Strugglinghomebrewer.com

Johnny Rockets at Frankies Fun Park: Greenville

2012-02-22T19:00:00.000-08:00

I'm not even sure why I am wasting my time to write about Johnny Rockets in Greenville, but it is one of those chain restaurants that I find myself at often. Exactly how many cooks does one kitchen really need? Well Johnny Rockets sure seems to think that they need to pack as many as they can into the tiny space that is wide open and then add about 10 more. Johnny Rockets is one of those places where you know you can get a good, overpriced burger and a milk shake all while the kids (and even the parents) have an enjoyable visit. The atmosphere is upbeat and always entertaining from the waitress dancing to certain songs that play over the jukebox to trying to explain to your kids how old we really are. Kids learning about 50's music, "no I wasn't alive when this song first came out, but I still grew up listening to the 50's". And then it goes on and on from their.

This is what they call the Rocket Double. My picture looks a lot different from what the menu shows, but I guess that is to be expected with any mas-produced corporate menu item. It isn't bad, but neither is a whopper with cheese at Burger King. The bun on this burger is truly what makes is even palatable. The fries are the same thing I can buy in the freezer section and the cheese melted on top was just plain gross. Stick to the basics here as they try to nickle and dime you on everything. A $8 burger can quickly turn into a $15 burger if you fall for the required "up-sell" speech that each and everyone has to go through. Typical Corporate BS.

The service is something that needs improvement. The young 16 and 17 year olds that think going to work means social hour to chat/flirt/impress with their inner-working group of friends is a real job. I think it took our server 20 minutes just to greet us, another 20 to get our drinks delivered and then another 20 minutes after our food was delivered wrong to correct it. During all of this time, I think she did her homework, made plans for Friday night, successfully did her hair and make-up and possibly got asked out on a date by two individuals. Did you not know that your restaurant is an open kitchen and from any table in the place, we can see you?

Overall, Johnny Rockets is a fine place for a sit-down version of a Corporate fast food joint, just stick to the basics. The food is edible (on most occasions) and it is a great family/kid friendly environment. The service and accuracy of order taking needs to be addressed, but I get the feeling that this is just how they operate, as cheaply as possible. A burger and fries will run you $8.59, the malt is another $4.89 additional. Now that I think of it, I may be better off at Burger King or Hardee's next time.

Whaley's Restaurant and Bar: Edisto Beach, SC

2012-02-21T09:00:00.000-08:00

While enjoying a long weekend on Edisto Island, we could only pick one restaurant to dine at. After a long process of elimination and calling around to various restaurants, Whaley's was the clear winner. And I do not regret my decision one bit, even after being catechized by the wife for two hours, who is laughing now! Edisto is not a very large area, and you can get from one side to the other in just a matter of minutes, so we drove by each of the finalists and once we came upon Whaley's, the wife said, word for word, "NO, NO, I DON'T THINK SO. You are not taking your kids into that shit hole let alone am I going to step foot inside". After a few hours of more interrogations by the wife, I finally talked her into it, as if she really had a choice.

As you can see, they offer a fried shrimp platter for the little ones, and my #2 child loves shrimp so much, she asks us almost everyday for it. At a whopping $7.75, this is the most expensive kids meal I have ever purchased. And this didn't even include a kids soda. We were on vacation and the little one loved it as she didn't even save a single bite for me.

We all started off our meal with a cup of Shrimp N Crab Bisque, Smooth and creamy with a hint of Sherry for $4.95. A little spendy for just a little bowl, but in the end, it was worth every penny. Three large shrimp and a ton of crab were a pleasant surprise along with a very well balanced bisque base. Not too sweet, but not too buttery or bland. My #2 child also enjoyed the soup eating nearly two-thirds of mine. We opted to order-up a bowl to-go as well (since I didn't get any), but that cup wasn't nearly as nice as what we received in the restaurant. For $6.95 and double to soup, not one single shrimp was included in the to-go cup.

I went with the daily lunch special, Fish and chips for $9.95. They were all out of the real reason why we/I selected this place in the first place (Shrimp Burger, Jumbo local shrimp, pattied and rolled in panko bread crumbs and cooked til golden brown with a green chili mayo, $9.95), so I was left with no other option than the special. Not only were they out of the "signature" dish, they were also all out of cole slaw, for which they offered to substitute O'rings in its place. The fried cod was very greasy. Probably too greasy for most people, but once you got past that, the fish has some wonderful flavor and texture. The batter was nice and light with just the perfect amount of crispness to it.

The wife also wanted the Shrimp Burger and was even more disappointed than I was, but she got over it. She ended up ordering the Crab Cake Sandwich, One of our dynamic crab cakes with lettuce, tomato & Cajun Remoulade for &9.95. On the plate, it looked like a disaster, but in taste it was a masterpiece. The bun and all of that was just a filler to make one crab cake a meal, but all that set aside, the crab cake was wonderful. The wife was almost in shock and didn't know what to say. The thing didn't have any filler (well maybe a little) and consisted of all crab meat. And the crab meat didn't come out of a can, bonus. She even shared a few bites with me as I think she felt bad that our #2 child ate my entire soup while she chugged hers down and finished it off by licking the bowl.

Bottom-line, when you find yourself at Edisto Beach, bring your pocketbook as this place is not cheap as you do not want to miss Whaley's Restaurant & Bar. Almost $75 later and a $15 tip, we were stuffed to the gills and very satisfied. The place is a total dive and they advertise as having the oldest bartender in the state of South Carolina who can be a little grumpy at times, and let me tell you, it is all true. The food is fresh, home-cooked and absolutely delicious while the service is better than most touristy places in the off-season.

Cuzina Grill: Spartanburg, SC

2012-02-17T08:00:00.000-08:00

At the suggestion of one of the readers of this blog, I made a drastic decision and headed out to find Cuzina Grill rather than my already planned out lunch destination. Not really knowing anything about this place as it is fairly new and not much is available on the interweb yet, I honestly had no idea what to expect. It is pretty much at the end of a crappy strip mall in the middle of nowhere on Main Street just before downtown Spartanburg and everything else on the other side of town. The outside doesn't leave much to the imagination nor does it invite you to stop and come it. But let me tell you, those that have stopped over the past two to three months they have been open for business, are continually stopping back almost everyday.

I walked into what appeared to be a very tiny restaurant and was greeted by the most outrageous (in a good way) person I have encountered in the semi-fast-food industry. I cannot even put thoughts to words, but it was an enjoyment and a lasting good first impression. I placed my order for a traditional pita sandwich with roasted leg of lamb. The pita is also served with tomato, onion, tzatziki sauce along with the most unusual item of them all, duck fat fries. Yes, they fry the fries in duck fat according to what is advertised. After you place your order, you are given a number on-a-stick and you find your own place to sit. Then a nice waitress brings you some silverware and will later deliver your food order for you. I thought this was a weird way to serve the restaurant as it is something I have never really experienced before, but it works well.

Now onto the food itself. I have not really every had authentic Greek food at an authentic Greek restaurant before, so the whole fries on my pita was new to me. Then again, where I grew-up, Greek food meant ordering a Gyro at the local sports bar when you could not eat anymore chicken wings and a burger wasn't going to work for you. I liked the idea of the fires on the Pita and eating it that way, but as I got about 2-3 bites into it, they quickly became soggy. No biggie, I just removed them so I could add some sriracha sauce to the entire thing and ate them on the side. The onions were not very present if any at all and I would have liked more of the tzatziki sauce. I guess lesson learned for later this week when I make my return.

As for my choice in the roasted lamb, WOW. Now that was some damn good roasted lamb. It was so tender and juicy that I ripped off part of my pita bread to soak-up the juices that I lost while eating. Sometimes roasted lamb can be either too sweet or can get dried-out when heated on the griddle, but not in this case. I would put money down that in a blind taste test of this lamb up against some $45 lamb chop from some over priced steak house, that Cuzina's roasted lamb would win hands down. I can only remember enjoying lamb that tasted this good on one occasion and that was roasted for a day over an open fire on a spit in some backyard.

Bottom line, Cuzina Grill has some serious good eats for a quick affordable lunch. At just over $7.00 for this pita served with fries, you will not find a more tasty lunch in a 5-10 mile radius for this price. I truly hope that this new restaurant establishes themselves quickly and will be here for years to come. They sure have are already gotten off to a good start already.

Bangkok Thai Cafe: Spartanburg, SC

2012-02-16T07:00:00.000-08:00

Finding good Thai food in the South is proving to be more of a challenge than I had anticipated. While I like my Thai food to be somewhat of a discomfort in heat, I also like good quality meats and vegetables. Bangkok Thai Cafe in Spartanburg, SC is a little family owned restaurant hidden off Main Street in a strip mall that is vacant. The atmosphere is what you would expect of a Thai Cafe with some nice decorations inter-mixed with the normal cheesy decor as well.

This was my third visit to this particular restaurant due to the fact that is happens to also be the most convenient Thai restaurant to my office. The food on my previous visits was never anything to rave about, but still acceptable Thai food that fixes the need for spice. All lunch specials are served with soup or salad and an egg roll. The soup is just your average hot and sour soup and reminds me of what you might find right out of the spice isle at any grocery store. More sweet than anything.

