I know that they have gotten a lot of bad press over their owner’s strong Southern Baptist beliefs.  Those beliefs cause him to close all his stores on Sundays, and cause him to support traditional bible-centric marriage between 1 man and 1 woman.  These actions have caused an internet sensation of people (mostly supporters of same-sex marriage) ripping on the restaurant chain and boycotting their food.  So is this what’s causing the amazing business success and public hysteria?

Whether you agree or disagree with Chick-fil-A’s owner, Mr. S. Truett Cathy’s, principles of faith, his strict adherence to them has probably led to his success as a business owner.  I have no doubt that it has also helped define his character as a man.  That character can be seen in all the different charitable donations Chick-fil-A has provided, as well as all the scholarships they have issued.  Personally, I respect Mr. Cathy for standing up for what he believes in, regardless of the consequences on his business.

From what I have researched, it seems that Mr. Cathy, and his family, run their business unselfishly, and don’t ask their employees to do anything they are not willing to do themselves (like working on Sundays, Christmas, and Thanksgiving for example).  Their business has exploded over the years, becoming the 2nd largest chicken retailer in the country, 2nd only to KFC, as well as surpassing even McDonald’s in the average sales per restaurant ($2.7 million per restaurant as compared to $2.4 million at each McDonald’s).  Despite the negative press and food bans, Chick-fil-A’s sales continue to soar.  But I find it hard to believe that the opposing sociological and political views surrounding Chick-fil-A are what are creating the mass “eat more chicken” madness.

So it must stem from their food.  I’ve noticed that people go crazy for this shit.  Their restaurants are packed with chicken lovers.  What exactly is going on?

A new Chick-fil-A recently opened in Meridian, Idaho.  They have 2 drive through lines, and every day those lines are backed up clear out into the parking lots of the surrounding businesses.  I was going to pull in and give their food a try, but quickly decided to go inside instead because of that line.  But the place was packed inside as well!  It was standing room only.  What the freak?  So I gave it a couple months to slow down before I tried it again.  Nope, still just as packed.  I thought to myself, “that must be some damn good chicken!  I’d better get my hands on some fast!”  I’m ashamed of myself for falling prey to this mass hysteria.  Is this the same thing that happened years ago with Krispy Kreme donuts?  Just mass hysteria around a food without much substance?  I had to find out, so I braved the crowd and went in.

As I stood in line to order, I stared at the remarkably undesirable menu board.  Chicken sandwiches and fries.  Do they have anything else?  Oh, there’s a salad with the same chicken on it I could choose.  And there’s the same salad wrapped up in a tortilla. Or wait, there are some chicken nuggets.  Oooo, what’s that?  A chicken soup!  Oh, nope, there’s the mother load that’s making everyone go crazy….. a chicken salad sandwich. Nice!  What the hell is going on?  I ordered a plain original chicken sandwich, and its spicy version right next to it.  I kindly paid my $7, took my receipt, and found a stool to sit on.  Their staff brought me my food somehow knowing exactly who I was, what I ordered, and where I took my seat.  Alas, the moment of truth had arrived.

Chick-fil-A Original Chicken Sandwich Good or Bad?

Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich

So, honestly, what goes through your mind when you look at this picture?  Do you think to yourself, “Oh my gosh, this is going to be the most amazing chicken creation I’ve ever put in my mouth?”  Do you think, “this is so beautiful I’m about to cry?”  Or are you like me and think, “this thing is what everyone’s going so ape-shit about?”  I wasn’t sure what was happening.  This is a breaded and deep-fried chicken breast with some pickle slices on a plain, ugly hamburger bun.  There is no sauce, no lettuce, no special components, no anything.  I could have splurged for lettuce, tomato, and a slice of American cheese for $.60 more I guess, but would it have made any difference?  I was mesmerized with the fact that this sandwich built a $4.6 billion dollar company.

