Tennessee Touring: Dining and Drinking in Memphis

(Please read our Covid 19 Statement first - Ed) Now that we're properly settled in to our comfy room at the Springhill Suites in downtown Memphis, it's time to do a little exploring.

Tonight, we're catching the old, wheelchair accessible trolley from the front of our hotel and heading to Beale Street.

Watch the Video!

Actually, we could have walked. It's only six blocks but being after dark in a strange city, it seemed prudent to take transportation instead.

Beale Street is justifiably world famous for all the bars and nightclubs lining a three-block stretch in downtown.  Live music is the norm here and each club has speakers out front so you can hear what the band sounds like before you go in. It's like auditioning each club before you commit.

First, we need to eat. Tim had heard about Dyer's and stipulated we must eat at least one meal there.

Dyer's is your basic diner. Although they sell balogna sandwiches, hot dogs, salads, and more, it's the burgers that are their claim to fame.

Actually, strike that...it's their grease that is their claim to fame.

Open 101 years at the time of this visit in 2013, they have never thrown away the grease and continue to use it each day. At the end of the evening, the grease is filtered, put in a metal can, and locked in a safe. The next day, it is taken out, put in a large frying pan, and put to use frying the different meats here.

The burgers are deep fried in that grease.  Yes, its sounds gross and is not the healthiest thing you can put in your body but this will be a once-in-a-lifetime event for us.  

The patties are small so Tim and I double up and get double cheeseburgers. I opt for some deep-fried onions on mine also.

They are very juicy or greasy, depending on your view, but they are also very delicious.  We have some fries on the side, which are not cooked in the old grease, and they were just mediocre.

Two doors down is Alfred's on Beale where we drink a few brews and listen to some great, classic rock and roll from a duo that is part of a larger group, Freeworld.  I throw some requests and tips their way which they handle with great musical aplomb.

Between sets, one of the musicians...his name is Andy...comes over and sits at our table. We talk Memphis and Los Angeles music with him for the entire break before he goes up for the next set.

Leaving Alfred's and Freeworld, we cross the corner and end up at Rum Boogie, which has hosted the likes of Billy Joel, AC/DC, Kenny Loggins, Marty Stuart, and many more. Tonight, it's Darren Jay and the Delta Souls pumping out some great blues while we sip some more of Beale's finest.

As we watch til the end of the set, it's a great night of greasy burgers, rock 'n roll, and some great Delta blues.

Darryl
Copyright 2013 - Darryl Musick
All Rights Reserved

Southern California's Top Three Burgers

Not too long ago we released our first e-book, Golden State Eating. The first chapter is about the top three margaritas in Southern California. Well, to go along with that idea, we're going to tell you about our top three burgers to kick off a week dedicated to our home of Los Angeles and the surrounding area.

We've lived here all our lives and have had burgers from the borderlands of Imperial Beach all the way up to the shadows of Mt. Lassen.  Probably spent a good chunk of our meager fortune eating them, too.

At the top of the list is the best burger, bar none...price be damned...in the area.

Perched atop a dramatic cliff, overlooking the mighty Pacific Ocean is Nelson's. Nelson's is named after Lloyd Bridges' character in the old Sea Hunt tv series, which was filmed on this very spot back when it was Marineland of the Pacific, a sea-life park like Sea World.

Now, this 300 acre plot of land is the spectacular resort called Terranea in Rancho Palos Verdes.

The Nelson's burger (pictured at the top of this post), weighing in at a base price of $16 (now $24 - Ed), is no lightweight on the wallet.  1/3 pound of premium ground beef, cooked to your specific order, topped with arugula, tomatoes, red onions, sweet pickles, and a cup of black bean mayo on the side. We get ours with the addition of bleu cheese crumbles and applewood smoked bacon for the most savory, juicy, and satisfying bite of beef and bun you're likely to have. 

The cheese and bacon bump up the price to $18 and it is worth every penny and more. It also includes an order of very good fries and million dollar views of the ocean next to cozy firepits.

Our second favorite burger is a little more than half the price of the Nelson's burger. Eureka! is a new, growing chain in California with 7 locations spread out from Fresno to San Diego. Our local location is in the college town of Claremont, on the Los Angeles/San Bernardino county line.

While there are a number of great ways to have your burger here, our favorite is the Cowboy burger with a 1/2 pound patty, topped with two nice slabs of bacon, shoestring onion straws, and a house beer barbecue sauce. Also served with fries, you can upgrade to sweet potato fries, onion rings, cole slaw, or a side salad for $1.25 extra over the $10.95 (Now $14 - Ed) price.

It's juicy, a bit messy, and very tasty. Especially, when washed down with one of the excellent craft beers on tap.

