Field trip to the great state of Wisconsin. My mother, the Baroness and I went up to see the Light house just north of Duluth. We thought we were going to the Split Rock Lighthouse but upon leaving, the Two Harbors lighthouse we found out that we were not at the famous Split Rock but actually at the lesser but still invaluable Two Harbors lighthouse. In my defense, I was a Corpsman not a Signalman in the Navy, and further more, being somewhat salty, my impression of the somewhat small tower of light matched my imagination of what should be on a little pond vice the great Pacific. But I digress!
After deciding that we would make for the great Split Rock on another trip, I conned our little trio into taking a side trip across the tracks to Superior WI for lunch at the Anchor Bar. My two cohorts were quite skeptical as we passed such places like the Thirsty Pagan (great pizza and a rugby brother owner Rick) but at the edge of the commercial and almost into the docks themselves we came to the Anchor Bar. After prying the two ladies out of the car, we went into what is shown on Wiki as THE dive bar.
I assured them that it was safe since it was daylight after all. We sat down and immediately were served. The bar tender/server was a bit gruff but I am sure she is very sweet and helped us out with our drinks then proceeded to go to the back and toss our hand formed patties on the flat top.
The Anchor Bar should be a national landmark. It has all the kitsch of an Epcot attraction but done locally and with an organic flair. From the Edmund Fitzgerald Life-ring at the bar to the baby booties hanging from the stuffed alligator, the walls and ceiling is a tribute to the flotsam of all beach combers and a little piece of Americana.
Ok, the burgers. As we were sitting, the Baroness, stated that she wanted something besides a burger, fine, the menu suggested that she could have anything she wanted, as long as its a burger. While having a great menu, the only thing on it really are burgers.
Each burger is hand formed and cooked to the cooks specifications, which coincidentally are the absolute perfect way an Anchor burger should be cooked. They are a bit lopsided and if you get the 3/4 with bacon, like I did, its a bit messy. But for 4.50 I would love to have it closer to me. By the way, I never got my Bacon!!!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Belgian Ale, Le Tour de Grance and a Muddy Pig
The Muddy Pig on Dale and Selby is quite possibly the best burger in town. From the outside, this friendly little piggy's sty is quite small but once in the place takes up more than it appears. The Muddy Pig has some 45+ beers on tap and who cares how many in cans in bottles collecting dust alongside their great whiskey selection. Enough about the hooch, lets talk burgers.
As usual I got my BCB. A large 1/2 pound burger made to order on a great bun. I went for broke hoping that a place with such a fine name would be able make a burger that was actually to code. My thoughts were right, even though they have humus on the menu, the thick burger came out a nice rich pink center that turned the bun a nice ruddy hue. The bacon was just crispy enough not to pull out in one piece but had my taste buds screaming for more. The only problem for me is that they do not do french fries, even though they had the Tour de France on the telly, no french fries! The chips were great and crunchy, but still not a fry!
The staff at the Muddy Pig are great, they helped my date, Mom, go from her typical Bud Light, to a nice German Lager that she actually claims to have liked and can back it up with an empty glass that is no sitting in her back seat. Deputy Mac, don't put her in your back seat, she did pay for it! I had my absolute favorite, a nice little Belgian brew Pauwel Kwak, a nice strong malty red ale that comes in at a hearty 11.5%.
I really enjoy the Muddy Pig, it reminds me of the bistros in Belgium again without the the FRIES!!!! Its clean, fast, friendly and a very knowledgeable staff. It would be a great local if it was local to me. In fact as we were leaving I ran into a good rugby buddy as he was coming in.
My hats off to you Muddy Pig! www.muddypig.com
As usual I got my BCB. A large 1/2 pound burger made to order on a great bun. I went for broke hoping that a place with such a fine name would be able make a burger that was actually to code. My thoughts were right, even though they have humus on the menu, the thick burger came out a nice rich pink center that turned the bun a nice ruddy hue. The bacon was just crispy enough not to pull out in one piece but had my taste buds screaming for more. The only problem for me is that they do not do french fries, even though they had the Tour de France on the telly, no french fries! The chips were great and crunchy, but still not a fry!
