COLORADO GRILL in Hot Springs, Arkansas

I have been on the look for the perfect 'Taco Salad'.  I found my favorite to this point. It's the one at the Colorado Grill in Hot Springs. 

I found it several years ago and had it again just the other day. 

We took my sister and brother* there for her #84. It was as delicious as I remember it. The birthday girl had the same thing and she agreed. Yummmmm!











*There is an 'in-law' behind their name, but we drop that in our family.

BOB EVANS Recommended

Bob Evans makes the best mashed potatoes. I do not think I will ever mash a potato again. You find them in the dairy case close to the meat section.

...and Bob Evans makes really good Breakfast Burritos. We keep them in the freezer as a 'go-to' when we are tired of the 'same-old, same-old'. We serve them with spicy tomato juice or salsa. You find them in the 'breakfast' freezer section. 

Then, we found a Bob Evans Restaurant in Branson, Missouri. Great food and good service. We wish we had one closer to us.

Try them all! You will like them!

Our New Favorite Topper

We started with honey on our biscuits and toast.  

Then, the 'aha'!  Why not add a little or maybe a lot of cinnamon to the bear. You cannot beat it!  It is delicious!  Our biscuits* now taste like cinnamon rolls!

The down side?  You could eat it so often that you wear your taste buds out with the taste of it? Not!!!!

*Heads Up!  Pillsbury Southern Style Frozen Biscuits taste like homemade.

BAKED GRAPEFRUIT-Voted Best for 2013

I voted 'Baked Grapefruit' as my favorite new recipe for 2013.  I have had the recipe for years, but didn't try it until Christmas.  We had friends over for our traditional Waffles, Sausage, and Bacon Brunch.  I usually serve fresh grapefruit, but decided 'what the heck'...try something new. It sounded so easy so how could I lose?  Well, what if it was a flop??? It wasn't...it was a hit and became the Best of New Dish I tried in 2013!

Try it and see what you think---

Baked Grapefruit

1 Grapefruit cut in half

Ingredients per half:

1 tsp. butter

1 TBS brown sugar

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1 Maraschino cherry

Section each half
and loosen from rind...

I trim the bottom
so it will sit steady in the bowl...

 

Dot each half with
butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
Place in a baking dish.
I line mine with foil.

Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven
for 5 minutes, then broil until bubbly.
(I have used my standard oven and my toaster oven.
I prefer the standard oven. They heat better!)

Place in bowls and top with a cherry!

One the best inventions...
love my grapefruit spoons!

No, I didn't save you any!

This recipe came from

Mr. Breakfast.com.

Thanks, Mr. Breakfast.

Italian House & Grill HSV A Keeper

Yea!  We have found a new 'keeper'!  We have been wanting to try this restaurant. Every time we thought about going it was never the right time or occasion.  Last night the stars were aligned and we ate with two friends from the Village.  The atmosphere and the food were wonderful.  We arrived without reservations, but were easily accommodated.  Although the restaurant is small, we didn't seemed cramped. We didn't feel as if we were eavesdropping in the tables next to us or them listening to our conversation.

Be sure and call for reservations!

We had coupons for Meatballs and Spaghetti and a salad so the two guys used them.  They were really a good deal...Plenty of meatballs in a nice red sauce, Italian bread with olive oil for dipping, and a nice fresh house salad with a house vinaigrette dressing. The gals ordered Angel Hair Pasta Primavera in a indescribably delicious white sauce with diced veggies. I couldn't eat all of mine...two meals for one.  I am adding chicken tonight for my next meal. In fact, there may be enough to share with Chuck...maybe:)

Bohemia-Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA

We parked under this sign!

Bohemia--Great place to meet, greet, eat, and drink with friends.  

That is exactly what we did.  We love these friends!  We get busy with our own 'to-do's", family and just plain 'want to be alone' times! 

It was time to catch up.  The Bohemia is a half-way meeting place.  We had never been there, but it came highly recommended for the Tilapia at lunch.  We didn't know what to expect for Dinner.  We were not disappointed and will definitely come back...maybe give the Tilapia at lunch a try. 


Chuck had one of the night's specials, Beef Short Ribs...they were boneless...with mashed potatoes..."Thumbs Up!"  One of our friends had another special, Halibut,"Thumbs Up!"...her husband had Tilapia, "Thumbs Up...I can't taste the crab meat in the sauce". 

I had an item that is not on the menu on their website...Uneven Pasta with Mushrooms and Wine White Sauce...'Thumbs Up"...I had enough to take home for lunch the next day!