“Well, the chicken breast must be really really good,” I thought.  So I took a bite.  Here’s what it looked like:

Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich Inside

Hmm.  See the pickles?  They had a nice crunch and tasted like….pickles.  The bun was the typical flattened, sweet fast-food burger bun (but at least it was toasted), and the chicken was a whole chicken breast.  I appreciate that is was a whole chicken breast.  That’s better than most fast food press-formed chicken patties for sure.  The seasoning in the breading was good, but nothing magical by any means.  It had a nice black pepper flavor, some onion powder, some herbs, and other things like sugar I imagine, and it was nice and crunchy.  The chicken itself was very moist and tender; a result of the pressure-fryer it was cooked in.  And that’s where I get really confused.

People have been fading in their KFC eating because of the exact same pressure-frying cooking method.  Pressure frying forces hot oil into the chicken meat, and drastically reduces the overall cooking time required.  This “oil injection” is what helps make KFC’s chicken, and Chick-fil-A’s as well, so moist and tender.  It is also what makes it so high in calories.  So if KFC chicken is so bad for us, why isn’t Chick-fil-A’s when it’s cooked in the exact same fashion? (hint:  they are equally as bad for you)  And why have people stopped eating lunch at KFC?  KFC’s seasoning is far tastier, they make their chicken sandwiches out of whole chicken breasts too, and their sandwiches come with bacon, cheese, and sauce.  Maybe it’s because Chick-fil-A offers 10 different sauce packets to squeeze onto your sandwich.  Most of those sauces are calorie nightmares, and are full of corn syrup and/or sugar.  Seems a bit silly.

The Chicken Sandwich tasted good, and so did the Spicy Chicken Sandwich (exact same chicken and seasoning as far as I could tell, except with a hot cayenne pepper addition that made it actually very spicy), but neither where anywhere near the worth of hysteria our society is giving Chick-fil-A.

Chick-fil-A Chargrilled Chicken Club Sandwich Review

After my first experience, I decided that maybe I should give their grilled chicken a try.  So I went back another day and ordered their Chargrilled Club.

Chick-fil-A Chargrilled Chicken Sandwich

The presentation of this sandwich was much better.  Nice beautiful leaf lettuce, crisp red bacon, melted provolone cheese, pickles, tomato, and a marinated grilled whole chicken breast all on a pretty wheat bun.  “This is more like it,” I thought.  I figured this was what the hysteria must be stemming from.  So I eagerly dived in.

Chick-fil-A Chargrilled Chicken Sandwich Inside

Just look at that beautiful chicken breast!  It was so tender, and so moist, and it was grilled!  Finally, a great tasting and healthy sandwich at a fast food chain!  Well, maybe not.  This guy still brought in 400 calories, 36 carbs, and 1110mg of sodium, all before I added any sauce to make it taste better.  And a quick check of the ingredients show:  butter flavored vegetable oil (think butter flavored Pam), added flavors, preservatives (TBHQ) salts, sugars, and a cute little workaround to MSG – yeast extracts and disodium inosinate and disodium guanylate.  The yeast and the disodiums have the two main building blocks of MSG, so when combined, you get practically the same thing as MSG but don’t have to label it as such.  Like I said, cute workaround.

That being said, it was fairly tasty, though I didn’t love the processed fake tasting marinade.  And 400 calories isn’t too bad when compared to other fast food options.  It didn’t fill me up though, so I found myself ordering another item off the menu to leave satisfied.  But if you want a lower calorie option, and a decent tasting chicken sandwich, Chick-fil-A’s Chargrilled Club might be worth ordering, especially if you pour some of their low-calorie Buffalo Sauce (only 10 calories per pack) on it.

Chick-fil-A Chicken Biscuit Breakfast Sandwich, What a Joke

Chick-fil-A Chicken Biscuit

I don’t even know what to say about this thing.  What a stupid and pathetic creation.  I’m embarrassed that I ate it.  I’m just glad I got it for free with a coupon to lesson my shame.  It’s their deep fried chicken breast, and hallmark pickles, put on a buttermilk biscuit.  How stupid.

