Dining with David: Pat's Barbecue

Pat's Barbecue - Salt Lake City, UT - September 29, 2010
www.patsbbq.com
Well, I guess a trip to SLC would just not be complete with a little side trip to good ole Pat's.  It is hard to believe that this good of a BBQ joint (and I mean joint) could exist in SLC.  My two travel companions had not been to Pat's so we decided to stop by after numerous client visits for a little lunch.
Once we parked a block away and stood in line for 20 minutes, we finally got to our seat; a wood picnic table mashed up with numerous others in a long room with a local singer playing the guitar and entertaining everyone while they ate.  Can you say atmosphere?
Now, this is the place famous for their burnt ends, only available on Fridays; made famous by locals and then Guy Fieri.  I had the brisket (trying something new) today along with their great bowl of Jambalaya.  This is great BBQ with an atmosphere to match.  Don't shoot me, but this place is better than most southern BBQ joints (not all, but most).  Note the grand entrance below and the modified trailer (that tells the whole story right there).
Rating: 9

Travels with David: Park City

Park City, UT - September 28, 2010
I'm sure everyone is aware of the site of the 2002 Olympics; for those who have not visited during the summer though, you are missing out.  What a great day to see Park City and the surrounding area.  There is certainly plenty to see and do; all in God's surroundings.  Just look at the clear blue sky and the great nature; got to love it.  Also, very little crowds; only downsize is ski resorts are closed; take the bad with the good.

Travels with David: Great Salt Lake

Great Salt Lake - Salt Lake City, UT - September 28, 2010
Where else in the US could you go to see a lake with such a high salt content, NO where!  Only one with higher content is the Dead Sea.  This lake is over 2000 sq miles and is located just west of the city.  As many times as I have been in SLC, I have never had a chance to visit this famous lake. 
It was very impressive and very unusual; something you want to see once, but probably never again.  We stopped at the Saltair III and walked nearly a mile out to the water; walking over the old bed covered with a crust of salt.  Most unusual part is there was no life; nothing in the water, nothing flying around, just nothing alive anywhere; weird.

 

Dining with David: Squatters

Squatters - Salt Lake City, UT - September 28, 2010
 http://squatters.com/
It is tough not to visit a great little burger place in the heart of downtown SLC.  Located in a old hotel location, what a great atmosphere.  This place has one of the best burgers I have had.  The BBQ Buffalo burger has a good BBQ sauce on top of a thick buffalo meat patty.  The bread was extremely fresh (critical) and tough enough to hold the sauce, thick patty, jack cheese and the onion strings.  Now, of course, I had to upgrade and get bacon added to my burger; nothing like bacon to make something even better.  I had to eat healthy, so I got a salad to go with my meal instead of fries, etc.  Wow, what a great place.
Rating: 9

Dining with David: Market Street Grill

Market Street Grill - Salt Lake City, UT - September 27, 2010
www.marketstreetgrill.com
Well, my travel companion just had to go back to Market Street; and of course, I just had to go too.  This is a great little seafood restaurant in the heart of downtown SLC.  Normally, we have to sit in the Oyster Bar next door but this time we made reservations and actually got to sit in the Grill part; I think I liked the atmosphere of the Oyster Bar better.
We started off with a little shrimp cocktail and oysters Rockefeller; I loved the cocktail, not big on the oyster part.  Next was the soup/salad and I just had to get the Clam Chowder; wow, with lots of fresh ground pepper and soak it up with fresh bread, nothing like it.
Dinner was the best part.  I ordered the truly fresh Columbia River Sturgeon while my team-mates had the Hawaiian Ahi Tuna.  The Sturgeon had a nice hazelnut crust, very tasty with a honey lemon jalapeno glaze.  Now you know, I love tart and a little hot; great mixture.  The fish was very tender with great flakes and the crust and sauce was out of this world.
Rating: 9

Dining with David: Tortugas Pizza

Tortugas Pizza - Hoover, AL - September 24, 2010
http://www.tortugaspizza.com/
Now Birmingham is not Chicago, but if you like Chicago style pizza, you will love Tortugas.  This is a quaint little place that has the best true deep dish pizza in Birmingham.  We had a 12" Chicago style stuffed pizza with our normal, pepperoni.  If that was not enough, we also had the standard thin crust style pizza with pepperoni and bacon.  The crust makes the pizza and their homemade, slightly flaky, tasty crust with the strength to hold a deep dish is great.  This is one great little pizza place; a true secret of Birmingham.
Rating: 9

Thought of the Week - September 25, 2010

“In order to improve communications with others, a good first step is to understand your own communication style. Ask yourself:
1. What motivates me?
2. What gets in the way of my communicating well?
3. How do I like to receive information?”
~ Sherry Buffington, PhD

Thought of the Week - September 18, 2010

“Commitment is what transforms a promise into reality. It is the words that speak boldly of your intentions. And the actions which speak louder than the words. It is making the time when there is none. Coming through time after time after time, year after year after year. Commitment is the stuff character is made of; the power to change the face of things. It is the daily triumph of integrity over skepticism.”

