Category Archives: Food

Ruby Snaps: Magical Cookies from Salt Lake City

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I’ve established pretty well, I believe, that I really love good food and finding interesting food venues whenever and wherever I travel.  For the last year or so I have been traveling frequently to Salt Lake City for work.  In one of my first trips to SLC I was tooling around the downtown area when a little, brick, cookie shop called Ruby Snap Cookies caught my eye.  Having a mighty large sweet tooth I had to stop and check it out.  I was smitten at first bite.  Since this first encounter I have purchased enough Ruby Snaps to feed a small village.  Whenever I’m in town I have to make to make several pitstops to satisfy my Ruby Snap cravings.  I also started purchasing these cookies to bring to my client accounts.  You would be amazed at how many doors were opened or relationships forged as a result of me presenting my clients with these cookies.  Ruby Snap Cookies

These cookies are moist, flavorful treats in traditional and unique flavors.  The cookies are named after 1940’s girls’ names reminiscent of those images painted on the sides of fighter planes.  Penelope is the best peanut butter and chocolate cookie you will ever try, Vivianna is mango and chocolate, Margo is a chocolate cinnamon cookie with a molten milk chocolate center, and Judy has velvety orange cookie dough topped with cream cheese frosting.

You know that five second rule with food?  For these cookies I would extend it to the five minute rule.

If you can’t get yourself to SLC to enjoy these freshly baked treats, don’t panic.  The good news is that Ruby Snap does have a website where you can order frozen cookie dough in numerous flavors.

When riding around on The Life Bus, you always need to have some good sweet snacks close by.

Tasty Road Trip Burgers and Sandwiches at Grind in Glenwood Springs, CO!!

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So, we established that I like food, right.  I’m always on the look out for the interesting, non-chain dining experience whenever we are out and about.  It is this obsession that led Todd and me to Grind in Glenwood Springs, CO.

On the way home from my birthday getaway to the Gateway Canyons Resort we both got some serious hunger pains about 20 miles outside of Glenwood Springs.  Given that we had taken what turned out to be a serious long cut through the middle of nowhere, we were in a hurry to get home.  Todd wanted to just go to the usual drive by selections such as McDonald’s, Burger King, etc.  Riding shot gut I grabbed the iPhone and searched Yelp for Glenwood Springs.  Grind came up with five stars and great reviews.  I called the number and asked if we could order from the road and we would be there in about 30 minutes.  The guy on the phone was so nice and accommodating and we placed our order …. the SXSW and the Sultan, a chocolate shake, and some onion rings.  Yum!!!!  Our food was ready right when we got to Grind and we were able to grab and go.  GrindDSC03109

Grind has to be the best sandwich shop in Glenwood Springs.  It’s a funky, little hole-in-the-wall place right in the heart of downtown Glenwood Springs. The place is neat and clean with the friendliest staff.  They have figured out how to make some great sandwiches.  They source all of their meats locally and grind it themselves.  Todd rarely gets super excited about food but he definitely made some grunting noises that sounded like contentment while he inhaled his SXSW burger … buffalo, pepperjack cheese, pico de gallo, avocado, jalapenos, chipotle mayonnaise, and lettuce.  I was having a similar experience as I inhaled my own treat, the Sultan … house made falafel, tzatziki, marinated tomatoes, sprouts, and lettuce.  Everything about these tasty morsels was top quality, simple, and fresh.  The onion rings and shake were no exceptions.

I was extremely happy with this find and will be making a pit stop here whenever the Life Bus cruises through Glenwood Springs.  Truth be told, as I’m writing this I am wishing I were in Glenwood Springs eating at Grind right now!!  Enjoy!!

The Best Crabs You’ll Ever Have

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On our layover in Juneau between our East Turner Lake adventure and flying to Gustavus, we had exactly one hour before our plane left.  There was never any question between the four of us how we would spend that hour.  We literally ran from the airport gate to the taxi cab stand, flagged down a cab, and said “take us to Tracy’s Crab Shack.”  The cab driver raced through the outskirts of town to Juneau and careened up to the Shack.  We ran up and ordered 4 buckets of claws and Alaskan ambers.  (I’m drooling just writing this.)  Inhaling would be a good adjective to describe how we woofed down the moistest, most flavorful, meatiest crab legs you can imagine.  Tracy’s is a supporter of Alaska’s sustainable fisheries as well.   [slideshow]  Tracy’s King Crab Shack

We had our first taste of the divineness that is Tracy’s while we were in Juneau the night before heading out to East Turner Lake. The guide book had indicated good crab located by the cruise ships.  Both were understatements.The crab is amazing and the Shack is basically right up against the cruise ships right by the gang planks passengers use to load and unload from the ships.  It’s tiny size is dwarfed by the hulking ships a few feet away.  Tracy’s is one of those tiny shacks that make you wonder how they can produce the quantity and quality of the food they do.  Topping off the great seafood we had Alaskan ambers.  This was one of those moments you have to ask, does life get any better than this.