My Mom and Dad lived in Hot Springs in the 70's and 80's.  I remember going there and having Hungarian Goulash. The physical layout and the menu has been updated to a Continental Cuisine menu.

Definitely give it a 'Thumbs Up'...worth your time to give it a try!
!

Jimmy's Diner - Thumbs Up!

I thought when we moved I had left my favorite burger place behind me.  As fate would have it, a new favorite burger place was not far behind.  We went into Benton to do some errands.  When we called my sister-in-law to join us for lunch, she was already headed to my now new favorite, Jimmy's Diner.  Not only that, but Jimmy used to head the food service at UALR at the same time I worked there...it is a small world.

I like my burger with mayonnaise, lettuce, and tomato.  Chuck ordered a cheeseburger with everything.  Peggy got the Club sandwich.  They have a Blue Plate Special, but we were 'burger' bound.  They are hand patted and that makes the difference between a 'favorite' burger and 'thumbs-down' burger.

If you are in Benton and on Edison Ave., stop at Jimmy's.  In fact, if you are any where in the area, made a special trip to Jimmy's...You won't regret it!

The Pantry Thumbs Up!

We have been wanting to eat at The Pantry since they opened.  I have to admit I am not sure when they did open.  The one time we tried it was Sunday and they were closed.
We finally got the chance when our friends suggested we go there to share a "pre-Christmas" dinner.  We were not disappointed.  The service was excellent. Our server was very knowledgeable and treated us as if we were her only table for the night.  She was not overly attentive, but made sure she was available should we need something.  Her knowledge of the wine list was commendable as we always have questions.


The food is eclectic and leans toward Eastern European as the owner is from the Czech Republic. There were five of us and we all ordered something different.  We wanted to experience as much as we could for a first-time visit.  I got Wiener Schnitzel with Iron Skillet Potatoes and Chuck got The Pantry Pie, Goulash Stew with mashed potatoes cooked like a Shepherd's Pie.  Our friends got the Lasagna Al Forno, Czech Roast Beef , and Seared Salmon. We got Hummus as an appetizer for the table.  One of us (who shall not be named:) always gets dessert and shares.  This time "she" got one of the chocolate choices...not sure which one?  I told you it was eclectic!


It was all delicious; however, we decided we liked the Wiener Schnitzel the best with the Pantry Pie and Salmon coming in second and third.

The acoustics are not good for visiting, but we did anyway.  They are working on correcting the problem.  I suggest something soft on the walls and/or ceiling.  Everything right now is "hard-scrape". 


Chuck and I will put it on our list to go back to...sit at the Bar or maybe in the Lounge; have a beer for him and wine for me; and share the Baby Back Ribs and maybe the Bio Mushrooms or Pommes Frites (translated-fried potatoes).


Highly recommend The Pantry if you are not already a fan.

Michaelangelo's Thumbs Up!

We met our cousins at Michaelangelo's in Conway before we went to see James Carville last week at the Reynolds Center at the University of Central Arkansas, Conway.

It is located in Downtown Conway. You can get to it by taking the I-40, Oak Street Exit.


We split the Chicken Parmigiana and each had a House Salad with the House Dressing on the side.  We always have the dressing on the side.  Usually, the waiter makes the salad and drowns the lettuce with the dressing.  I like to taste the salad with a hint of the dressing... usually a vinaigrette.  We had more than enough to eat and it was delicious!   It was Monday, raining, and not crowded.  Sometimes I find that if there isn't a lot to keep the waiter on his toes, the service lags.  Not so, this time!!!  The service was good even though our waiter had a "shadow" in training with him. 

Definitely going back...soon! 

Oak Street Bistro Thumbs Up!

Our table on right
thru the passage on left

A night out of dining with our cousins and entertainment. I think it is called a "date night" these days.


We have been reading about the Oak Street Bistro in some of our free publications:  Soiree, and the Arkansas Times. We were ready to give it a try.


We had tickets to see Tommy Emmanel at UCA, Conway.  This was the perfect time to give "Oak Street" a try and visit with our cousins at the same time.

Bar area

The service was great.  We arrived before our cousins and sat at the bar until they arrived. We ordered a
Blue Moon beer for Chuck 
and a
Ecco Domini Pinot Grigio for me!

Menu cover

We loved it.  I had the Wild Chicken Breast and Chuck had the Mahi Fish Tacos, which were great.  The only down side: the scallops appetizer...it was cold and bland when we were thinking warm and tangy. Our cousins eat there enough so they have their favorites: Shrimp Fettuccine and Oak Streets Shrimp and Grits...although this time the Special of the Day : a red fish baked in foil was selected by one of the two! 
Go Figure?  I always stick with the "Tried and True" at any restaurant...that is "Tried by me and judged "True"!