Our last burger is legend. It's an absolute bargain, too, at less than $5...the best fast food burger is the well known Double-Double at In 'n Out. With locations across California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and Texas, the privately held company was founded here in Baldwin Park and has never looked back

You can get it any way you like but the basic burger comes with two beef patties, two slices of American cheese, sliced onions, pickles, tomato, lettuce, and secret sauce.  Many, many variations are available beyond that...diced onions, grilled onions, patties cooked in mustard, extra patties, no buns...the only limit are the ingredients available and your imagination.

Every food item at In 'n Out is cooked fresh when you order and the company is famous for not having any freezers on the premises...everything is fresh and very delicious.

Alright, there you go, our best burgers.  Now go out there and enjoy one tonight.

Darryl
Copyright 2012 - Darryl Musick
All Rights Reserved.

Los Angeles' Best Eats...Eastside Edition-Part 3

See Part One here and Part two here.

The Best of L.A. food lists seem to stop at downtown. We're trying to rectify that by building a "best of list" for the east side of things...

There was a time, not too many years ago, where I was willing to make the not easy drive to the tip of the Palos Verdes peninsula, pay $10 to park, and then pay another $80 for lunch for the three of us.

Yes, the view (on top of an ocean bluff) was legendary (still is -Ed) and the service great but what really made this lunch worth the effort and every penny spent was a burger...the Nelson's burger at Nelson's grill at the Terranea Resort.

Five years ago, this burger would cost $16 dollars, with add-ons, ours came out to $19 but what a burger it was (pictured at top)...1/3 pound of prime ground beef, arugula, garlic aoli, thick slice of fresh beefsteak tomato, bleu cheese and two thick slices of applewood smoked bacon.  I know it sounds like anyone can make it but no one made it like Nelson's.

Now, you can't get it at any price.  A new chef came in, changed the burger (you may still see a 'Nelson's burger' on the menu but it's not the same, it's just the same kind of 'gourmet' burger you can get anywhere), and the best burger of our lives is just a memory. I'm not dropping $90 on a lunch for three that I can get pretty much anywhere for at least half the cost.

Luckily, we have a very worthy runner-up that will take on the responsibilities of the former winner and their best version is in the eastern stretches of our county.

Eureka! is a growing west coast chain (currently 22 locations) that make outstanding burgers and are committed to local and American suppliers. We've been to a few locations, and they're nice, but the best one is in the Village of the college town of Claremont, about 30 miles east of the Los Angeles City Hall.

Although there is a healthy list of outstanding burgers (all start at 1/3 pound but you can double that), there are two here that I really love.  The cowboy burger comes on a slightly toasted bun with housemade spicy beer barbecue sauce topped with two huge thick slices of applewood smoked bacon, cheddar, and a pile of crispy onion straws. You can tell that care was taken when you realize just how savory and juicy that patty of meat is. The onions and barbecue sauce bring to mind the smoky flavors of sitting around a bonfire at a summer beach party and you suddenly think "damn, that's one hell of a burger." Each burger is served with their very good shoestring fries but you can also upgrade to sweet potato fries, salad, soup, or mac 'n cheese balls for an extra two bucks.

The other burger, and to be fair this is really my favorite and Tim's favorite on the menu, is the sublime bone marrow burger. This is actually a very simple meal consisting of the patty, a roasted roma tomato, a slice of onion, and a kind of bone marrow butter spread across the top of the patty, served on a poppy seed bun. If you've enjoyed sucking the marrow out of the bones on a plate of osso buco, just imagine that fatty, buttery, beefy flavor spread across the top of the burger.  There's no need for cheese or other condiments, the marrow packs in so much flavor it renders everything else moot.

There's much more to enjoy here too on the burger menu along...the fig burger, the bison burger, the jalapeno egg burger...oh yeah, you can add a fried egg to any burger for an extra buck and a half...and a fine bleu cheese burger.

Along with that, there's another extensive menu of sandwiches, salads, steak, and ribs. There's a full bar..only craft beer is served (most of it from local breweries) and everything behind the bar (with the exception of their tequila) is all-American made.

Did I also mention it's fairly cheap? A cheeseburger with fries starts at $10.50. The cowboy burger is $12.50, the marrow burger is the most expensive burger on the menu at $16.50.  A daily 'hoppy hour' from 3-6 gives you a discount on the booze and appetizers, too. You can also take comfort in the fact that you didn't pay all that much for the best burgers you can get in Southern California at any price.

Moving along, I know just about everybody in the world has heard the legend of this burger but I'd truly be remiss if I did not include this definite eastside classic...the double-double from In 'n Out.

The massive family-owned chain, started by the Snyder family over 60 years ago in Baldwin Park...about 20 miles due east along the San Bernardino Freeway from downtown L.A...keeps things very simple. Two burgers, fries, sodas, and shakes. That makes up the entire menu. This allows them to streamline operations so that everything is as fresh as it can be. Famously, there are no freezers in any of the restaurants.

