Continue reading »]]> Although I am not a football fan, I along with millions of others watch to see how innovative, funny or downright strange the commercials will be.  But I know there are some huge football fans out there, so today’s post is dedicated to all things Super Bowl!

Super Bowl XLVI

First person to answer all ten questions correctly below will win either a Keep It Local Card, Whole Foods Gift Card, or iTunes gift Card. Ready, set….

1. Who sang the National Anthem to kick off Super Bowl XXVII?
2. How many teams have a 100% winning percentage playing in the Super Bowl?
3. Who holds the record for most points scored in a Super Bowl Game?
4. Who was the MVP for Super Bowl XXXVI?
5. Who is the answer to #4 married to?
6. Who has the most Super Bowl rings?
7. Name two players who have won the Super Bowl MVP Award more than once.
8. What Super Bowl had the smallest margin of victory?
9. Who did the coin toss for the 1993 Super Bowl?
10. Name the two teams who have been to the Super Bowl four times, but never won.

Please answer in order below for a chance to win the gift cards described above! Good Luck!

Continue reading »]]> Many of the rants on my ConsumHer section are stories about less-than-stellar experiences I have had with businesses. It could be bad customer service, poor quality products or a combination of both. But here’s a reminder to everyone out there that has a voice. Don’t just be a complainer. Be a ‘praiser’ too.

With GFB and I working full time and trying to juggle the activities of two daughters, we end up eating out a lot. I am reminded of a situation that occurred about 6 years ago when our youngest daughter was a little over a year old.

Since GFB is a self-proclaimed “meatatarian”, Fridays during Lent are a challenge. (For those non-Catholics out there, we don’t eat meat on Fridays during the Lenten season). I tried to cook meatless or fish dishes but they weren’t always the best. So at least one Friday during Lent we would head to Red Lobster to enjoy some snow crab or fried shrimp. The problem is, Red Lobster is PACKED during Lent. I bet  half of the Catholics in OKC head there for dinner on any given Friday to eat. (Ok, I probably exaggerated that – but it SEEMS like half…)

This particular Friday night was no exception; the restaurant was packed and there was a long wait time. We decided to stick it out and wait with the girls, who were almost 5 and 1 1/2 at the time. Like any respectable mom would, I brought some Goldfish crackers for the young one to munch on while we waited for a table.

After almost an hour, we were finally seated. At this point I was a bit crabby, so you can image how the girls felt. (Let’s be honest, Goldfish crackers only get you so far.)  We quickly ordered drinks and our meal hoping to get the process moving so we could be served dinner. About two minutes later, our waiter reappeared at the table with applesauce, crackers, and a plate of veggies with ranch for our daughters. I was speechless. The waiter knew we had waited quite some time and that we had young children. So to help us out (and ultimately himself too), he tried his best to satisfy them until the macaroni and cheese arrived a few minutes later.

It was like God had sent an Angel from Heaven to the Red Lobster on Memorial just for me. (Now for those moms out there with small children, you get it. The rest of you will have to trust me on this.) I was finally able to relax a bit and enjoy what could have been a very unpleasant evening.

Upon finishing our meal, I politely asked our waiter “Sir, would you mind asking the Manager to come by our table?”. I am certain his first reaction was “Damn, what did I DO?” But he kindly obliged and went to find the restaurant manager. When she arrived, I explained our lengthy wait and how our waiter had gone out of his way to make sure the girls were taken care of so we could enjoy the meal. He was standing near the table listening, and I made a point to tell the manager “Ma’am, you need to hire more employees like him. HE is worth every dime.” The smile on his face was priceless.

She thanked us for coming and left our table to attend to other patrons. Our waiter dropped off the check and thanked us himself for the kind comments to his boss. And of course, we gave him a fat tip.

In addition to speaking to the manager,  I got on the Red Lobster website and filled out their comment section at how well we were treated. I was told that he would get recognized for his service. I certainly hope so, because he was worth it.

Have you had a GOOD experience with a company or employee going out of their way to help you? I’d love to hear about it.

