Michael's on the Lake

No pictures to post:

After last night's delicious Mexican fiesta we had a hard time measuring up.  We felt that a trip to Michael's on the Lake was a good option seeing as how we had, in fact, been living on the lake.  According to Yelp reviews and what-not the price was comprable.

Well, maybe not.

It was a bit fussier than we were dressed for and The Wake Surfer turned out to coin it best -- the coconut shrimp piece was bigger than his fish and chip piece.  I, of course, got the scallops which came on an Israeli cous cous thing that immediately freaked me out because of the olives ALL through it -- no matter, for whatever reason they were easily removed and left no olivey-after taste.  Very un-olive like, if you ask me.

The guys were STARVING and grumpy and, well, acting like themselves and were thrilled to receive the world's most expensive smoothies -- easily $5 each which doesn't seem ludicrous until you realize that a kids' meal was $4 so it more than doubled their dinner right there.  They had chicken strips, which would have been fine but were as tiny as the fish and chips.

The Big Guy got a Cuban.  It was really good -- a bit on the greasy side.

Bottom line?  We'll be doing a Mexican run take two tomorrow.  For future Moses Lake trips I think we'll skip Michael's on the Lake and leave it for the fussier types.

Roadhouse Grill

We were SO excited to hit the Roadhouse Grill after being in Ellensburg a while back and realizing it was there.  We love a good roadhouse -- throwing peanuts on the floor is the best!

Well, don't do that here.

This is a Roadhouse GRILL and apparently that is code for a cross between Red Robin and Denny's. 

This entry is to remind me, if we ever find ourselves in Ellensburg again (and I'm sure we will... briefly) that we should NOT go to the Roadhouse Grill.

Tomato Street

I have a love/hate relationship with this blog.  I have used it as a reference, been frustrated when I can't find what I need, and have NO time to update it.  What to do?

Our family just returned from a driving trip that took us to Couer d'Alene, ID, up to Banff National Park in Canada, then Jasper, followed by Vancouver, B.C., and finally Bellingham on the 4th of July.  The result was so.much.eating.out it was borderline ridiculous.  Strike that.  Just ridiculous.

Side note.  There's a Texas Roadhouse in Ellensburg, WA.  Repeat.  There is a Texas Roadhouse in Ellensburg, WA.  That would have been good to know -- will be good to know when we go to Moses Lake next week with the boat.

Okay -- Tomato Street.  Years ago we were in Couer d'Alene with The Guys so we could hit Silverwood Theme Park and enjoy a family vacation -- like 6 years ago.  So now these guys are 7 and almost 9 and we returned.  I remember seeing Tomato Street when we were there before and thinking it'd be a dive Denny's-esque Italian place.  With The Big Guy's food allergies (eggs and dairy) Italian was a no-no spot.  Not surprising we passed it by.

Huge mistake.  Huge.

This is the best food we've had in a LONG time.  I really wish I could remember all the details that were so great.  I can't -- it was too long of a trip and at the time I had visions of writing notes on all the spots we dined at (ha!).  I will have to keep it short and sweet and photo-free and just say it was A.MAZ.ING.  Go there.  Now.  Drive in your car.  Seriously!

Bollos -- amazing.  They were mini calzones with a meatball inside them (note to self -- must make these sometime).  The alfredo and marinara sauces are both so good -- dip the complimentary garlic bread in them.  Oh yeah. 

Smoked salmon chowder -- delicious.  So was the tomato basil soup.  Dip the bread in that, too.  Oh yeah.

Even the salad!  I don't know what was special about it anymore at all... but even the salad was positively delicious.  

The Critic is still talking about his delicious sandwich.  Pressed something-or-other with deliciousness oozing out of it.  

And The Big Guy and I "shared" something called the Mac Daddy which was a mac and cheese with pancetta maybe?  jalapenos... I don't remember.  But it was GOOD! 

The Little Guy (FIT) had a LASAGNA CALZONE PEOPLE!  It had a very clever name, but I can't remember it to save my life.

And our dessert was a pzookie of sorts.  Who cares?  It was delicious.

The portions were huge -- seriously.  We had so much food it was ridiculous and could have fed at least three small countries.  So. Worth. It.  

So if you find yourself in Couer d'Alene, hit up Tomato Street.   Heck I'm considering a roadtrip again just to go there.  It's only a 6 hour drive away...

JT's BBQ Food Truck

On July 4th we had just finished up our driving trip through Idaho, The Canadian Rockies, and over to Vancouver.  The whole time we had been hoping for BBQ.  We got some BBQ at Silverwood Theme Park in Coeur d'Alene which was great -- for theme park BBQ and that's all. 

So we finally wrapped up our gone-too-long-ate-too-much-had-SO-much-fun roadtrip in Bellingham on the 4th of July -- no better place to be.

JT's was a surprise -- we weren't going for food at all actually.  I think we were on a quest for either fireworks or a hardware store?  But there it was.  Parked next to a brewery with outside tables fit for a dog to hide underneath.