The signature burger, the double-double, comes with two patties (total makes up about a quarter pound), two slices of cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and thousand island sauce. Onions are optional and can be grilled diced, raw diced, or a whole raw slice. The other burger on the menu is the same with only one patty and one slice of cheese. It's all served on a toasted sponge-bread bun.  Very basic but very good at only $3.90.

A lot of people tell me "what about Shake Shack? what about the habit? what about Five Guys?" When any of those can make a decent burger for $3.90, I'll reconsider.

Famously, you can mix and match or change your burger to your heart's content. There is a very well known 'secret' menu. It's secret because it is not displayed on their menu boards but you can go online at the company's website to see it, it's at this link: In 'n Out Secret Menu.

While my wife likes hers just the way they come...with onions...Tim likes his animal style, minus the lettuce and tomato. I like mine with tomato, grilled onions, mustard and ketchup. If I'm extra hungry, I might also make mine a 3x3 (three patties and cheese). In 'n Out will make up to a 4x4, if you're hungry enough.

The French fries here are the subject of many debates. Some people love 'em and some don't. I'm on the 'don't' side of the ledger, so I skip them...and before you purists comment...yes, I have tried them 'well done.' Still not my cup of tea.

The shakes are very good. In fact, my perfect meal at In 'n Out is a double-double (or 3x3), made to the specifications outlined above, alongside their fabulous chocolate shake. That's my meal pictured above.

There are hundreds of locations in the western states but a lot of people make the pilgrimage to store #1 in Baldwin Park at the Francisquito exit of the San Bernardino Freeway. This is the location next to the company headquarters and is across the parking lot from IOU...In 'n Out University, a training center for managers...where there is also a well-stocked gift shop.

Some might be disappointed that it is a modern, dining room equipped location and not the original they were hoping to see. The original location is actually on the other side of the freeway. Unfortunately, the company demolished it in 2011. Fortunately, they built a replica on the same site and you can stop by for a selfie to post.  The closest original style In 'n Out to the Baldwin Park location is about a mile away at 15259 Amar Road in La Puente.

Well, I was going to do a couple of more restaurants in this chapter but I've rambled on enough about these delicious burgers. We'll continue this list next time.

Darryl Musick
Copyright 2017 - All Rights Reserved

An Amalgamation of Classics

Sometimes, in my kitchen or even the bar, I'm kind of like a Dr. Frankenstein...mixing different things together to get a hybrid result. Or would that be Dr. Moreau, crossing different species to rush along evolution? Anyway, this dish...very suitable for a sunny, summer day barbecue...is one of those creations

Go to Minnesota and you need to try a Juicy Lucy (or 'Jucy', depending on where you get it). This burger is a specialty here where the cheese is put inside the meat patty before cooking.

Here in Southern California, there's another local chain that has made its mark with the 50~50 burger. This burger features a patty that is half ground beef and half bacon.

Here at the Sunday Sauce blog, we figure why decide between one or the other? We'll make both, hence the 50~50 Juicy Lucy.

INGREDIENTS

1 lb ground beef
1 lb ground pork
2 strips cooked bacon, cut into thirds
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon Slap ya' Mama
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 egg
1/2 cup shredded cheese
6 slices of colby jack (or your favorite) cheese

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl (except for the bacon and cheese), cover and let chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour.

I cover a large cutting board with wax paper and do the same with a handy plastic bowl.  Years ago, my cousins gave me a burger press, one of the handiest gadgets I own.  I'll be using that to press out the patties.

I'm doing double burgers with two quarter pound patties.  I put about an eighth of a pound down on the wax-paper covered cutting board and sprinkle a bit of the shredded cheese on it. Another same-size bit of meat goes on top.

I press down with my press as hard as I can. Some meat will squeeze out the bottom. I lift up, put that meat back in the middle and press again.

This is the patty I get as a result.  With my fingers, I press gently all around the patty to spread it out a bit.  I like to have a finished patty that's about an inch wider in diameter than my bun because it will shrink that much in cooking. That way, I'll have perfectly sized patties for the bun.

Put the finished patties on wax paper in the plastic bowl. I'm doing six patties for three double burgers. In the end, I think maybe one patty for each one would have been plenty but make as much or little as you'd like.

Cook over the coals in direct heat for two minutes per side.

Finish with 4-6 minutes on each side over indirect heat, covered, putting cheese on top for the final few minutes.

Garnish  as you would your favorite burger and enjoy. I also put some bacon on ours.