~SB

Continue reading »]]> Over the last few years, Oklahoma City has made a name for itself. From the Maps projects to the acquisition of the OKC Thunder, Oklahoma City has gained a lot of positive national exposure. Years ago if someone mentioned Oklahoma, jokes would erupt referencing covered wagons, dust bowl, etc. But today’s Oklahoma includes great entertainment, growing cultural opportunities,  fabulous cuisine and a thriving economy.

Here are the facts:

• OKC Ranked #5 Best Job Market for 2011
• OKC #1 Most Affordable Cities to Live 2010
• 5.7% Unemployment Rate (As of November 2011)
• Best Place to Launch a Business (Forbes 2009)
• Listed as a Recession-Proof city (2008)
• Three major companies listed as Forbes Best Places to Work for 2012

From an economic perspective OKC is head-and-shoulders above other mid-market cities, but it’s not just the economy that is attracting people to this great state. In 2008 Clay Bennett and Aubrey McClendon spearheaded the initiative to bring the Seattle Sonics to Oklahoma to start a new NBA franchise. Many questioned the tactic and feasibility of bringing a professional basketball team to Oklahoma, as it is not considered a “major market”. But Clay and Aubrey did it, and boy has it paid off. The OKC Thunder has one of the highest (if not the top) attendance rates in the NBA, helping create a huge economic boom to Downtown/Midtown OKC.

In addition to sports, cultural attractions have tremendously grown.  The city is proud to boast the largest Chihuly exhibit in the country at the OKC Museum of Art, Smithsonian quality exhibits at the Oklahoma History Museum, not to mention Lyric Theater, Oklahoma’s premier professional theater company.

It has taken many years and a lot of commitment, passion and forethought by our community leaders to get Oklahoma City where it is today. As you can see this city has embraced growth and is proud to be nationally recognized as a great place to live. If you’ve never been to Oklahoma, take a road trip! I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Continue reading »]]> Since my immersion in the OKC food scene about 9 months ago, I have enjoyed some great food at restaurants I might not have normally visited. One of my favorites of recent has to be Rococos. Owner Bruce Rhinehart has brought his East coast flair to Oklahoma City and is serving up some of the best seafood and Italian dishes this side of the Mississippi.

My first experience at Rococos was a visit to their location near 23rd and Penn (which also happen to be my first “tweetup” lunch too). It was a very large group (40+) but the service was nothing short of superb. I had the steak chili and our group was treated to an appetizer of “cookies”. Now, when I heard we were getting cookies before the meal, I wondered if they just did things differently at Rococos by serving dessert before the meal. Then the cookies came to the table and I realized that cookies were actually small bite sized appetizers served on toasted baguette slices. There were a variety of flavors, but my favorite was The Gangster (Italian sausage, sweet onions, pomodoro and Parmesan cheese).  An order of this appetizer is perfect for 3 or 4 guests, and will run you anywhere from $5.95 – $8.50 depending on the toppings.

The pasta and seafood dishes offered at Rococos are impressive, and most of the “starters” are enough for an entire meal. The choices include Steamed Little Neck Clams ($12.25), Deep Fried Calamari ($7.25) and Surf & Turf on a Stick (which I had along with a salad for dinner one evening and was the perfect amount of food). But the BEST appetizer on the menu is by far the Jumbo Lump Crabcake. This little bite of heaven has a superb outer crust and large chunks of crab that are tender and flaky. I could eat three of these for dinner and call it a day they are that good. I’ve had crabcakes from some of the best restaurants in the Northeast, including The Cove Fresh Fish Market in Mystic, CT and I’m not kidding when I say these crabcakes blow away the competition. This is an OKC must try.

Jumbo Lump Crabcake - Rococos

The large dinner menu includes my personal favorite, Penne Bolognese ($17.50 for a huge bowl), as well as fabulous seafood choices like Bamboo Steamed Cod (market price), Lobster & Shrimp Risotto ($27.50) and Rhode Island Fishermans stew with plum shrimp, scallops, sole, sausage, clams & mussels that are sauteed, then braised in a saffron tomato broth (WOW).

The list of sides and add-ons is equally impressive. The saute grape tomatoes with toasted garlic is a must try, as is the wild mushroom risotto. Don’t forget about the soups and salads. Ranging from $4.25-$6.25, try a cup of the Old School Favorite New England Clam Chowder or for a vegetarian option order the Mushroom Soup, which combines leeks, shiitake mushrooms, and scallions into a velvety soup.

