Tacos Don Francisco

I can't lie, a hole in the wall Mexican restaurant is one of my favorite things! For those of you who appreciate authentic Mexican fare, let me introduce you to Tacos Don Francisco or "Tacos Don" as those in the know refer to it. This little jewel is located a few blocks east of Harvard on the south side of 11th street. Pound for pound and dollar for dollar, this is the best Mexican food in Tulsa hands down, done and done, no question, don't even try to convince me otherwise! I highly recommend the cabesa taco plate pictured below. No matter which combination of meats you order, they are all extremely flavorful and exceptionally prepared. Yes, even the tongue meat. Stop in sometime, and I mean that literally as the stay open till 4 AM or later on Friday and Saturday nights.

The "Not So" Savory Chef

Today I ventured from my stable Brookside delicatessens to have lunch with a friend at The Savory Chef on 82nd and Memorial. Having heard a few rumblings from other foodies and a few chef acquaintances of mine I was certainly intrigued. Upon entering the establishment, which also features retail cooking items and offers cooking classes, the restaurant area was visible to the rear so onward we went. Finding a table at 11:30 on a Wednesday near the open kitchen style preparation area was quite easy, however the hostess, whom wasn't present when we entered, quickly corralled us to a small 2 seat table in the corner away from anything interesting. Our server was punctual and friendly, although the popped collar on his two size to small polo shirt was an added comical bonus. My friend ordered the Herbed Chicken Panini sandwich with a side salad as I asked for the Braided Reuben Stuffer with sweet potato fries. We dove into conversation about such subjects that would only interest two friends of 27 years while we waited out the seemingly lengthy preparation time. Not that we were in any hurry but after approximately 25 minutes our server stopped by to let us know our meal was almost ready. A short time later the table next to us received our food, which they graciously declined, so we spoke up and claimed our bounty. The Panini was rather small and constructed in a manor resembling a sandwich once made for me by a friends 12 year old son during a football game that I couldn't leave the couch long enough to make for myself. The side salad was served as strictly greens tossed in the requested dressing, I prefer mine with a little feta and a couple tomato's at a minimum although that's just me. The Reuben Stuffer resembled a puff pastry, slightly larger than a deck of playing cards, with a beautiful golden brown flaky crust. I should have been a surgeon the way I dissected my first bite, making sure to get the right balance of all the ingredients. Approximately three chews into my first bite my palate quickly identified that the pastrami was under cooked with a slightly spoiled taste that overpowered the flavor of the sauerkraut, however the pastry was quite good. Unfortunately my sweet potato fries were cold, soft and limp "hold your comments till the end please" which was also disappointing given the extended amount of time we waited for our meal.

The general consensus between the two of us ended with the statement "You know I like to try new places as much as you but you're going to run into some like this from time to time."As we exited the restaurant, walking through the retail store, my friend and I tried to determine where we could quickly grab something more appetizing and substantially filling before returning to work for the day.
I'm sorry Savory Chef, I'm sure the elderly and parents with small children love your small portion size and bland flavors however I require a little more excitement for my hard earned dollars. I don't think there will be a next time.

Chicory & Chives Café

Is soul food the same as food for the soul? Well, either way, lunch with my oldest friend Hal at Chicory and Chives Cafe was definitely good for the soul. Previously located in West Tulsa, "The Chive" as I call it, is now more accessible to the masses for a little piece of  midwestern and southern comfort foods. Snuggled smack dab in the middle of the London Square Shopping center at 58th and Lewis, "The Chive" will certainly delight the senses and isn't that hard on the wallet either. First things first, if you think you have had good gumbo, you're sorely mistaken, I personally don't think it gets better than this. The texture and combination of ingredients were born in bayou heaven. Just take a look for yourself. Sorry, scratch and sniff blogging isn't available yet!

 I could have walked out after the gumbo course without a regret in the world, however Hal insisted we stay for our actual meals. I thoroughly enjoyed the blackened catfish and spicy grilled shrimp which were both spiced and cooked perfectly. The red beans and rice were cooked to perfection however lacked any sort of seasoning or spice.

I rounded out my meal with a side of cooked spinach, not pictured, which was prepared so well that I actually ate it, and ask my mom, I don't do cooked spinach! And to top it all off, I can honestly say I haven't had service this good, EVER. Our server Jessica was very friendly and informative as was the owner Jim who makes it a point to personally stop by and spice up your day with a warm smile and nickles worth of free humor.

Meat Trifecta

Tonight I was fortunate enough to share a new creation with E and my football watching partner in crime, Scott. We played a little game called "Meat Trifecta" that started with a pretty standard issue chicken breast stuffed with provolone, garlic and sauteed mushrooms and rubbed with a little Head Country dry seasoning, if you're from PC you know where I'm coming from on that one. Creativity ensued and my pallet demanded a rib eye stuffed with Muenster cheese and a fresh jalapeno then wrapped in bacon. Ya, I said the whole thing was wrapped in bacon and I'm talking THICK bacon, the kind that actually tastes like a ham! So after searing both delectable concoctions in a cast iron skillet they went into the broiler while I turned my attention to completing the melted provolone and Muenster stacked crustinis topped with garlic and scallions. Although all I received where grunts, of enjoyment I presumed, when I asked what they thought of it, I knew we all enjoyed the food as much as the company.

Last night I decided to throw together a casual dinner for E and I to welcome a much needed relaxing evening at home. My contemplation led me to a little surf and turf for the sole. The dish went a little like this; Lobster stuffed filet mignon with a drizzled béarnaise sauce along with a basil, oregano and chili flake infused oil over feta topped roasted asparagus completed with a side of garlic and rosemary roasted potatoes. The photo quality is a little less than perfect however I can guarantee the quality of the meal was nothing short of fantastic.

If you have the opportunity to take a late lunch, may I suggest the Bill and Ruth's at 3205 S Yale. I generally prefer to go after 1:00 to avoid the lunch rush & relax at the sushi bar. Jongsung Bae’s sub shop is well known in the Tulsa sushi scene as having an excellent selection of moderately priced sushi rolls and nigiri.

Welcome to T-Town Foodies!!!

So after a great deal of time and many encouraging words and suggestions from friends and family, I am pleased to introduce my first food blog, T-Town Foodies. Please stay tuned as I will be adding new content and information in regards to all things food related as they become available. That really means, let me get out and do some eating so I have some info to relay back to all of you. So hold on, this should be an interesting ride!

Let's kick this thing off with a quick snap shot of a slice of pepperoni and a slice of white from Mario's New York Style Pizzeria. If you haven't experienced a slice of white pizza I highly recommend a trip to Mario's, they have the best in town.