going through Minnesota

Re:going through Minnesota (BuddyRoadhouse)

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:00:59 GMT

Ah, lleechef, ever the solution finder. Sounds like a good idea to me. It's up to Pit Master JRPfeff as to whether or not he will smoke them. His initial response, over in the "Smoke Day" thread, was to grill them as he usually would. Perhaps you could persuade him otherwise. Either way, I'm sure they're going to be a crowd pleaser.

Buddy

Re:going through Minnesota (lleechef)

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 10:22:48 GMT

Oh no! Not TWO curmudgeons around here! One is enough.......MORE than enough.

I was thinking, why not smoke them (the brats, not the curmudgeons) then give them a quick spin on the grill, for color. That would work for me!

Re:going through Minnesota (BuddyRoadhouse)

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 14:14:18 GMT

Nothing to figure out. I was considering a choice of either/or, not a combination of methods.

I'm starting to understand why Mr. Hoffman used to get so frustrated around here. Maybe I'll pick up the curmudgeon mantle for while. It suits me.

Buddy

Re:going through Minnesota (Foodbme)

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 02:53:14 GMT

BuddyRoadhouse

So, what's Michael's recommendation? Grill or smoke? And if we grill, should they be simmered in beer and onions prior to hitting the fire?
Buddy

I don't have a dog in this hunt, but I think if you smoke them and then put them in Beer & Onions before grilling you would loose some of that smoke flavor in the liquid. On the other hand, now that I think about it, maybe the smoke flavor would be absorbed by the Onions. I have a headache thinking this hard--Youze Guys figure it out!

Re:going through Minnesota (muskokachef)

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 16:47:18 GMT

both ways sound marvelous! As for your drive to Alaska, are you going through Yukon or taking the marine highway? If you are going the Canadian route you should check out a place in Whitehorse called Antoinette's, very good food.

Re:going through Minnesota (Michael Hoffman)

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 20:27:27 GMT

As she said, I simmer them in beer and onions and then grill them. But, I think they'd be just great smoked. In fact, I'm going to have to smoke some.

Re:going through Minnesota (lleechef)

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 09:46:44 GMT

Michael and I think they would be wonderful smoked even though we've never had them that way. Michael prepared them the beer and onion method before grilling and they were truly delicious. So good that the second one I ate without bun, mustard, onions. Just plain.

Re:going through Minnesota (BuddyRoadhouse)

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:21:10 GMT

lleechef (or, Lisa, if I may),
Now that we have the Brats, the question has come up as to the best method for preparation. The initial thought was, of course, to grill them. But seeing as they will be served at a Smoke Day gathering, we then wondered how they'd hold up to a few hours of low and slow heat over wood smoke.

So, what's Michael's recommendation? Grill or smoke? And if we grill, should they be simmered in beer and onions prior to hitting the fire?

Buddy

Re:going through Minnesota (lleechef)

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:17:00 GMT

Davydd
You are going to have such an AWESOME trip! I've been on every paved road and some not so paved (going to Deadhorse) and I never ceased to be amazed at the beauty of Alaska. You are going to love Homer, it's my favorite town in AK. Last time I was there I saw lots and lots of eagles.

Buddy
Michael says he's glad the brats arrived safely. He fixed them for us the other night. When asked how many I would eat, I replied, "one". WRONG! They were so good I ate two. Enjoy!!

Re:going through Minnesota (BuddyRoadhouse)

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 14:05:08 GMT

For anyone wondering, Michael Hoffman has paid up on our bet from the preceding page. Two pounds of beautiful Bratwurst from Bucyrus, Ohio arrived via FeEx this morning. They wanted me to tell everyone they're happy to be in Chicago and are looking forward to the trip up to Milwaukee in May, where they will be devoured by a couple dozen hungry Contingent members on DayPieFestSmoke.

Thanks Michael!

Buddy

Re:going through Minnesota (Davydd)

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 11:01:18 GMT

We have a niece living in Anchorage we will visit. Our plan is to go everywhere there is a paved road. Homer is a definite destination as we didn't get there before. My wife is a University of Minnesota Raptor Center volunteer so we would very much like to see the bald eagles in Homer hopefully if they are still there. We have the book, The Eagle Lady about Jean Keene by Cary Anderson. We'll head out at the end of June and probably be out until close to Labor Day.

