Some Dining Deals for Today

Hop on these deals today if you’re interested in any of them:

Final Day for theses deals on CityDeals – use code FIREWORKS:

• Arby’s (4 locations) – $4.80 for 2 Regular Combo Meals
• Dairy Queen (4 locations) – $4.40 for 2 Combo Meals
• The Juice Press (Lindon) – $4 for a $10 certificate

ScreaminDailyDeals has a $10 gift certificate to Braza Express (Provo) for only $5 today only.  Go here to check it out.  Certificate expires Sept. 30.

DealDragon has an extra 10% off orders of $50 or more today only with the code THURSDAY10.  They have a bunch of great restaurant certificates at up to 65% off before the extra 10%.  Go here to check out their selection.

Hot Dog on a Stick has a coupon on Facebook for a free hot dog on a stick with any purchase.  Coupon will only be available for 24 hours.  Expires July 8.  Go here to get it.  There’s also a coupon for a free 12 oz. lemonade, no purchase necessary.  Valid today only.  Go to HalfEmptyWallet to get it!  (Shoot!  I was just at the mall that has my location & could have used a free lemonade!)

Utah Restaurants Featured on Diners, Drive-Inns, & Dives

The Food Network show Diners, Drive-Inns, & Dives has featured a good number of Salt Lake-area restaurants in the past few years.  Mr. Diner has been to Red Iguana, but other than that, we haven’t sampled these great places.  Believe me, though, they are going on my list of places to try!  Have you been to any of these?

• The Blue Plate Diner – classic diner known for its breakfast (served all day), smoked salmon, corned beef hash, & vegan options.
• Burger Bar – burger shack in Roy known for its burgers (including elk & buffalo), fries, & fruit shakes
• Lone Star Taqueria – features all kinds of tacos & burritos including pork, shrimp, & fish
• Moochie’s Meatballs & More  - an eatery inside a pottery shop.  It’s known for its meatballs and cheesesteaks
• Ruth’s Diner – serving classics like biscuits & gravy, mac & cheese, and great breakfasts since 1930
• Pat’s BBQ – all kinds of BBQ including daily specials and lots of sides
• The Red Iguana – Mexican food including mole & chile verde

The question is, when is a Utah County-area diner going to get a spot on the show?  What worthy contenders can you think of?

Eat Out Review: Sub Zero

If you haven’t been to Sub Zero for ice cream yet, there’s no better time to try it than summer!  We’ve been to the Provo Towne Center location several times, but tried the Brigham’s Landing location this week. 

Like many ice cream shops, you can choose an ice cream flavor (there are over 40) and a mix-in (there are over 30 & the first is free, after that you pay extra).  But unlike most ice cream shops, you can also choose fat content (premium, custard, low fat, yogurt) and there are even soy and rice milk options!  You can also choose multiple flavors to be mixed together (like Strawberry Banana).  They have recommendations of flavor combinations posted and the employees can also give great advice…plus they now have a blog with ideas.  While I was there, an employee recommended mixing raspberries and Junior Mints into your favorite ice cream…sounds a little odd at first, but I think it might be good.

Then comes the fun part…and my kids can’t get enough of watching it – they mix the creamy base and flavor(s) together as liquids, then blast the concoction with liquid nitrogen so it freezes within 15 seconds.  The theory is that ice crystals don’t have time to freeze, making the ice cream creamier.  And it’s lots of fun to watch all the fog around the workstation and the droplets of liquid nitrogen roll around the surface.  If you have a particularly great employee, they can really get into it and make a mini-performance of the task.

The ice cream comes out pretty hard and is a difference texture…quite chunky.  I guess you can specify the hardness, but we never have done that.  The result is quite creamy and delicious (especially when you get the premium and custard options). 

This time, Mr. Diner and I split a medium strawberry with peanut butter cups (one of his all-time favorite combinations…I thought he was crazy the first time he ordered it, but it’s usually quite good).  He loved it; I thought the strawberry flavor was too artificial.  I think the medium was $4.  Each of the little diners got a Kid Size ($2.50 each).  Amazing Diner chose Egg Nog with sprinkles; Sweet Diner chose Cotton Candy with sprinkles; and Little Diner got Pina Colada with coconut.  Amazing & Sweet loved their flavors; Little Diner didn’t eat much of his.  I tried it and thought it was okay…strange that their Pina Colada flavor is pink, though.  Watch which mix-ins you add because they freeze…one of the little diners got gummy bears once and they were like rocks!  My all-time favorite ice cream flavor of theirs is the white chocolate, though…with any mix in! 

Overall,the experience is a fun one.  Can’t say that their ice cream is my favorite, but it’s different and good. I liked the Provo Towne Center location better…it feels less cluttered, but both locations serve up the same kind of ice cream.  If you want a deal on Sub Zero ice cream, Deal Dragon sells discounted gift certificates and has free printable coupons. 

Entrée Price:  $
Average Fork Rating:  3.8
Mr. Diner:  4
Mrs. Diner:  3
Amazing Diner:  5 
Sweet Diner:  4
Little Diner:  3

Restaurant.com Certificates 80% Off

Restaurant.com has a code for 80% off their certificates that expires tomorrow (Thursday).  Use the code SUMMER to get the discount.  Unfortunately, there aren’t any restaurants available in Utah County right now, but there are in other areas of Utah – and the rest of the country.  If you’re going on vacation, check out what’s available at your destination. 

Most certificates don’t expire for a year…some never expire.  But check the details closely…usually you have to spend a certain amount to use the certificate (like spend $20 to use a $10 certificate, so you’d have to pay $10 plus whatever you paid for the certificate).  And if you use a program to get cash back on your online purchases, don’t forget to use it!  ShopDiscover has 20% cash back and ShopatHome has 24% cash back. 

Thanks Coupons4Utah!

Chuck E. Cheese’s $20 Groupon

Through tomorrow (Thursday), you can buy a pay $20 for a Chuck E. Cheese’s Groupon that includes a large one-topping pizza, 4 drinks, & 120 tokens.  Valid only at Sandy and Layton locations.  Expires in 1 year.  Limit 2 per person.  Go here to get yours!

