Granny B's Cafe - Hole in the wall that fills hole in stomach

I drove past this hole in the wall, old time strip mall, full parking lot, and made a mental note..."Gotta give Granny B's a try".  Today I did, and I am really glad I finally did.  Granny B's is a little gem on the south edge of Spenard, on Tudor.

Granny B's offers up a small menu with breakfast and lunch.  They serve it up fresh, fast, and friendly...with generous portions.  I am a breakfast lover, and I was famished, so I ordered up Nat's Omelet: grilled turkey, crispy bacon, and swiss cheese.  For an extra $1 I traded up my toast for a biscuit, and then ordered a side of gravy.

The omelet was above average, but filled with a hearty blend of turkey, bacon, and swiss, and then topped with more swiss and more bacon.  With the side of crispy hash browns (just the way I like them) it would have been more than enough.  But wait!  Don't forget that biscuit and gravy!

In my opinion there is only one place in Anchorage with a better biscuit and gravy (my beloved Spenard Roadhouse).  These are fresh and piping hot, and the gravy has a nice sausage/gravy ratio.

Granny's is not going to blow you away with fancy culinary offerings like the Spenard Roadhouse, but it is perfect for what it has to offer.  This is a cozy little place with great historical photos and blue collar dishes.  I doubt you will be disappointed, and hey, any place that actually has a condiment table with a variety of hot sauces from which to choose is pretty great in my book.

Granny B's Cafe:

Address - 1201 W Tudor Road, Suite 2, Anchorage, AK 99503

Phone - 907.563.0476

Overall Recommendation:  This cozy little place is worth a try.  Cash Only!  They don't accept credit or debit cards!

Turkey Red - Sophistication with a Mission...in the Mat-Su

I was in the Mat-Su with my in laws and used my Yelp iPhone app to discover my current Mat-Su favorite...Turkey Red.  Until Turkey Red, I had no idea that Palmer had an upscale restaurant, let alone one with such a great mission:

Turkey Red is dedicated to serving fresh, high quality, local and organic ingredients prepared in traditional ways with care and creativity. We purchase and employ locally to: 

• Retain money in the community

• Promote Local Agriculture

• Increase flavor and nutrition of food

• Lower energy use

 The well-trained staff will provide the most thorough and caring service. Our top priority is happy customers. Turkey Red is the inspiration of local cook, caterer and gardener, Alex Papasavas.

Let me say up front...Mission Accomplished!

That said, let me write about my dinner at Turkey Red.  We started with the Hummus and Crostini ai Funghi appetizers.  The Hummus could have used a bit more salt, but it was unrivaled in rich creaminess.  The Crostini ai funghi was simple and delicious, with sautéed Portobello served over the bread.  We combined the appetizers with a biodynamic Maryhill, Sangiovese from Washington state...perfect!

For an entree, I went with the light and fresh Chicken brushetta.  The thin slices of grilled chicken breast were incredibly tender, and topped with fresh tomato and basil.  I could tasted the garden freshness of the topping, as well as the fresh sautéed side of vegetables.  This dish was a wonderful light option to what could be an overfilling meal.

The four of us shared a couple of desserts.  We tried the yogurt cheesecake with raspberries, and the chocolate flourless cake...also with raspberries.  Besides going perfectly with our choice of wine, these two desserts each satisfied palate in different ways.  The cheesecake was both light and fruity on the palate, while the chocolate cake satisfied the need for richness and sweetness.  Alternating bites of each, along with sips of the Sangiovese, was an amazing way to finish the meal.  Our group was all smiles!

The food was great, but the best part of the meal may have been the friendly waitstaff!  So friendly and pleasant, it was an absolute pleasure to be waited on by our server and the support staff.  It has been a while since I was so happy with a restaurant's service.  A huge thumbs up from the diners in my group.

Turkey Red:

Address - 550 S Alaska St, Suite 100, Palmer, AK 99645

Phone - 907.746.5544

Website - www.turkeyredak.com

Overall Recommendation:  Turkey Red is a wonderful little restaurant with the freshest variety of locally inspired dishes.  I would recommend this restaurant on it's commitment to keep money local alone.  The tasty food is just a bonus.

El Tango - Hearty Latin American Fare

Several years ago I had some friends, who had lived in South America, take me to the El Tango Restaurant, and I thought it was high time I took my wife so she could experience some authentic Latin American fare.  Like I really need an excuse to have good food!

It is important to remember that Latin American does not necessarily mean Mexican.  In fact, if you go to El Tango expecting to get a taco, you will be disappointed.  El Tango serves up authentic Argentinian, Columbian, and Puerto Rican dishes, and they are generous...and delicious.

We started off with Argentinean empanadas and calamari.  The calamari was good, but the empanadas may have been the stars of the meal.  These handmade flour shells were filled with tasty ground beef, eggs, and olives.  My wife and I loved them.  These little pastries definitely got the old juices flowing for dinner, but I was half tempted to just keep ordering more of these little delights.  Given the size of my entree', I am glad I controlled myself.

For my entree' I chose the Victoria's Grill.  This Argentinian dish features short rib, skirt steak, chicken breast, Argentinean Sausage, Morcilla, Veal Kidneys, and Sweetbreads.  The entire meal comes served in a large grill pan (with candles underneath) sizzling with the variety of meats, sausages, and organs.  I think the short rib, skirt steak and chicken was all fine, but I was especially pleased with the other, more exotic offerings.  The Argentinean Sausage was savory and had plenty of snap.  The kidney was firm and seasoned just right.  The sweetbreads (thymus) were tender and savory, with an almost creamy texture.  The Morcilla (blood sausage) was my favorite.  I have not had a blood sausage before, and I am not sure what I expected, but it was great!  It was meatier than I would expect from a "blood" sausage, and seasoned so as to be mildly savory....excellent texture.

The Victoria's Grill is easily enough to serve two people (maybe 3 or 4).  Come with an apetite.  I am looking forward to going back and trying some Columbian or Puerto Rican dishes.

El Tango:

Address - 4300 Old Seward Hwy

Phone - 907.770.2888

Website - www.eltangoak.com

Overall Recommendation:  I like El Tango for the variety it offers when considering date night options.  The portions are very generous and the meals tasty.  I have been told by friends who have lived in South America, that El Tango's food is very authentic.  Give it a try....and be prepared to bring home a doggy bag.