McRib vs Real Country Rib

McDonald’s McRib sandwich

VS

Arby’s Real Country Rib sandwich

It’s that time of year again when the McDonald’s hype train starts rolling for their “limited time only” McRib release. This year though; it has some competition. Arby’s once again proves it “has the meats” as they have produced their own “real country rib” sandwich in conjunction with Sadler’s, the east Texas smokehouse.

I tried both. Let’s see how my experiences compared

The McDonald’s McRib: a pre formed pork patty covered in a tangy bbq sauce with onion slices and pickles on a small hoagie bun. Retails for $4.99 for the sandwich and $8.69 for the meal which includes a medium drink and fries.

The McRib slides around a lot due to all that sauce

The meal includes medium (pictured) or large french fries and a drink

The McRib is a sloppy sweet mess. When I was little I would pick off the pickles and onions. They just got in the way of the sugary sauce. Today I ate it all and relished the pickles and onions as a different flavor to break up the overpowering sweetness of the over used sauce.

I liked the McRib when I was little, but not so much today. Whereas my childhood memories of the McRib were positive, my adult palate is just reminded of a poor version of those bbq meals you find in the frozen food section of grocery stores.

You know the type I’m talking about…(this particular example is cheaper than a McRib and tastes better to boot)

The Arby’s Real Country Rib: generously seasoned, 8 hour hickory smoked pork with a slice of smoked gouda cheese, bbq sauce, mayo and crispy onion straws on a star cut bun. Retails at $6.19 for the sandwich and $9.09 for the meal: small drink and small fries (crinkle or seasoned curly).

Real Country Rib sandwich

Seasoned curly fries

Do you see that piece of meat on the left side of the sandwich? It didn’t have any sauce on it, so I pulled it out to try on it’s own and oh..my…smoked meat loving goodness! Tender, juicy with a thin bit of fat on it. Tasted like it had been recently cut from the bone.

The Real Country Rib meal is $ .40 more expensive than the McRib meal, but significantly larger. The small fry at Arby’s is bigger than a medium fry at McDonald’s (see pics).

The sandwich is also larger and more flavorful than the McRib. The McRib has the rib shaped pork meat patty (covered in their sweet & tangy bbq sauce), onions and pickles. Whereas the Real Country Rib has seasoned, 8 hour hickory smoked pork, crispy onion straws, a sweet & smokey bbq sauce, smoked gouda and mayonnaise. There are a lot more flavors going on that all meld together into a smokey, savory bite of deliciousness.

After comparing/contrasting both, the winner was clear. Both are limited run sandwiches from their respective brands, but only one would I choose to eat multiple times when it becomes available.

In this #FoodFaceoff the REAL COUNTRY RIB sandwich from Arby’s is the obvious winner!

*note: prices may vary by location

Deutches Küche

Several times a year, Aldi will have “German week”. Aldi is a German based company. Their German food brand name is Deutches Küche (German Kitchen). I get excited every time I see German week announced by my local Aldi. Check out what I found this time!

This October, I found several items I hadn’t seen before…..so I bought them all.

When German week at Aldi rolls around, I have a few staple items I normally pick up:

Peanut puff snacks (they sell out quick), Pork Schnitzels, German style pickles and all 3 soups (vegetable, lentil and potato).

As you see in the photo, there were several new items I had never tried before including some (not pictured) frozen and refrigerated ones.

The sunflower seed bread was what I tried first. It’s best used like a cracker; as a base layer for dips, vegetables and cheeses. It is a thicker, tougher bread than traditional American sandwich bread.

I am anxious to try the new soup when it gets cold enough outside. The idea of a lentil and chickpea soup with raisins and apricots for sweetness really intrigues me.

I rarely like fish and canned fish scares me, so I haven’t yet gotten up the courage to try the various herrings. I’m still a little fish shy after the disaster that was my first attempt at eating canned sardines. The neighborhood cats loved the leftovers (the whole can minus one sardine) though.

The frozen German Potato blend was pretty decent. It had microwave directions. Quick to make, tasty and filling. Works great for a quick breakfast.

Though I have many favorites to pick up every German weekn this time I found a new favorite item: German style sauerkraut. It goes great with all the wursts (brat, knock, nuremburg) that I bring home every German week. If only Aldi would bring over a Düsseldorf style mustard, I would be set!