Eat Out Review: La Jolla Groves

Mr. Diner and I finally drove over to Provo’s Riverwoods to try La Jolla Groves for a date night recently.  I’ve been wanting to go there since it opened!  We went on a Saturday afternoon and were seated immediately.  I thought the atmosphere was inviting and elegant with it’s lemon tree theme.  I loved the lanterns hanging from the trees and thought they would be especially charming at night. They have additional dining rooms without the lemon trees overhead that also looked nice.  The dining room was about half-filled and it was nice and quiet for conversation.  I don’t know what it’s like when it is filled.

The menu is simple and nicely presented with pleasing descriptions of the food, although it does have some awkward moments when it tries to add some sass or attitude in and falls short.  Take those parts off the menu and it would come across much better.

Mr. Diner ordered the Strawberry Italian Soda while I chose the Raspberry Lemonade.  I was pleased that they filled our glasses with water immediately while we were ordering our drinks and then left to fill our drink order.  I think everyone should be served water even if they order a drink…and don’t wait for me to ask for it! 

All the entrees sounded wonderful, and when I have an indecisive moment like this, I often turn to my server for help.  She recommended the Lemon Roasted Chicken and the Salmon Filet, both of which were on our minds already.  Mr. Diner ordered the Oven-Fired Salmon Filet with Cilantro Butter and I ordered the Lemon Roasted Chicken (both about $15).  Our server brought out a lovely bread basket with both white and wheat rolls and lovely butter balls with herbs.  The wheat ones were a little chewy, but the white were light and fluffy and excellent.

Our entrees came out quickly…we were actually shocked at how quickly and would have liked a little more time.  However, our food was excellent!  The Lemon Roasted Chicken was some of the best chicken I’ve ever had…moist with wonderful flavors (although the lemon was markedly absent…I think they should call the chicken Herb Roasted Chicken) and served over garlic mashed potatoes with finely diced vegetables.  I loved it and would order it again in a heartbeat.

Mr. Diner’s Salmon was served over basmati rice with the same diced vegetables.  The salmon was also excellent with the cilantro lime butter complimenting it very well.  The portions are smaller than most restaurants.  However, saying that, most restaurant portions are huge…we thought these portions were just right!  Mr. Diner finished all of his, but wasn’t hungry when he left, and I had leftovers to take home. 

Their desserts were appealing, but with cake waiting for us at home, we passed this time.  Next time, I want to sample them, though…or at least take one home!  We both loved the food and would go back there in a heartbeat!  They do take reservations and they also have a children’s menu, although we didn’t see one child there and the place doesn’t strike me as a typical family restaurant.  They also have a bakery attached where you can pick up baked items, although I didn’t see where the entrance was located.  If you’re looking for a nice dining experience with fresh ingredients and well-prepared entrees, go try La Jolla Groves!

Entrée Price:  $$
Average Fork Rating:  5
Mr. Diner:  5
Mrs. Diner:  5

$10 Groupon to EarthFruits Yogurt for $5

Another great summer treat – frozen yogurt!  Grab this Groupon to EarthFruits Yogurt in Provo and pay $5 for a $10 certificate.  It will be available to buy through tomorrow (Tuesday) and the certificate will be good through Dec. 28, 2011.  Has anyone tried their yogurt yet?

Buy 1 Get 1 FREE Select McDonald’s McCafe Drinks

Photo by theimpulsivebuy

Oooooh….this is a great deal for summer!  Perfect when you’re out running errands and need a refreshing drink.  Go here to print a coupon for Buy 1 Get 1 Free McDonald’s Fruit Smoothie, Frozen Strawberry Lemonade, or Frappe.  I tried the Frozen Strawberry Lemonade recently and thought it was great…just give it a good stir since all the syrup is on the bottom.  Their smoothie list is expanding….the newest flavor available is the Mango Pineapple. 

Top Deals for Birthday Freebies

 

Photo by Will Clayton

The birthday freebies showing up in my email box inspired me to compile a list of the best dining birthday freebies.  A whole bunch of places will give you free dessert at the end of your birthday meal (either with or without signing up for their email list) so if you want to go that route, just check with your favorite restaurants about their offers.  But how about completely free food or a great free entrée deal?  Here’s my list of my top choices that I was able to verify (there are a lot of rumors out there).  If I’m missing an awesome one, let us know about it!

• Baskin Robbins – Sign up to get a free 2.5 oz. single scoop or soft serve & $3 off a birthday cake.  You’ll get the coupon 5 days before your birthday & have 10 days to use it!  You can even sign up within a few days of your birthday & get print your coupon for a free scoop immediately.
• Benihana – Sign up to get a $30 certificate to use the month of your birthday.  This one’s only good Monday – Thursday.  Must be 13 or older.
• Ben & Jerry’s – Sign up to a get a free scoop & $3 off a birthday cake. 
• Black Angus – Sign up to get a free steak dinner (up to $19.99) with purchase of a 2nd entrée of greater or equal value. 
• Chevy’s – Sign up for a free lunch or dinner.  
• Del Taco – Sign up to get a free premium shake.
• Denny’s – Sign up for Denny’s Rewards to get a free Gram Slam on your birthday (good one day only).
• Fuddrucker’s – Sign up for a free 1/3 lb. burger or other entrée of equal or lesser value.
• IHOP – Sign up for a free meal (up to $7.99).
• Maggie Moo’s – Sign up for a free ice cream cone.
• Marble Slab Creamery – Sign up for a free ice cream cone.
• Mimi’s Café – Sign up to get a coupon for $10 off a $20 purchase.
• Noodles & Company – Sign up for a free bowl of noodles.
• Red Robin – Free gourmet burger when you pick up a Red Royalty Card at your local Red Robin and register it online.  Burger gets loaded to your card to use the month of your birthday.  You can register after your birthday & still get it loaded onto the card.
• Rubio’s Mexican Grill – Sign up for a free meal up to $7.00.  Good for one week after your birthday.
• Ruby Tuesday – Sign up for a free burger of your choice.
• Schlotzsky’s Deli – Sign up for a free small sandwich.
• Souper Salad – Sign up for a free lunch or dinner buffet.
• TCBY – Sign up for a free small cup of yogurt the week of your birthday.
• Tucano’s – Sign up for a free meal during your birthday month.  Good for those 7 & up (6 & under already eat free).
• Z’Tejas – Sign up for a $15 coupon good for the month of your birthday.