The chicken was as good/bad as the rest (because it’s the same bloody chicken!), and the biscuit was fluffy and good.  But this thing brings in 440 calories, 20g of fat, 48 g of carbs, and 1210mg of sodium.  Plus you have to eat it with one of their dipping sauces if you want any flavor at all.  I paired mine with 2 packs of BBQ sauce, which brought in another 90 calories, 11g of carbs, and 180mg of sodium.  So this one little breakfast sandwich started my day with 530 calories and close to an entire day’s allotment of sodium!  Compare that to a better tasting McDonald’s Egg McMuffin at 300 calories, 30g of carbs, and 780mg of sodium, and you start to see just how ridiculous this breakfast beast is.  No thanks Chick-fil-A.  I have better things to get fat off of.

Ethics and Morals Behind Chick-fil-A Review

So I still have no idea what the hysteria is all about, and I find myself completely torn on this place.  The menu really isn’t anything special; most of their sandwiches are OK at best.  But I really admire their Christian business ethics of being closed on Sundays, and also their ownership’s moral standing on doing what they feel is right without fear of what it may do to their business success.  I think the social hysteria surrounding them right now is ridiculous, but find myself being willing to eat there despite it.  I doubt I will add Chick-fil-A to my lunch routine, but I will likely choose them over the others at airports and such when traveling.

The Bald Gourmet can’t give Chick-fil-A a recommending food review, but admires their business practices and wants to support them because of it.

Taco Bell Doritos Locos Taco

When I first heard that Taco Bell was partnering up with Doritos to release a Nacho Cheese Doritos taco shell to wrap their tasty beef taco around, I thought, “this is a pot heads munchy dream come true.”  I don’t smoke pot, but I love Doritos, and I love Taco Bell.  What could be better than joining the two?  Apparently, a lot.

Taco Bell Doritos Locos Taco with Sauce

Taco Bell’s New Doritos Taco Disappoints

Taco Bell is banking on this junk food combo being a huge success, at least their marketing spending for it appears that way.  Signs, ads, and commercials for the thing are everywhere.  I had been waiting for several months for it to finally arrive, so it was with great anticipation that I finally got to order a few.  Mmmmm…..the greasy crunchy indescribably unique corn Doritos and beefy Taco Bell goodness had my mouth watering in anticipation.  I took my seat, unraveled my gluttonous concoction, pulled it from its special paper holder, and took a bite.  Not a Doritos.

The shell tasted nothing like a Doritos, other than the nacho cheese powder plastered all over the outside of it, which did a good job of maintaining the trademark Doritos finger markings.  The shell was dyed Doritos Nacho Cheese orange, but this certainly did nothing to make it a Doritos, as the shell tasted nothing like a Doritos chip.  It was made just like a regular crunchy corn taco shell, a baked/fried combo thing.  It was a bit gritty, really thin, and didn’t have any of the Doritos characteristic grease pressed masa flavor.  What a disappointment.  This wasn’t a Doritos, it was just an orange colored taco shell with some fake cheese powder glued on it.  It tasted OK, but was certainly not worth all the extra sodium, coloring, and chemicals, so I won’t be ordering it again.

Taco Bell’s Doritos Locos Taco Nutritional Comparison

So just how much worse is this taco for you than Taco Bell’s original Crunchy Taco?  Lets compare their posted nutritional facts:

• Calories are the same at 170
• Saturated Fat is the same at 3.5 grams
• Total Fat: Crunchy has 10 grams, Doritos Locos as 9 (giving the Crunchy Taco 10 more calories from fat.  I think the regular shell may be thicker, therefore, has more fat.)
• Cholesterol is the same at 25 milligrams
• Sodium: Crunchy has 290 milligrams, Doritos Locos has 340.  That’s 50 more milligrams per Doritos Locos.  Say hello to nacho cheese powder.
• There’s an extra gram of Dietary Fiber in the Crunchy.  OK
• Sugars are the same at 1 gram

So there’s not a huge difference between the two, but if you order 4 of them, like most people probably do, you’ve just consumed an extra 200mg of Sodium for no reason whatsoever.  Just so you know, 1/8 teaspoon of salt is 290mg.

