Soggyhead

If you haven’t had a chance to go to the Porcupine Bar & Grill located at the base of Big Cottonwood Canyon in Salt Lake City, Utah I would highly recommend it.

My wife and I have been going there for years now, and I’ve always been impressed by the quality of their halibut in their fish and chips entree’. The halibut is flash fried in Hefeweisen beer batter, and typically comes in 5-6 fairly large pieces along with french fries, tartar sauce, ketchup, and lemon – it always seems to be light and flaky. Top it off with one of Porcupines wonderful dinner salads and you have a complete meal for 2 for just over $20.

For those looking for a heartier meal, try their Cajun Chicken Alfredo. The chicken is slowly sauteed in garlic, tossed in a wonderfully spicy Cajun Alfredo sauce with fettuccine (however, I would recommend ordering a linguine noodle.)

For an appetizer I would recommend Porcupine’s Artichoke Cheese Dip. It comes with 6-8 slices of baked crustinis with a baked asiago and cream cheese dip loaded with artichoke, garlic and scallions. To keep your waistline in check I would recommend ordering this sparingly…you can quickly become addicted to it!

I also have to mention Porcupines service. I have a long-time friend “Dashelle “Eugene” Olsen” (Dash) that’s worked at Porcupine for several years now, and he’s always gone over the top in providing good service to my wife and I when taking our order. (Not to mention he’s also a fantastic basketball player.) If you get the opportunity to have him serve you ask him how he developed such a killer right-handed layup shot (Dash is left-handed btw ).

Lastly, when you go to the Porcupine take recognition of the local art talent they have hanging on the wall…typically it’s pretty good stuff. The only plug for me here is I wished they’d give me an opportunity to show my series of cookie watercolors www.soggyhead.com/cookie I know they would show well in the Porcupine environment.
(Grade: 4.5 cookies)

Remember the good old days when you could walk into a McDonalds or Wendy’s restaurant and order a hamburger that came back to you nice and hot…and juicy? You’ll have to think back a ways, but those days are long gone since the introduction of microwaves and warming trays into the back kitchen.

If you still yearn for an old fashion freshly cooked hamburger that has some flavor to it try a Millie’s hamburger in Sugarhouse. Millie’s is a classic family run, hole-in-the-wall diner that not only serves great hamburgers, but they also have a variety of thick shakes to complement your meal at a reasonable price.

Or, if you’re not a huge hamburger fan you might want to try their halibut sandwich. A lightly breaded deep fried fish sandwich with lettuce and tartar sauce that puts the “fillet-O-fish” to shame!

Finally, top it off with some freshly cut home-made onion rings or french fries and a lime coke with crushed ice…you won’t be disappointed!

Seating: Millie’s has a small seating area if you decide to eat inside, but the majority of the walking-in traffic gets their orders to go. Because of the limited seating I would recommend taking your food and enjoying it in a park somewhere (Sugarhouse park is close by – so your food won’t get cold!)

Price: Average price for a sandwich, drink and fries is around $8…slightly higher than a Big-Mac meal, but a more enjoyable eating experience.

Millie’s – Located at 2092 South, 1000 East, Salt Lake City, Ut.
(Grade: 4 out of 5 cookies)

One wouldn’t expect to find an upscale restaurant located in the heart of the warehouse district of downtown Salt Lake City – let alone an upscale Mexican restaurant.

Frida Bistro (named after Frida Hahlo, a unique and passionate Mexican artist) pretty much lived up to its name in providing a variety of distinct and delectable entrees to savor and experience.

Our meal included a fantastic crab salad (Aguacate con Cangrejo) that had a unique blend of avocado, lump blue crab, thinly shaved sweet peppers and red onion, and a wonderful  guajillo vinaigrette sauce. Every bite was a new found delight for my taste buds!

For the main entree my wife ordered the Beef Tenderloin (Filete con Huitlacoche) with Roasted fingerling potatoes, which was fantastic. Very few times have I ever been able to say that the meat melted in my mouth but this was one occasion. (One word of advise…when ordering how you would like your steak cooked just remember a good chef will typically cook on the rarer side of things…so beware.) Unfortunately, my sister was mislead slightly by the server who recommended ordering the Lamb chops (Chuletitas a la Sangre Naranja) medium which came out a bit too rare for her liking.

My brother-in-law ordered the Shredded Beef (Chile en Nogada) with Walnut cream and pomegranate seeds, which he seemed to enjoy. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to snatch a bite from his plate so I had to rely on his comments and facial expressions.

For my entree I ordered the citrus glazed pork (Carnitas de Puerco) which came with some lovely Chipotle mashed potatoes, and grilled asparagus. The flavor was good, but the pork had quite a bit of fat compared to the portion served.    

For dessert we all shared the “Pastel de Tres Leches”. A milk soaked sponge cake with raspberries and whipped cream. It was moist and sweet….excellent…enough said.

Lastly, I have to mention the Mexican bottled Coke we had. For those too young to remember there was a time (before plastic bottles) when Coke came in real glass bottles. Strange as that may seem, there’s a distinct taste difference between having a Coke in a plastic bottle vs. glass. Given the choice, glass wins out every time in my opinion…nice touch Frida!

I wouldn’t recommend going to Frida’s too frequently simply because of the price, but you have to try it at least once to experience the passionate food, unique atmosphere, and original artwork of Frida Hahlo.
(Grade: A- or  4.5 cookies)

My wife and I have been eating at the Desert Edge Pub (or simply “The Pub”) for over 30 years. In that time we’ve seen the layout and decor change, waiters come and go, and even the beer selection has changed over time, but what has always stayed consistent is the quality of their food and their service.

For those craving a simple soup and salad, the Pub’s signature French onion soup with a mixed green salad is one of the best in the state. Those looking for a heartier meal should try their traditional Reuben sandwich with sauerkraut, or maybe a pastrami sandwich with cheddar cheese (and add avocado…my favorite) – all of their sandwiches are fantastic…and most of them fall under the $10 mark.

I’m a hot pasta fan myself, but I’ve grown to love their  cold pasta Chicken Niçoise salad with egg, tomato, green peppers, cucumbers, red onion, and of course…chicken.  (Food Tip: Try upgrading the green salad that comes with your sandwich with the pasta salad.)

If you’re lucky, you might even go there on a night when they’re serving their dinner special; steak sandwich with a Gorgonzola garlic cream sauce…it’s to die for!

Lastly, I have to mention the service…you won’t find a nicer group of servers than the ones at the Pub.   One in particular – Annie, that my wife and I have known for several years is a one of a kind. She exudes positive energy and is always genuinely interested in knowing how our family is doing. We truly miss her when she goes on vacation. Thanks for putting up with all of our “high-maintenance” orders over the years!

(Grade: A  or 5 out of 5 cookies!)