~ Abraham Lincoln

Dining with David: Dreamland BBQ

Dreamland BBQ - Birmingham, AL - September 15, 2010
www.dreamlandbbq.com
When you think of ribs, you think of Dreamland.  What started as a small cafe in a shack in Tuscaloosa back in late 50's is now a famous restaurant that has numerous locations.  I had the pleasure to take one of my special customers there twice this week.  The ribs are cooked on the open pit right there and have a rich taste; nothing like their special sauce on bread (regular white bread).   Decor is nothing rich, but great atmosphere; where else can you go and get a plastic plate, spork (spoon/fork combo), paper towels (on table) and served plain white bread with cups of sauce.  Ribs, chicken and sausage are great.  The one dessert is not to be missed, Banana Pudding; great stuff.
Rating: 9

Travels with David: Bart Starr

Bart Starr - Birmingham, AL - September 14, 2010
Got a chance to meet (again) the great Bart Starr; who else has won 5 NFL championships, MVP and Hall of Fame.  This man can speak like no other.  He incorporated great speaking points along with music in his presentation; he even used 'You Raise Me Up' by Josh Groban, all I could think of was my oldest daughter, huge fan of Groban.
I think we all felt like we should get down in the stance and play ball; win, win, win
Rating: 9

Dining with David: Edgar's Bakery

Edgar's Bakery - Birmingham, AL - September 14, 2010
What started as a joke, actually became a reality during our company's very hectic users' conference.  In a great joke and a stunt that caught me speechless, yes, I was speechless, I was presented the famous Edgar's Strawberry Cream cake.  This cake is large with three layers of moist strawberry cake covered in strawberry icing.  There is no doubt of the flavor of this cake as one bite will make you just stop and enjoy the berry.
Yes, this is a very good cake and I am not a big cake person.  I tend to prefer pies as I like moist and juicy.  This cake was a great cake though.  Thank you to that special person who thought of me and got the cake.
Rating: 9

Dining with David: Charm City Cakes

McLeod Software Users' Conference 2010 - Birmingham, AL - September 13, 2010
Had the option to actually have a custom cake from the great Ace of Cakes made for our company and presented to our president during our users' conference.  Cake was not bad in detail and certainly surprised our boss.  Extra cake made for actually eating was fair; not very moist with very little taste other than butter cream; strong butter cream and nothing else.  Not sure it was worth the expense but something different anyway.
Rating: 5

Travels with David: Bryant Denny Stadium

Alabama vs. Penn State - Tuscaloosa, AL - September 11, 2010
What a great chance to attend the legandary game of Bama and Penn State; the great Jo Pa on the sidelines and Bobby Bowdon visiting.  Fortunate to be invited for full tail-gating and sky-box seats; nothing like sitting in the comfortable theater style seats and having the windows rolled back and the wonderful game noise of crowd and game come following through; also great to be served food and drink
Of course, main reason was the game and it was great; best part was my beautiful bride was with me and Bama won; nearly 102k in attendance with another 50k outside just to be there.
Rating: 10

Thought of the Week - September 12, 2010

“It is the service we are not obliged to give that people value most.”     ~ James C. Penney

Thought of the Week - September 6, 2010

“A hundred times every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life depends on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the measure as I have received and am still receiving.”     ~ Albert Einstein

Dining with David: Ham & Bacon Poppers

Local Home Cooking in Adger, AL - September 4, 2010
My wife finally fixed (again) one of my top favorites for breakfast, Ham & Bacon Poppers.  Now, I can't take full credit here as it took my oldest daughter asking for them for my wonderful bride to fix them; no complaints though, can still help her eat them.
These little poppers are made with crescent rolls as the crust in a mini muffin pan; a mixture of ham, bacon and cheese with an egg and mustard to hold everything together fills the cup.  Once cooked, these things turn off just right with a little brown on the outside.  You can just pop them whole in your mouth and taste the goodness.  One of my top two breakfast items from my bride.
Rating: 9