No Thanks Taco Bell, You Can Keep Your Doritos Taco to Yourself

The taste isn’t any better.  The texture is much worse.  The resulting garbage footprint is much higher.  The entire experience is a disappointment.  I’ll pass.  Thanks.

The Bald Gourmet tries the new Taco Bell Doritos Locos Taco and is very let down.  What a stupid marketing stunt.

Killer Burger in Bingen Washington

Killer Burger Kitchen

Killer Burger, Bingen, Washington Menu

Killer Burger Menu

OK, let me first say that any burger joint that includes BACON with all of their burgers can’t be bad. Just saying. But Killer Burger actually put some thought into offering an assortment of fantastic classics, as well as a couple unique show stoppers, like their Peanut Butter Pickle and their Marine.

The Marine is covered with Ghost Peppers, so there’s probably a lot of wisdom in the menu sign saying “Don’t order this!” as I’m sure it will lead to massive heartburn and bad restroom experiences.

It should also be noted that all of their burgers come with unlimited fries. Sometimes this restaurant gimmick results in bad fries, but Killer Burger’s fries are actually really good. Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, perfectly salted, beautifully colored, all around great fry. Frozen, not fresh, but tasty all the same.

Killer Burger is open for lunch and dinner. But they also have a later afternoon happy hour featuring their Classic Burger and their Peanut Butter Pickle Bacon Burger for $2 off. Great deal if you can wait until after 2:00. We could, so we ordered one of each.

The Peanut Butter Pickle Bacon Burger at Killer Burger

Killer Burger Peanut Butter Pickle Bacon Burger

Good heavens! What the hell was this thing? It looked like a burger, smelled like a burger, and ate like a burger, but tasted like something that is hard to describe. Don’t get me wrong, it was freaking delicious! But a good ol’ American burger? No. More like a peanut butter and pickle sandwich (which I love by the way) crossed with a cheeseburger with a little added sweet dessert thrown in. Let’s discuss the burger component first:

• Killer Burger really does an exceptional job with their patties. They have a fantastic rich beef flavor, and grill them to a caramelized perfection. They are extremely moist, and are seasoned perfectly with salt and pepper.
• Their buns are pretty good too, though they could be better with a denser dough, but they also grill these to get them nice and toasty. Don’t mind the occasional over-toasting; the extra caramelized crunch just adds to the rest of the burger.
• Killer Burger’s house spread is good too. It looks like it’s going to be a very heavy mayo spread, but it is actually very lite and mild. I’m guessing it is a mixture of mayo and sour cream. Good stuff.
• And then there’s the bacon. That sweet sweet bacon (sweet as in great, not sugary). I’m sorry, but bacon is of the Gods and should be on every burger no matter what. Thank you Killer Burger for understanding this! And thank you for cooking it perfectly crispy yet soft.

Now let’s talk about the Peanut Butter Pickle aspect:

• I’ve heard of peanut butter burgers before, but haven’t had one like this. The concept is rather genius, the execution pretty good. The peanut butter sauce was very thick, and I’m sure added an extra 400 calories I didn’t need, but well worth the adventure.
• Killer Burger’s secret peanut butter sauce is something they hold sacred. I asked the staff if my suspicions about its ingredients were true, but they said they could never tell me. Though the surprised look on their faces led me to believe I was hitting pretty close to home. I’m pretty sure it is made with crunchy peanut butter, honey, a touch of salt, and chipotle peppers. I’ll play around with this in my kitchen and do a post once I have it perfected. The sauce was good, but was a bit too sweet and rich. So much so that I had a hard time finishing the burger. It was this sweetness that turned the burger into, well, not a burger. I left feeling uncertain of what I just ate, but glad I ate it. What an odd conundrum.
• The pickles were nice and crunchy, and blended well with the peanut butter. If you haven’t had peanut butter and dill pickles together before, you really should give it a try. There is this cool salt, vinegar, sweet crunch thing that happens when they combine, which is truly unique. I really enjoyed it on this burger.