 

And some just for the kids:

• Brick Oven (Provo) – Kids 3-12 can sign up here for a free kids meal with purchase of an adult meal during their birthday month.
• Burger King – Kids 12 & under can sign up here for a free kids hamburger meal.
• California Pizza Kitchen – Kids 10 & under can sign up here for a free kids meal.
• McDonald’s – Free hamburger happy meal at participating locations.  Check at your local McDonald’s to see if they participate.  You may have to fill out a card and have a coupon sent sent to you.
• Old Spaghetti Factory – Sign up here for a free kids meal.
• Sonic – Sign up here for a free kids Wacky Pack.

Eat In Recipe: Beef Skewers with Chimichurri Sauce

The African Stew I had at Disney World last year was not the only dish I’ve been craving since we left there.  At Epcot’s Argentina food booth, we sampled the beef skewers with chimichurri sauce.  It was the first time I had tried chimichurri sauce, and that fresh herb & garlic flavor complimented the beef in a wonderful way I had never imagined. 

This week, I finally found a similar recipe and tried it out at home.  It was quite the hit.  All of us loved it, and Amazing Diner couldn’t get enough of both the beef and the sauce, which is saying something for a boy who wants to eat steak sauce on everything (even hot dogs!). 
We grilled ours on our Cuisinart Griddler this time, but I’m sure it would be even better grilled over an open flame.  If you’re growing herbs in your garden this summer, this is a great new way to use them!  These could be served as an entrée or as an appetizer.

Beef Skewers with Chimichurri Sacue from Cooking with Michelle
1/2 c. extra virgin olive oil
2 T. sherry wine vinegar or red wine vinegar
zest & juice of 1 lemon
2 garlic cloves, peeled
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground pepper
1/4 tsp. dried crushed red pepper
3 c. fresh green herbs of your choice (parsley, cilantro, basil, mint)
1 lb. flank or skirt steak
salt & pepper
wooden skewers, soaked in water

1. Combine first 8 ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth.  Pour into a covered container and store at room temperature if serving within a couple hours.  If making ahead, refrigerate, but let stand at room temperature for at least an hour before serving.
   
2. Freeze steak for 20 minutes before slicing thin pieces against the grain.  Thread pieces of steak onto the skewers, salt & pepper to taste, then grill over medium high heat just until seared (about 2 minutes per side). 
   
3. Serve hot or cold with chimichurri sauce for dipping.

Serves 4.

Average Fork Rating: 4.4
Mr. Diner: 4
Mrs. Diner: 5
Amazing Diner: 5
Sweet Diner: 4
Little Diner:  4

Dining Deals: City Deals Extra Discounts

CityDeals has some great extra discounts on several dining certificates when you use the code 25YAHOO through 8 pm tonight (June 24).  Jump on these is there are any you’re interested in:

• Dairy Queen (4 Locations) – $4.13 for any 2 combo meals.  Available in Print @ Home so you could go tonight!
• Cold Stone (Price only) – $5.25 for $10 certificate.
• Rocky Mountain Chocolate (American Fork) – $5.25 for $10 certificate.
• Gandolfo’s (Lehi) – $3.75 for $10 certificate. Available in Print @ Home so you could go tonight!
• The Juice Press (Lehi) – $3.75 for $10 certificate. Available in Print @ Home so you could go tonight!
• Smart Cookie (2 Locations) – $5.25 for $10 certificate.
• Arby’s (4 Locations) – $4.50 for 2 regular size combo meals. Available in Print @ Home so you could go tonight!

Dining Deals: Free Orange Chicken at Panda Express Tonight

Hungry late at night?  Facebook fans have chosen their favorite Panda Express entree - Orange Chicken.  You can get it free (no purchase required) after 9 pm tonight (June 24th).  Go here to print your coupon.  Check online for your Panda Express's extended summer hours (most mall locations do not have extended hours).  One coupon per person, valid while supplies last.

In-N-Out's "Not-So-Secret Menu"

Photo by Aaron Friedman.

Remember I promised you the scoop on In-N-Out's "not so secret menu" in a previous post?  Well, here I am to deliver.  If you want to shake things up a bit, try ordering one of these items on your next trip to In-N-Out.  Some are standard knowledge; others may need to be explained to employees, but they should do their best to accommodate you. 

Customize Your Burger

• 3x3, 4x4, 2x4, 4x2 - 3 patties with 3 slices of cheese, 4 patties with 4 slices of cheese, 2 patties with 4 slices of cheese, 4 patties with 2 slices of cheese, etc., etc....just tell them how many patties & how many slices of cheese you want.
• Double Meat - 2 patties without cheese
• Plain Burger - Just the meat & bun (Amazing Diner would like this one)
• Mustard Grilled - Any burger with mustard grilled onto one side
• 3 by Meat - 3 patties without cheese
• Animal Style - Any burger mustard-grilled with pickle, extra spread and grilled onions
• Protein Style - Any burger wrapped in lettuce instead of a bun
• Grilled Cheese - Basically a cheeseburger without the beef patty....2 slices of cheese with all the vegetable trimmings & spread.
• Veggie Burger (aka Wish Burger) - Basically a hamburger without the beef patty...just all the veggies & spread on a bun.  (not my cup of tea, but someone must like it.)
• Flying Dutchman - 2 meat patties & 2 slices of melted cheese with nothing else...not even a bun!
• Flying Dutchman Animal Style - the above but with diced onions melted in with the cheese; pickles & spread are served on the side
• No Toast Bun/Lightly Toasted/Extra Toasted Bun - pretty much what is says...you can get an untoasted bun or one that's toasted the way you want it
• Medium Rare - patty has a pink center
• Add Mustard/Add Ketchup - add another condiment...make sure you specify you also want the spread.
• Only Mustard/Only Ketchup - forgo the special spread & choose mustard and/or ketchup
• No Salt  - they won't salt your patty
• Cold Cheese - cheese is unmelted
• Whole Raw Onion - raw onion rings instead of chopped
• Grilled Onions - add to any burger...these are chopped
• Whole Grilled Onion - like the above, but these will be rings
• Triple X - any burger with extra tomatoes, lettuce, & onions
• Chopped Chilis - add to any burger...these are spicy pickled peppers
• Split in Half - have any burger cut in half
• Fries Inside - any burger with fries as a topping