Now for the main course. Pad Prig Sod: Mildly Spicy Stir-fried fresh bell peppers, onions, mushrooms and jalapenos with Thai curry paste. I opted for no mushrooms as everything on Bangkok's menu includes them. As always, I asked for it to be prepared just a little more spicy than normal. When asked on a scale of 1-10, I asked for a 9. The two previous visits I went with a 7 and then an 8 and wasn't really impressed with the spice level either time, but this was also the first time ordering Pad Prig which included fresh jalapenos. After a short while, my server came back and indicated that the manager wanted to double check with me on my selection of a 9 spice level and mumbled something further. I informed her that I was happy with my #9 and that I was prepared for whatever your chef could throw at me. She came back a second time and indicated that due to the jalapenos already in this dish, they did not want to make it a 9 spice level. So I amused her and said to give me a 7 or 8 or whatever your manager and chef were comfortable with.

The food arrived and to no surprise, wasn't spicy at all. It was almost more black peppery-spicy as my first bite made me sneeze a few times, but I quickly got over that. The curry paste was not present at all. The chicken was edible along with the vegetables, but the chicken was a little dried out, but nothing out of the ordinary from what I have been able to find in the past 8 months. The meal itself was very enjoyable and one that I would order anytime when in the Thai mood. The service is by far superior to any other ethnic restaurant in Spartanburg by a long shot. Everyone helps out and stops by for a chat and to see how the food is tasting.

As I was finishing up my meal, the Manager stopped by for a visit. She asked if it was spicy enough and I assured her that it could have been a lot more spicy, but overall it was enjoyable. She commented that she is always scared with the fresh jalapenos as "you never know what your going to get". I informed her that I enjoy eating fresh jalapenos on a sunny day right off the vine.

Anyone have any suggestions on who has the best spicy food that you just crave for or is everything advertised spicy really just a mid-western version toned down?

Smoke on the Water: Downtown Greenville

2012-02-15T08:00:00.000-08:00

Either you love it or you hate it. At least one or two things about this place called Smoke on the Water in one of the best locations in all of Downtown Greenville. I have the feeling that most people love it more than those that hate it, but that is just a general observation with the overflowing of people from 11:30 when they open for lunch up till 10:00 at night. It is also a BBQ thing. No two individuals view the best BBQ as the same thing.

I particularity LOVE Smoke on the Water. Not for the reasons that most people would expect though. They are a glorified southern BBQ joint that has a saucy tavern feel in an up-scale environment. The space is tiny and crapped for walking room. You cannot get up from your seat without giving the guy next to you an elbow to the head. The bar is crazy loud and at least 5 people deep at any given time. The BBQ frankly is not very good. Very bland tasting without any scent of smoke in it at all. The four sauce options are probably the least desirable part about this restaurant. All, very full of vinegar that make you gag upon its first encounter with your nose. So why do I love this restaurant? Besides the sides, the atmosphere is amazing. Service is always great once you get past the trio of hostess.

The wife's dinner. Grilled salmon as described, quickly cooked over hickory and mesquite to just the right degree of doneness, $15.95. A little pricy if you ask me for what you get, but it made the wife happy. I do not like salmon so I never make it at home. The wife however could eat salmon on a daily basis if ever given the opportunity. I'll admit, the salmon was cooked perfectly and the wife mentioned that it was in the top 3 or 4 best. Along with each entree, you get to select two of Smokes side items. Although the online menu is clearly out dated, the wife selected sauteed pea pods (as a second choice as the Veg of the day was mis-quoted to us) and this amazing fried mashed potato/cheese cake. The 18 month old ate every single pea pod while I ate her potato cake before she could get to it. Overall for the wife, this is one of the best downtown restaurants to feel fancy at while getting a good meal at a fair price all the while the kids are welcome with open arms.

Foe me, the double play BBQ Combo with Ribs and Brisket. As described on the menu, Why fret over a decision when you can build your own combo? Choose two or three of our smoked specialties: Double Play, $13.95 or the Triple Play, $17.95. They also go on to describe the Pit Master getting to the restaurant before the paper to fire up the smoker with hardwoods and put on the meats to be sure the 'smoke ring' is just the right shade of pink.

If you have ever had the ribs at Smoke, you know as well as I do that they do not have any type of 'smoke ring'. They just fall off the bone and you end up with bland pieces of pulled pork in the end. The brisket may have a slight 'ring', but it is so dry that you have to pour one of the four overly vinegar sauces all over it to make it edible. This was not my first time ordering this combination of meats at Smoke, but I guess on this visit, I just hoped that it would get better as I was in a BBQ mood, it didn't just worse than I remember.

Now lets talk about the real reason why I love this restaurant. They, not only have Deviled Eggs, but they have the most amazing Deviled Eggs I have ever tasted. It is very rare for a restaurant to have deviled eggs to start with, but as an appetizer for $5.95, if you ask, they will substitute a half order for one of your sides with any entree. I could go on-and-on-and-on about these things and Grandma, sorry, you ain't got nothin on these eggs.

Overall, the environment and atmosphere are about as good as they come in downtown. Smoke also shares a very fond and important memory and mile stone in our lives as a family. The BBQ could be better, but the other items on the menu are delicious like the fried catfish and the crab stuffed grouper. The sides are not only the best sides you will find offered at any restaurant, they actually taste good and offer the most creative selection. Along with the sides , the offer something called the Homeplate. This is your meal, any three sides of your choice for only $7.95. Not only does this work out perfect for my three kids, I go this route anytime visiting for a quick lunch.

What other restaurants downtown offer the same atmosphere and quality of food (just not the same crappy BBQ) as Smoke, but kids are also welcome to dine over the white linens? Their are so many restaurants that I want to visit downtown, but they either do not offer a kids menu that you can find online or posted on the outside or every time I plan a visit to this long list of restaurants, I have never seen a child seated at a table.

Homemade Sushi: Take 2

2012-02-14T17:00:00.000-08:00

Making homemade sushi is quickly turning more into a hobby than just cooking something I enjoy to eat. The way it makes you think and really brings out a more creative side in a relationship. The laughing at each other as you zig-zag through a grocery store as another idea pops into your head.

The different sauces that are available for purchase along with the crazy ones that you concoct in your head and turn out either exactly as you imagined or completely opposite, but much more improved than imagined.

The art of properly rolling a roll and deciding if this one is going to be an in-side-out roll or not. Did I add too much rice or not enough? Never too much rice in my opinion.

On this particular sushi night, we found out that we have a second option for sushi/sashimi grade fish local to our home. Previously we were always going to Whole Foods and paying some $24.99 Lb. After 8 months of not knowing about The Fresh Market grocery store, it was a commercial for a health club that brought us together. The commercial finished with directions and stated it was located directly across from The Fresh Market. A little Google search later, we now had plans for Saturday morning. To our surprise, The Fresh Market was amazing. The old school, small town meat and seafood counter was by far the best selection of, well, everything you could possibly want or need. The prices are also comparable for the crappy stuff you by at your local chain grocery store for Whole Foods, if not better quality. The frozen at sea sashimi grade tuna flown in that same mooring, $12.99/lb. In-house andouille, $3.99/lb. Fresh cut baby-back ribs (and I will say they were by far the best cut ribs I have ever purchased) $3.99/lb.

I'm not positive on why sushi is so involved with about 4 trillion combinations of rolls. In the end, we all (well maybe not "all", but majority of us normal folk) soak our Maki rolls in some sort of liquid sodium and wasabi sauce combination. The biggest take away for me on how to identify a good roll from another experience at the restaurants is a simple three step process. 1. Is the seaweed wrap crunchy or chewy? 2. Does the fish smell like fish or not (hopefully not)? 3. Does the rice shine and stick to where it is supposed to stick or is it all floating in your liquid sodium? If it checks out and the first bite passes all three check points then it must be a good roll. After this point, it all tastes the same in the end.

The most enjoyable moment about this event was the things you can make kids do for money. Caviar for a buck. This is exactly what my 4 and 6 year old did. Dad, "I'll pay you each $1 if you try a spoonful of caviar." 6 year-old, "What is Caviar?" Mom, "Fish eggs." Then it went on and on for about 15 minutes about why on earth we eat fish eggs and why the eggs were kept in the fridge and in a little tiny jar and at one point I believe one of them asked if a fish was going to grow and swim around inside of her etc.... Needless to say, I ended up forking over a total of $2. One loved it and wanted more, the other spit most of it out.

And below we have platter #2 with the finished piece being more "sauced" up for the spicy lovers.

Joe Konrath: 30 Day Beer Diet

2012-01-31T08:00:00.000-08:00

I'm calling "BULL SHIT" on Joe Konrath's 30 day beer diet. Don't get me wrong, I would do the same thing if I were in his shoes, but seriously, Bull Shit. It all started on New Years Day, some crazy, self publisher/writer decides he want's to lose some weight "the easy way". In all honesty, he wants to do a 30 day beer diet, see how many followers he can get and then sell his story. Don't believe all the bull shit about wanting to lose weight or prove to his wife that beer isn't bad for him.

Day 1, two blog posts and three videos to get the readers engaged. If this wasn't enough, Days 2-6 also included Part 1 & Part 2 blogs with tons more videos and photos with a little bad humor mixed in. Now that he has you drawn-in and running back for more and more... it all starts to get a little fuzzy.

What Joe is/was attempting to do has already been done by many people. In fact what Joe is/was doing was most recently completed and turned into a book by J. Wilson and his book Diary of A Part-Time Monk. The difference between what Joe did vs. Wilson was the reasons behind the project. Wilson actually followed the 46 day fasting by the old Monk tradition of some 300 years prior. He even went and brewed his own doppelbock beer filled full of carbohydrates, calories and vitamins.

