Streetz American Grill

Surprise date night with the hubbie and we finally got to check out this new place in our town called Streetz American Grill.
This location used to be a Denny's restaurant after that closed down it stayed empty forever!
We, along with other people in this town I know were super excited to see this new development.
What a great location, right off the highway, they should get allot of business.

It took a bit for them to get regular hours for whatever reason, but they got their act together and rumor is they are opening a new location in Hopkins, MN.

I love the look of the place, cool decor.  There was 50's music playing when we were there.
 There was a  upbeat happy feel to the place.
I think its a great place for a date or to bring your family to.
Oh and there was a cool photo booth in the corner, where I saw people were tacking their pictures up on the wall, how fun is that!
Finally not a cookie cutter chain restaurant!

Now the food, we both ordered burgers and shared a basket of truffle fris - NUM!

 You place your order in line then the cashier gives you a number to place at your table.
Someone brings you over your meal.
Everyone we came across that works here was very friendly gotta love that.
The kitchen is open to the restaurant so you can see them cook your food, that I like :)

My husbands "Monster Chicago Burger" was crazy!  Topped with a split long hot dog on top, he just loves a fun burger.
I got the Q burger, it was BBQ bacon burger, it was real good too.

There are several other items we want to try on their menu, on my list is the Philly cheese steak sandwich and the Gyro.

I'm excited to go back!

Good luck with your new company's Streetz!

Chatterbox Pub

I wish this restaurant review was going to be better than what I'm going to write.
But, I was sadly disappointed in our experience at the Linden Hills Chatterbox Pub this past Friday evening.
My husband and I visited this restaurant a few years ago and thought it was ok.
I love the original concept they had for this restaurant.
It's theme is "games", there is a shelf filled with different games you can play during your visit.
Anything from Battleship to Battle of the Sexes.
There are a couple of t.v.'s with old school video consoles hooked up to them that you can pull up a chair and play a game.
The decor is kooky fun.  There is wall art everywhere in this place, and you are sure to see pictures that your parents or grandparents used to have.
Now, for the not so good part of this review.
The moment you walk in the door you get hit with a smell.  I'm not sure what the smell is but when you smell it you will know.
I think its grease baked in the walls?? Maybe no one cleans the place.
Not very appetizing at all.
There was no space to wait for our table until some people moved from a empty bar in the middle of the restaurant, when I say empty I mean empty there is no alcohol or bartender.  I think it might a very large hostess desk???
Waiting for our table a server comes over asks if she can get me anything, I said sure a drink, she said are you waiting for a table?
Yes I am, well I cant get you a drink that makes things too complicated.
Ummmm ok???
Two minutes later another server comes by asks if he can get us something to drink.
Yes, and thank you was my response!
At this point I'm confused, I don't' know what to think about that first server.
Finally seated and our server was very friendly and efficient.
We did not care for our food or the prices.
The only reason we gave this place a second chance is we thought it would be a fun place to bring our young son with us on date night.
Gotta say he is the only one who enjoyed his night out.
Sorry Chatterbox Pub, maybe one of your other locations is better?

Lobster Dip Elegante

Ok today I'm bringing it old school.
Recently a friend of mine sent me a couple of cook books, one is an old Appetizer cookbook and the other is a cookbook from 1966 Cooking With Cheese.
I picked out a recipe in the Cooking with Cheese book called Lobster Dip Elegante.
Now, I have not tried this dip but it sounds pretty good to me so I thought I would share with you.

What you need is:
1 8 oz package of cream cheese
1/4 cup of mayonnaise or salad dressing
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon grated onion
1 teaspoon prepared mustard
1 teaspoon sugar
Dash seasoned salt
1 5 oz can (about 1 cup) lobster, flaked
3 tablespoons cooking sauterne (What is this, you say???)
 ok I had to look this up, here is a description
Sauternes is a French sweet wine from the Sauternais region of the Graves section in Bordeaux. 
Thanks Wikipedia!  

How to make it:
Melt cream cheese over low heat, stirring constantly.
Blend in Mayo, garlic, onion, mustard, sugar, and salt.
Stir in lobster and sauterne, heat through.
Serve hot with melba toast and assorted crackers.
Makes 1 3/4 cups

Hope you like it!

Roasted Red Pepper and Goat Cheese Wraps

These are a super easy appetizer to throw together, light and colorful.

All you will need is:
 4, 8 inch flour tortillas
1 red pepper
1/2 cup of spreadable goat cheese
1/4 cup of chives, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
Olive oil

How to make them:
Start out by turning your oven on broil
Cut your red pepper in half and, de-seed
Lay out cut side down on a cookie sheet, rub with olive oil
Place in broiler until the tops of the peppers turn black (watch them very carefully)
Let the peppers cool a bit then peal off the blackened
Now cut your pepper into strips
Lay your tortilla out
Spread Goat cheese on your tortilla
Sprinkle with chives, salt and pepper
Lay a few red pepper strips in the tortilla
Roll up your tortillas
Cut them at an angle in half
Place in the fridge to chill for a while

Lay them out on a plate to serve or stand them up.
Try serving them with these Taco Roll Ups

Northern Waters Smokehaus

I've been gone a while but I'm back now!
Summer is almost over and Fall is in the air!
My vegetable garden has been supplying my family with plenty of fresh veggies and they just keep coming!
The hubbie just came back from a solo canoeing trip in the Boundary Waters (if you ask me I think he's going through a midlife crisis!) and on his drive home he stopped at an awesome deli that we HAVE to go to every time we are in Duluth, MN called Northern Waters Smokehaus.
It's SO good!   I heard of them from watching Guy Fieri, from the Food Network and I remembering salivating as they showed their smoked fish and meats, then when they said the store Northern Waters Smokehaus was in Minnesota!!!  Yeah Boy I'm in!
Long story short we always make it a point to stop by on our way thru town.
Once while we were staying in the area we ordered a picnic lunch they put together for you, we went on our way and enjoyed our lunch and got to go sightseeing in the awesome town of Duluth.
Always a hopping shop filled people stopping in for a sandwich on their lunch break or passing thru town and trying out their famous smoked fish.
They also have more to offer in their catering department.
I have actually craved it so bad that I placed an order online and had it delivered to my home shhhhh..... don't tell!
So a great appetizer for company I would suggest you try one of their smoked fish ( I love them all) make a platter of fish, assorted cheeses, nuts, olives and crackers.
You and your guests will love it.
It is a must do if your in the area!