Killer Burger Peanut Butter Pickle Bacon Burger Close Up

Killer Burger Classic Burger

So having a crazy over-the-top burger may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but never fear, Killer Burger has plenty of standard burger options for you. My buddy ordered the Classic Burger and gave me a taste. Seriously, this is a perfect burger. They really do do a fantastic job on their patties, buns, sauce, and the rest. Classic bacon cheeseburger at its finest.

My buddy Justin knew what he was doing and I’m grateful he introduced me to Killer Burger. Look how proud he is to be sharing it with me:

Killer Burger Patron Justin Black

Concluding Review of Killer Burger in Bingen, Washington

They named the joint correct…..killer burgers. More please.

The Bald Gourmet explores unique burger offerings at Killer Burger in Bingen, Washington.

Jack in the Box Sirloin Burger

I don’t eat a lot of fast food.  From a foodie’s perspective, I feel it is mostly evil.  However, I’m going to have to give Jack in the Box a hat’s off applause for their Sirloin Burger.  This thing is scrumptious!  The thick burger patty is very well seasoned with lots of black pepper, and pairs perfectly with the American cheese slices.  Well seasoned (with something other than just salt) fast food burgers are a rarity, so good job Jack.

The bakery style bun they serve this on is also exceptional.  It is very soft, moist, chewy, and good tasting. And though it has sugar in it, it is not so loaded with it that it tastes more like a sweet roll than a hamburger bun, unlike so many other fast food chain buns do.  Jack also spreads a peppercorn mayo sauce on each bun, which is just fantastic.  My goodness.

I also love the thick pieces of lettuce, tomato, red onion, and pickle slices they give you.  It gives the allusion that this might actually be healthy for you, but also goes a long way to cut down the salty grease texture in your mouth.

I usually choose to shorten my life span by adding the peppered smoked bacon to it.  Boy that makes this burger delicious.  I mean come on, peppered bacon with a peppered patty and a peppered mayo?  Good Foodie God!

Jack in the Box Seasoned Fries with Sirloin Burger

Now if you’re going to splurge, you damn well better splurge right.  So don’t be a pansy ass and skimp on the fat and sodium content here.  Order the Seasoned Fries to go with your Sirloin Burger.  They are so freaking good I can hardly stand it.  Crunchy, moist inside, full of flavor, and a cool orange color I don’t care to understand.  The flavor combination of them dipped in ketchup and shoved in your mouth with every Sirloin Burger bite is outstanding.  What a happy little piggy it makes.

Jack in the Box Sirloin Burger Meal = Whole lot of Calories

The burger meal with medium seasoned fries and a medium root beer is over 1600 calories, roughly 2900 mg of sodium, and 86 grams of sugar, plus whatever the added bacon packs on.  I guess you could go small on the fries and drink to save nearly 250 calories, 350 mg of sodium, and 27 grams of sugar, but what’s the point.  You’ve gone this far, just go all the way.  You won’t need another meal for the rest of the day, so enjoy (in fact, this could be your entire daily allotment of calories).  Of course, you may want to limit your frequency intake of this gluttonous treat due to potential health risks, but when you do allow yourself to enjoy it, freaking go for it!  Yummy yum yum yum yum.

The Bald Gourmet’s Gluttoner’s Guide is written for the little piggy inside all of us.

Burger Express Boise

The other day I got a call from a dear friend of mine who needed to know if I was available to help him out with an emergency situation.  I was only a few minutes from my house where he was waiting, so I hurried home to see how I could help him.  He said that I needed to go with him but he couldn’t talk about it and that I would understand when we got there.  This sounded intriguing, and he genuinely seemed worried about something, so I hopped in his car and wondered where we were heading.

As we headed down Curtis towards Fairview, I started to worry that he was taking me to the hospital with an actual serious emergency.  But then he turned right on Fairview and pulled into a new burger joint that just opened.  He’s so ridiculous, but he knows I’m a foodie and blogger and wanted me to review this brand new establishment.

His main reason for the excitement is that it reminds him of his favorite burger joint in California where he grew up.  And I must admit, the menu does look very similar to that chain’s.  I took his council and ordered the Double with fries and a Coke and then took my seat.  When they delivered it to my table, I quickly realized that this is not the same burger and fries as the California burger chain.