Now why do I call out a big Bull Shit on what Joe is doing? Well if you know of or read one of Joe's books, you also probably know that he has started a revolution (not really started, just is more public than others) of selling his work electronically. He called out the big publishers of the world and called Bull Shit on them and with the help of Amazon, he is self-publishing all of his co-written fictional works. He doesn't sell out to anyone and has the attitude of "sticking it to the man". So what is so different in Joe now? Well maybe it is the fact that he is spouting off about how much money he has made this Holiday season on his other blog and trying to put thoughts into writing to help justify his own actions to make them OK so he can lay his head down at night (just my opinion).

After about day 6, he was down to only one blog post a day and they continued to get shorter and shorter, in most cases leaving the cult-like followers wanting more and more. No more videos or photos for the "People" and finally on day 19, it all came to an end. Waiting...still waiting... No more Joe. Then, out of a miracle of the beer Gods that circle in Joe's head at night, he reappears with some nonsense about his next diet and wants the "People" to leave comments so he can see exactly what kind of market he is getting into. After this appearance, we will not see Joe again for another 6 days when out of nowhere he reapers and tells the "People" that he can't talk anymore and you will just have to wait the 13-18 months it will take him to get his documentary completed. Nice, really Joe, this is what you do, you finally sell out after spouting your mouth off daily about what your all about? Maybe I'm reading into this the wrong way? Maybe he really did get sick and was hospitalized for a good time? The fact is, you started something with just a bunch of crap promises.

The main reason I'm calling Bull Shit is the simple fact that on his very blog, Day 20 to be exact, I started a comment that quickly spread with many follow-ups. That simple message was "RIP Joe". Now did I mean it the way most readers took it? No, I knew you sold out and at that very moment and that you crapped on the thousands of followers. After this comment (which had to be approved by owner of the site, Joe) I tried to comment again on the Day 26 break-up post (basically calling you a sell-out). For some reason that comment never made it into the comment section as it wasn't approved!

Today is day 31 and no one knows what really ever happened to Joe. All we know is that he has shot tons of video and has hired an editor and that he can't give us any further information. Sounds to me like he signed a deal with "The Man" or as Joe himself calls him "The Devil" and cannot give away anything further for free.

I don't blame Joe at all for his actions and would probably do the same thing since life revolves around the dollar. Hell, I'll probably be the first one on Amazon to pre order the finished product. I'm just having a hard time comprehending the different personalities between his two blogs and the fact that Joe doesn't fully gets what he has done. Can he decipher the differences between Fact and Fiction or is he so caught-up in his own fantasy land with Jack Daniels and Uncle Jim Beam?

Honey Nut Brown Ale - Midwest Supplies Kit

2012-01-25T13:00:00.000-08:00

OH BREWING DAY, oh brewing day... I find the most odd things to be therapeutic. For example, making Gumbo, the hour it takes to make the perfect Roux while you are constantly stirring and stirring while getting arm cramps. Yes, this to me is like making beer. The one hour boil, no kids, no wife and not a worry in the world except when I have to get off my ass to get another beer. From start to finish, 2.75 hours and a six pack of peace and relaxation without a single distraction, exactly the same as making a good Gumbo. So what do making Gumbo and home-made-beer have in common? Absolutely nothing except these are my two things that I do when my kids and wife know to stay away (unless one of my little princess want to play Princess and the Frog and add hot sauce to the gumbo) as daddy is having his "time" and I can drink as much beer as I want without feeling the pressure of having to answer to the wife when I decide I am done.

I had to jump in on the Christmas specials at Midwest Supplies as I needed some basic essentials that are just a ton cheaper to purchase from Midwest than anywhere else like Star San, a big old 8# bottle of PBW and a World Vineyard California Pinot Noir wine kit. I was only $5 away from getting my free bottle opener so of course I had to add a beer kit. I decided to stay with the whole brewing with local honey and chose the Honey Nut Brown Ale.

Midwest's selection of malt gives this smooth brown ale a hint of nutty flavor, while the honey delivers a sweet finish. The ingredients for this recipe include:
6 lbs. Amber liquid malt extract
2 lbs. Minnesota Clover Honey - REPLACE WITH MY OWN HONEY ON BREW DAY
8 oz. Crystal 10L Malt
4 oz. Chocolate Malt specialty grains
1.5 oz. German Northern Brewer bittering hops
0.5 oz. Willamette aroma hops
1 tsp. Gypsum
1 tsp. Irish Moss, yeast
priming sugar and a grain bag

I decided to purchase the yeast just a day prior to the actual brew day at the local shop, Grapes and Grains so I could ensure it was as fresh as possible and didn't hang out in the back of a UPS truck for four days.

One thing I did was swapped out the MN Honey it came with for 2 pounds of local honey I had in the pantry from the mountains of Western North Carolina. I also added it with just 2 minutes remaining on the boil rather than the recommended 30 minutes.

I am getting ready to bottle this beer this weekend as it has already spent two weeks in the primary and has been in the secondary now for about 3 weeks. When I sampled a few ounces on racking day, it was actually drinkable and I was tempted to poured myself a pint, but I didn't cave as I was already enjoying a home-brew at the time that was actually carbonated.

My starting gravity was a little higher than what it should have been registering in at 1.063 (more than likely due to the late addition of the honey) and it was already down to 1.010 at racking.

I cannot wait to try this beer in about two-three weeks as I still have yet to have a kit turn out spectacular from Midwest. Not sure what it is, but 100% and I mean 15 out of 15 kits from Northern Brewer have turned out fantastic and so far from Midwest, 1 had to go down the drain, two were just about headed for the drain and the last one was just OK with a bad after-taste. I'm sure it is brewer error, but I still find it odd.

Now for my New Years resolution, no more kits in 2012 and only original recipes utilizing at least one or two fresh local products in each batch.

Cheers to Micro Beers...

Barley's Taproom and Pizzeria: Downtown Greenville

2012-01-24T15:00:00.000-08:00

Talk about the perfect day. First, a visit to Dark Corner Distillery to sample some local moonshine and purchase a bottle or two, then we head over to the Greenville Beer Exchange to fill up a growler of Westbrook Brewing Dark Helmet beer and pick up a bunch of other items for the wife and myself to take home for when the kids go to bed (a bunch of German beers and beer fermented from the juice of sour apples). Then finally, finish off the perfect afternoon at Barley's Taproom. The wife, she was interested in the Pizza, me, I was interested in the beer.

Although you can't really read the beer menu posted above, let me tell you that it is one of the best thought-out and complete beer menus I have come across in many years. With the exception to some really good Chicago Brewpubs, Barley's beer selection is simply amazing with just one minor flaw that I'm sure changes over time as does the beer line-up. I was finding that beer from out in California and Oregon out numbered the local selection by almost three times.

Wanting to keep with the same theme of the day and stay local, I decided to have a Westbrook Vanilla Tree Dubbel. Vanilla Tree is a Belgian-style dubbel brewed with a variety of dark crystal malts and dark Belgian candy syrup. After fermentation, the beer is aged on whole vanilla beans and toasted oak chips. The result is a wonderfully smooth, malty ale with notes of dark fruit, spice, and vanilla (natural vanilla, not an extract with that fake syrup taste) and oak! Although just a sipping beer, it was one of the best Belgian style specialty beers I have ever tasted. Next up was a Highland Gaelic Ale. As the flagship beer to Highland Brewery, this was not only the first beer they offered, but to this day it accounts for about half of all the beer they produce. A deep amber colored American ale, featuring a rich malty body. Cascade and Willamette hops add a complex hop flavor and aroma. This ale is exceptionally balanced between malty sweetness and delicate hop bitterness.

Now onto the pizza. We ordered a Thai Chicken pizza that I would classify as a good pie. It wasn't anything outstanding or would I classify it as out-of-this-world good, but definitely a good quality scratch-made pizza. The simple addition of fresh chopped cucumber at the end was definitely the highlight to this pie for me. The sauce needed a little more kick to it as I felt like I was eating a peanut butter pizza. That gives me a good idea, PB&J Pizza... (I'm sure its already been done).

The service was fantastic as I know this place gets a lot of gruff for lack-luster performances at times. However, on this visit, we experienced probably some of the best service we have ever received in a downtown restaurant. The staff were very knowledgeable about the menu and the very impressive beer selection and even offered recommendations to the wife based on a few simple questions along with what kind of pie we were going to order. Not only was this appreciated, but all this took place right in the middle of the very busy and at times chaotic lunch rush on a Friday afternoon (I told you this day was perfect, beer for lunch on a Friday afternoon).

Bottom-line, if you enjoy craft beer at a fair price (some of the beers were on the steep side, but overall most of them were very fair for the quality) and want to try something that you probably never have before, Barley's is the perfect place to hang out at. As for the pizza, no more specialty pizzas for me, no matter how much the wife nags, I'm sticking to sausage and pepperoni pizzas with red sauce, you know, the kind we all used to eat as a kid. The next time she wants some crazy pizza with foie gras, cranberry jelly and oriental chutney, I will make it for her at home.

Have you ever been to Barley's Taproom in Greenville or to one of the other three locations? What did you think of the beer selection? Who else in the Upstate has a beer menu that can rival?