Bottom line:  go for it!

Browning's OUT OF BUSINESS

After more that 50 years in business Browning's sadly closed in the early 2000's. My husband remembers going there as a child with his parents and sister. I remember going there in the 60's and 70's. The new Browning's didn't make it either. Sad. Time moves on!


Wow!  Chuck and I decided to eat out after his guitar lesson.  I read until he finished then we headed to Cantrell Road.   We have been curious about Chipolte that just opened in the Pleasant Ridge Shopping Center. Well, imagine our surprise...they were lined out the door to get in to eat.  We are not patient "waiting in line" customers.    After circling the parking lot we headed to the Heights for Chinese until we remembered that Browning's had reopened under new management.  Since our taste buds were still set for Mexican so we settled for Browning's.  

Yes, we are talking about the Browning's Mexican Food Restaurant that has been a Little Rock fixture for over 60 years.  I say 60 years because that is how long Chuck remembers eating at Browning's. In the 1940's his family would travel from Benton to Little Rock for a night out.  There were very few places to eat out in Little Rock:  Hank's Dog House, Bruno's, The Embers, Tijuana and Browning's...can you think of more?

We are back to the "Wow"!  What a transformation!  It is very open, updated and very trendy.  

This is what should have been done the last time Browning's opened under new management...but no they had to give in to public pressure and go for the "same ol'; same ol'" stuff.  We love the new ambiance.  The acoustics aren't great, but bearable. It keeps your conversation private even if you can't hear yourself think.  There are TVs for sports, booths, tables, and a great bar area...something for everyone!  ...and the best part, scrumptious Margaritas!

Saltillo Plate

Chuck had the Saltillo Plate and I had the Summer Plate. They are both menu items from the original Browning's.  Chuck had a punch for nostalgic reasons. The helpings are bigger and the guacamole side is definitely a step-up.


When we go back and we will, we are going to sit at the bar and try some new menu items: Salmon Vera Cruz and Grilled Shrimp Tacos and White Cheese dip when they figure it out. It wasn't available because they had not perfected it...so said the waitress.  Speaking of waitresses, none of the original crew was to be seen.  I think they finally retired. There is a youngish wait staff full of energy and ready to serve.  Just when I said, "I think our food should have been here by now", it arrived.  It was delicious!


Highly recommend you give Browning's a try!

Magnolia Grill, Natchez, Mississippi Thumbs Up!

We took an overnight trip to Natchez to decide if we wanted to commit to their annual Balloon Race Event*.  Natchez is about 5 hours from Little Rock.  We left early Sunday morning and arrived in time to find a hotel room and a quick tour of the town.

Let me tell you...there is not much going on in Natchez on Sunday afternoon.  However, we did luck out when we found the Magnolia Grill for dinner.  


It is located "Under the Hill" and around the corner from the Riverboat Casino.  We did a quick run through the casino and I do mean quick.  It was dinner time or in the South we call it supper. 

We were so early that we were the only ones in the restaurant.  We really enjoyed the view of the Mississippi.  Actually, it was like we had our own private restaurant until others started arriving...locals, I suspect.  I think we were the only tourists.  Obviously, everyone else knows nothing is going on in Natchez on Sunday.


The wait staff was great.  Chuck had Grilled Shrimp with Baked Potato and a Side Salad and I had the Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Sweet Potato Fries and Grilled Asparagus.  All of it delicious.  


If you are ever in Natchez, don't miss the Magnolia Grill.  I am sure, however, it will be packed on any other day than Sunday. Time it so you can eat early and beat the crowd for supper.


*BTW, we decided not to go back for the Balloon Race...maybe in the Spring when all of the azaleas are in bloom.

Frullati, Park Plaza Mall Thumbs Up!

We ran down to Park Plaza to pick up a birthday present.  It has been forever since we have been there--we didn't even know that the center platform by the Food Court had been replaced with banquets.  Since we had not eaten lunch, we stopped!  There is quite a variety of eateries from which to choose.  I chose Frullati and Chuck chose Mandarin Express. 


I think I got the best deal--

Whole Panini

the "value meal"-1/2 Pepper Jack Panini with a drink and chips for $7.00 MOL.  It was good and more than enough. However, next time I will ask them to keep it on the panini maker a little longer.  The cheese was not quite melted and the turkey was still a little cold for my taste.  (Am I picky or what?)

Bottom Line: Thumbs Up!