La Jolla Groves- Salt Lake City UT

In the heart of Salt Lake City lies a wealth of restaurants, café’s and coffee shops but this one place stood out during my recent visit: La Jolla Groves. As you walk into the restaurant the decor offers a glimpse of a French outdoor café, surrounded by lemon trees. With green foliage on the outer edges, decorative lighting hanging from the tree branches and nicely set tables with white cloths one cannot help but be relaxed as you are seated by the hostess.
The menu offers choices of homemade soups and fresh salads as well as entrees of fish, chicken, pastas and more.
On this trip I opted for the Cilantro Butter Crusted Salmon and a cup of the Mushroom Soup. The soup had an earthy flavor and a lightly roasted color from the mushrooms and was topped with delicate basil oil. This was fantastic. The salmon dish was visibly stunning and cooked perfectly. With a nice sear to the salmon and the flavorful cilantro butternut squash sauce, your dish explodes with texture and flavors. The Basmati rice and vegetables were all equally impressive as well.
 If you are in the Salt Lake City area stop by La Jolla Groves restaurant and enjoy a fresh, reasonably priced dinner with a friendly and unpretentious staff.

Visit their website http://lajollagroves.com/

St. Phillip’s Farmers Market- Tucson AZ

Taking place every Sunday this farmers market has something for everyone. There are many local vendors and farmers selling what they grow or produce right in one plaza. You can get fresh fruits and vegetables as well as baked breads or pies. There are even ranchers selling their locally raised meats like beef, goat and lamb. Vendors are also selling oils, coffee, tamales, honey and soaps. St. Phillips is on of the largest farmers markets in the area and flocks of visitors spend their time sampling or purchasing different items throughout the morning. If you prefer to eat fresh or buy locally give the market a try. It is located at 4300 N Campbell Ave in Tucson Hours of operation are Winter 8-Noon / Summer 9-1

Southern Pecan Nut Brown Ale

Well the Lazy Magnolia Brewery in Kiln Mississippi is creating some exceptional craft beers. I had the opportunity to try the Southern Pecan Nut Brown Ale.This dark ale is actually brewed using roasted pecans which added a delicate touch of pecan to the flavor. The ale is very flavorful and after reading the label, the words malty, caramel and nutty made me think this might be a beer with a punch of sweetness. The ale did have a sweetness to it but the brewmasters at Lazy Magnolia know how to balance the sweetness with the right amount of hops and plenty of practice. Job well done! You can visit Lazy Magnolia at http://lazymagnolia.com

Fox's Pizza Den: A Southern Twist

Back in February I had an opportunity to visit the place where I spent my summers growing up. Brookhaven, MS is the place, and it had been a few years since I had been back. Things have changed a bit for the better, they had a bar now. For a dry county that came as a surprise, since I remember driving with my granny to the adjacent county to get liquor.

Driving through downtown I noticed a new pizza place called "Fox's Pizza Den," so my fiance and I decided to stop by for lunch. It was unusually quite for lunch time, which was fine by me. I enjoy a quiet place to eat from time to time. Looking through the menu I noticed the normal selection of toppings then came across a special written in chalk on the wall. It immediately caught my eye and got my taste buds tingling.

Alligator sausage? Red hot sauce? Crawfish tails? This all sounds amazing to me, and different! This dish was an unexpected surprise to me, but was a delicious treat for lunch. If you are not in the mood for pizza you should order one of their signature "wedgie" sandwiches. Wedgies are like sandwiches, but instead of using bread, they use their pizza dough instead.

If you happen to be around Brookhaven, MS, or any other of the 29 states where you can find a Fox's Pizza Den I would strongly recommend dropping by for lunch or dinner.

You can check out their full menu and locations here

Weber Grill Restaurant- Indianapolis IN

I spent a few days in Indianapolis recently and happened upon the Weber Grill Restaurant. Since I enjoy outdoor grilling so much I figured this would be a great dinners spot to try. The place was busy so I decided to take a seat at Smokey Joe’s Bar, order a drink and checkout the menu.