Tony's Pizza and Subs: Simpsonville, SC (Georgia RD)

2012-01-18T17:00:00.000-08:00

If you like damn good pizza at an affordable price in a clean, fun environment, Tony's Pizza on West Georgia is the place to be at. If you don't like going out for pizza like my family does, hell, they will deliver it right to your door. Not only do they have great pizza, they have the BEST and I mean the BEST Stromboli I have ever had in my life.

And if you are feeling like a "Big Boy", grab your closest friend to try to finish the "Big Boy" challenge; 1 28" "Big Boy" Pizza, 2 toppings and a lot of Pepto. If you are not up for a challenge, they even have a box that fits this "Big Boy" for you to take home (you may need a flat-bed pick up truck to get it home).

I am going to give Tony's the advantage over Milano's Pizza just based on the friendliness of the staff and the Strombolis. Milano's may have a slight edge on the quality of pizza, but the service, atmosphere and stromboli just isn't up to par with Tony's.

Check them out at http://www.tonyspizzaandsubssc.com/. They have 9 locations (I can only speak for the West Georgia location) and are locally owned.

Who else has better pizza in Simpsonville or Greenville than Tony's or Milano's? I'm a Chicago Pizza guy and my wife is a NY Pizza loser, but I must say Chicago Pizza is only good while in Chicago. Mr. Tony, you might have me convinced that NY Pizza is better, but don't let the wife know I said that.

Jadens' Pints and Wings: Simpsonville, SC

2012-01-17T11:59:00.000-08:00

So awhile back I attempted to try Jadens' Pints and Wings on a Friday afternoon for some wings (another self proclaimed "BEST" in the Upstate) and a cold Guinness. Upon parking my car, walking to the door, it was locked. No hours posted (or none that I could see, but I didn't look terribly hard) and not a person to be seen through the window I decided to try my luck at a different establishment for my quick fix. Seriously, 3:30 on a Friday afternoon you are closed?

So now several months later we find ourselves out and about on Saturday with nothing to do and three starving children. I decide to give Jadens a second chance as wings and a beer sounded good (but when doesn't that sound good?). We walked in around noon to a completely empty bar with the exception of what I am assuming to be the owner, owners wife/hubby (not sure which one is officially the owner) and the owners teenage child. Cool, family run place with actual family running it. The space itself is tucked into the end of a strip mall was smaller than I could have even imagined. Picture a small Subway restaurant with the tiny tables lined up and down a long hallway to the restrooms, this is Jadens. Now how on earth they have live bands on the weekends, that is another mystery all in itself.

I already knew they had a kids menu so we weren't going to have a repeat of that horrible "GERMAN" restaurant just a few minutes up the road plus they even had a fried shrimp platter for my middle child. Perfect, lets order some food and get these kids fed. While waiting for our food, it got a little uncomfortable. Teenage daughter and dad fighting over cell phones and facebook applications etc while wife did all the work besides actually cook our food. Lots of fun while trying to explain to my children what was happening etc...

So now onto finding the "BEST" wings in the Upstate. Nope, not even close. Not even a close second place. I ordered up 20 wings, Hot and some kind of sweet/spice sauce. When I asked about the spice level of each of the sauces they were described as Hot = Texas Pete, Hotter = Franks. Hmmm, that doesn't sound hot to me, but then again I tend to eat jars of Ghost Pepper Salsa in a single sitting.

The wings were very large and meaty and a lot of people like them that way, me however, the larger the wing is, the more difficult it is to cook it properly. With larger wings you cannot get the right amount of crispness and 99 out of 100 times get soggy when sauce is applied. I chose the Hot sauce since I was trying to stick to this theme at every wing joint. This so called Texas Pete sauce was a little different than the Texas Pete wings I make at home. When I make mine, I usually add 1/4 cup or so of Texas Pete per two - three Tablespoons butter for about 20 wings. This sauce was really watered down or something. I don't know what it was, but it just wasn't right. Maybe they used margarine instead of real butter? Overall they were still eatable, but would consider going with one of the other 14 sauces they offer. The sweet/spicy/tangy wings (or whatever they called them) was nothing more than just bottled teriyaki sauce with no presence of spice whatsoever. Very sticky and way too much sauce just sitting at the bottom of the basket. The wings never stood a chance, they were drowning in sauce.

Overall Jadens' Pints and Wings was a fun environment to enjoy some average at best wings and some cold pints of beer during a football game. Not a place I would ever bring my young children too again, but that is just me. A little spendy (two kids meals, 20 wings and a sandwich plus two beers - $48 before tip) and more than I care to ever spend again on lunch for the family. I get the idea that this place isn't known for great food, but rather great drinks and some live music. Maybe some day the wife and I will get to enjoy that life again, but with three kids, it is all about good food in a kid-friendly atmosphere. The disappointing part wasn't the lack of finding the "BEST" wings but rather the final impression I got when leaving. The restaurant has a partially open kitchen through the back of the bar and you can basically see everything in that kitchen. As we were walking out, past the open kitchen, their it was, a huge metal bowl filled full of some raw chicken wings on a metal push cart right next to the fryer. Now the cook/owner/bartender had not been in the kitchen since our food was delivered some 30 plus minutes prior and not another soul was in the restaurant at the time from when we walked in to the time we left. Now I feel sick.

Have you tried Jadens' Pints and Wings out before? Where and the hell do they set-up a band and still get more than 10 people through the door? Who has better wings than Wild Wings in the Upstate?

La Paz: Boiling Springs

2011-12-07T06:00:00.000-08:00

Since I have been on an American/Mexican restaurant tour of Spartanburg lately, I figured I would stop by La Paz for a quick in-and-out lunch. I'll admit, I have visited this restaurant once before, but nothing really stood out to me the first time, so I figured I would give them another visit to see if anything would impress me this time. After my most recent visit to Mexico Lido/Rita's and having the most amazing Chile Relleno I figured I would try to find one equally as good if not better.

Unfortunately, this is what I received. It was a lot different than the one over at Mexico Lido/Rita's and honestly didn't look appetizing at all. No cheese inside the actual pepper and this one was swimming around in an egg bath prior to being cooked/fried. It was like eating an under-cooked omelet with green pepper and ground beef on the inside. The guacamole was your typical creamed fashion that came out of the refrigerator section at your local grocery store and presented all fancy out of a pastry bag. I'm sorry, guacamole should not look like the filling for a deviled egg on a fancy buffet line.

Bottom-line, La Paz has nothing on the local competition in the area other than the fact that they have a great location with a very clean restaurant and friendly waitstaff. The salsa is decent when you mix the two together (actually probably my favorite salsa so far of the 4 or 5 places I have been) and the rice is eatable. Other than that, the food just isn't up to par with the others. It shows up in a matter of 3-4 minutes from the time you order and every plate that comes out of that kitchen look the same. Come-on, just look at that plate of food, the cheese itself is a given that this meal was a disaster from the beginning and never stood a chance and that enchilada/burrito thing you see on my plate, that is supposed to be a Chile pepper.

Grapevine Restaurant: Boiling Springs

2011-12-06T14:30:00.000-08:00

A restaurant out in the middle of nowhere, or is it a restaurant that is easily missed as you pass by? Either way, I am glad that I found this family run, Greek/Italian/Deli/American/Southern Soul/Seafood/Steak/Diner restaurant. They have about anything and everything you could possibly imagine on the menu. Grapevine Restaurant is a family-owned and operated establishment that opened in July of 2008 and is run by Dimitri and his family.

"We have committed ourselves to top-notch customer service that is tailored for every individual's preferences. Feel free to stop by and chat with us. We're always up for a good conversation! We hope to see you at the Grapevine soon!"

I had all intentions of ordering the HOT OPEN FACE SANDWICH Choice of Slow-Roasted Roast Beef, Roast Turkey or Roast Pork for $7.95. Served open face on bread with mashed potatoes, covered with rich homemade gravy and coleslaw. Or was I going to ignore the comfort food side of me and go with the Souvlaki (Marinated Beef Tips) for $9.95. Served on a bed of rice with onions, mushrooms, green peppers, crushed tomatoes, & feta cheese. I guess I could always go with the special for $5.99 and get all the soup and salad or sandwich I wanted to eat?

Still undecided, I chose the easy way out. Ask the beautiful server for her opinion and just go with it. So that's what I did and she recommended one of the following three items: Charbroiled 12 oz. Choice Rib Eye Steak Special for $10 or the Fried Chicken 2-piece $6.95 or 4-piece $8.95 entree. Both served with House or Caesar salad or soup, choice of 2 vegetables and dinner rolls. Add a Greek Side Salad for $2.00 extra. But the one item she recommended most of all, Grapevine’s Philly Cheese Steak $6.95. Thinly sliced steak grilled with onions, mushrooms and peppers; Topped with mozzarella on a hoagie roll and that is what I ordered plus a side of fries.

The bread, "Oh My" the bread this sandwich was served on was simply the most amazing thing I have ever tasted. It was perfect, light and airy with a nice crunch on the top. It literally melted in my mouth with each bite. At times, I forgot that it had other stuff inside (aka: scolding hot cheese) and I was burning the crap out of my mouth each and every time I repeatedly took bite after bite. The cheese on this sandwich also stood out and simply made this sandwich even more amazing. I know the menu and all says it is mozzarella (I think of melted mozzarella that is stringy), but it was a cross between Whiz and some kind of white cheese sauce. Perfect, they know that a Philly should only be served with cheese sauce. And now for the filler, Steak and mushrooms. Lesson number one when taking the easy way out of ordering something, look to make sure it doesn't include mushrooms. The steak was just average at best, but when combined with the bread and sauce, the Philly as a sandwich was one of the best I have ever tasted. Now, had I noticed that I was going to be served a pile full of mold (mushrooms) on that most awesome sandwich and asked my beautiful waitress to please hold the mold, it would have definitely been the best Philly I have ever had.