Customize Your Fries

• Cheese Fries - fries topped with melted cheese
• Animal Style Fries - fries topped with cheese, spread, & grilled onions.
• Fries Well Done - extra crispy fries
• Fries Light Well - in between regular and well done
• Fries Light - less crispy fries
• Fries No Salt - no salt added to your fries

Customize Your Shakes

• Neapolitan Shake - strawberry, chocolate, & vanilla blended together
• Black & White Shake - chocolate & vanilla blended together (you can actually get any flavors combined)
• Extra Syrup - extra flavoring in your shake
• Large/Extra Large Shakes - large is in a medium soft drink cup; extra large is in a large soft drink cup

On the Side

• Spread on the Side - popular to dip fries in
• Chilis on the Side - same spicy pickled peppers, but you get a bag of 2 whole ones
• Salad on the Side - lettuce, tomato, & onions in a bag

Whew!  In-N-Out doesn't seem so simple now, doesn't it?  I think a mustard-grilled cheeseburger with whole grilled onion, some well done fries, and a neapolitan shake might be calling my name.  And maybe I should order it split in half.  What about you?

Eat In Recipe: Slow Cooker Herbed Chicken Drumsticks

What’s great to come home to on a busy, hot summer day?  A crockpot dinner all ready to eat!  I threw the ingredients for this recipe in the crockpot one morning last week and salivated as every time I went in and out of the house that day.  The garlic and herb scents smelled so tasty!  I couldn’t wait to try these drumsticks. 

When the time came, I served up the gorgeous browned legs and noticed that the meat fell easily off the bone, just inviting us to eat it up.  The meat was incredibly moist and tender.  The only problem was that the flavor was not as intense as I had hoped.  Perhaps it just couldn’t live up to my expectations after smelling it all day.  The herbs are rubbed into the chicken, but the garlic is not; maybe the garlic would at least be stronger if some of it were rubbed in with the herbs.  When you use 20 cloves of garlic, you expect it to have a good garlic flavor, but it seemed only slightly garlicky.  However, if you like a moist drumstick, you may want to try this recipe or even adapt it before you give it a whirl.  If you do, let me know how it turns out!

Slow Cooker Herbed Chicken Drumsticks from Make Dinner Easy
20 whole garlic cloves, skin removed (basically a whole head)
2 T. light olive oil
6-8 chicken drumsticks
1 T. dried oregano or rosemary (I chose oregano)
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes, optional (it didn’t make it spicy at all)
1/3 c. chicken broth

1. Place the garlic cloves in the bottom of the slow cooker.
2. Pour the olive oil in a gallon-sized Ziploc bag.  Add the chicken legs.  Close the bag & massage the olive oil into the chicken.
3. In a separate cup, combine the dried herbs and spices.  Pour the herb mixture over the chicken in the bag, close, and massage again until all the chicken is evenly coated.
4. Place chicken in a large pre-heated skillet and brown over medium high heat for 3-4 minutes per side, giving the chicken flavor & color.
5. Place the browned chicken in the slow cooker, pour chicken broth over the top, & put the lid on.  Cook on low heat for 8 hours. 

Serves 4-6.

Average Fork Rating: 2.6
Mr. Diner: 3
Mrs. Diner: 3
Amazing Diner: 2
Sweet Diner: 3
Little Diner:  2

Dining Deals: Jimmy John's Today Only (6/23)

Mr. Diner's favorite sandwich shop is offering 6 of their 8" subs for only $1 each today at select locations (including all Salt Lake area shops) from 11 am - 3 pm. Mr. Diner's favorite sub is the #4 Turkey Tom.   Go here to see participating locations.  While you're there, don't forget to grab a pickle, too!

Facebook Page

For those of you who would prefer to keep up-to-date with posts via Facebook, I started a Facebook page.  It only has the most recent two posts on there for now.  If you're on Facebook, click here to check out our page and "like" us. 

Eat Out Review: In-N-Out Burger

Okay, I'll admit it...I'm a California-born-and-raised girl who's not in love with In-N-Out.  I don't NOT like it; I just don't think it's awesomely wonderful like so many others do.  (Gasp, gasp!)  So, when In-N-Out came to Utah a year and a half ago, we didn't zoom over and wait in the mile-long lines for a hamburger.  Actually, last week was the first time we have visited a Utah In-N-Out. 

We visited the American Fork location when the lines were short and chose the drive-through option.  As you know if you've ever visited an In-N-Out, the menu is short and simple (basically hamburgers, cheeseburgers, shakes, drinks, & fries) and cheap (less than $2 for a basic burger).  We each got a cheeseburger or hamburger, fries, and shakes. 

The service was quick and good...they offered us paper mats to keep our car clean and stickers for the kids (if you haven't been before, there's no kid menu).  The burgers were alright, not the flame-broiled juicy patties I love.  Better than the most basic burger at other fast food joints, but there are other fast food burgers I like better.  I like the special sauce (akin to Thousand Island) and the fact that everything is fresh without fillers.  There also is plenty of lettuce on the burger, which I like.  The fries have a good potato flavor, but they are very short.  Our milkshakes were good, basic milkshakes - the thinner kind you can drink through a straw, but again, nothing special.

One thing I've gotta give In-N-Out is consistency - they are consistently the same everywhere you go.  So, if you've been to an In-N-Out, you know what you're gonna get.  If you haven't been and are in the mood for a cheap hamburger, you should go just to say that you've been.

Next time I go, though, I'm going to venture out to order off their "Not-So-Secret Menu".  Maybe that would make a believer.  Haven't heard of the "Not-So-Secret Menu"?  Watch for it in an upcoming post.