The restaurant is large with plenty of seating and the bar sits off to the side in a large u-shape. There is a TV or two but the volume is kept down so you’re not bothered. The bar has a very extensive wine selection and a variety of top-shelf spirits as well as draft and bottled beers. A mix of the ordinary selections and some locally brewed ones too.

At first, my instincts are telling me that steak should be the choice since I am eating from a Weber grill. These steaks are from the Midwest, come from corn feed Black Angus and are aged for 28 days. As I read more of the menu I became intrigued by the burgers. The Wisconsin Kettle Burger, the Martini Kettle Burger with its pimento olive tapenade. Both ½lb and grilled with other ingredients. Going back and forth between the steaks and the burgers I came across their Black Angus Meatloaf, char-grilled with Weber’s Hickory BBQ sauce. That’s was it, decision made. Meatloaf was my order.

My meatloaf dinner arrived and wow was the only thing I could mutter. The rather large helping of meatloaf surprised me. Three thick slices, all with grill marks. The order comes with a side of BBQ beans and I selected cornbread as my other side.  The meatloaf was tender; well cooked with a slightly sweet glaze of BBQ sauce drizzled on top. The grilling adds another layer of flavor that you won’t get in other restaurants. The beans had plenty of flavors of their own and the cornbread was spot-on too.

This place understands the techniques of grilling!

Weber Grill Restaurants are located in Illinois and Indiana and are well worthy of a visit if you’re in the area. 

http://webergrillrestaurant.com

Baggins Gourmet Sandwiches- Tucson AZ

I frequent Baggins when my desire for a sandwich stretches beyond the plain meat and bread.  I have tried many of their sandwiches like the Hopi Chicken, Sundown Baggins and the Prime Baggins but have recently became fond of something simpler, the Baggins Veggie with Cheese. While the other sandwiches boast of items such as seasoned prime rib, chicken with Tarragon or turkey with herb stuffing, that’s correct stuffing on a sandwich! The veggie is more simplistic yet full of flavor. Nestled between two slices of 12-grain bread is cream cheese, sliced cucumbers, Swiss cheese, tomatoes, sprouts, lettuce, red onion (I leave this off my order) and avocado.

The sandwich is so good that a meat-loving acquaintance of mine recently tried one and loved it.

Baggins has eight locations scattered about Tucson and have been voted as Tucson’s best sandwich shop multiple times. Each location is as busy as the next one but the shops are staffed accordingly, which makes for a pleasant no wait experience.

Baggins does have a full menu of hot and cold sandwiches, salads and deserts and by the way, each order comes with a chocolate cookie. Yum! Baggins will even cater your next office lunch or special event.

If you live in Tucson or are just traveling through, give them a try.

http://www.bagginsgourmet.com/

Name Change

In case you noticed, yes we have simplified our blogger name to only "Suggest America". What's missing you ask? Well, we dropped the "Robert & Robert" part of the name. No worries though we'll still bring you the same great content. New posts will be coming soon. Thank you for your support!

4th Avenue Winter Street Fair- Tucson AZ

Another exciting Tucson event has come and gone. The 2011 4^th Avenue Winter Street Fair was held on December 9^th, 10^th and 11^th. And like the others before it, this street fair was well attended by both visitors and those selling products and services.

Food, food and more food. Not only can you take in street food like burgers, sausages, turkey legs and roasted corn but you can also visit one of the many restaurants or bars in the area.  One of the longest lines each year is of those waiting for tri-tip sandwiches or roasts. Twenty people or more wait patiently for the tri-tip at this stand. The roast, which is dry rubbed and placed on top of hot fire cooks slowly while the aroma fills the air around the fair.

The 4^th Avenue Merchants Association does a terrific job gathering a host of different vendors selling food, crafts and jewelry as well as noted area and out of area artists.

If you’re in Tucson during December this is a must visit event. If you can’t make it in December, then try March for the spring version of the street fair.

For a list of restaurants, bars and events held on 4^th Avenue visit their website.

http://www.fourthavenue.org/

Past 2 Weeks

A little different post today. We just wanted to share a few of the places we have been the past two weeks. Take time to visit one or all of them. Cheers!