A meal I prepared from my German Week finds: Pork Schnitzel (before gravy), mushroom Spaetzle und Nuremburg style wurst

German Week at Aldi is a happy time for me! Sometimes I wish it came more often, but then I remember my limited food budget. German week DEFINITELY tempts me to spend too much.

If you live near an Aldi when German Week hits, here are my top recommendations: Peanut Puffs, Nuremburg style bratwurst, German style pickles (not the spicy ones) and the smoked knockwurst. GUT ESSEN!

#Culinary Adventures #FoodieFinds #Aldi #GermanWeek #Octoberfest

Octoberfest Pizza?

There is this popular local pizza chain in the KC metro called Minsky’s. Ever so often, they release a limited run product in conjunction with other area businesses.

The first one I remember was a BBQ pizza in conjunction with Joe’s KC BBQ. Recently they released a potato chip featuring their award winning french fry seasoning in conjunction with Guy’s potato chips. But this one beats them all!

In conjunction with Boulevard Brewing Company and Joe’s KC they have introduced the limited edition: Octoberfest Pizza!!! 🎉🎊🍻

It features an alfredo-mustard-BBQ sauce made with Boulevard Brewery’s Pale Ale. Then a layer of smoked sausage from Joe’s KC. Topped with deep fried white cheddar cheese curds, crispy tater tots and smoked bacon all covered by a layer of mozzarella.

The taste of this pizza is unique, savory and definitely cheesy! The sausage has a decent, but not overwhelming, kick to it. The chesse curds melt beautifully when you bite into them giving you a burst of flavor so distinct from the mozzarella.

To be honest, I never picked up any smoked bacon flavor. I only found a couple of tots on my pizza. I enjoyed the sauce, but the main flavor of this pie was cheese. Between the curds and the ton of mozzarella, the bacon, tots and sauce were mostly lost in the background.

There was quite a cheese pull getting this slice out of the box

The biggest letdown about this pizza is when I tried to eat a leftover slice cold the next morning. This is NOT the kind of pizza that tastes good cold.

The Octoberfest pizza was good, but except for the sausage slices, it really didn’t have any flavors I typically associate with Octoberfest. I found that reheating my leftover slices and adding some sauerkraut on top gave it a better flavor profile. More German, in keeping with the season, and the kick of kraut helped balance out the savory, cheesy overload.

Score = 77%

#KCFoodie #CulinaryAdventures #FoodieFinds #FoodieFriday #NatApproved

Chili Dogs

Like my old pal, Sonic, always says, “There’s nothing like a chili dog!”

I LOVE chili dogs! Especially chili cheese dogs. I’ve been traveling around for sometime now trying out all the chili dogs that I can find. They vary greatly in price, style and flavor. Today we’ll look at a baker’s dozen chili dogs that I have tried and compare them.

Sonic

The Sonic Chili Cheese Coney. This is probably the chili dog most people are familiar with in the center of the country. This classic Sonic offering is how I first fell in love with the chili dog. For me at least, this is the standard that all other chili dogs are compared to.

Nuway in Wichita, KS

The chili dog at Nuway looks really gross. Granted, most of the food at Nuway looks unappealing. The hotdog is simple, the bun looks store bought and the chili is unimpressive. The only thing that gives this chili dog any spark of flavor is the mustard on the bun.

Dairy Queen

The Dairy Queen chili cheese dog is small yet satisfying. It tastes similar, but in my opinion, slightly better than Sonic’s chili cheese coney.

Smitty’s Garage Burger and Beer in KCMO

They call it the Fork & Knife. It’s a long, bright red dog, a lot of bean chili with diced onions and shredded cheese on top. Big enough to be your entire meal with a price that matches. The frank has a good snap to it. In all honesty, it was too big for me to eat all at once. I took home leftovers.

Bigg’s Burgers in Lawrence, KS

With the hot dog is split open to cook on the grill top, the chili dog at Bigg’s is filled with chili, cheese and diced onions. You’ll get messy eating it with your hands. Utensils are recommended.

Dog n Shake in Wichita, KS

The chili dog at Dog n Shake was cheaply made and looked disgusting. It’s looks liked canned chili, a slice of pasteurized processed cheese food with a store bought hot dog and bun. They put a line of mustard down the bottom of the bun. I can make a better chili dog at home and it would be significantly cheaper.

Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers

The Freddy’s chili dog has a long, skinny hot dog that had a good snap to it. They always ask if you want the onions on top. This is a good addition because the chili wasn’t all that flavorful by itself. Messy enough you’ll want a fork.

Tay’s Burger Shack

Truly a chili dog worthy of praise. It is expensive, but delicious! It includes a quarter pound all beef hotdog. The chili reminds me of my mother’s homemade chili. It had big chunks of ground beef, beans and what looked like freshly chopped tomato. That style of chili certainly doesn’t fit well on the dog, but that’s part of it’s sloppy appeal. It’s topped with a liquid cheese. You will need a fork to eat this. And yes, you can order the chili by itself as well. 😉

Leeway Franks in Lawrence, KS

Leeway Franks is known for it’s variety of hot dog creations. Their chili dog has mustard, chili, diced white onions and an excellent all beef frankfurter that snaps when you bite into it. Not too messy, so you can eat it by hand.

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Winstead’s

The chili dog at Winstead’s was pretty tasty. The chili had beans in it. The shredded cheddar was well melted. It was a little messy, but worth it.

Two Brothers BBQ in Wichita, KS

This chili dog was loaded! A split Nathan’s quarter pound kosher dog on a toasted bun with mustard topped with smoked brisket chili, red onion and shredded cheese. Both impressive and expensive. Definitely messy.

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J’s Carry Out in Emporia, KS

A classic coney with mustard, chili, cheese and topped with diced white onion. J’s Carry Out is classic old school and their chili cheese coney is as well. This is the flavor your taste buds remember from your childhood. Delicious!

Johnny Rockets in South Padre Island, TX

The Rocket chili dog was decent. It was a split dog to cook evenly on the grill. The chili was standard and the cheese shredded. Overall, pretty average.

For the most part, every restaurant had their own variation of the chili dog. Some were cheap and some were expensive. Some included cheese. Some included mustard. Most included diced onions. The chilis varied greatly from dish to dish.

Based simply on taste, not price, I would have to give the award for best chili dog to…..Tay’s Burger Shack. It’s big, it’s messy and it’s filling. I devoured this chili cheese dog and greedily scooped up all the extra chili and liquid gold cheese that fell out of it with my fork. I certainly didn’t want to leave even a tiny bit of this culinary masterpiece behind! 😋

Runner up: Two Brothers BBQ The red onions were a nice addition, but the big difference is the SMOKED BRISKET CHILI!!!

Where do you go to find your favorite chili dog?

#NatsJourneys #KCFoodie #CulinaryAdventures #ExploreYourCity #ChiliDog #FoodieFriday

Red Robin

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My visit to Red Robin in Wichita was an extra special one for me as the #FoodieBuddy joining me was my nephew, Griff (the Wichita Donut Kid).

We went to the Red Robin location in northeastern Wichita off of 13th street north.

#GoogleLocalGuide

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The interior was nice. Lots of decorations to look at. The lighting was nice. We found a booth and our waitress, Whitney, arrived promptly. Whitney brought us menus, water and our first serving of bottomless steak fries. She answered all my questions and checked on us often. Excellent service!

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  Bottomless Steak Fries

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  Pretzel Bites

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  Fried Pickle Nickels

The appetizers

The appetizer round started early with a free basket of steak fries. The fries at Red Robin are unlimited. They were served with ranch and campfire sauce (a bbq mayo blend).

The fries are thick cut steak fries with a nice seasoning on them. The ranch was ok, but the campire sauce was the standout hit of the appetizer round.

The Pretzel Bites were pretty decent, but the cheese sauce was only average. Perhaps I had my hopes set too high, but I was expecting a good beer cheese dip for the pretzels. Maybe I just spent too much time at German restaurants this summer.

The Fried Pickle Nickles were average. They went well with ranch. Griff liked dipping them in the Campfire sauce. Granted, Griff dipped everything in the Campfire sauce. I think it’s safe to say the Campfire sauce was Griff’s favorite part of this culinary adventure.

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Royal Red Robin Burger

The appetizers (and bottomless steak fries) really filled us up, so we just ordered one burger to share. The Royal Red Robin Burger was a nice, thick patty with american cheese, bacon, tomato, lettuce, mayo and a fried egg on a sesame seed bun.

The most satisfying part was slicing the burger in half and watching the yolk run down the burger. It was a good bacon cheeseburger. Griff was a bit jealous that my half ended up with more egg yolk on it. Delicious, but messy.