Bottom line, Grapevine restaurant is exactly what a restaurant should be. Family owned and operated with generations of family running the show. Home-cooked food that is actually delicious with a menu offering a little bit of everything so even the pickiest diners will not have a problem finding something delicious. And a community based business that puts the people that make them successful first. Almost forgot, breakfast is served all day and the desert case, definitely worth checking out as well.

Be sure to check them out if you are ever in the Boiling Springs area filling up that tank with some of the cheapest gas in the nation along with the other 10,000 people trying to fight over a pump at the new QT.

www.grapevineofboilingsprings.com

AtlantaFresh Brings Cow-to-Table Greek Yogurt to Greenville

2011-12-05T06:00:00.000-08:00

For release: November 29, 2011

AtlantaFresh Artisan Creamery, a two year old Atlanta based small batch producer of exquisite hand made Greek Yogurt, will begin selling its full line of “World Class” Greek Yogurts starting December 3rd, 2011 in the Greenville, South Carolina market. Initially, Whole Foods Market will be the exclusive source of AtlantaFresh Greek yogurt in Greenville. AtlantaFresh very recently was awarded its interstate dairy license by the FDA allowing the Georgia based company to sell their yogurt nationwide. Whole Foods Market South Region was instrumental for the creamery in receiving the FDA license by making available expansion capital to AtlantaFresh Creamery as part of its Local Producer Loan Program. AtlantaFresh is proud to be the first and only local Southeastern creamery supplying Greenville with local Greek Yogurt.

“Everything we make is in small batches by hand, “says AtlantaFresh founder and “Big Cheese” Ron Marks. “For fresh dairy products, great milk and getting your products to market as soon as they’re made is the key to quality,” he says. “AtlantaFresh yogurt is a real treat. You can taste the quality difference.”

Fresh, Local Milk Means Amazing Flavor, Richness
AtlantaFresh prides itself on using only local milk from nearby Georgia dairy farms with humanely treated, fully pastured grass-fed cows. AtlantaFresh receives milk from its partner dairy farmers the same day the milk is milked from the cow and within a few days is sending ultra-fresh artisan Greek yogurt out to Greenville and other Southeastern markets.

Traditional European Method
Commercial dairies produce yogurt in a fully automated process, thousands of gallons at a time. AtlantaFresh makes their yogurt in a low-tech, old world style in 100 gallon batches.

“We turn AtlantaFresh yogurt around in a few days, using an extremely traditional European style, relatively unique among yogurts in the States,” explains Marks. “Most yogurts are ‘cup-set’. Ours is batch pasteurized, naturally cultured, and then has most of the whey strained off for a remarkably smooth and full-flavored yogurt. As a true traditional Greek style yogurt, our tart and tangy full flavor is the result of fresh culturing every batch to a lower acidity. It takes us three gallons of milk to make one gallon of finished yogurt.

Real Greek Yogurt Is Healthier
☛ Very high in bulgaricus and acidophilus—key probiotic cultures. Its freshness gives AtlantaFresh yogurt tremendous health benefits, compared to most other yogurts on the shelf. Every batch is newly cultured and the freshness of the product delivers a very active and prolific set of beneficial probiotic activity to your system.
☛ A high-protein food: 15 grams of protein in every 6 oz. serving.
☛ All flavors are available in fat-free and 2% varieties. Plain yogurt also available in Whole Milk.
☛ The texture of AtlantaFresh yogurt is rich, thick and luxurious, with no added starches or thickeners. One of the many benefits of the straining process that removes most of the whey.

Come this Sunday as my family makes its weekly Whole Foods run, this will be in the shopping cart. My wife lives by way of Greek yogurt and although I personally do not like to just eat this stuff, I do however love to make home-made ice cream with Greek yogurt as a healthier alternative to all the butterfat.

Check them out and lets support our local farmers and businesses.
Website: www.atlantafresh.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/atlantafresh
Twitter: www.twitter.com/AtlFreshYogurt

Mexico Lindo East or is it Rita's: Spartanburg

2011-11-21T16:00:00.000-08:00

So which is it? Mexico Lido or Rita's? The sign on the front of this dive Mexican restaurant says one thing and the sign on the edge of the road says another? Either way, identity crisis or not, Mexico Lindo Rita's has won me over as the place to go for my "American Mexican" food fix.

After looking over the menu for 10 minutes not having any clue on what to order, I just went with some lunch combo as I had already consumed one basket of tortilla chips and salsa and a second serving was on the way. I was so overwhelmed by the menu and the food that I was seeing coming out of the kitchen, that I really have no idea what I ordered, I just belted out a Lunch combo number at random and figured that it all tastes the same. After placing my order, the one waitress who was running the entire show came out to another table and started to whip up some fresh table-side guacamole. It looked amazing and I definitely will be placing my order for this on my next visit. Not really sure that the show was all that impressive, but it is good to know that they actually have fresh Guac and not some frozen mix that has become all to popular with these Mexican Dive Bars.

As I mentioned before, I had no idea what I ordered after I shouted out "#9" so I was shocked and surprised at what was laid out in-front of me. It had taken some time for my food to arrive and I think this shows that they actually do make each menu item to order. I am used to my Lunch Combos arriving in a matter of moments, but not with Lindo/Rita's. I was a little disappointed that my platter did not have any rice/beans/Veggies included, but I really didn't miss it when I was finished. The Chicken burrito/enchilada/taco roll-up thing was your average white meat chicken burrito thing with nothing inside other than chicken. It was average at best, but don't get me wrong, it was eatable and had great flavor it was just boring. Now onto that stuffed pepper thing that shocked me when it arrived. Did I really order that? Why on earth would I order a chile relleno? I have never had one before and really had no intentions on wanting to try them now. I figured I was already full so what if I just left this thing alone and didn't touch it. Would I offend the waitress or the chef in the back? I finally decided that I better at least cut into it a little and make it look like I tried it. Cutting into the pepper quickly lead to me trying it which ultimately ended with the entire thing being consumed in a matter of moments. It was amazing from the perfectly seasoned ground beef to the melted cheese that this baby was stuffed with. The cheese was simply amazing on its own and had so much flavor that I found myself letting it rest on the tip of my tong to savor as long as possible. I have no idea what it was, but it tasted like a combination of really good Queso blanco and a small hint of Requesón cheeses melted together to create this perfect combination of flavors and texture. I could go on and on about this Chile Relleno for hours, it was that good. I'm sure the cheese was just a basic Queso, but one has to imagine right?

Bottom Line, $5.30 later plus a $4 tip, I was on my way out of probably one of the best Mexican/American restaurants I have ever had the pleasure of dinning at. Next time, I think I will shut out the entire world around me (in this instance, all the amazing looking food coming out of the kitchen) for a moment and actually take the time to look at the menu and select something of more substance with a side of Chile Rellano.

Wild Oats Taproom: Simpsonville

2011-11-15T05:30:00.000-08:00

After the highly anticipated opening of our new little Taproom in Simpsonville, the wife and I left the kids with Grandma and headed out for some beers and maybe a small bite to eat just to sample what might become our new local hang out. We waited exactly one month to the date before heading over to check them out so we wouldn't get the wrong first impression. Enough time to get all the kinks worked out and all you know, just to be fair and give the new guy the benefit of the doubt.

Unfortunately a month was not nearly enough time for them and I'm afraid that a year still might not be enough time. The food we had was simply disgusting. I don't even think I should have taken a second bite just for the sake of my health. Although I am writing this review based off of one particular food item on the menu (as I hope the other food is actually eatable), after this one experience, I don't think I could ever find myself returning to try anything else ever again.

Lets start with the good. The beer selection is quite decent. I found myself wanting to try 5 or 6 different selections they had at the time and was very impressed with the bartenders knowledge of each different option. I was even offered a sample of each different beer before being stuck with an entire pint of something that could have been less than desirable. The bar itself, was clean and overall, nothing to complain about for appearance. The waitstaff were all very friendly and more than willing to strike-up a conversation and an intellectual one at that. The fries, were the only thing eatable and not objectionable. As far as the good goes, I think that is about it, did I mention they have some amazing beer selections on tap.

Now for the review part of this post. If you take a good look at the picture above, and please forgive me for the picture not being so pretty, but I blame part of the fault on the subject. That my friends is what Wild Oats calls "Fish Tacos". Grilled white fish served with two soft tortillas with lettuce, cheese and mango salsa for $8.49. I know Wild Oats wants to be known as a taproom, but lets get things straight right off the bat. They are just another Sports Bar in a location that has had many failed sports bars. Granted they do have the tap beer selection to back-up this statement of being a taproom, but it is nothing more than a sports bar trying to pass off horrible food being prepared by some $7/hr cook whose food is a direct resemblance on what his girlfriend situation at that particular moment is. So if it is a sports bar disguised as a taproom with an pretty decent tap selection, why didn't I try the typical bar food like wings or a burger? I cannot answer that question, but all I know is I wish I would have. I really wish I would have tried some wings or something rather than what I chose. Its a sports bar for crying out loud and I should have known better than to go outside of a sports bars comfort zone and I take partial responsibility, but on the other hand, if it is on the menu, it had better be the best quality food you humanly can put out that door. I chose the fish tacos because of the "Mango Salsa". How hard is it to screw up a fish taco? Well, just walk into Wild Oats and you will see first hand.