Hungry Howie's- Mesa









Alice Cooperstown-Phoenix













Charlestons-Mesa







In and Out Burger-Marana








An's at Casino Del Sol-Tucson









The B Line-Tucson

Cheese Shop- San Diego California

During a stay in San Diego we were walking the streets in and around the Gaslamp Quarter and caught an aroma that teased the senses. The aroma was coming from a doorway nearby and we had to stop to take it in…blueberry pancakes.

Upon entering the Cheese Shop you can’t help but enjoy the smell. The blueberries seem thick in the air and easily make you hungry.

The original Cheese Shop was opened in 1972 but this location on 4^th Avenue opened in 1997 and has been serving breakfast and lunch ever since.

Breakfast is was for us for my wife and I. I opted for the homemade corned beef hash with two eggs over easy. Her: the Breakfast Feast with two eggs, hashbrowns, bacon and of course the specialty, blueberry pancakes. This is a lot of food and fit for sharing.

It was exactly what we wanted that morning. Well-seasoned hash with chunks of potato and beef, eggs cooked right, nicely browned hash browns and fluffy flavorful blueberry pancakes with a multitude of bluberries.

If you read their Mission Statement they seem to live by it. “Exceed our customers expectations” is how it starts. And this they did.

Cheese Shop offers a complete menu with specialty sandwiches, burgers, coffees and more. We’ll definitely be back and hope that when you visit San Diego you go out of your way to give this place a try.

http://www.cheeseshopdeli.com/

Birch Aquarium- La Jolla CA

If you're a fan of nature, water or the environment you need to add this aquarium to your list of places to visit. The Birch Aquarium is a part of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla California and they have featured a public aquarium since 1905.

It's more like a house of aquariums with education tidbits on both the sea life and the worlds habitat. Some of the exhibits today are "There's Something About Seahorses", you'll be amazed at what you see at this exhibit. So many seahorses, most you have probably never seen before.

Other exhibits like the 13,000 gallon "Shark Reef" and "Hall of Fishes" really send the visitor the into the deep unknown. You will also see multiple displays of live Jellyfish. it is just amazing how they swim and dance .

The aquarium houses people friendly tide pools where the visitors can reach out and touch those things unknown. So reach out to the sea urchins, sea cucumbers and many species of starfish.

And at certain times at the aquarium you can catch feeding time. Have you ever seen a shark eat? Make sure to check their online feeding schedule for days and times.
The Birch Aquarium contains more than 5,000 specimens and over 300 different species of sea life. Go to La  Jolla and be one of the 400,000 annual visitors to the Birch Aquarium. You'll be amazed!

Vist their website for more information. http://aquarium.ucsd.edu/

Mays Counter- Tucson AZ

Chicken N Waffles? Shrimp N Grits?

What do these pairings have in common? They’re both available at Mays Counter. Mays Counter has been opened for almost a year and is a terrific place to sit inside or outside and enjoy some well prepared comfort food. 

The menu includes favorites such as: catfish, mac & cheese, flat iron steaks and more. The restaurant also features a full bar with mixed drink specials and beers on tap.

Last night we enjoyed the Hen, which has two fried chicken breasts and a large waffle. And the Shrimp N Grits with two sides: fried okra and mashed sweet potatoes. The fried chicken was crispy and when coated with the syrup and hot sauce the flavors came together amazingly. 

The Shrimp N Grits plate was equally good with large shrimp, smooth cheesy grits with sautéed garlic.

Mays also features some live entertainment as well. Call or visit them for featured artists and show times.

Mays Counter is open daily from breakfast, lunch and dinner. Make your trip an adventure and try the unknown. You won’t be disappointed.

