ÜBER SAUSAGE - SaÜsagefest on Colfax in Denver

 I had one of the best lÜnches in a long time and it was totally Ünexpected. These gÜYs are making saÜsage sandwiches that will blow yoÜ away. The cool thing about them is they are the type of people yoÜ jÜst want to sÜcceed. Über Sausage gives the term saÜsagefest a whole new meaning and it's a good thing. It's a place that yoÜ can go play "Hide the SaÜsage" and not feel too dirty. It's a special place that yoÜ can stÜff five saÜsages in your moÜth and still look yoÜrself in the mirror and say "I'm a man". It's a place yoÜ can overdose on sasÜage and not spend one minÜte in prison. It's a place yoÜ can offer yoÜr bÜddy a taste of your saÜsage and ask if yoÜ can taste his withoÜt feeling awkward. Ok I'll stop, I promised myself I woÜld refrain from the manhood references bÜt who am I kidding? I'm not that matÜre. We met two of the owners, Brad and Henry, these two were great. The place was clean, the food was oÜtstanding and the people where awesome. I think these are three key things for sÜccess. They had their own food trÜck as well so I was thinking aboÜt having them pÜll that thing Üp in front of my hoÜse for my next saÜsage party. The inside looked great and they did the build-out all themselves which is pretty impressive. They pay attention to detail too. The bread is fresh everyday. I think most people will agree the bread is key. Oh man. I almost forgot they make their own potato chips. The chips are the perfect thickness and they offer a bunch of different seasonings you can shake on yourself. They serve them in a small brown bag so you put the seasoning in the bag and shake, cool idea. We have added them to oÜr top five sandwich places and they will be receiving a "GrÜb ChÜb" award to proÜdly display in the restaÜrant. -Thanks, Shannon - TOTALY TÜBÜLAR

 

THE SWISS DOUBLE

Free Range Veal/Pork Sausage (European style), Sprouts, Chopped Onions, Chopped Parsley, Spicy Mustard and a Secret Blend of Herbs and Spices

                                                 

                                           SPICY SOUTHWESTERN BUFFALO BRAT
   Spicy Southwestern Buffalo Bratwurst, Choke cherry (or seasonal berry) Chipotle Sauce, Mixed Red and Green Cabbage and Queso Fresco

HOMEMADE CHIPS w/ SEASONINGS

Italian Spice with Parmesan, Cajun, Pumpkin Pie Spice and Sugar, Ranch, Lemon Pepper, Creole and Seasoned Salt

                                              
 

THE TRUCK

Vegas is Grub Gulch - Rao's and Mesa Grill

One of the many nick names for Vegas is Glitter Gulch. I think they need to change that to Grub Gulch. If you go there just for the food it would be a trip to remember. Last week I was lucky enough to spend a few days there for the Largest Sport fishing trade show in the world ICAST. I have dined in some pretty awesome restaurants but Vegas is the Mecca of GREAT! dinning establishments. The first night we went to Rao's and it was infrikinsane to say the least. It's known as the best Italian Restaurant in the country and it just might be. The service kicked butt and so did the food. We had an Antipasto Platter that was to die for. The prosciutto literally melted in you mouth. My next dish was the Bone in Veal Parmesan also to die for but too big to finish. I have decided to make it a tradition to eat at Rao's every time I'm in Vegas. Good God don’t forget the meat balls. Maybe the best I have ever had and that's saying a lot. I'm guessing it was the ol' 1/3, 1/3 and 1/3 Beef, Veal, Pork. The following night I took some of my favorite clients to Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill also in Caesar's Palace. It seems as true foodies we are supposed to shun the high profile mainstream chefs like Flay but the dude is good and totally my style. I'm big on big spicy flavors and Bobby delivers that for my taste better than just about anyone in the business. I started with the best Queso Fundido I have ever had as of yet. Then had the Roasted Garlic Tiger Shrimp Tamale that was featured on the Best Thing I Ever Ate Vegas. The tamale was one of those things you crave a day or two later and think about often. I loved that little package of deliciousness. I wanted to pet it and rub my nose on it like Tommy Boy and his dinner roll when he was describing the big sale he destroyed. Yes I also destroyed the Tamale in the same loving way. My entre was the Chili Rubbed Pork Tender Lion. It is my quest to duplicate this dish on my Big Green Egg. If I can it will make everyone love me and hoist me on their shoulders and cheer "we love Shannon, he's the best in the whole world". I may be too big for the hoisting part but we'll see. These two dinners made my trip to Vegas very special. If you get out there you have got to give them both a try. Raging Grub Chub - Shannon

Click below for Urbanspoon's Mesa Grill page

Click below for Urbanspoon's Rao'spage

Mesa Grill-New Mexican Spice Rubber Pork Tenderloin with bourbon-Ancho Chile Sauce and a Sweet Potato Tamale with Crushed Pecan Butter

Mesa Grill - Tiger Shrimp Roast Garlic Corn Tamale featuredon the Best Thing I Ever Ate Las Vegas

Rao's Bone In Veal Parmasan

Rao's Meat Balls

Rao's Antipasto