Where to begin, this thing was just bad from the beginning. It shows up and looks like, well what you see above. It had maybe 1 or 2 oz. of regurgitated food (I'm not even sure if that was fish or not or if the chef was going to be Ace Ventura, Pet Detective for Halloween just two days from my visit) that looked and smelled like a can of tuna that has been left out in the hot sun for about a week. Seriously, I don't even know if what I placed in my mouth was actual fish. Secondly, the lettuce was brown and black and had the texture of tofu just being removed from an airtight package floating in liquid. Cheese, yeah, it had about three or four little pieces the size of what you might find on a salad, slivers. Tomato, yeah it was frozen. Mango Salsa? Where are you? "Oh, we are all out and have been for a few days now (kind of like we never have had it in the first place), so we just thought you might like it the way it was without any salsa (or flavor other than rotten canned tuna). Have a nice day. Thank you, come again."

Please don't waist your time thinking about eating anything that comes out of the kitchen at Wild Oats Taproom. If you do go, and please do, they have great beer, just stick with the liquids. My doctor has advised me not to trust anything that ever comes out of that kitchen without going back and cooking it myself. I will also leave you to judge the clientele at this lovely local taproom. I get the feeling that the same regulars who were the root cause for the closure of the previous Sports Bar are to going to become the cancer of this place. Lets hope not and hope that they can turn things around and or just remove the fish tacos from the menu. Unfortunately, for me, this meal has ruined my chances of ever returning again to dine as these kind of experiences cannot be taken back or ever forgotten.

Honey Saison Experiment: Take One

2011-11-14T17:00:00.000-08:00

Time to get back on track here and actually write about something again why this blog is in existence, Homebrew. Although I got rid of nearly 250 empty beer bottles during my relocation to South Carolina, I took extra time and care on making sure that my brew equipment made is safely. Now the challenge to find a brew store locally to purchase all of my "Groceries" from for making homebrew. It seems that I only have two options, one is a local brewery that commercially sells beer to local restaurants and is found in almost every store and the other, is a local start-up shop called Grapes and Grains. I decided to go with the local start-up shop and see what they were all about (I will talk about Grapes and Grains at a later time).

For this experimental recipe #1, I went with the following for ingredients.
SPECIALTY GRAIN
-- 0.5 lbs Caravienne
FERMENTABLES
-- 3.15 lbs Light malt syrup
-- 1 lb Light dry malt extract
-- 1 lb Wheat dry malt extract
-- 1 lb Florida Orange Blossom Honey
HOPS & FLAVORINGS
-- 1 oz UK Kent Goldings
-- 1 oz Styrian Goldings
-- 1 oz Saaz
YEAST
-- Wyeast Belgian Saison (not 100% positive what it was as I was limited)

As for the prep work to begin, I was a little out of my comfort zone as it has been since January since the last time I have brewed and I was now in a different house with a completely different set-up. After spending the better part of Saturday morning preparing everything from setting up the turkey burner to doing a complete deep clean and sensitization of all my equipment, I was finally ready to light the fire.

1. Bring 3.5 gallons of bottled water up to 155 degrees.
2. Steep my grains for 20 minutes between 155-165 degrees.
3. Remove grains and bring to a boil.
Etc.. Etc.. Etc... you get the idea.

While having free entertainment the entire 2 hours I was outside brewing with the neighborhood kids play hide and seek and a cold (non-homebrew) beer, I was loving the fact that it was 60 degrees outside at 9 PM rather than the ZERO degrees I was used to brewing in back in Minnesota.

After I got the water to a boil, I added my three Extracts. I Boiled the Kent Goldings for the full 60 minutes and added .75 oz each of the Styrian Goldings and Saaz for 10 minutes and the remaining .25 oz for the last 2 minutes. Along with adding Irish Moss at the last 15. I was then ready to shut down the fire and stir in my 1 lb of Honey from Florida.

While not being 100% prepared like I normally would have been, I failed to get ice. I had about 8 lbs of ice in the freezer and made due with what I had. In the mean time, I place a gallon of my bottled water in the freezer to assist with the final cool down. Not sure if this was a wise move, it was my only option to get the wort down to a manageable temp before adding my yeast.

After about 45 minutes to get my wort down to 85 degrees, I decided it was time to combine the rest of the water with the wort in the Primary and hope for the best. And perfect, my temp was now at 70 degrees and ready to aerate with the best friend a homebrewer can have. My $10 fish pump and Micron stone. Let the air begin. I let it go for about 15 minutes and added my yeast. I still am not positive exactly what yeast I used, as it was the only Saison yeast Grapes and Grains had in stock. I was specifically looking for the French Saison strain, but I wasn't going to be greedy. It doesn't really match-up with anything I can find online, but I chose this style of beer since it has a much higher temperature range for the fermenting stages compared to other Ale yeasts and I just like Saison beer.

Finally after 36 hours, I am starting to see some bubbly action going on in the closet. I was fearful that I might not see anything as the yeast was much older than I am normally used too (but still within the manufacturers 6 month recommendation) seeing, but again, I think I might have been spoiled back in MN with Northern Brewer and Midwest Supplies right in my back yard.

Starting Gravity: 1.052

Copper River Grill: Boiling Springs, SC

2011-11-14T08:00:00.000-08:00

Not feeling motivated mid-week last, I needed to get out from behind the four walls that I call my home for 9 hours, 5-days a week and see what trouble I could find. Having no idea where I was going, I found myself driving towards Boiling Springs. Not being a fan whatsoever of Corporate chain run restaurants, I decided that Copper River Grill was going to be my hang out for the next hour and I could try to get an idea if this establishment fell in that category. Not really knowing anything about the food or restaurant itself other than the fact that I have driven past three of them now since living in the South I wasn't sure what to expect or what I was in for.

I walked into a very large open restaurant (it appeared to be twice the size on the inside as on the outside) and was seated just in-front of the wide-open show kitchen. While very flashy and all, the environment that they want you to feel is very clear and delivered very appropriately. Welcome to your Alaskan mountain lodge with a stone fireplace as your centerpiece.

While being totally set on ordering the Copper River Burger™: Giant 12 oz. patty with Monterrey Jack cheese, bacon, BBQ sauce, fried onion straws, lettuce, tomato & pickles for only $8.95, I changed my mind without even realizing what had happened when my waitress took my order (Yes, you did read that correctly, a 12 oz burger). I decided to go with the Over-Stuffed Po-Boy Sandwich: Piled high on a grilled roll with our secret Remoulade sauce, shredded lettuce, sliced tomato & pickles. Served with your choice of side item. Crunchy-Fried Shrimp - $9.95. You also have the option for Flounder or Chicken vs. Shrimp.

While having an open aired kitchen, you really cannot see any of the food being prepared. All you get to see are about twenty or so bodies standing around (at least that is how it appeared as I'm sure they were working very hard) staring with blank faces back behind the prep counter. With that being said, my sandwich arrived in just a matter of moments (as I did personally hear the chef belk out my order about 15 seconds after I had placed it) and appeared to be just that, a Shrimp Po-Boy.

The sandwich looked sloppy and didn't really have an appearance to it, but who cares about first impressions, how it tastes will be the deciding point. The bread, Oh My goodness, the bread was amazing. Just serve me up some of this bread, lightly toasted and we will be all set. I'm sure it is shipped to them from some major grocery/restaurant supply truck with 9 more stops along the way, but it was good. The shrimp, although very lightly breaded, they were very greasy. Extremely greasy to the point that I found myself pulling a classic from my wives playbook on "How to eat pepperoni pizza", I was blotting the shrimp. After a brief moment cleaning up my lunch, I was ready to give this baby a try. It was a shrimp Po-Boy. Nothing that made it stand out from all the other Po-Boys available, but it held its own and the bread was clearly the winner on this sandwich. As for being described as an "Over-Stuffed Po-Boy Sandwich" on the menu, I would almost consider this false advertising as the sandwich had plenty of room for more greasy shrimp. Would I order this sandwich again, probably not, but I wouldn't mind trying the fried flounder Po-Boy and returning in the near future for one of those 12oz burgers. Overall the sandwich was eatable and the dining experience was very satisfying. The environment was welcoming and makes you feel warm and comfortable while the service was almost as good as its surroundings if not better. I'm going to go out on a limb here, as my visit was during the lunch hour on a weekday, and say that this is a very kid and family friendly restaurant. I personally know that my kids would get a kick out of Copper River Grill and I will be taking them and the wife in the very near future (probably the Greenville location).

After doing much research on the Copper Grill, I have discovered that they currently have 7 or 8 locations open in the Carolina's and Kentucky with one coming soon in Ashville (not sure if this is the first or second location in Ashville). Still not sure if this would be considered a "Chain" that I run the other way from or if this is just a good local company with multiple locations? Nonetheless, it isn't your mom and pop shop that I keep running back too.

"We are restaurant operations people, and we understand how important the details are. Our intensity toward execution produces a dining experience in which our guests get great food, cooked to order and served when it is supposed to be, along with friendly and accurate service."

Carolina Ale House - "ALE YEAH!"