I wish I could recall exactly what we got, but as has already been mentioned we ate out WAY too much in a short time to remember all details.  But it was good.  The stand-out was a stuffed meatball which might be the only thing we get next time.  The brisket was good -- satisfied the BBQ craving for sure.

They are only open Tuesday and Friday, otherwise they do catering.  But I'm looking forward to taking my dad and getting his authentic opinion about it.  Everything I know about BBQ I learned from my father, for sure.

Silverwood Theme Park -- the continued quest for BBQ

While at Silverwood we FINALLY had our chance at BBQ after searching and hoping and wishing and dreaming for BBQ on the drive through Spokane (see post here)..

Moment to calm myself as I recall getting my first speeding ticket in at least 20 years.  Grrr....

Moment over.

After the monumental quest which led to finding the Centralia Ellensburg restaurant that was decidedly NOT BBQ but not too bad either we walked into Silverwood to find they have genuine authentic BBQ food!!!  And it's all you can eat!!!  I promised BBQ to The Critic and I hoped this wouldn't disappoint. 

One of the gals that worked there assured us this is the best food in the park.  And while we are cautious of fair-food, "the best you can get" is as good as we could ask for.

It is the best you can get, but not great.  But what can you expect?

Would I get it again?  Absolutely.  I would not pay extra for the ribs again but am glad we sprung for them to try them.  Most sides were not that great but a few were pretty good.  And while I can't remember the details I'm not too worried about it because if you're headed to Silverwood I would tell you to check it out.  And I myself am not likely to return for at least a couple years, and when I do who knows how similar it will be. 

So go!  Enjoy!  Just remember -- it's fair food.

P.S.  The pizza at the magic show that we ate was ok.  The coffee we had just past the train station was ok.  And the candy store?  None of us would miss the chance to go back to that candy store.  The stand-out from the entire day was the spiral spuds which were FABULOUS and the powdery flavor garbage they put on them?  Perfect.  Now that's disgusting fair food I can get behind!!  Would certainly order that again. 

Palace Cafe

As we were driving through Ellensburg (which I ALWAYS think is Centralia -- thanks Central Washington University) we resigned ourselves to the fact that we would not get BBQ.  I had really tried -- ever since Snoqualmie, to help The Critic fill his BBQ hankering -- to no avail.  One restaurant was closed, another only catered, another closed at 8:00 (which should just be against the law), and on and on and on.

So we decided on Palace Cafe -- which is decidedly not BBQ.  I was a big fan, The FIT liked it as well... Big Guy and Critic thought it was okay.

First off, this is our very first stop with The Dog.  We adopted her about a month earlier and learned as we would go on this road trip about dog-friendly places.  Of which there are none.  It is very hard to hear a million times to NOT leave a dog in a car yet not have an option to leave a dog out of the car (simultaneously we hear that we should NOT tie her up outside... um, okay?  So what are we supposed to do?).  We opted to leave her and check on her frequently, probably stressing her and us out way more than necessary.  And we ate in a HURRY as a result.

Bonus, coke.  Always a bonus.

I could have survived on the wedge salad alone but got some chicken alfredo dish without the mushrooms because The Big Guy of all people said it sounded interesting.

Oh!  Insert the rules for the roadtrip eating.  Rule number one, it must be some place that we cannot easily access from home.  Rule number two, try and order something you don't usually get.

So this fit rule number two for The Big Guy.

The Critic got a hot open faced prime rib sandwich with mashed potatoes and gravy.  He was unimpressed.  I think that The Big Guy survived on his mashed potatoes and gravy.  

And the rest, well, I honestly don't remember because as you may or may not notice, we ate out A LOT in the next two weeks and it became increasingly difficult to write everything down.

Bottom line on Palace cafe is I would go back simply for the wedge salad and likely alfredo thing but would most likely be eating alone while the Guys all find something better.

And speaking of... on the way out of town we saw a Roadhouse!!!  While not BBQ it certainly beats the alternative and we will definitely remember to stop by on our trip to Moses Lake in a little over a week.

Old Country Buffet

We went here for The Big Guy's choice of a dinner when FIT was on his motorhome trip.  What is it with kids loving a buffet?  I remember doing so as a kid... There are a few foods I like here, but no matter what I leave feeling like I gained 5 pounds.  Anyway, the meatloaf is good (they didn't have it this time).  The cornbread stuffing is pretty good.  I like making "my salad" (greens, beets, tomatoes, peas, cucumbers, cheese, sunflower seeds, and thousand island dressing -- that salad got me through The Big Guy's pregnancy!).  I also enjoy a taco salad from here.  Mostly I'm just happy when it's time to leave.  The Big Guy likes the pizza (yuck), mashed potatoes and gravy, criss cross fries, and desserts.  This time around I got the collard greens and enjoyed them a lot!  The Critic doesn't like anything here, but he goes because he's a good dad and knows it will rock The Big Guy's world when we take him.