Buffalo Wild Wings

So my new days off are Friday and Saturday, it works out great because Friday everyone else is working and I get to enjoy the most fantastic, great, spectacular, awesome and any other word I can use to describe my new place for Friday libations; Buffalo Wild Wings located at 3223 East Louise Drive Meridian, ID 83646-5073.

What to get? But the beers were definatly first!!

My angel and I decided we would check out the happy hour which goes from 2-6pm. I was amazed the appetizers were buy one get one free and if that is not enticing enough the beers are buy one get one free as well. They have trivia on the screens (my angel and I are addicted to the trivia in these places and often go out of our way to find places that have them) the competition was stiff but she pulled out the win. That is until someone else started playing..haha j/k baby.

My Angel..check out her Blog

Overall the experience was good, unfortunately our waitress left a little to be desired and seemed more interested in the two guys siting at the bar rather than me. I actually had to go to the bar and order and when my waitress returned to ask me if I would like another beer I had to tell her that I went ahead and ordered at the bar. Other than this the wings were fantastic and the ambiance of the place is great.
Go and enjoy folks and if your there on Friday look for me..this has now become our new Friday ritual and as always I will buy you a beer!!

This weekend I will be brewing a Lager so pictures to follow....

Happy Late Birthday Angel!!

I know I sure do! Well yesterday was my first and only day off this week (which explains why I have not posted any good beer places lately). So I decided to take my angel to the Olive Garden along with Ma and Pop Burton to celebrate her birthday though it was a month late. I missed her birthday last year because I was in Afhanistan and I missed her birthday this year because I was at the Peace Officer Standards and Training Academy her in Boise, while she was closing down our house in Tacoma. So I definatly owed her a good time.

Her Puppy Birthday cake..cute!!

She had a Strawberry Mango Margarita and I had a couple Blue Moons.

I must admit I did feel a little blue because I would have loved to have more. Lunch and service was AWESOME!! I really like the fact the staff take the time to check on you and ensure you are in fact having a good experience. Good Job Olive Garden!!!

Caprese bread appetizer

There will be more to follow so please don't ditch me yet. It will get better promise so here are some pictures for you to enjoy.

Brewforia

I went to Brewforia in Meridian yesterday  http://brewforia.com/ with the intention to try a few brews while my girlfriend travelled to Caldwell to spend time with her family. So I scooped up my best friend Darren and in the Camaro we went.  I felt privileged to be able to not only look at “Lola” but to actually rest my butt on her leather seats. 

Darren and "Lola". He's single girls.....

The ambiance of Brewforia is one of comfort and as my friend described it “like Starbucks, but with beer instead of coffee”. There was a small couch (the plastic chairs at the tables really need to be replaced with a few plush recliners or a Lazy-boy) in front of the fireplace and the smell of the craft bread baking made my stomach growl, I did not try it but it gives me a reason to back again.  The staff was friendly, helpful, and even brought me a few samples of the different beers on tap they really made the visit worthwhile. I had a pint of Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous brewed by the masterminds at the Stone Brewery Co http://www.stonebrew.com/sublimely/ in California, a dark beer that is awesome. My second pint was Great Divide Hades brewed by the Great Divide Brewing Co http://www.greatdivide.com/ Go to Brewforia today and I guarantee you that you will have a great experience, If not I will buy you a beer.  

The taplist..

Darren enjoying a Franziskaner Weissbier

Two for home...

Rick's Press Room Grill & Bar

This afternoon’s adventure landed me and the family at Rick’s Press Room Grill & Bar 130 East Idaho Street in Meridian, Idaho.

 It was not what I had expected a rather small place that could have passed as a little store much like the ones that surrounded it. I guess I had assumed that this place was going to be as big as the press it has been receiving. Featured on Guy Fieri's "Diners, Drive-ins, & Dives" this little restaurant packs a heck of a punch when it comes to taste and service. We ordered the Fried Rock Shrimp, Served with Rick's Chile, Garlic Sauce & Homemade Celery Slaw to start out with and let me tell you the Celery Slaw is to die for. My girlfriend is not a mayonnaise fan but she absolutely loved the Celery Slaw with fresh dill over the top. I ordered the Press Room Burger which is a 6 oz. fresh ground beef served with two of the following: Cheese, sun dried tomato pesto, roasted bell peppers, pepperoncini’s, and a fried egg. Yes, I got the fried egg to the amazement of my lunch party…let me tell you it was amazing. The first bite allowed the yolk to intermix with the hamburger meat and fused it together in a cheesy goodness…I am drooling just thinking about it. 

This is so yummy!!!

 I accompanied this with a Manny’s Pale Ale with the slight bitterness of the beer, the warm goodness of the hamburger made this lunch a dream.

Here's to you Ma (Marge) and Pop (Bob)

When you look around the restaurant you see many comments on the wall written in black sharpie that announced the patron’s favorite meal and complemented the salmon, the desert, or the Rueben (I am going back to try the much touted Reuben). The service was a one woman show and she did an amazing job as waitress and bartender. I would recommend this place to everyone living or passing through the great state of Idaho.
After lunch my girlfriend took me to the Brewforia Beer Market on Overland Street

where the selection of beers both foreign and domestic will make the mouth water. They have about 5 beers on tap from what I could see. The furnishings are sparse and there are only about 4 seats at the counter but that will not hinder me from making my return to try some of the beers on tap. I picked up 2 beers to enjoy at my friend Darren’s House and am letting the chill before I break open the cap on these.

So kids the moral of this story is GO TO RICK’S and after you eat you can than me for the splendid experience.
Beer to try today is the St Peter’s Golden Ale which is brewed in Suffolk, U.K. Made with traditional malts and English hops creating a distinctive golden ale with a delicate, fresh, grainy after taste.

Thank you to my photographer the lovely Cynthia!!!