Burger Express Boise is not your Typical Burger

The fries do not appear to be cut onsite, but rather ready to cook frozen fries.  But they have some skin on them, which I always enjoy, and were perfectly salted, crisp, and soft inside.  They weren’t the best fries I’ve ever had, but were good and paired perfectly with the rest of my order.

The burger, on the other hand, was surprisingly unique.  Some people may complain about this, but I loved that the burger patties were really thin.  It created a perfect ratio of American cheese to burger flavor.  It was actually quite nice, and I can see now why the cashier staff said that a triple is a favorite.  The patties where seasoned well, and were rather enjoyable.  The rest was no frills lettuce, tomato, and onion, all served on a decent bun with a touch of mayo.  Is it the best burger I’ve ever eaten?  No.  Is it deserving of enjoying on a weekly basis?  Yes.

So go support this new family owned and operated burger joint.  My friend needs them to be successful so he can feed his California burger fix for years to come (and I just might too).

Burger Express Boise Double

Del Taco's Tacos

I’m not a big fast food fan, but I have to tell you that the $0.39 tacos at Del Taco are freaking delicious.  I love them, and I love the fact that for under $2.50 I can have a very tasty lunch of 820 calories.  At 1,380mg of sodium and 40 grams of fat, they certainly are not good for you, but they are significantly better than a comparable lunch of 1,090 calories, 2,450mg sodium, and 57 grams of fat at Taco Bell.  Not to mention about $4 cheaper.  Now don’t get me wrong, Taco Bell will forever be a dirty little make-me-fat secret of mine, but when it comes to getting a taco fix on, I run for Del Taco’s border.

Del Taco isn’t concerned about presentation.  Everything comes in a hastily wrapped piece of paper, the cheese seems to always be globbed into one pile, and there usually seems to be beef spilled outside of the taco shell.  But man oh man, who really cares when you’re shoving satisfying deliciousness in your face.  Yum!

I’ve tried several other items on their menu, including their breakfast items (available all day).  They had an awesome shrimp taco special for a while, but it is no longer available.  Drats!  Nothing else on their menu really seems to be all that great, but I do highly recommend their basic tacos.  I usually order 4 hard and 2 soft, and eat them with their medium sauce.  Great combo.  Give it a try.

Sno Shack Black Cherry Cheesecake

You know that saying, “when hell freezes over?” Well, if it ever froze over with the spectacular gourmet shaved ice offerings of Sno Shack Boise I want to be there!

Located in the Albertson’s parking lot at Cole and Fairview, this is NOT the drab crunchy snow cone that I grew up with as a kid. The owners of this Sno Shack have taken boring old shaved ice and turned it into an amazing dessert that belongs on fine china rather than a Styrofoam cup. Absolutely delicious! And for only $2-$3 dollars, anyone can splurge on it.

Sno Shack Boise Best Shaved Ice

I ordered the Black Cherry Cheesecake with a scoop of ice cream on the bottom and heavy cream drizzled over the top. Oh my gosh! I had no idea that flavored ice could be like this. It was incredible! The ice was soft and fluffy, and the cream added a wonderful weight and texture on my tongue. The flavored syrups surprisingly tasted just like black cherry cheesecake and played tricks on my mind. Was I eating ice or was I eating cheesecake? It didn’t matter it was so tasty. They put a lot of syrup in the cup, which made every bite and slurp equally as delicious as the next.

Then, as I got to the bottom, there was the wonderful dollop of vanilla ice cream to enjoy. It bonded with the shaved ice just above it to make a wonderful crunchy shell full of frozen flavored syrup. This crunch, combined with the smoothness of the ice cream, made me feel very happy inside. I really enjoyed stirring the ice cream with the syrups to make a tasty little shake that I could slurp up with my straw.

Sno Shack Boise Awesome Flavors

I’ve gone back and have had several other flavors now. The Black Raspberry Cheesecake with cream and ice cream is out of this world good. The Turtle Sundae with chocolate and cream was freakin’ awesome. The Root Beer Float with cream and ice cream was every bit as good as any float I’ve ever had.