Entree Price: $
Average Fork Rating:  3.8
Mrs. Diner:  3
Amazing Diner:  3
Sweet Diner:   5
Little Diner:  4

Eat Out Review: Terra Mia

Over the weekend, we ventured over to Terra Mia Ristorante in Orem.  Since it was our first time eating there, we were glad someone greeted us at the door and walked us through the basics of the restaurant.  If you haven't been there, you may want to know 1)  that it's a casual place where you order at the counter and the food is delivered to your table and 2) that you place your order by checking boxes on a laminated menu and turning that in when you pay.  This sounds like a great option and I was impressed with the creativity until I tried to figure out my family of 5's orders while standing at the ordering tables.  Tip 1:  Don't stand there...go ahead and take the menu to your seat while you decide if you have a group of indecisive diners like my family was that night. 

The pizzas are their speciality.  They are hand-tossed (we watched them) and baked in a wood-fired oven.  Each pizza is about 10" in diameter and has a thin crust.  They don't have your typical pepperoni or ham & pineapple pizzas, but have interesting gourmet toppings like smoked salmon, eggplant, and pine nuts (in addition to the less adventurous salami, tomatoes, roasted red peppers, etc.).  I really wanted to try the Lasagna Vegetale, while Mr. Diner ordered the Americana pizza (sausage, peppers, onions, mushrooms).  Amazing Diner had a terrible time figuring out what to order...he loves his pepperoni pizza and was upset that they didn't have pepperoni.  Finally, I convinced him that the Diavola (with salami) was the most similar thing on the menu, so he and the other little diners shared that.  We also tried a couple of their Italian Sodas (mango & strawberry).  Pastas were $9-11; Pizzas were $9-12.50; Entree Salads were $7-11.

The food was brought out a different times, which is not a great thing in my book.  Since the lasagna came out first and is served with bread (like all their pastas), everyone chewed on my bread while we waited for the pizzas.  The bread was nice and chewy and there is olive oil and balsamic vinegar at the tables to dip it in.  Once the pizzas came, we dug in.

 The lasagna had a delicious white sauce (not alfredo) with layers of mushrooms and spinach.  It was delicious and I savored every bite!  The pizza had good quality toppings, however the center of the pizzas was soggy and the toppings were very erratically spread so that some slices had nothing but cheese and others had everything.

We couldn't leave without sampling some gelato, so we shared a cup (you choose 2 flavors) of pineapple and mango.  They were both good, but next time I'd like to try one of their other desserts...maybe a bigne or cannoli. 

Entree Price:   $
Average Fork Rating:  3
Mr. Diner: 3
Mrs. Diner: 3 (although the lasagna was a 4)
Amazing Diner:  3
Sweet Diner:  3
Little Diner: 3

Dining Deals: Deal Dragon

There are so many great deal sites for Utah.  Deal Dragon a newer one that has some great dining certificates in Utah County for 50% and more.  Many of them are multi-packs of certificates.  Each certificate must be used in one visit and you can only use one per visit.  I'm excited about the Spark $15 certificate for 50% off.  Today's Fire Sale deal is a pack of 3 $5 Yogurtland certificates for $7.50.  Plus, you'll get a bunch of printable coupons and a code for 20% off your first purchase when you up to get their emails.  Check out Deal Dragon & sign up here.

Top 12 Dining Pet Peeves

Sorry...I just couldn't narrow it down to just 10!  Here are the top 12 things that annoy me when eating out, in no particular order.

1. Fellow diners talking loudly on their cell phones.
2. "Extras" in my food...you know what I'm talking about.
3. When a server goes MIA right when your drink needs refilling or you're ready for the check.
4. Having tables so close together that you bump into other diners whenever you move your chair.
5. When your food is delivered to another table by accident and the people go ahead and start eating your food.  (One time when this happened to us, the other diners said they thought the dish was a complimentary item.)
6. Overcooked vegetables, undercooked meat.
7. Waiting much longer than the estimate to be seated.
8. Being seated, but not seeing a server for 5 minutes, 10 minutes....
9. Having the appetizer served after the entree...or even after you're all done eating.
10. Having the table cleared while you're still eating.
11. Music that is so loud that you can't hear the conversation at your own table.
12. Lipstick marks on your glass or otherwise unclean dishes, utensils, and/or napkins....ewwww.

Now you've heard mine...what are yours?

Dining Deals: Chili's & Arby's

If you're thinking about eating out this week, here's a couple deals you might want to consider:

• Chili's Kids Eat Free continues this week on Monday, June 20th.  Get 2 free kids meals with every paid adult meal when you use this coupon.  Valid only at Utah & California locations on June 20th only (until they release another one).
• Get a certificate for any 2 regular size Arby's combo meals for only $5.10 when you use the code DAD at CityDeals.  Code is only valid through midnight on Father's Day.  Choose from 4 Arby's locations.  This is a print-at-home deal, you so you print it and go whenever you want!  Go here to purchase an Arby's certificate and make sure you enter the code when checking out!

Dining Deals: Arby's Extras

Photo by rob_rob2001.

I think getting extra coupons in  your email is great...if they're decent coupons that you'll use.  I signed up for Arby's Extras less than 2 months ago.  They send you extra coupons in your email.  If you like to eat at Arby's and especially if you like to try their new products, you may want to think about signing up, too.  In the past 1 1/2 months, I've received 4 coupons from them, all for free-with-purchase items, granted one was the sign-up offer and one was a birthday offer, so it seems like you could count on maybe one offer regular offer from them about every month.  Here are the emails I've received so far:

• Free Regular Roast Beef w/ any drink purchase (this one expires a week after you click on the link in your email, so don't click on it till you want to use it)
• Free 20 oz. drink & small curly fries w/ purchase of any Market Fresh Sandwich
• Free Jamocha Oreo Shake w/ purchase of any combo meal
• Free 12 oz. shake w/ any purchase (birthday offer)

Go here if you'd like to sign up for Arby's Extras.