2011-11-10T15:00:00.000-08:00

It's "The Wife" again making my second appearance on stugglinghomebrewer.com. I guess my first review for Hans & Franz got some heated debates going. So, just to prove to "Resident" (a.k.a. OWNER of that establishment, Addy Sulley) that I am a good person and I can actually give someone a positive review (when it is well-deserved), I would like to say a few words about the Carolina Ale House.

Since March of 2011 (before we had even lived here permanently) we have been frequenting Carolina Ale House on many of our trips to Downtown Greenville. One thing we've noticed around these parts is that it is difficult to find a good sports bar. This place does not disappoint! From just about anywhere on Main Street you can see the "rooftop bar" with folks enjoying a cold one or some food from a second-story outdoor area. That is what enticed us to check the place out initially. On a sunny day they will have the windows/roof wide open so people can enjoy the weather. If it is colder or raining though, they have you covered up there too...literally. All of the mechanisms can close up and keep you protected from the elements. Complete with a huge central bar, high-top tables and plenty of big-screens, the "rooftop bar" is a fun place to hang out. If you don't want to make the trek up all of those stairs, they do have an elevator. Or, you could just enjoy the same outdoor ambiance from the atrium seating area on the main level. For those who want a little more shelter, they have a huge dining area inside on the main level: half decorated with Gamecock memorabilia and half with Clemson. They do throw a little Furman into the mix as well for all of you FU fans. Just as with the "rooftop bar" the main level is home to a huge central bar and plenty of big screens.

Sometimes the food at a sports bar can be questionable as they cater more to the beer guzzling football fans and not anyone else. Not so with the Carolina Ale House. You see people and families (yes, they have high-chairs!) with all backgrounds and at all stages of life. And everyone is having a good time and enjoying good food. We always start with an order of their Fried Pickles. Not sure what it is about them but they are amazing. I think there might be a hint of cornmeal in the batter and served with ranch dressing...you just can't go wrong! My favorite entree so far is the Blackened Tuna Steak Sandwich. Yes...I just said that a sports bar serves Tuna Steak. And it is fantastic! My husband, your usually blogger, has a thing for the Boom Boom Shrimp Wrap. We have enjoyed several entrees though including salads, sandwiches, burgers and wings. None have been a disappointment. Their kids menu has a good selection and all entrees there will set you back only $3.99. That is insane value...especially if your kids are anything like mine and peck at their food like chickens in a coop. If you have recently purchased a meal for your child anywhere else, you know that these days you are paying up to $8 for your kid to eat (or peck) in some cases! You do have to shell out an extra buck if they want a soda, but hey, water is always free! I like that they give you a choice on sides also (fries, Jell-O, veggies or applesauce).

So the place is cool, appeals to the masses, has a good beer selection (can't believe I didn't mention that until now!!!), great service and fantastic food. The only think I can think that would make me any happier with this place is if they would start serving Sweet Potato Fries. But that is just a personal preference. If you are looking for a fun and casual spot in Downtown Greenville, you owe it to yourself to check this place out.

Lime Leaf Thai Cuisine: Spartanburge, SC

2011-11-04T16:00:00.000-07:00

Lime Leaf Thai Restaurant in Downtown Spartanburg was today's victim for my Friday afternoon pit-stop. After leaving Minnesota in June and not having any Thai food other than the way too hot Curry I attempt to make at home every now and then, I felt it was time to start to look for a new Spice House. I absolutely love Thai food, not for the same reasons as many, but for that adrenalin rush of eating something way more spicy that should be humanly allowed and then asking them to make it ever more spicy, just for me. Missing my old stand-by Thai cafe in Savage, MN (Spice), I was off to find something that could satisfy my craving with as low of expectations as possible.

Here we are, walking in the wrong entrance at first and quickly realize that is for the handicap only and you need to ring a bell for service, I finally stumbled on the real front entrance. I was greeted, seated and before I knew it, I had a hot bowl of soup and an egg roll in front of me. I hadn't even looked at the menu yet. Cool, how did they know I wanted some hot soup on this cold and rainy day? Anyway, I ordered up the #7, Stir-fried Spicy Beef (Namprigpaow): Stir-fried chicken with namprigpaow spicy paste, broccoli, snow peas, carrots, cabbage, bell pepper and zucchini. $7.50

About 4 minutes and 30 seconds later, just in time for me to finish my soup (still not sure what it was, but it hit the spot) and per-packaged egg roll that tasted like someones dirty sock, I was presented with this beautiful plate of food. When I ordered the #7, it already indicated that it was a spice level of 1 out of 3 or 4. I asked my server, who was very punctual and left me alone to enjoy my meal perfectly, to make it spicier. He suggested a 3 out of 4 and I went along with it not knowing if Lime Leaf understands what Thai Spicy is or not. All I can say is, next time, Oh Yes, there will be a next time, I will order a 5 out of 4 spice level. The dish itself was extremely sweet rather than spicy. Nothing wrong with that, in fact, I enjoyed every single bite of it down to that very last grain of rice. My initial perception of the dish was, "GREAT, another vegetable dish with one or two pieces of chicken in it". But, oh no, after I started chomping away at it, my perception was quickly changed. Just enough chicken with some vegetables that could not have been cooked anymore perfect. And the sauce, other than the fact that I would have liked it about 20 times more spicy, had excellent flavor and wished I had more of it on my plate for the rice to swim around in before being placed upon my fork.

Bottom Line, the food served at Lime Leaf has excellent flavor (other than the egg roll they try to serve you) with fresh ingredients and homemade sauces to accompany your dish at an incredible value. However, Lime Leaf has no concept of what Thai Hot is, or maybe they saw some poor white, Northern boy ask for spicier food and they were trying to do me a favor and be nice, either way, we can work on this with them. I have a feeling that this place will become a new regular hang out for me during the afternoon lunch hour on nice days. Check it out and if you have any other Thai suggestions with real spicy food in the area, please let me know.

Cafe Rivera: Greer, SC

2011-11-03T17:00:00.000-07:00

Finally, I have found a Juicy Lucy or as Cafe Rivera spells it, Juicy Luci. Cafe Rivera is located in the beautiful and Historic town of Greer, SC. It is also home to the one and only Juicy Lucy in the entire state of South Carolina (at least as far as I know). Also, a very big thanks goes out to Mr. or Mrs. Anonymous for commenting on this very blog about Cafe Rivera and letting me know about this amazing restaurant. This was seriously one of the best days of my short 5 months in the beautiful state of SC thus far. And it is only 20 minutes away from home, even better.

Now, I usually get mad at restaurants who cannot spell Juicy Lucy properly, but I am OK with how Rivera's spells it as they get the Juicy (not Jucy as some impostors do) part of the name correct.

Once I told my mother about this new discovery, she was in and we were off enjoying lunch, just mother and son an a beautiful fall afternoon. I knew exactly what I wanted and I convinced my mother into trying something other than the Juicy Luci, well because I also wanted to try the "DOG" and I promised her I would share with her.

For Me:
Juicy Luci: Two 4 ounce Chuck Burgers Stuffed with American Cheese. Served with Fry Sauce and Dill Pickles, $8.50

For MOM:
Sausage “Dog”: Spicy Andouille Sausage with Onion Marmalade, Roasted Red Peppers and Dijon Mustard on Cuban Bread, $7.75

I will keep this brief and to the point, "HOLY CRAP, WHY DIDN'T SOMEONE TELL ME ABOUT THIS PLACE SOONER"? It was absolutely amazing. The wife thinks it is because I may have been suffering from "Juicy Lucy withdrawals" as it has been since June 3rd since my last Lucy experience. This Lucy was filled full with some amazing tasting white American cheese that was just... (I have lost my though for words now just thinking about it) that damn good. The bun was also a huge addition to this burger, homemade fresh buns that aren't too big, but just big enough with that perfect amount of air inside. Maybe a little bit too much salt on the burger itself, but I like salt, its just my Doctor who doesn't like me having it.

Onto the rest of the meal, I did end up sharing almost half of my Lucy with my mother, but she did in return share half of her Sausage Dog with me. I still do not know how I feel about the Dog? I go back and fourth on this and for many different reasons. It was good, it was too busy, it was too sweet, it wasn't spicy enough (I could go on and on) etc... The Cuban bread was simply amazing, the Andouille was even better than the bun, the Dijon (homemade I'm going to guess) was perfect in every way possible and the Onion Marmalade, well was simply to die for when accompanied with the roasted red peppers. But you put all of these complex flavors on a piece of bread, together, all you taste is a sweet hot dog that is difficult to eat. The Andouille had absolutely no spice when paired with the Onion Marmalade, but eat it on its own, and it holds its own. I'm still at a lose on this one, it was fantastic in every single way possible, but I'm still having a hard time with the Dijon and Onion Marmalade combination covering up the amazing flavors already present with great tasting bread and sausage. I'll get over it as quickly as you just read me ramble on about it. The fries, did absolutely nothing for me. I know its all about homemade and fresh, and I have to agree, but when it comes to fried potatoes, fresh simply doesn't work for me. They are soggy and usually, and in Riveras case, overly salted and seasoned to cover up that fried greasy mess of soggy pile of potatoes you just threw on my plate. The ketchup, homemade of course, is a little different. I loved it, but my mother hated it. You decide on that one.