Sno Shack Black Raspberry Cheesecake

Sno Shack Turtle Cheesecake

Sno Shack Root Beer Float

I look forward to trying Caramel Apple with caramel drizzled all over it, Mango Cheesecake, Horchata, and Banana Colada. This place is delicious, and I can tell that I will be spending close to a hundred dollars this summer on their angelic concoctions of delight.

Uncle Giuseppe's #16 Italian Giuseppe's

Move over Subway, Uncle Giuseppe’s has come into town and his sandwiches make yours look like something a 5 year old would make!

This is the place to go if you want a real “get down to business” Italian cold cut pleasure ride.  They feature a great selection of Boar’s Head brand meats and cheeses, as well as some wonderful imported selections like Prociutto and Sopressata, all available to purchase by the pound or on a made-to-order sandwich.

Sopressata

Upon entering, I was offered a slice of Sopressata.  Sopressata is a high-end Italian cured salami which is traditionally made with pork that is pressed rather than ground to give a cool rustic appearance when sliced thin.  It usually includes hot peppers and other seasonings to give it a robust flavor.  Uncle Giuseppe’s choice of sopressata is absolutely fantastic, with some white wine undertones and just the right punch of hot pepper heat.  I fell in love with it, and knew I needed to order one of their made-to-order sandwiches which featured it.  They recommended the #16 Italian Giuseppe’s and I promptly had them make me one.

Uncle Giuseppe’s Sandwich

Oh what a sandwich this is!  Loaded with Prociutto, Capocolla, Salami, Mortadella (the father of US bologna), Provolone, Basil, Roasted Red Bell Peppers, Olive Oil, Balsamic Vinegar, and of course, the blessed Sopressata.  It is served on a beautiful Italian bread that has a really nice firm chew to it.  The roasted red peppers have a great charred flavor and are very sweet.  The olive oil and balsamic were much better than mayo any day, and paired nicely with the fresh basil.  The meats and cheese were a thing of glory and took me on a taste bud journey bouncing back and forth between the sharp flavors of provolone, saltiness of prosciutto, and sweet tang of the sopressata.  Absolutely wonderful!

Uncle Giuseppe’s Menu

Uncle Giuseppe’s also makes their own daily soups, including Tomato Basil, Minestrone, and Philly Cheese Steak, as well as their own fresh made mozzarella. It is simply a must visit establishment, and I can’t recommend it enough.  The prices range from $6.50 to $7.50 for a sandwich, and are much better than anything you’ll find at national chain “slop hall” any day.

Uncle Giuseppe’s

6826 Glenwood

Garden City, ID 83717

(208) 853-5048

Baguette Deli BBQ Pork Sandwich

Oh my oh my have I ever discovered a little piece of Heaven in Boise.  This place is now in the top ten eateries to visit in Boise, Idaho.  It is small.  It is full of people. It is out of this world delicious!  It is called Baguette Deli Vietnamese Sandwiches and is equally tasty to Vietnamese Cuisine newbies and long-timers alike.

They offer a variety of wonderful baguette sandwiches, smoothies, spring rolls, and even a bowl of pho (Vietnamese beef noodle soup) to choose from.  The concept is a hybrid of Vietnamese and French foods.  What genius.  Let me recommend a few guaranteed taste bud pleasers on their menu.

During your first visit, I don’t recommend choosing any of the “American” sandwich offerings (like pesto turkey – though very delicious). Instead, go straight to the BBQ Pork sandwich.

This pork is fantastic.  It is marinated in Chinese BBQ sauce, lemongrass, and some other tasty things, and is then grilled to utter perfection.  You get a slight occasional crunch from the grilling, and sweet spicy flavors from the marinade.  The salty pungent flavors balance perfectly with the rest of the ingredients on the sandwich, which are all served on an exceptionally crunchy and soft baguette.  The baguettes are sourced, and freshly baked hourly, across the street at Orient Market.

In addition to the pork, the sandwich is filled with a sweet mayo spread, fresh cilantro, sliced jalapeños, and pickled carrots, cucumbers, and daikon radish.  It is perfect, just simply perfect!