Grocery Bag: Dreyer's Slow Churned Shakes

Now that school's out, the little diners are getting dragged along to the grocery store.  We're trying to make it fun by finding a fun summery food to buy each time.  This time we tried something new - Dreyer's Slow Churned Shakes, which cost $1.50 for one at Wal-Mart.  Dryers offers four flavors of shakes and four flavors of smoothies.  We tried the Cookies and Cream.  The claim of their product is to "just add milk and stir" and in 30 seconds without a blender or a mess, you will have a parlor-style milkshake. 

After stirring for about 30 seconds.

We pulled the top off of it, added the 1/3 c. milk and started to stir.  I don't know about the other flavors without cookie pieces, but ours was not easy to stir.  It's frozen in there!  And after adding the milk, the cup was filled to the brim, so I wasn't about to let my kids stir it...I made enough of a mess doing it myself!  To loosen it up, I pushed my spoon down & went all along the edge and after a few seconds, it started to be more stirable.  We did finally get the milk and ice cream all incorporated into a milkshake consistency and it was good...just as good as the Dreyer's Cookies and Cream ice cream made into a homemade shake.  However, for me, I'd rather just buy the ingredients and make them in my blender for less money overall.  But, if convenience trumps dollars and one of these flavors appeals to you, you may want to stock your freezer with these as a summer treat.

The end result.

Average Fork Rating:  3.5
Mrs. Diner: 3
Amazing Diner:  4
Sweet Diner:   4
Little Diner: 3

Eat Out Review: Flour Girls & Dough Boys

THIS RESTAURANT IS NOW CLOSED.

A week ago my dear friend from Tried and Tried Again and I went out to lunch at Flour Girls & Dough Boys.  I have been to this quaint bakery several times for their delicious artisan breads and desserts, but had never had lunch there.  Every time I went, it seemed that the majority of people waiting in line were getting delicious-looking sandwiches so when my friend suggested going there for lunch, I thought specifically about getting a panini on their yummy cranberry walnut bread.  I had bought that bread a couple times and enjoyed its nutty-fruity-chewiness, especially toasted!  Mmmmm. 

Having eaten the same bread before, my friend had the same idea so we split a full-sized Honey Butter Ham panini, which was served with chips for $7.00.  They also serve half sandwiches, which is plenty for many of us since the bread is very dense.  The ham panini has honey butter, ham, & provolone on cranberry walnut bread with a cranberry spread on the side so you can control how much you'd like on it.  The sweet-salty ham was perfect with the sweet & nutty bread.  The spread was milder than expected (we both thought it would be a stronger flavor like cranberry sauce, but it is quite light).  We liberally spread the cranberry condiment on our sandwiches and thought it could have been a bit stronger and would have been even better.

We ended our meal by splitting a sweet treat - their Peanut Butter Brownie (a dense, chocolaty brownie topped with peanut butter cream and a layer of chocolate ganache on top).  It was everything a peanut butter brownie should be, but I have a similar recipe in my files so making them at home would be a simple task. 

Of course, we couldn't walk away without buying loaves of the cranberry walnut bread to take home ($5 each).  If you haven't been there before, keep a close eye out for the sign on the north side of Main Street in American Fork, because it is tucked back away from the street.  There is plenty of seating in a fun atmosphere (including a couple rooms tucked back on the side off of the main dining room) and they offer a children's menu and have catering available.  In addition to sandwiches, paninis and desserts, they serve breakfast, salads, soups, and meat pies.  For those who want to plan ahead and save some dining dollars, buy a $10 gift certificate to Flour Girls and Dough Boys at CityDeals for only $5.

Entree Price: $
Average Fork Rating:  5
Mrs. Diner:  5
Guest Diner:  5

Dining Deals: Free Krispy Kreme Donuts through 6/19

Photo by HAMACHI!

Here's a great freebie in honor of Father's Day - through Father's Day, get a free dozen glazed donuts when you bring in an ugly tie to Krispy Kreme!  Both Orem and Layton locations are participating.  Plus, your ugly tie will be entered in a contest to win a year's worth of free donuts, so get the ugliest tie you have - if you're willing to sacrifice it!

Looking for other Father's Day Freebies?  Here's a list of some other dining deals in honor of dads:

• The Sweet Tooth Fairy - Bring your dad in for a free cupcake or cookie of his choice today (6/18).  Valid at all 6 locations.
• IKEA - Free breakfast for all dads on Father's Day (includes eggs, hash browns, bacon, & coffee).
• TCBY - Free small cup of yogurt on Father's Day.
• Chik-Fil-A in South Jordan - Today only (6/18) from 11 am - 7 pm, fathers get a free milkshake. 
• Kneaders in North Salt Lake - Free french toast all day today (6/18) for dads.
• Smashburger - Free 1/3 lb. burger with purchase of a kids meal through Tuesday, June 21st.

Thanks One Cheap Chick!

About Rate the Plate Utah

We are a Utah Valley-based family of five. Mr. Diner works full time to put the food on our plates. Mrs. Diner works full time at home to take care of the little diners, cook, and find ways to save on our dining dollars (both eating in and eating out). We also have three little diners: Amazing Diner (11-year-old boy), Sweet Diner (8-year-old girl), and Little Diner (4-year-old boy). We all have different tastes and different opinions. You may see yourself in Mrs. Diner, who is an adventurous eater and loves everything, or in Little Diner, who prefers hot dogs and cheese.

We love to eat out and eat in. This blog is a family adventure where we each get to share our opinions about food, recipes we've tried, dining reviews, and dining deals. Take what you want from it & make your own choices about how you want to spend your dining dollars. Let us know what you think in a comment or email us at ratetheplateutah@gmail.com.

We are a PR-friendly blog. If you are interested in working with us on a sponsored post, review, giveaway, advertising, or other opportunity, please take a look at our PR/Advertising page or email us. 