Mays Counter is located at 2945 E Speedway, Tucson AZ

520-327-2421

Restauranteers.com

A couple of new things going on with the Suggest America blog of late. First, we will be featured on the new dining site restauranteers.com. This is an up and coming site for dining. Currently located in the Northwest region, restauraunteers.com have plans to expand further into the depths of the U.S.
Secondly, you will notice that we have joined twitter! We did so we could bring you more more interesting places to visit or things to try. Follow us if you will @suggestamerica.
Cheers!

http://www.restauranteers.com/

vida e caffe’- Globe AZ

I was simply amazed at what I found in Globe AZ during a recent road trip.

vida e caffe’ has the look and appeal of something you would find in a large college town or city. The caffe’ is small and quaint with wonderful food and drink. 

During my visit I slowly read through the specials for the day and settled on their rendition of a Cuban sandwich. The Cubana included ham, turkey, provolone cheese, pickle slices and a satisfying spread of honey Dijon mustard with cranberries.  The sandwich and spread works well together; you have a slightly salty taste from the pickle, a hint of rich mustard and a tart sweetness from the cranberries.

The vida e caffe not only produces some fine food but is known for it’s coffee and drinks as well. They offer free WiFi, indie films on Friday’s and a live open mic night every first Friday of the month.  

If you’re in the Globe area on a day trip or just traveling through I would highly recommend the vida e caffe’

157 W. Cedar, Globe AZ, 520-425-2246

The Body Shop Massage & Day Spa - Chandler Arizona

 A “Suggest America” Guest Review by Becky Townsend

When I think of “SPA”, I tend to think of dollar signs and a snotty atmosphere. Well… you will not find any of those at The Body Shop Massage & Day Spa located at 845 E. Warner Road in Chandler, Arizona.

I encountered this little gem when I was given a gift certificate as a gift and a fabulous gift it was.  I walked through the doors of this great get away and the décor was a beautiful eclectic collection of displays showcasing beautiful items for sale. You could choose from handbags, jewelry, perfumes, bodyworks and skincare products.

I signed in at the front desk and was promptly offered something to drink and even a snack of cheese and crackers. Once finished with my delightful snack, I proceeded through the spa doors and was treated to a fantastic facial, marvelous massage and pedicure, all of which included Hot Stone Therapy.

The Body Shop offers many services, which include massage, skin care, pedicure, body treatments, infrared sauna therapy (many health benefits) and even hypnosis. With titles that include Refresh, Relax, Revitalize, and Rebalance you can’t go wrong with one of their preplanned Spa Packages either. They even offer eyelash extensions for those of you who are tired of putting on mascara and using painful eyelash curlers every morning!

I will definitely return to sample the many services that they offer, especially the infrared sauna therapy.

Enough reading about this fabulous place, pick up the phone or hit the Internet and check them out!

480-857-4772

 http://www.thebodyshopmassage.com/

Becky is a fellow Blogger so make sure to visit her Blog @

http://becky-sunnyb.blogspot.com/

Mount Wrightson, Southern Arizona

Well, I have to say; “it hurt”. We ventured out on a day hike in the Santa Rita Mountain Range, just a few miles south of Tucson and we encountered quite the hike. Starting at the last parking area in Madera Canyon we took a casual approach to the trail. A little huff a little puff but all was good. It was a very scenic area and a well maintained trail all the way to Josephine Saddle.  Once at the saddle we spent some time visiting with other hikers and discussed our approach to the top of Mount Wrightson. A few of the reports that we had read claimed that there we’re two ways to the top: Old Baldy Trail or the Super Trail. Old Baldy was the steep way, Super Trail the longer  and less intimidating way. After some consideration and discussion with others we decided on the Old Baldy Trail.

The summit of Mount Wrightson is 10,500ft and on a clear day you have a 360 view of Green Valley, Tucson, Elgin, Patagonia and Nogales. The portion between Josephine Saddle and Baldy Saddle made for some very incredible pictures as you walk between the mountain ridges. Once at Baldy Saddle you can take a well-needed rest and then venture up the last mile to the summit.

The last mile is intense but well worth the effort. If you’re in the mood and have 5 to 8 hours of free time give it a try. You will not be disappointed!

By the way, half way up you'll encounter a fresh spring right from the mountain, great water, give it a try.