Don’t worry about the jalapeños, they really aren’t that hot at all.  But if you do feel some burn, just take another bite of sandwich.  The bread and mayo spread do an amazing job of stopping the burn instantly.

The BBQ Pork is the best on the menu, and is only $3.25.  But the grilled beef isn’t bad either.  It is marinated in a dark soy sauce with some added flavors that make it taste oddly similar to beef jerky, but with a soft texture and grilled flavor that is very pleasing.

Baguette Deli Grilled Beef Sandwich

The spring rolls are equally delicious.  They are perfectly wrapped in a rice wrapper (a feat I’ve yet to master in my kitchen), and filled with pork, rice noodles, lettuce, cilantro, and succulent steamed shrimp.  They are served with a tasty sweet soy/ginger/peanut sauce for dipping, and are well worth the extra couple bucks.

Baguette Deli Fresh Spring Rolls

To top the experience of salivating glory off, make sure you order an Avocado Smoothie.  It’s freaking awesome!  Bright green avocados blended with ice and sweetened condensed milk.  It’s fantastic, unless of course you don’t like avocados.  I’ve had avocado smoothies in other cities, and this is as good as any I’ve ever tried.  I know a lot of people think that avocados only belong in guacamole, but there is something truly magical about the creamy, nutty flavor of avocados mixed with sugar.  Delish!

Baguette Deli Avocado Smoothie

I ordered mine with boba for $0.50 more.  Boba is Pearl Tapioca, and provides a very fun chewy texture to your smoothie and/or tea.  It is very traditional in many Asian cultures and is well worth trying.  However, I found that it introduced a dark caramel flavor to my avocado smoothie that just didn’t seem to pair well together.  It would be great in the strawberry or mango smoothie however, so definitely add it if ordering one of those.  Word of warning though, Boba will bring out the kid in you.  It’s just so fun sucking these chewy little nuggets of delight up through your over-sized straw!

So if you find yourself anywhere near Franklin and Curtis, stop into Baguette Deli Vietnamese Sandwiches in the Fred Meyer complex.  You’ll be very glad that you did.

Delicious Coupon Casserole

Sunday mornings, I awake at my leisure and slowly make my way downstairs where I am greeted with the Sunday paper at my front door.  It always seems to arrive in a protective bag as if it were some cherished Christmas present for grownups.  And in a way, I guess that it is due to the coupon inserts contained therein.   I always am disappointed however at all the coupons for worthless, nutritionally void crap, and always shake my head at the disgusting food industry of America.  But then I find the occasional coupon for items that are not highly processed or full of salt and/or sugar; things that I can use to create wonderful dishes at home with.  But occasionally I keep a couple coupons for foods that I know will lead to high blood pressure.  Today’s recipe uses coupons of this nature.

The coupons in question:

• $0.75 off Jimmy Dean Sausage (1 pound tube)
• $1.00 off two bags OreIda Tater Tots (you’ll need one bag for this recipe)
• $0.50 off two cans Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom Soup (you’ll need one can for this recipe)

You’ll also need:

• Half of a large onion (or one small onion) chopped.
• Shredded cheddar cheese to top.

Cooking with Coupons:

Brown the sausage in a skillet with the chopped onion.  Browning gives you more flavor in the casserole and adds a nice occasional crunch.

Browning

When done, place into a casserole dish with half a bag of frozen tater tots.  Add 1 can of Cream of Mushroom Soup (cream of chicken will do too) and gently stir around to combine.  Top with cheddar cheese, then cover to bake.

Mixed together

Bake in a 400˚ oven for 40 minutes.  You can remove the cover for the last 10 minutes of baking time if you’d like the cheese to be firm and slightly chewy.

I’m not going to make any claims that this dish is heart-healthy or that it will fit in with your diet and weight loss plans, but I will tell you that it is rather delicious and makes for an excellent left over lunch.  The sodium content is quite high though, so make sure you have access to plenty of water for the rest of the night because your body is going to need it.

Serves 3-4

Recipe by Jothan Yeager