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Eat In Recipe: African Stew

I know it's not the season for stew, but I have just been wanting to make this recipe for so long and yesterday the weather was at least windy (super blustery, in fast), so I did it.  It was really easy and pretty quick to make.  I had this African Stew at The Mara at Animal Kingdom Lodge while Mr. Diner and I were vacationing at Disney World last fall.  It was soooo tasty served in a chewy bread bowl and had so many wonderful spices in it!  When I got home, I found the recipe online at AllEarsNet.com, which they say was given to them by the chefs.  I believe it, too...it tasted just like I remember (minus the bread bowl...I just served it with bread).  I loved it!  It is on the spicy side, which the little diners did not appreciate (although Amazing Diner loved the meat & creamy part, rating those a 5).  And it is a little reminiscent of Indian food, which Mr. Diner doesn't like.  If you are an adventurous eater like me, you may want to try this recipe.  And if you're looking for more Disney restaurant recipes, AllEarsNet.com and the Disney Food Blog both have great recipe sections.

The Mara's African Stew from AllEarsNet.com
4 c. water
3 chicken bouillon cubes (or equivalent)
1/3 c. curry paste (or dry curry)*
2 T. ground coriander, toasted*
2 T. granulated garlic (or garlic powder)
4 c. coconut milk
1/4 c. sugar
3 T soy sauce
2 lbs. beef/pork/chicken, large diced*
2 c. mixed red & green peppers, diced*
2 c. onion, diced
1/2 c. corn, frozen
1 bay leaf
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
2 T. cornstarch (make a slurry)*

1. Heat water, bouillon, curry, coriander, & garlic in a large pot.  When it starts to boil, add sugar & coconut milk.  Stir & heat to boiling again.
2. Add in the soy sauce and diced meat.  Turn heat down & let simmer for 20 minutes.
3. Add vegetables and spices and cook till tender, bringing to a boil.
4. Add cornstarch slurry slowly to the mixture and stir until thickened (just a couple minutes).

Serves 16.  (I cut the recipe in half and actually thought the half recipe would only serve about 5.)

*Notes: I used a Thai red curry.  To toast the coriander, I just put it in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently until I smelled a nice, nutty aroma (just a few minutes).  I used beef for the meat, but you can choose any of the meats or use a combination of all three.  I used just red pepper because I like it so much more than green.  To make a cornstarch slurry, measure your cornstarch in a small container and add an equal part water or other liquid & stir.

 Average Fork Rating:  3
Mr. Diner:   2
Mrs. Diner: 5
Amazing Diner:   3
Sweet Diner:  2
Little Diner: 3

Grocery Bag: Motts for Tots

We tried this product a year or so ago, but I got an email this morning from Vocalpoint (a website that gives free products and/or samples) with offers for Motts for Tots juice, so I thought I'd give you the heads up on what we thought about it.  They tout that the product has 40% less sugar than 100% juice and has no artificial sweeteners.  Well, that is all true, but the reason the product has less sugar is that it is just pre-diluted juice!  Yep!  So, if you want to dilute your juice for your kids (and I sometimes do, especially for my littlest one...he loves juice!) and can't figure out how to add water to your juice, then maybe this is the product for you.  But I'd rather just spend less and dilute it myself.  If you'd like to get a free sample and coupons for Motts for Tots, go here.

Average Fork Rating:  3
Mrs. Diner: 2
Amazing Diner:  3
Sweet Diner:  3
Little Diner: 4

Dining Deals: Thai Basil

City Deals has an extra 20% off a $20 gift certificate to Thai Basil in Riverton, one of Mr. Diner's favorite Thai places.  (Mrs. Diner wants a chance to go!)  So you can get a $20 gift certificate for only $6.40.  Use coupon code GIVE20.  Offer is good until 8 pm today or while supplies last.  Click here to buy it from City Deals.

Eat Out Review: Beyond Glaze

Photo by diamond-mine.

I've been wanting to stop by this donut shop (Beyond Glaze) for a few months now.  I had a $10 gift certificate that I had bought from Kostizi for $5 that I've been itching to use (these are still available, btw...and you can print them immediately & head over there now if you want to.  Click here to buy one.). These donuts are pricey, so the half-price certificate is definitely the way to go. Most of their donuts are $1.85 each, $9.95 for half a dozen, or $18.85 for a full dozen.

Their donuts are fresh-baked glazed donuts that are prettily decorated with fresh, delicious frostings and toppings. These are definitely dessert donuts! The fruit frostings are made from fresh fruit and you can tell...they taste wonderful! They have something for everyone from the more ordinary maple or chocolate to the indulgent cookies 'n' cream and the unique maple and bacon. You read that right - a maple and bacon donut (they also have chocolate and bacon). The lady at the counter touted it as their "breakfast donut" and said a lot of men really like it. They had samples, so I tried one, and it was pretty good...the maple frosting with crumbles of crisp bacon on top. For those who like it when their maple syrup puddles over onto their bacon, this is for you.

We selected 6 donuts: Maple (for my plain-loving Mr. Diner), Raspberry Mango, Coconut Cream, Nutmeg, Cookies 'n' Cream, & Strawberry Cream Cheese. They were all good, but my favorites were the Raspberry Mango and Coconut Cream.  I think I'll have to stop again...those fruity flavors are calling my name, especially! They have two locations...one right off of the 12300 South exit in Draper and another in SLC.

Entree Price:  $  (OK, this isn't really an entree, and it's pretty pricey for a donut...)

Average Fork Rating:  4.8
Mr. Diner:  5
Mrs. Diner:  5
Amazing Diner:  5
Sweet Diner:  5
Little Diner: 4

Eat In Recipe: Fire Meat

We've made this recipe over and over since the beginning of our marriage.  It's easy, tasty, and can be used in a variety of ways.  We mostly serve it as is or on buns, but it would be great served on rice, noodles, in a salad, or in a wrap.  My youngest has a recent obsession with snakes, so when he saw the long strips of meat, he decided it looks like snakes and said, "Snake.  Mmmmm."  But really, it's beef.

Fire Meat
1 1/2 T. Sesame Seeds, toasted*
1/4 c. green onions, sliced
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 c. soy sauce
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
3 T. sugar
1 T. sesame oil
1 lb. beef, thinly sliced  (flank or skirt steak are both good choices)

1. Mix all ingredients except beef in a large Ziploc bag or bowl. 
2. Add beef and make sure it is well coated.  Marinate for 30 minutes to overnight.
3. Cook meat on BBQ or broiler for just a few minutes.  It will be done quickly since it is so thin.

