Irish Mint. The jury is still out on what makes it Irish. Perhaps it’s made from the tears of real Leprechauns. Most likely it’s because it is green as all get out. But it is fantastic, and served at a slightly lower temperature than found at your other FroYo shacks. While this may interfere slightly with the taste buds, it keeps the frozen yogurt solid and stable, so it doesn’t become a melted dribbling mess in your cup before you finish eating. Melty is for cheese, not for FroYo. This place is in my Top 10.
23.4.11
Great Harvest Bread Company
Located on Main Street, between Broulim’s and US Bank.
In my travels I have become very fond of bakeries, which we have a shameful lack of in the United States. The bakery in Rexburg is the Great Harvest Bakery, which is a chain, so not quite local, but still here anyway. Beyond breads, there is also a selection of soups and sandwiches as well. However, the best part of Great Harvest is their cookies. Any kind really – they’re all good, although if there are any with white chocolate chips, those will be the best. You can take that on good authority – I know cookies. The variety of bread is extensive, but most of what I had still had that generic mass produced bread taste.
I was skeptical on the soup at first – they only had two options the day I went in, and I opted for the wild rice and chicken. Usually that particular soup is brothy and grainy, and I don’t generally like it, but I preferred it to broccoli and cheese, the other option. However, I immediately changed my tune when I began eating it – it was thick and creamy, and didn’t have that grainy, dry taste one usually associated with wild rice. There were moist yet small chunks of chicken and carrot as well; making it one of the best soups I’ve had in a while. The cup of soup also comes with a free slice of bread (they have a few daily options), and they don’t try to skimp on that – the slice was like a quarter of loaf almost. The bread I chose that day was tomato, basil, and parmesan. Those are generally an excellent combination, but to be honest, not as bread. That was my mistake (I have been known to make those on occasion) but when I used some sourdough with the soup, that proved to be a good combo.
They also have pumpkin chocolate chip bread, which is perfectly sweet without the need for milk, though it’s still good anyway. The bread is pricey, so don’t seek Great Harvest for your lunch box sandwiches, but as a house warming gift, or any occasion where bread is an appropriate offering, this is a good bet – especially that pumpkin chocolate chip.
College Ave. Deli
Located on College Avenue, a block from the Spori – near Sammy’s
Formerly known as the Pita Pit, College Avenue Deli came about because the Pita Pit owners wanted to branch away from the franchise. Pitas are still offered, but in the more traditional sense – not so much the wraps one might be familiar with, but more like a taco. Sandwiches and wraps are also available. The only difference between the three is your bread. Since you order your meat and then select from a list of toppings, the awesomeness of your pita/wrap/sandwich depends on how well you can balance the flavors in selecting your fillings. The variety is extensive, and the quality good, so if your sandwich is bad, it’s all you, because they do a dang good job. Remember – the key to a good sandwich is balance, and these guys have that down. And, since I am an expert in sandwiches and sandwich filling, you can have it on authority that theirs are awesome. But there are many sandwich places in town, so The Deli offers even more than you’d expect.
We’re talking hot dogs, corn dogs, and fried baskets. They have a variety of hot dogs and polish dogs, which are at half price after 10 pm for the budget conscious (second dinner anyone?). The corn dogs are technically located on the kid’s menu, but since we’re all someone’s kid, there’s no shame in that – they don’t judge. The fried baskets can be chicken strips, shrimp, or finger steaks (battered beef strips) served with fries or tater tots. They also offer fried desserts, such as deep fried Oreos, Twinkies, and cheese cake. They also have candy bars, but the Oreos are probably my favorite. If you’re young enough, eat them at least once, and apologize to your arteries later – it’s totally worth it. There is rather cheap hot chocolate available on those cold Rexburg nights (you know the ones), and on Friday nights from 10-11p, they have your coin toss option, where you can flip a coin to try and get free fried cheese cake. I won once.
To speed up the process, the menus are on sheets of laminated paper, which you mark with available markers to tell them exactly what you are ordering, with all fillings and condiments on them. It catches a few people of guard at first, but after a while, you realize it's pretty simple. While not usually my favorite date place because of how weird it feels to mark x2 on the sheets, it is one of my favorite eateries, and most definitely scores in my top 10 places to eat in town.
New York Burrito
Located on Main Street near the Plasma Center
I was skeptical of this place for my first year of school here. No one goes to New York for a Burrito. Los Angeles Burrito would have been my first stop – those are good burritos, but New York? That’s a pizza and hot dog town. However, I eventually learned that it specialized in wraps, which are sort of like burritos I guess. The first thing I noticed was that it smelled way good inside. That seemed promising.
There is a large variety of wraps there, starting with the tortilla itself. While the typical white and wheat are there, they also have tomato, garlic, and spinach wraps, with a few others. There are a variety of fillings for anyone, regardless of how adventurous your tastes are. The most popular is teriyaki, but they have things as unique as Thai to as commonplace as chicken ceaser. The place has a similar function to Jimmy John’s Sandwiches – you select something from the menu, and they make it exactly as listed, although they will ask if there is anything you want removed. Then to round off the meal, keeping with the burrito theme, they give you corn chips and salsa.
I opted with the chicken ceaser, which wasn’t bad, but I was unimpressed. The balance wasn’t quite right – too much tortilla, not enough everything else. The chicken was a little bland, though the dressing was well made and the romaine lettuce was fresh and crisp. Perhaps the fault lies with me – I decided not to be adventurous, and as a result was bored. I recommend trying to be bold if you yourself go. The salsa itself was good, but chips and salsa with a wrap? That’s peculiar, but then again this is Rexburg. Overall, it’s a long running Rexburg establishment, and definitely worth a visit, but not really my plate of sandwich, if you get my drift.
B Big Bites
Located across the street from Gringos and the Paramount theatre
One of the newest establishments in Rexburg, B Big Bites is one of Rexburg’s best kept secrets, and I’m letting the cat out of the bag. Family run, it is a throwback to the old fashioned neighborhood diners, where you knew the owner, she knew you, and she cooked you what you wanted. Therein lays the charm of this place. While the specialties are Soups and Sandwiches, there is always something new, off the menu. Every Friday and Saturday there is the $5 meal special – it could be anything from lasagna to meat and potatoes, and is usually all you can eat, plus a drink. There is a large selection of sandwiches, which are actually quite good. There is a good balance of bread to meat to cheese, and etc., which is key to a fine sandwich. Their soups are also good, usually served in a bread bowl. My favorite that I’ve had there is bacon and potato, hearty and creamy, and involving bacon. The ice cream selection is slightly limited, but they have the finest vanilla I have had in town, so I don’t even care. It’s sweet and creamy like nothing you can find in stores, and I recommend it to everyone.
The owner and chef is an amiable woman named Ida. She treats all patrons as family, and has a presence that is both laid back and comfortable. She also is one of those cooks who likes to always try new things out, and is always open to suggestions of new products. If you want something different and off the menu, she’ll find a recipe for you.
Because of her openness to suggestions, there is always something new available at Big Bites. My favorite has been chocolate covered bacon (which is definitely worth trying when available), but other offers have included fried cookie dough and chocolate covered strawberries, bananas, and kiwi. There is also a constant selection of blueberry muffins and cookies as well.
The prices are well within a poor college student’s budget - $1.00 for three scoops of ice cream, $0.50 muffins, and $3.50 sandwiches, if you want to eat out for cheap, this is the place to go. And there’s something to be said for a business that offers free Easter dinner to its patrons. This ranks on my top 10 places to eat in the ‘Burg.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)