I have enjoyed several meals at Rococos, including the fabulous Sunday brunch (which my 7-year old would gladly choose to have every Sunday and honestly requires an entire blog post of its own), but if you really want a unique dining experience make a reservation for the Chef’s Table at Rococos Northpark. Chef’s Table is an “L” shaped booth in the corner of the main kitchen area, which allows you to see what really goes on behind the scenes in a upscale restaurant. The night we arrived to enjoy Chef’s Table just happened to be 10 days before Christmas, and a Friday night, so the restaurant was insanely packed. We were celebrating a friends birthday, so there was plenty of wine to enjoy along with amazing food that was specifically selected for us by Chef Bruce. The food was so amazing, I can barely remember anything I ate (or maybe that was because of the wine). Nonetheless, I highly recommend trying the Chef’s Table for a special night on the town.

Chefs Table Surf & Turf

Rococos has two locations, 23rd and Penn and 122nd and May in the Northpark Mall. Hours vary by location, so check out their website at http://rococo-restaurant.com/ for information or to make a reservation. Next time you find yourself craving pasta or seafood, stop by Rococos.

Continue reading »]]> Being a self-proclaimed foodie, I enjoy eating meals cooked by real chefs vs. those that come from an assembly line or fryer. So I was disappointed to see that the top performer in the Dow Jones Industrial Average (aka the “Stock Market”) for 2011 was none other than McDonalds. (Stock Ticker: MCD ).

McDonald’s stock price is up almost 31% for the year – beating out companies such as American Express, Pfizer and even Kraft foods. So what does this say about Americans and their eating habits? A lot, and none of it is very good. As of the most recent study (2009), approximately 17% of (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged 2—19 years are obese. Since 1980, obesity prevalence among children and adolescents has almost tripled. (source: CDC.gov) Adults are no better, with almost 1/3 of Americans (or roughly 72 MILLION) of us overweight or obese. And if trends continue on their current path, 100% (yes you read that right) of the US population will be overweight or obese by 2048.

So how can we correct this growing trend? It’s really pretty simple. It’s called eat less and exercise more. That doesn’t mean starving yourself or go on crazy diets. It means eating HEALTHY, well balanced meals. Can you splurge on a nice dinner? Of course? Are french fries ok sometimes? Absolutely. But looking at how well McDonalds did this year in the stock market, I am going to take a guess and say that most Americans aren’t eating french fries every once in awhile – they are eating them every other day.

Do yourself (and your family) a favor. Make a choice to begin 2012 with healthier eating habits. Here are three EASY and simple steps to get you going in the right direction.

1. Cook at home. It doesn’t have to be a 3-course meal. In fact, simpler is better. Use your crock pot, dutch oven or stock pot and make a healthy, one-dish meal. Cooking at home allows you to control the ingredients your putting in your families bodies rather than leaving it up to the local fast food joint.

2. Turn off the TV. The average American family has the television on for 6 hours and 47 minutes PER DAY. Take a walk with your kids. Go on a bike ride. Play the Wii. Kick the soccer ball around in the backyard. The less time you spend in front of the tube – the more time you’ll spend doing things that will get your body moving.

3. Know the facts. Do you REALLY know what’s in a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder with Cheese? Or the caloric count of the regular-sized Bean Burrito from Taco Bueno? (it’s 604 calories for ONE burrito by the way). Knowing what you are eating is crucial. It’s completely unrealistic to avoid eating out (whether it be fast food or your local bistro), but knowing nutritional information about the food you are considering ordering can help you steer clear of high fat or high calorie items in favor of ones that are just as flavorful, but much better for you. If you are smartphone user, check out some of the latest apps that track calories in fast foods, such as MyFitnessPal.com, which is free. I downloaded it last year and was shocked at the things I was eating.

Good Luck, and Happy Eating.

Continue reading »]]> So I guess this one was a bit harder than I expected. The correct answer (courtesy of Greg Elwell via Twitter) was Home Run Sliders, located in Edmond at 128 East 5th.

Mac n Cheese from Home Run Sliders

Thanks to those of you who took a shot at guessing this restaurant – and look for a whole new round of Name that Dish posts coming in 2012.