Serves 4.

*To Toast Sesame Seeds:  Heat skillet on medium and add sesame seeds without any liquid.  Toast seeds, stirring frequently, until they are slightly browned.  Remove from skillet & let cool.

Average Fork Rating:  4.2
Mr. Diner:   4
Mrs. Diner: 4
Amazing Diner:  5
Sweet Diner:  3
Little Diner:  5

UPDATED Eat Out Review: The Great Steak Sandwich Co.

I have driven by this little place hundreds of times and never stopped there.  Last week Mr. Diner and I finally stopped by to give it a try (without the little diners).  The Great Steak Sandwich Co. (aka The Steak & Everything Grill) is a little hole-in-the-wall place on Provo's Center Street just west of I-15 that's known for it's billboard, which frequently features reads "Welcome Home Elder...." or "Happy Birthday......". 

It's a really casual place where you walk in, say hello, and seat yourself.  The server was friendly and recommended some of the most popular sandwiches - the Steak & Everything sandwich and the Turkey Bacon Avocado Melt.  Their menu features grilled sandwiches and burgers with ice cream floats, shakes, & sundaes.  We split a Steak & Everything combo, which was the special of the day for $6.49.  It included a Steak & Everything sandwich (thin-sliced steak with provolone, mushrooms, onions, peppers, & tomatoes) and really fresh, hot fries.  We added a side of onion rings and two drinks.  Splitting a combo is a great way to go, as we had plenty of food.  After ordering, I discovered the dessert menu, though, and wished I had room for some of their delicious-sounding ice cream creations (Butter Beer Float with vanilla ice cream, butterscotch syrup, & cream soda, anyone?). 

The sandwich was good with all the flavors melted together, but I think I would have liked more cheese.  Mr. Diner thought it was really good as it was; then again, he's not a huge cheese fan.  The fries and onion rings were both good and served with bottles of ketchup & fry sauce.  I would go back, but mostly to try the drinks.  And guess what?  They operate a drive-through window for those of us who want to get something quickly on the way home.  Love that!

Steak & Philly	Steak & Cheese

French Dip

Update 8/20/2012:  We took the whole family to The Great Steak for dinner.  They do have a kids menu item with the choice of a hamburger, chicken nuggets, or grilled cheese with fries & a small drink for $3.49, but my kids wanted the steak sandwiches (who can blame them?).  Mr. Diner, Amazing, & Little Diner ordered a French Dip ($6.49), which the two little ones split, which is easy to do with the sandwiches already sliced in two.  The French Dips had a generous amount of steak and a fabulous au jus sauce.  Sweet Diner ordered the Steak & Cheese ($6.49), which had lots of steak, but not as much provolone cheese as she would have liked.  I tried out the Steak & Philly ($5.49), which is basically like a Steak & Everything sandwich, but with cream cheese instead of provolone.  I thought it had too much cream cheese & really recommend sticking with the provolone.  The battered onion rings & seasoned once again were fantastic.

Entree Price:  $
Average Fork Rating:  3.8
Mr. Diner: 4
Mrs. Diner:  3
Amazing Diner:  5
Sweet Diner:  4
Little Diner:  3

Ratings updated 8/20/2012.

Eat In Recipe: Bundt Cake Two Ways

Photo by Patent and the Pantry.

Just a little obsession with my bundt pan lately, I guess. First, I made a mouth-watering, melt-in-your-mouth butter cake for our recent book club. It had a simple flavor, but boy, was it moist and addictive!

Then I had a craving for chocolate cake for several days that I finally caved to & made another moist, delicious, chocolate bundt cake. Mmmmm...and can I say, it was even more divine with a little caramel drizzle? Again, mmmmmm.

Both recipes are super simple, so if you have a bundt cake lying around, break it out & take these recipes for a spin!


Kentucky Butter Cake from Suzanne Stull on AllRecipes.com
Cake:
3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2 cups white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 eggs

Sauce:
3/4 cup white sugar
1/3 cup butter
3 tablespoons water
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease and flour a 10 inch Bundt pan.
In a large bowl, mix the flour, 2 cups sugar, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Blend in buttermilk, 1 cup of butter, 2 teaspoons of vanilla and 4 eggs. Beat for 3 minutes at medium speed. Pour batter into prepared pan.
Bake in preheated oven for 60 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean. Prick holes in the still warm cake. Slowly pour sauce over cake. Let cake cool before removing from pan.
To Make Butter Sauce: In a saucepan combine the remaining 3/4 cups sugar, 1/3 cup butter, 2 teaspoons vanilla, and the water. Cook over medium heat, until fully melted and combined, but do not boil.

Notes: You can, of course, use the handy vinegar/lemon juice substitution for buttermilk (1T vinegar or lemon juice in a 1 c. measure cup & then fill the rest of the cup with milk, let sit for a few minutes). I won't tell you the nutritional information for this cake...if you're interested in making BUTTER cake, you really do not care.


Rich Chocolate Bundt Cake from Diana's Desserts

Dry Ingredients: 2 cups granulated sugar
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt

Liquid Ingredients:

2 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup. boiling water

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 10-inch bundt or tube pan.
2. Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl of an electric mixer. Add the liquid ingredients (except for the boiling water), and beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water.
3. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake in preheated oven for 50-55 minutes or until a cake tester inserted in cake comes out clean. Remove cake from oven and let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then invert cake onto wire rack and let cool completely.

Notes: The batter is really thin, but it baked up wonderfully. My cake was ready in 40 minutes, so check it early. We dusted ours with powdered sugar & ate it with a little caramel sauce (me) or whipped cream (my kids). The recipe suggests serving it with lightly sweetened raspberries and tangy whipped cream. If you'd like to see her directions for these, click on the Diana's Desserts link above.


Average Fork Rating:  4.5 (we all gave both cakes the same score)
Mrs. Diner: 5
Amazing Diner:  4
Sweet Diner:  5
Little Diner: 4