The staff at the Muddy Pig are great, they helped my date, Mom, go from her typical Bud Light, to a nice German Lager that she actually claims to have liked and can back it up with an empty glass that is no sitting in her back seat. Deputy Mac, don't put her in your back seat, she did pay for it! I had my absolute favorite, a nice little Belgian brew Pauwel Kwak, a nice strong malty red ale that comes in at a hearty 11.5%.
I really enjoy the Muddy Pig, it reminds me of the bistros in Belgium again without the the FRIES!!!! Its clean, fast, friendly and a very knowledgeable staff. It would be a great local if it was local to me. In fact as we were leaving I ran into a good rugby buddy as he was coming in.
My hats off to you Muddy Pig! www.muddypig.com
No Service Stale Burger
Sorry folks for the delay in burger updates. Been a little bit of a loss for words and a serious lack of new tastes!
Recently my mom and I went to one of my favorite places in St Paul, Billy's on Grand. As usual the place was quite busy but normally we find the service excellent and the food great. For a Sunday night the place was jumping but we found a booth in our normal inside area where the noise is more conducive to conversation. After about 15 minutes of no waiter I bellied up to the bar and ordered some drinks for the both of us and asked for a menu. The bar tender was appalled that our server hadn't even taken our drink orders and quickly addressed the situation.
After a lengthy time we finally received our food. As usual I had the Billy the Kid, a 1/2 pound burger with cheddar cheese and bacon served with fries. Very unusually the burger was not medium, it was well done and the bacon was old crispy and lifeless. The fries unfortunately matched their cousins that went MIA on the floor boards of my car.
If I wasn't a very repeat customer of Billy's I would probably never return. the waitress was quite unsavory and the food was quite sub par. Billy's has always been great food at a great price. the burgers are usually the staple for any craving.
This brings up a great topic, can a burger joint be a favorite after they have let you down even once? As I said, I love Billy's on Grand. I probably won't let this one event stop me from frequenting the fine establishment, but with all of the pub grub in the Twin Cities, they are doing themselves a huge disservice for even failing to provide not one but two basic wants of a consumer. Good Customer Service and Good Product.
I am sure I could eat out at a different joint in the greater metro area every night for a year and not eat at the same location twice. Therefor, what gives them the right to take away my ace in the hole so to speak of knowing where to get the best burger? If someone would have read my blog or should the Burger Baron have recommended Billy's on that particular night, I would have lost all credibility and who knows, lost my Barony.
Please, for those like Billy's on Grand who do have great food and service keep up your game, and for those of you who don't, you had better up it before I check you out!
Recently my mom and I went to one of my favorite places in St Paul, Billy's on Grand. As usual the place was quite busy but normally we find the service excellent and the food great. For a Sunday night the place was jumping but we found a booth in our normal inside area where the noise is more conducive to conversation. After about 15 minutes of no waiter I bellied up to the bar and ordered some drinks for the both of us and asked for a menu. The bar tender was appalled that our server hadn't even taken our drink orders and quickly addressed the situation.
After a lengthy time we finally received our food. As usual I had the Billy the Kid, a 1/2 pound burger with cheddar cheese and bacon served with fries. Very unusually the burger was not medium, it was well done and the bacon was old crispy and lifeless. The fries unfortunately matched their cousins that went MIA on the floor boards of my car.
If I wasn't a very repeat customer of Billy's I would probably never return. the waitress was quite unsavory and the food was quite sub par. Billy's has always been great food at a great price. the burgers are usually the staple for any craving.
This brings up a great topic, can a burger joint be a favorite after they have let you down even once? As I said, I love Billy's on Grand. I probably won't let this one event stop me from frequenting the fine establishment, but with all of the pub grub in the Twin Cities, they are doing themselves a huge disservice for even failing to provide not one but two basic wants of a consumer. Good Customer Service and Good Product.
I am sure I could eat out at a different joint in the greater metro area every night for a year and not eat at the same location twice. Therefor, what gives them the right to take away my ace in the hole so to speak of knowing where to get the best burger? If someone would have read my blog or should the Burger Baron have recommended Billy's on that particular night, I would have lost all credibility and who knows, lost my Barony.
Please, for those like Billy's on Grand who do have great food and service keep up your game, and for those of you who don't, you had better up it before I check you out!
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