Darryl
Copyright 2016 - Darryl Musick
All Rights Reserved

Tuesday's with Letty: California Grill Express, Azusa, California

This place has quickly worked it's way towards the top of our favorites. Formerly, California Burgers...a Greek burger stand that folded...California Grill Express (or CGX) has gutted the former burger joint, installed beer taps, and redid the menu.

Come in from the east entrance and it still looks like a burger stand pretty much but once you're asked "here or to go," upon answering "here" you're ushered over to the small but comfortable dining room or their very nice patio and you're waited on instead of ordering at the counter.

We're slowly working through the menu.  The burger is one of the best and just about a dollar more that a premium burger at Carl's Jr. gets you this very juicy and expertly prepared half pound patty.

For a couple of dollars more, you can make it a combo and add a side and a drink, such as this order of parmesan zucchini, fries, or one of the several very good craft brews on tap.

Letty likes this tuna salad to go with her hefeweizen.

It's all very good. Great food and service along with prices just a bit north of  the old burger stand it replaced puts it well up the list for our Tuesday night getaways.

California Grill Express is at 353 East Foothill Boulevard in Azusa.

Darryl
Copyright 2016 - Darryl Musick
All Rights Reserved

Tuesdays with Letty: City Cafe - Azusa, California

Tuesday night is respite night for my wife and I. My mom comes over to sit with Tim for a couple of hours while we can get away and forget about caretaking and go out to dinner by ourselves...

While we have our tried and true Tuesday night favorites, we like to try new places once in awhile, too.  This week, it's the latest addition to the burgeoning restaurant row that is popping up around the intersection of Foothill Boulevard and Azusa Avenue in Azusa, California.

City Cafe (not to be confused with the similarly themed and menued City Grill in nearby Covina) sits next to a weed-strewn vacant lot just a few doors down from Max's and Congregation Ale House.

The prices are reasonable for a very neat and plush little restaurant. There's also a very nice patio out back but we're sticking inside tonight.

My wife has the ahi tuna salad, an Asian tinged dish with very tasty fish along with the usual salad fixin's, beans, mandarins, and fried noodles.

I'm in the mood for a burger tonight so I go with a basic house cheeseburger with bleu cheese. It's very good, if messy, and the wonderful tomato bisque makes a nice substitute for the fries I'm avoiding.

Good place, good food, and reasonable prices. What more could you ask for?

This one will stay on our radar.

City Cafe is one block south of Foothill Boulevard at the corner of Azusa Avenue and 6th Street. Free parking in the back.

Darryl
Copyright 2015 - Darryl Musick
All Rights Reserved

Best of 2012 - Food

Since Los Tacos de Huicho in Bakersfield is still the best place we know of, we're going to make them ineligible for the "Best of" honors here at The World on Wheels and let them become the first member of our Hall of Fame.  Yes. They are that good. Make it a point to stop there whenever you're in Bakersfield.

Moving on, we had plenty of other food highlights this year.  Best overall restaurant we went to would have to be the wonderful restaurant my friend Peter Francis Battaglia recommended to me, Cafe Benelux in the great city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Anchoring the Third Ward, across the street from the Milwaukee Public Market, this meshing of European low-country inspired dishes, served with a literal bible of great beers, made us want to come back again and again.  Just not enough time in this world to fully explore their menus and deli but we'll certainly try. Favorite dish...the Pannenkoeken.

I love a good burger and the best burger I've ever had is right here at home. It's not cheap at $16, with $1 extra for bacon or cheese, but it is supremely delicious and comes with multi-million dollar views.

The Nelson's Burger, named after the restaurant that serves it, is a big 1/3 pound patty topped with arugula, red onions, black bean mayo, and sweet pickle chips. It's all served with fries.  I also like to add bacon and bleu cheese, which brings the price up to $18 but it's such a good burger and I'm eating it outdoors, next to a warm firepit, on top of a cliff looking out over the Pacific Ocean. Doesn't get any better than this.

Almost as good but at just a little over half the price are the burgers at Eureka! with around a half dozen locations around California. Our local location is in Claremont and the burgers are nothing short of fantastic. My favorite is the one pictured above, the Cowboy Burger served with onion straws, bacon, and an in-house made beer barbecue sauce - priced at $10.95. They also have an extensive selection of locally sourced microbrews on tap.

The best pizza continues to be Joey's Red Devil in La Verne, California. It's so good, we put it on the cover of our book, Golden State Eating: Nine Tales of California Food Destinations. Come on by and let the Monaco family show you how good it can be...don't forget to ask for the secret Roland's Sauce too.

Let's finish up with dessert...also in Claremont is Crepes de Paris, next door to the previously mentioned Eureka!, which makes the best crepes I've had. My favorite is the Dulce de Leche beauty, pictured above, soaked with warm caramel with some Chantilly cream on the side.

Darryl
Copyright 2012 - Darryl Musick
All Rights Reserved