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Cinnamon Sugar Doh! Rings

For dessert, we tried the tower of cinnamin sugar mini donuts (small size). It came with two dips: chocolate (Griff’s fav) and caramel (my fav). I was a big fan of this, but Griff was unimpressed. I guess it takes something a little more to impress the #WichitaDonutKid.

The staff at this location definitely made this experience a good one for both me and my nephew. We were very well taken care of while we enjoyed some quality eats. I recomend the Royal Red Robin Burger, and as for Griff, he absolutely recommends the Campfire sauce. Until next time, happy eating! 😁

#NatsJourneys #KCFoodie #CulinaryAdventures #ExploreYourCity #WichitaKS #Foodie #FoodieBuddy #FoodieFriday #WichitaDonutKid #RedRobin #Recommended

Des Moines, Iowa

This past July, I wandered about the greater Des Moines Iowa metroplex. The metro is made up of several cities along I35 and I80 that all converge around the capital city of Des Moines. I stayed in a couple different hotels, drove around several popular areas, toured shopping districts, hang outs and (of course) restaurants. 😉

This city lies smack dab in the middle of Iowa. The population of the greater metro is around 700,000.

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#GoogleLocalGuide

SHOPPING: the Des Moines metro boasts several indoor malls: Jordan Creek Town Center (newest, biggest and best), Valley West Mall (used to be awesome) and Merle Hay mall (was cool in the 1970s). All three are still in operation. There are also multiple shopping districts around. These include retail, hotels, restaurants and even apartments (i.e. West Glen Town Center).

Jordan Creek

Valley West

Merle Hay

ENTERTAINMENT: DesMoines has no major league teams, but a ton of minor and club teams to watch (baseball, soccer, arena football, hockey, etc…). They host major tournaments for several sports.

Des Moines boasts a beautiful riverwalk, a biodome, a science center, several theaters, a thriving arts scene, a plethora of public parks (that includes the nation’s largest skate park) and even an amusement/water park called Adventureland.

As for me, I spent my time at the popular Smash Park. This large facility is a bar, restaurant and entertainment venue in the city of West Des Moines. It boasts many pickleball courts, as well as bocce ball, darts, cornhole, etc… They host gatherings, leagues and tournaments year round.

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Smash Park: pickleball, cornhole, darts, arcade games, bocceball, board games, giant Jenga and Connect 4 all built around a bar and restaurant.

DINING: Classic, local restaurant chains, like B’Bops (burgers, fries) and Tasty Tacos (Tex Mex fast food) can be found all over the cities.

Several local eateries have been making waves statewide and even nationally. Zombie Burger (2 locations) with their “Walking Ched” (a maccy cheesy burger with 2 breaded and fried mac and cheese cuts making up the bun. Also Fong’s Pizza (2 locations) with their Crab Rangoon pizza and Dragon Balls (cream cheese and jalepeno stuffed inside chicken wrapped in bacon)

Zombie Burger’s Walking Ched. It’s supposed to have a small serving of mac & cheese on it too, but I ate it separately (too messy)

Fong’s famous Crab Rangoon Pizza

Fong’s Dragon Balls

With low housing costs, growing industries and a growing arts and dining scene, people are flocking to Des Moines. If you’re looking for a new place to transplant to, or even just want to take a weekend vacation and explore; follow my advice and check out Des Moines. You won’t be disappointed!

#NatsJourneys #WanderingWednesdays #TastyTravels #ExploreYourCity #DesMoinesIA #CulinaryAdventures #HighlyRecommended

Prost: authentic German dining in Wichita, KS

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Prost 2721 East Central Avenue #102 Wichita, KS 67214

Prost is a restaurant that serves traditional German food and lots of Bier. It is located inside Revolutsia; a unique shopping district built out of old shipping containers.

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On left is just inside the door. The Bier stein wall is featured. On the right is looking up the stairs to the extra seating and gift shop.

The interior of Prost is made up of 2 shipping containers stacked on each other. The upstairs has extra seating and even a small gift shop and the downstairs is the restaurant/bier hall. It really looks and feels like you’re in Germany.

We have a good deal of German in my family’s history. My elder sister was even born there. My foodie buddies and I (me, my sister Hilary and my nephew Griff) ordered a variety of dishes in order to try a lot of flavors. Between the 3 of us we all got to try quite a few authentic German dishes.