We jumped back in the waiting taxi and made it to the airport just as they were loading up the plane.  I think Greg is still in amazement at the fact that we spent $100 to get crab legs. Hope that gives you an idea of how good this hole-in-the-wall is.  To me, Tracy’s represents one of those places and times in a trip you just want to last forever.  Good food, good friends, great memories!  The spontaneous nature of this outing to Tracy’s is pure Life Bus living!

Miguels Chile Rellenos and other Mexican Fare … Todos Santos Baja Mexico

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After a spectacular seven days sea-kayaking the Sea of Cortez (more on that in another post), Todd and I decided to see all that the southern most portion of Baja Mexico had to offer.  That’s how we found ourselves bouncing down the Carretera Transpeninsular headed from La Paz to Todos Santos in a tiny, rented tin can.  From what I understand, the highway has since been widened to 4 lanes.  The fact that there are no shoulders and that detours and / or road damage can occur with almost no warning apparently hasn’t changed.

Although Todos Santos is tiny, it’s one of those artist and surfer communities that is coming into its own where you can find galleries and eateries in neat old buildings.  Given the fact that Todd is really not much of a shopper, I don’t have much commentary on the galleries.  We did have some fun food pit stops here, however.  The food find that really stands out as a Life Bus moment is Restaurante Miguel’s.  If I could have designed my perfect rustic, Mexican, beach restaurant, Miguel’s would be it.  Thatched palm roof, dirt floor, no real walls … just thatched half walls and great chile rellenos … and beer!   A relaxing, Jimmy Buffetesque kind of place where you can kick back, enjoy a good meal, and soak in your Mexican vacation.

Todd and I also enjoyed an excellent lunch at Cafe Todos Santos.  The building is an eclectic old structure with lots of open, airy seating.  We had some great salads and they actually bake all of their own bread and cookies here.  Although we didn’t stay at the Todos Santos Inn, I wish we had!  This is a great, small inn housed in an old authentic hacienda.  The location in town is great and it is a beautiful, quiet property.  Todos Santos Inn

So, when exploring the Baja Peninsula, make time for a pit stop in this artisan community.  I think you’ll enjoy it!

A Pie Worth a Trip to Otis

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To understand just how good the pie is at the Otis Cafe and why it merits its own pilgrimage to Otis,  you have to know that you are going to Otis exclusively for the cafe.  Otis is basically an unincorporated community in Lincoln County, OR.  It is one of those places so small that it has been put up for auction with a starting bid of $3 million dollars.  Included in this fire-sale were such items as:  the gas station, mini grocery store, Pronto-pup corn dog stand, two houses, the Otis post office, the Otis Cafe, an auto-repair garage and … well you get the idea … a very small place.

Have I mentioned before that I love food … very high on that list of favorite foods is strawberry-rhubarb pie.  In fact, Todd and I make it a goal to try to find some form of this tasty treat on every trip we take.  So when we heard about the Otis Cafe and its pies there was no doubt that we would have to make our way to Otis.  The gods were smiling on us that day.  To date, this is still the best strawberry rhubarb pie we have ever experienced.  The cafe is a quintessential, quaint roadside diner that epitomizes a road trip pit stop.  There wasn’t anything we had that wasn’t amazing.  And if strawberry rhubarb isn’t quite as much your thing as it ours, never fear, there are numerous other pie options to delight your tastebuds.  So please, if you’re driving along the Oregon Coast, do yourself a favor and veer off the road to the Otis Cafe.  Enjoy!!  And, as always, if you try Otis Cafe out, let me know your thoughts.

The Golden Farmer’s Market

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[slideshow]

I am a firm believer in supporting local businesses and I don’t mean the Home Depot or the Starbucks down the street….absolutely love to do it…..makes me feel as though I am part of a community and that I am taking care of those who make my small town interesting and fun.

One of my favorite things to do in Golden, CO, is to visit the Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings.  I bought a bike 2 years ago for the sole purpose of riding to and from the market – have I ridden said bike even once?  Nope – I need to get off my rear-end and make it happen.

Admittedly, back in the day (8 or 9 years ago), I remember thinking how sad the Golden Farmer’s Market (GFM) was….a few booths with the standard fruits and veggies and Mary Kay Cosmetics.  No offense to MK, thanks to this multi-billion dollar company, pink Cadillacs can be seen all over America’s roadways – where would we be without them?

Over the years, the city of Golden has been able to attract some pretty cool vendors who are bringing excellent product and more appealing store fronts.  You can find an interesting variety of fresh pastas from Tony at Pappardelle’s, organically grown fruits and vegetables from a variety of local farmers, soft serve ice cream (breakfast of champions on a Saturday morning), and locally roasted coffees from the Table Mountain Roasters, just to name a few.   Don’t expect to find dream catchers, American Indian prints in black velvet, or cheap arts and crafts – if this is what you are looking for, the GFM is not the place for you.

The crowds here are manageable and family friendly – feel free to bring your pooches and kiddos along.  After an hour or so of picking the perfect bag of fruit, sampling unusual foods, and suffering from brain freeze from your ice cream cone, you can take a stroll along Clear Creek.  If you want to get really ballsy, rent an inner tube and float down the river.

