Lions Tap - Eden Prairie, MN

Prior to a recent trip to Minnesota for work, my older brother told me he found a burger that is better than both Matt's bar and the 5-8 Club, both of which have been featured on the Travel Channel.  Knowing how good the 5-8 Juicy Lucy was and how great Matt's Juicy Lucy was, I found it hard to believe that he found a better burger.

The menu at Lions Tap is simple, 4 or 5 types of burgers that can be ordered as a single or a double and french fries (big ups to crinkle cut).  I was told the burgers were small and to order 2.  I decided to go with the classic single cheese burger with grilled onions and pickles (decent), and a single bacon cheeseburger with pickles (delicious).  The bacon cheeseburger was great.  The patty was cooked to a nice medium on the flat top with a good outer crust.  The bacon was spectacular and added great flavor to the burger.  I was really impressed with the McDonald's style bun.  This was such a simple burger and it was the best bacon cheeseburger that I have ever had. 

I can't make a bold claim and say that Lions Tap is better than Matt's Bar.  They are two different styles of burgers.  If I were in the mood for a hot, oozy cheese burger I would belly up at Matt's Bar, but if I wanted a classic bacon burger and an ice cold root beer, I would head to the Lions Tap. 

- Lunch Pail

Ravioli Scarpariello

Quick little dinner I put together a few weeks ago.  I am a big fan of scarpariello sauce, but didn't feel like having it the traditional way with chicken, so I used some delicious ravioli.  I sauteed up some hot sausage (out of the casing), cherry peppers, onions, and olive oil until it was cooked nice.  Then I hit it with some some white wine until it reduced a little bit, and the added some chicken broth and a dribble of the vinegar from the cherry pepper jar.  Let it boil for a couple of minutes in the pan until I added the cooked ravioli.

It turned out to be a great meal, I just wish I had made more of it.

Ravioli Slider

I don't mean to name drop, but...

Teitel Brothers Cheese and Parsley Sausage, Rockland Bakery mini roll, Borgatti's Ravioli.

It was as delicious as it looks.

- Lunch Pail

Ravioli Sandwich

Swift 'n EZ Nacho Platter

What do you call a platter that is not yours.....Nacho Platter!

Here is a submission from an old college roommate of mine, Mr. Timothy A. Swift.  Mr. Swift has been making nacho platters and breaking hearts since 1982.  It seems like he has stepped his game up since college though, ditching the standard ground beef nacho platter and upping the ante with jerk rubbed New York strip steak, with grilled peppers and onions.  It is nice to see he stuck to his roots though with keeping the standard Swift like toppings of black beans, some fresh pico, sour cream, guacamole, and cheese.  I would also like to point out the precision placement of the sour cream and gauc globs.  Great nachos start with the proper and even distribution of toppings.

Well done Swift.

- Lunch Pail

Swift 'n EZ Steak Fajita Nachos

The McRib is Back!

Rumor has it that the beloved McRib sandwich will be back for a limited time starting November 2nd.  Nothing screams delicious more than a molded boneless rib patty smothered in BBQ sauce and topped with raw onions and pickles.  I remember back in the day, when the Flintstones movie with my my John Goodman in it, was released, I would crush a McRib every time I had the chance at Mickey's.  The McRib to this day, still remains my all time favorite McDonald's sandwich.  Hopefully it is still as good as it was back in '94.

- Lunch Pail

General Haresh's Chicken

Like General Jensen's, General Haresh is a spin on the classic General Tso's.  I have never eaten curry prior to dating my fiance, but since then, it has become a favorite of mine and I figure I would try to incorporate a new favorite of mine, with a classic chinese dish that I have been crushing for years.  General Haresh's Chicken is General Tso's style chicken, but with curry sauce and onions.  The curry sauce is much spicier than the standard Tso's sauce and the onions are a great addition.  The fine folks at Young's Chinese Kitchen, who operate the cleanest Chinese take out restaurant I have ever stepped foot in, were able to make my General Haresh idea into a reality.

If you are looking to eat a good curry dish outside of an Indian or Thai restaurant, give General Harsesh's Chicken a try. 

- Lunch Pail

Snow Natural Soda

I was recently sent a case of Snow Natural Soda and was asked if I would sample it and write up a review about it in the blog. 

Snow Soda is a natural soda with loaded with vitamin C and the B's.  It is  sweetened with natural cane sugar.  Currently Snow comes in three flavors, Cola, Lemon Line, and Cranberry PomRazz, with a diet lemon lime, sweetened with Stevia, soon on the way.  Snow soda can be found in most supermarkets in CT and is sold by the can (12oz) for $1.25 - $1.50 or by the 12-pack on Amazon for $12.99.

Personally prefer seltzer over soda, but I figured I would give it a try.  All three were sweet and tasted just like regular soda, except they seemed to be less carbonated (the ingredient list states, "lightly carbonated water").  Personally I am a fan of carbonation because it results in some good burps.  Of the three flavors, my fiance and I preferred the lemon lime.  The cola seemed very sweet and the Cranberry was not too enjoyable.  It might taste better mixed with some vodka and cranberry juice.

If you are a soda drinker, give it a shot.  12 ounces of Snow soda and a fistful of Flintstone vitamins is a great defense against the upcoming flu season.

For more information on Snow beverages, check out their website: http://www.snowbeverages.com/

-Lunch Pail

Chili Mac - Mark's Downtown Coney - Ann Arbor, MI

The chili mac from Mark's Downtown Coney in Ann Arbor was a filling and enjoyable lunch that ranks high in the "Good Slop" category.  The chili mac was a plate of spaghetti, topped with shredded cheddar cheese and chili.  I spiced it up with some raw onion and Frank's Red Hot.  I was unable to twirl the spaghetti with a fork, so I opted for the shovel method by cross cutting it and mixing it all together to the perfect slop consistency and then sent it down south.

Mark's Downtown is a great place if you are in the mood for some grease for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.  I recommend the chili mac, but I also saw the griddle cook making some reuben's, blt's, coney dogs, and omelets that all looked delicious.

- Lunch Pail

Fresh Plate of Some Chili Mac