Brotzeit Teller: platter of assorted meats and cheeses, radishes, dill pickles, bread and pretzel with a side of mustard and butter.

The Brotzeit Teller was a charcuterie platter. Several meats, cheeses, pickles, bread and a big pretzel. I ordered a side of Käse to go with it as German mustards are usually too strong for my tastebuds.

Hilary was the only one to eat the Leberwurst as Griff and I do not like the taste of liver. The Brotzeit Teller was OK, but not really all that impressive. We didn’t get all the way through it before the entrees arrived.

Jagerschnitzel: breaded and fried pork cutlet with creamy mushroom gravy served with homemade Spätzle.

Hilary ordered the Jagerschnitzel mit Spätzle. It was pretty standard as Jagerschnitzels go. Breaded pork smothered in mushroom gravy is always delicious. It was good, but didn’t really stand out from a Jagerschnitzel at any other German restaurant. The Spätzle was…..Spätzle. Spätzle is egg noodles. Bland on their own, but usually come in a variety of flavors (cheese, garlic herb, etc…). This one of course shared the mushroom gravy with the schnitzel. In general, most German food (like Spätzle) is delicious, heavy and filling.

Knockwurst mit Kartoffeln Salat und warm red cabbage

I ordered the Knockwurst (beef with garlic sausage) on a roll. It was a good Knockwurst. I know this meal looks simple, but it was packed with all the German flavors I was craving at the time. Since I plan on doing a series of German restaurant reviews, I chose wurst to be main dish I review. Wurst should be standard fare at German restaurants and they are cheaper than other traditional dishes likes Schnitzels.

It came with Kartoffeln Salat (German potato salad) and a warm red cabbage known as Rotkohl (or Blaukraut, depending what part of Germany you are from). I had seen the warm red cabbage on German menus before, but I had never ordered it. I’m glad I did this time! The warm red cabbage and spices made for a delicious side dish. I will definitely order this every time I see it on a menu from now on. 🤤

Bierock

Griff ordered the Bierock with Pommes (fries) and Kartoffeln Salat. I think he was a bit nervous to try unfamiliar flavors. He knows Bierocks because his mom and grandma both make them. And what kid doesn’t like fries and potato salad? Griff mentioned that he enjoyed the potato salad, quite different from our American version of the dish.

Overall, Prost was an excellent dining experience found in a place I never would have expected. If you live in or near Wichita, KS be sure to visit Prost for authentic German cuisine!

#NatsJourneys #KCFoodie #CulinaryAdventures #ExploreYourCity #WichitaKS #Foodie #FoodieBuddy #FoodieFriday #HighlyRecommended #RestaurantReview #Prost

Tenderloin Battle in KC

KS vs MO

Who will claim the title . . . “Best Tenderloin in the KC metro”

Christy’s from KCK vs Christine’s from NKC

I recently had joined an online group that was all about discovering and sharing info on BPTs (Breaded Pork Tenderloins). I found two in the KC metro that have been getting a lot of attention. One claims to be the best in Kansas City. The other is so big that people literally travel from hundreds of miles away just to try it. So I grabbed my #FoodieBuddy Nesfeder, and we set out to explore and decide which is the better tenderloin.

Christy’s Tasty Queen at 1405 South 55th Street in Kansas City, KS 66106

The first stop was the KCK location near Nesfeder’s childhood home that claimed on their sign to have “KC’s best tenderloin”. Christy’s is a longstanding dive. It’s a lunch counter with a huge menu. There are no places to eat inside the building, but there are several picnic benches behind the building. Due to amazing weather, that is where we sat down to try the KS hopeful for the coveted position of Best Tenderloin in the KC metro.

This is just the food menu.

A second menu for all the drinks and shakes is on the opposite wall

The Pork Tenderloin sandwich was $7.15. The breading had a unique texture that reminded me a bit of corn flakes. There seemed to be no seasoning or flavor in the breading, it was kind of bland, but the tenderloin was nice and juicy. It was freshly made when ordered so it took several minutes to get it.

Christy’s Tasty Queen BPT

The tenderloin exceeded the bun by a fair amount. It was topped with mayonnaise, white onion and shredded lettuce.