When to go?  Every Saturday 8 am to 1 pm from the first weekend in June until the first weekend in October. Jump on the Life Bus – do something new and crazy and make the 17 mile drive to Golden (from Downtown Denver)!

Talkeetna: Funky Mountain Town with the World’s Best Cinnamon Rolls

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[slideshow]In true Life Bus fashion, Pam. Greg, Todd, and I were continuing our Alaskan adventure by driving to Denali National Park to try our hand at backpacking in Denali’s backcountry.  On the highway to Denali we saw signs for Talkeetna and veered off the road to make a pit stop here.  All we had really heard about Talkeetna was that Talkeetna was a tiny, scenic mountain town and the place where most climbers begin their quest to summit Denali.  Despite the fact that our views of Denali and the surrounding mountains were obscured by low clouds and mist, Talkeetna is a pit stop any Life Busser has to make when venturing in Alaska.  With or without the spectacular views of the Alaska Range, Talkeetna is a town with a great vibe, great food, and great people.  Even if you are not part of the mountaineers heading out to take on Denali, you can’t help but feel a part of something cool when you are here. You almost feel like you want to grab some crampons and go for it.  Normally I would never speak kindly of dampness but in Talkeetna it makes you want to grab a cozy fleece and head in doors for a cup o’ coffee and one of the world’s best cinnamon rolls. Talkeetna might be the epitome of a Life Bus pit stop.

In Talkeetna you will see people getting ready to push their limits on Denali, people who have chosen a slower life way off the grid, and people like us who love these small, out-of-the-way towns with character and scenery in abundance.  This scenic, historic, “end-of-the-road” town feels like you just stepped onto the set of Northern Exposure.  This is a town where, we were informed by the locals, they have a sign-up list for moose road kill.  When a moose is killed on the roads, the carcass gets shared with whomever is on the list.  Talk about using all of your resources to the fullest! Quaint, historic store fronts line the town’s tiny main thoroughfare with lush, beautiful flowers that appear to thrive in this damp climate.

For such a tiny town, there are quite a few great looking watering holes.  We ventured into the Roadhouse for a bite to eat.  Wow, what a find!!  Talkeetna Roadhouse.  The Roadhouse is the quintessential, mountain-town, breakfast joint jam packed with patrons hanging out in various levels of fleece / climber fashion.  The walls are adorned with tons of Denali climbing memorabilia.  It is a small, busy place and you wonder how they turn out such amazing food in a building  built in 1917.  Anyhoo, let’s get to the really important part of all of this …. the food.  We saw pancakes the size of platters draping over the edges of the plates, burritos the size of your head, and yes …. gooey, not too sweet, humongous cinnamon rolls that are gifts from heaven and still have me dreaming about them.  So good I recently tried to FedEx them to Colorado for my husband’s birthday.  No dice, they said they won’t travel well.   We then cruised over to the West Rib Pub.  We had good hamburgers and a great local bartender.

In all honesty, there isn’t a ton to do in Talkeetna proper.  It is clearly an access point to lots of outdoor adventure.  It is, however, very beautiful, has great food, and a cool vibe which makes it worth a stop.  And, if you’re lucky to have good weather, the views of the Denali and the Alaska Range are said to be breath-taking.  One caveat, we had the misfortune of sharing this quaint town with a tour bus full of cruisers from a Princess Cruise tour. They apparently descend on the town periodically.  Oh well, what do you do? So, take your bus to Talkeetna sometime.  The beauty and cinnamon rolls are worth the trip!!!

Great Food in Coral Bay St. John’s USVI

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So ya’ gotta eat while you are on an adventure, right? My friends routinely tease me because I vividly remember meals I have eaten on my travels. What can I say, I am a devoted foodie. I was blessed to have a mother who was an amazing cook and food was a big part of our family and our travel experiences. It isn’t typically super fancy food that I love, however. I am usually a sucker for the local watering hole with simple local specialties. Two tiny restaurants in Coral Bay, where I can remember each morsel I ate, are worth mentioning.

Miss Lucy’s is a tiny restaurant where your dinner table is practically sitting in the waters of Coral Bay. I can’t imagine many better places to enjoy a meal than looking out over the Caribbean with your toes almost in the water. Sometimes, the setting of a restaurant can compensate for a lot when the food is merely mediocre. This is absolutely not the case with Miss Lucy’s. If anything eclipses the fabulous setting it is the pina colada pancakes. These were LOADED with pineapple, coconut, and banana chunks and the fluffiest batter I’ve ever tasted. Todd and I also ate dinner and lunch at Miss Lucy’s. All of these other meals were very good as well. It is the pancakes, however, that I continue to dream about!! [slideshow]

Donkey Diner with kick ass food was another culinary highlight. Exactly what you’d want on a Caribbean adventure. Total boho vibe with amazing food. Todd had the stuffed french toast with mango pineapple chutney and I had the burrito special. Both meals were amazing and the staff was great. You can see that I really do vividly remember every great meal experience. So when the Life Bus takes you to Coral Bay, make sure you check out both of these places for your meals. Great locations, great vibe, and great food. What more could one ask for?