Overall, Cafe Rivera has some amazing looking food and probably, no, THE "BEST" burger in all of the Upstate or South Carolina for that. Not only do they have a Juicy Lucy, but they have a damn good tasting (probably #3 or #4 all time in my book) one at that. I will be back as often as I am allowed until they kick me out or 86 me from ever returning again.

Hans and Franz Biergarten: Greenville, SC

2011-10-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

Oh dear Hans and Franz...This is "The Wife" writing your review. And I am sorry to inform you that you have FAILED!! First of all, your website says that you are a "family-friendly" restaurant. What part of "family-friendly" does not include high-chairs? My 14 month-old had to sit on my lap during the duration of dinner! How is that "family-friendly?" Second of all, your food stinks! Your pork schnitzel is anything but. It is a crispy, over-fried mess of dried up pork that cannot even be chewed or swallowed without any type of dipping sauce. Which, by the way, is mustard that was specifically requested by yours truly. We ordered the Vienna Sausage for our two girls (they have no kids menu...which again, by the way, is not "family-friendly") but they just so happened to be "all out" of that so we subbed a Bratwurst. I will say they ate it up like they had never eaten in their lives. But...this was after a lengthy wait. So I would assume that they were just really hungry. Now, let's move on to what you call Spaetzle. Ummmm...REAL Spaetzle is a boiled noodle of sorts. LEFTOVER Spaetzle is fried with onions. So...based on the fact that what we had was regurgitated, fried, chewy crap with onions mixed in...I would say we got the leftovers. NOT GOOD.

So we've established that the food is not authentically German (which they do advertise). BUT...also your decor is anything but German, having Scottish and English accents (such as Golfers in knickers) all over the place. So what do you want to be? Do you want to be European in general or do you want to be a German Restaurant? Your German Beer Menu stinks...when I order an Oktoberfest and I am served a bottle of Beck's, something is WAYYYY off from the German roots.

Bottom Line: You are no Gasthof's. I was really hoping to eat some fabulous and authentic German food. But you have disappointed. I am nearly 80% German, my dear Husband...who typically writes this Blog, is nearly 100% German (but somehow HATES sauerkraut???), were in total shock at how terrible this supposedly "German" joint ended up to be.

On the plus side, we did have excellent service, the restaurant was clean and organized and we did enjoy our stay (less the 14 month old not confined in a high chair). BUT...I can see if you were on "date-night" or if you were single how this could be a good place to go for a couple of brewski's and unwind after work. It is not the "family-friendly" place we hoped it would be and it is certainly not Authentically German. But for European Beer joints...it is a damn good "American" version.

Graffiti's Burger and More: Simpsonville SC

2011-10-20T15:30:00.000-07:00

I have waited to write this review until I could have the opportunity to give Graffiti's a second (third, fourth & fifth) chance. You know, that one restaurant that is just oh so close to home and the menu looks absolutely amazing, you really really want that place to be good and deliver whatever it is that you enjoy about a local burger joint. Well, I am sad to report that Graffiti's has let me down for the last time. I did, I truly gave them the benefit of the doubt. I wanted to like this place so bad, it just isn't going to work out between us any longer.

Graffiti's is a burger & more (as the name states) place located in a strip mall in between the Food Lion and the ABC Packaging store (Can someone please explain the whole Packaging Store thing to me as I am not from the South) that I am scared to go into. When you first walk in, you don't know if you are in a 50's wannabe dinner or what. The one really cool thing and maybe the only positive about this place is the cool chalk board they have for the kids to play with (Did you know that 6 + 7 = 14) while the parents do, well parent stuff.

On this particular visit it was just the kids (all three) and myself. They each got some mini corn dogs with what I consider to be the "Worlds" most disgusting french fries on the face of the earth. As you can see, I went with the O'Rings for some ridiculous amount extra for the portion that I received for this very reason. The fries are apparently fresh cut (soggy) potatoes then they die them red and green? Not very appetizing as they taste like ground-up dog food. The rings were purchased just hours ago next door at Food Lion and slapped in the fryer for about 5 minutes to short and the burger, well, I think they left half of it on the grill and picked what portion they served me out from the bottom of the grease catch can under the grill that hasn't been cleaned since the day the place opened. Enough about the food, it just plain, old-fashioned, SUCKS big time. And it wasn't just this visit, it has been each and everyone of them. I can hear it now, "But they have the best Philly in town!" If that Philly is the best Philly you have ever eaten, then I am sorry for you and your deprived taste buds.

Bottom line, the food is sub par and is priced about twice as much as it really is worth. The service is really spotty, some days they have more people walking out the door than they do eating cause no one in line can place an order as they only have one person doing everything; taking orders, robbing the peoples wallets and cooking. Then on another occasion, the service is wonderful, but the food still sucks. If I am going to pay $10 for a 1/4 Lb burnt burger chip smothered in bad chili with some old nacho cheese sauce that has been heated up and chilled about twenty times, I'm better off eating that $10 dollar bill instead.

Sticky Fingers BBQ Restaurant: Greenville, SC

2011-10-19T15:00:00.000-07:00

About a week ago I received a coupon via email for a free entree at Sticky Fingers BBQ with the purchase of one entree, a $13.99 value. This deal was too good to pass up so Friday night we loaded up the van and headed out to get us some "corporate" BBQ. Not having very high expectations of what we might find at Sticky Fingers, I left an open mind as I am not a big fan (none whatsoever) of Corp. run restaurants and living in the South now, I now have more BBQ shacks to choose from than I do McDonalds restaurants.

My two girls absolutely love going out to BBQ eateries with multiple sauce options sitting on the table. They get a little squirt on the fingertip and let me know what one is the sauce of choice. We actually make this a very fun game that is cheap entertainment for the wife and myself while we wait for our food to arrive.

As you can see, I went with the two meat combo, 1/2 rack of ribs and Smoked chicken wings. As if that wasn't enough, I had to add two sausages for $3 more. The ribs were average, nothing that stood out and made me want to rush back and get them again, but they were OK. It just makes me really wonder how a Corporate Chain like this place can really provide fresh, smoked meats? I always wonder if these things are coming from some Corporate centralized distribution center and they just heat and serve as necessary. I have no factual data backing this up, but I always wonder.

Now onto the wings. Still searching for a better wing than what they serve at Wild Wings Cafe Downtown (come on, you know as well as I do, this will never happen) I had to try the hickory smoked (for hours) jumbo wings. These things were nasty. Very fatty and being slow cooked, the fat never stood a chance to get crispy or cook out. Now here is an idea, smoke them (or receive them already precooked from that jumbo corporate distribution center)just like you do, then drop them in the fryer to render down the fat and make them eatable. Also, I prefer a buffalo wing and not plain wings that I can add my own BBQ sauce to, but that is just personal preference.

The wife ordered the pulled pork sandwich and added onion straws to it for some unknown amount of $$. She enjoyed it enough to finish the whole thing, but did say that it did absolutely nothing for her as the slaw sucked! You see, the slaw is what makes a pulled pork sandwich. As long as the meat is tender and fat free, you put a good quality slaw on top of that thing, now we are talking.

Overall I will not be rushing back to Sticky Fingers anytime soon. In fact, I don't see myself ever returning unless I were to get another 1/2 off meal coupon as the upstate is flooded with better quality BBQ joints that are locally owned. The highlight of the entire meal was the $3 I splurged on for two sausage links. These things had a really nice smoke ring on them and tasted like they didn't just come out of the cooler and slapped in the microwave for a minute on high heat.

Miyako Sushi Group: Spartanburg, SC

2011-10-18T16:00:00.000-07:00

Do you ever get that craving for sushi, and the cheap stuff at your local lunch buffet just isn't going to do it for you? This is exactly what happened to me, I was fed-up with the cheap, imitation sushi we all have become accustomed too during the lunch rush (I guess I cannot speak for everyone) of our busy lives. This is why I sought out Miyako sushi Group in Downtown Spartanburg for my mid-afternoon snack. After driving around and around, sometimes going the wrong way on a one-way, I finally found a parking space just outside the front door. I was greeted by a very friendly hostess who brought me to my table in the back/side of the restaurant, just in-front of the sushi bar. It was a very small and dark environment with maybe 5 or 6 other guests.

I was then greeted by a very rude, and somewhat not interested waitress who threw some water on the table and proceeded to take my order (I get this feeling at every restaurant in downtown Spartanburg that if you are not a local/regular, you get the "special" treatment). I ordered the lunch sushi special - chefs choice $8.95 (pictured above) and added miso soup for $1.00 extra and the GREEN CAJUN (pictured below) - Tuna, shiromi, wasabi mayo, avocado, and scallions $4.75.

The soup was just your average, packaged miso soup, but had an over abundance amount of small pieces of tofu in it which was nice to see for a change. The sushi lunch was incredible along with my choice of the green cajun roll. The quality of the fish and the not so present smell of "FISH" was a nice change. The fish was so fresh, I can honestly say that this is in the top ten for best sushi I have ever tasted. And for the price, honestly, I have paid three to four times this amount for this quality of raw fish in the past. Although, not knowing what the fish was on the Lunch Combo (that would have taken the waitress an extra 10 seconds as she would have had to talk to a foreign person), it literally just melted in my mouth.

Overall, Miyako Sushi is by far the best sushi I have had in Spartanburg in the short 5 months I have been working in this city. With the exception of the "who the hell are you" service and maybe a little too much sushi rice on the Nigiri, it was a nice change from the $6.99, all-you-can-eat, imitation sushi buffet.