“This tenderloin is MOIST!” #NesfederNotes

Once we has tried the sandwich from Cristy’s, we hopped back in the car and headed across the river (and border) to the town of North Kansas City.

Christine’s Firehouse bar & grill at 2012 Swift Street in North Kansas City, MO 64116

Christine’s had lots of indoor seating as well as a patio, games, bar, jukebox, etc. It’s menu was smaller, but seemed like the kind of place you spend hours in hanging out with your friends, playing games, talking, eating, drinking, dancing. It often has live music. A nice place to hang, but we came for one reason only…to try the tenderloin.

The tenderloin was absolutely MASSIVE!

No, really. Even after eating a bunch off the end, it was still as big as my face!

The tenderloin cost $11. It had lettuce, tomato, pickles & white onions and came on a kaiser bun. It also came with two sauces (horseradish, mayo or horsey sauce) and a side dish.

For $1 you could get an extra bun and greens (lettuce, tomato, onion & pickle)

It was a bit thinner and drier than Cristy’s. The breading had lots of black dots I assumed was black pepper, but I couldn’t taste it. The breading was fairly bland. Only the addition of sauces and toppings brought any significant flavor to this tenderloin.

In the battle between these two competitors, Cristy’s was cheaper & jucier, but smaller and had less toppings. Christine’s was bigger and had more toppings, but was more expensive and drier.

Unfortunately, I could not in good conscious crown either of these the “Best Tenderloin in the KC metro”. They were just OK. Nothing special. Both were rather bland and required sauces and toppings to make them edible. Instead I’ll point you in the direction of my favorite (so far…) tenderloins in the KC metro.

From top left…the Pork Tenderloin Sandwich, the Tenderloin Smashed Box, the Big Piggy, the Squeal Parmesan.

If you’re in the KC metro and you want a good, flavorful tenderloin, head on over to Strip’s (2 locations, KS & MO). Their tenderloins are juicy, the breading is flavorful and the variety of styles will keep you returning over and over until you’ve tried them all and can pick a favorite.

#NatsJourneys #FoodieFinds #KCFoodie #CulinaryAdventures #ExploreYourCity #Kristys #ChristinesFirehouse #Strips #BreadedPorkTenderloin

Slim Chickens

Slim Chickens, a fast casual chicken chain, was founded in 2003 in Fayetteville, AK. There are currently 69 locations (65 in the U.S., 2 in the U.K. and 2 in Kuwait).

They offer a fresh take on southern style cooking. At Slim Chickens the food is made fresh and community is key to their continued success.

I have been to a half dozen different locations, but for this restaurant review I went to the location at 9001 135th street in Overland Park, KS.

Their menu is expansive. I spent WAY too much money trying as many items as I could. I should have brought someone with me to help me eat, because several of the sides are meant to be shared (okra, mushrooms, pickles).

The chicken tenders are lightly breaded, cooked when you order them and delightfully juicy. They vary in size. They are excellent tenders. You can easily taste how fresh they are. They do not need a dipping sauce, but if you want one…..

Slim chickens offers a large varity of sauces to try. 17 sauces: Slim sauce, Cayenne Ranch, Honey Mustard, Ranch, Blue Cheese, Gravy, Honey BBQ, Garlic Parmesan, Korean BBQ, BBQ, Buffalo, Sweet Red Chili, Spicy BBQ, Hot, Sriracha Garlic, Mango Habanero and Inferno.

My favorite is the Slim sauce. If you read my earlier blog on sauces, then you’ll know that Slim’s sauce beat out all the other competitors (9 restaurants in all) to be named best chicken dipping sauce in the world (IMHO).

Let’s move on to sides…

The potato salad is a regular sized side dish. It has various cuts of potato, and it is delicious.

“You could eat just the potato salad as your whole meal.” #NesfederNotes

The Mac & Cheese is a regular sized side dish. I would love to have this recipe! It is by far the best mac & cheese I have ever had at a restaurant. This picture doesn’t do it justice. As I understand, it is a mix of four, white cheeses.

The Fried mushrooms at Slim Chickens are freshly made, full mushrooms. Be careful when indulging in these delicacies. You can burn your mouth by biting into a mushroom when all that hot juice shoots out. Fried Mushrooms are a large side, which means they are meant to be shared. They come with ranch, but you can name whichever dip you want to use.

The Fried pickles are a large side, and the only disappointing thing I have ever tried at Slim Chickens. If you know me, you know I LOVE fried pickles. I have tried fried pickles at many restaurants. I travel around the area just to try different fried pickles. Despite all of their advertising for them, the fried pickles at Slim Chickens have always disappointed me.

Lastly, desserts. Slim Chickens offers seasonal cheesecake desserts in collectable mason jars. Currently, their strawberry cheesecake is in season. These desserts are delicious, but filling. I rarely ever have room to try them.

Slim Chickens is a wonderful restaurant with a large enough menu to satisfy many tastes. As far as chicken places go, it is probably my current favorite. Unfortunately, it is more on the expensive side. Expect to spend about $10 per meal.

Individual dishes (1-10 scale):

Chicken Tenders = 9 Great

Sauce (Slim Sauce) = 10 Perfect

Potato Salad = 10 Perfect

Mac & Cheese = 10 Perfect

Fried Okra = 6 Decent

Fried Mushrooms = 8 Really Good

Fried Pickles = 3 Disappointing

Dessert = 7 Good

Restaurant score: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

#CulinaryAdventures #KCFoodie #ExploreYourCity #SlimChickens #Recommended

Hospital food in Wichita KS

It’s been a long time since I wrote a restaurant review blog. Now I’ll tell you why. I’ve been deep undercover doing research on hospital food in Wichita, KS. 😉

I recently spent a good deal of time in hospitals in Wichita. There are several hospitals, but Wesley and St. Francis are the biggest two. I spent time in both places trying out their food.

OK. I was in the hospitals for other reasons, but the food was the best part of those experiences (except for surviving to live awhile longer). Let’s take a look at them…

The Wesley menu. Specials change daily. Always two options for specials plus you can order anything else you want.

A simple sandwich.

Breakfast at Wesley. The pancakes are good. The turkey sausage is not. (order the pork sausage links)

Pot roast was good. Gravy was bland.

Asian chicken and rice. Not impressive.

Chicken breast with gravy, green beans, potato and bun. This was really good!

Cheeseburger! (in Wesley, not paradise) I’d order a side salad with most meals. The dessert selection is really good too.

Beef stroganoff. Decent, but not as good as my mother used to make.

The personal sausage pizza is really good (and filling)! I’d always save a slice for a midnight snack

Chicken parmesan with pesto noodles and cauliflower. Sounds impressive, but was lacking in flavor.

Ranch noddle and veggie dish was really good!

Chicken Pot Pie. A+

Meatloaf with gravy. The meatloaf was OK, not a fan of the gravy.

Chicken strips with mashed potatoes and country gravy. This was one of the best meals at Wesley. Simple yet packed with flavor. #ComfortFood

It was a mexi chicken dish with sour cream. Could’ve used more spices. Was far more bland than I expected.

I tried the salmon. Not recommended. The corn at Wesley always needed butter and pepper to make it taste decent. Luckily they provided that.

The St. Francis menu has a few pictures. It’s larger, but has no daily specials except soups.

Dinner at St. Francis differs from Wesley. Asparagus is a side item option (bonus points), but their white country gravy is disappointingly lacking in flavor.

Tried chicken tortilla soup at both hospitals. Wesleys looked and tasted homemade. Spicy and watery. St. Francis’ was thicker and full of chicken. Lots of protein in this one, and tasted great! #winnerwinnerchickentortillasoupdinner

Flat bread pizza you make yourself. I made a meat lovers supreme. This was an excellent food option!

Sesame chicken stir fry. Pretty good.

All in all, the food at both hospitals was pretty decent. I would never recommend staying in a hospital just to try the food. I’m a professional. Do not try this yourself. 😉

Foods I tried at both hospitals and the winners:

Chicken tortilla soup – St. Francis

Country gravy – Wesley

Pizza – St. Francis

Cheeseburger – Wesley

Pot roast – St. Francis

Meatloaf – Wesley

Both hospitals had their pluses and their minuses. Both had goid sized menues. Both had options within the dishes to make them to your taste (pizzas, burgers, sandwiches).

Due to the daily specials (2 for lunch, 2 for dinner), Wesley had more variety in their menu. I know St. Francis has an award winning menu, but for me, the winner was Wesley.

Have you ever been in a hospital with a unique or interesting food options? Let me know about them in the comments! 🙂

#HospitalFood #CulinaryAdventures #EveryDayisanAdventure