Re:going through Minnesota (lleechef)

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 17:41:56 GMT

Davydd

Sioux Falls, SD is a bit out of the way and not a route I would recommend heading toward Minot, ND after coming across Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota north routes. I would assume US 2 and nearby most of that way.

Buddy,

I'll be in Anchorage later this summer as we are heading up the Alaskan Highway at the end of June. Should I pick up those brats for you?

You are going to love the trip on the Alcan, it's beautiful. What will you be doing in Anchorage? You're going to enjoy the super long days and almost no darkness at the end of June! Go to Homer and do some halibut fishing!

Re:going through Minnesota (Davydd)

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:05:58 GMT

If you are making a mad dash from Marquette, MI to Calgary I don't know why you would dip all the way down to St. Paul, MN and I-94. That is quite a bit out of the way in distance and time and not near as scenic as driving across US 2 in northern Minnesota and Wisconsin. Besides, if you want to go through Detroit then you would be going through Minneapolis/St. Paul and Chicago on your return.

Re:going through Minnesota (muskokachef)

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 11:38:51 GMT

the itinerary is as follows; after crossing the border at Sault Ste Marie, we will head to Marquette for a stop. The next day is a whole hearted dash to the west-need to be in Calgary by 10 pm! we will be going by S. Paul, heading north to Fargo and then west to Billings, at which point we will turn north towards Calgary and further points in the province.
We are expecting to do the westward portion, from Marquette to Calgary, in about 18 hours-I know crazy!!but we have to be there in a timely fashion.
The drive back is where we will be imbibing in all of the glories of the Mid west where we are giving yourselves 4 days to return; perhaps not going through Marquette on the return but through Detroit.

Re:going through Minnesota (Michael Hoffman)

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 08:25:28 GMT

Buddy, go ahead and PM me. I should have gotten those brats to you last time. They sat in my freezer for a long time before I went ahead and cooked them up. I'll vaccuum seal and freeze them before shipping.

Re:going through Minnesota (Foodbme)

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 00:50:53 GMT

Muskokachef STILL hasn't given us his planned route with towns, etc. C'mon Musko, spit it out!

Re:going through Minnesota (BuddyRoadhouse)

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 22:40:36 GMT

Michael Hoffman

Oh, Buddy ...

I just shipped some cappelletti overnight to Anchorage. I think it might be possible to get FedEx to make the overnight trek to Illinois with some Bucyrus bratwurst.

Michael, although I won the bet fair and square, and while I'm not one to turn down free food, especially good brats, I'm not the kinda guy who would impose the FedEx expense on you to overnight ship them to Chicago.

If you insist on sending them, I will PM you with my address. I promise to freeze them until the end of May, and share them with my fellow Contingent members at SmokeFestDayPie.

Buddy

Re:going through Minnesota (BuddyRoadhouse)

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 22:35:17 GMT

Davydd

Buddy,

I'll be in Anchorage later this summer as we are heading up the Alaskan Highway at the end of June. Should I pick up those brats for you?

Too bad you're not going in December, they'd be good and frozen for the ride home.

Buddy

Re:going through Minnesota (wanderingjew)

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 22:26:04 GMT

Michael Hoffman

I didn't forget Rhode Island. It's just the tiny eastern portion of Connecticut.

Gee, and everyone I know back in NY thought it was a neighborhood somewhere in Boston.

Re:going through Minnesota (Michael Hoffman)

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 20:09:18 GMT

I didn't forget Rhode Island. It's just the tiny eastern portion of Connecticut.

Re:going through Minnesota (wanderingjew)

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 17:55:39 GMT

Michael Hoffman

I was thinking about crashing Smoke Day with lleechef, but considering upcoming roadtrips to Connecticut, Mississippi, Missouri and Oklahoma it doesn't look like a possibility.

You forgot Rhode Island

Re:going through Minnesota (Davydd)

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 17:25:50 GMT

Sioux Falls, SD is a bit out of the way and not a route I would recommend heading toward Minot, ND after coming across Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota north routes. I would assume US 2 and nearby most of that way.

Buddy,

I'll be in Anchorage later this summer as we are heading up the Alaskan Highway at the end of June. Should I pick up those brats for you?

Re:going through Minnesota (lleechef)

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:55:43 GMT

Archie's Waeside is a MUST. Best steak and Iowa pork chop I ever ate.
Bob's Cafe in Sioux Falls does have killer broasted chicken, too!

Re:going through Minnesota (Michael Hoffman)

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:29:29 GMT

Oh, Buddy ...

I just shipped some cappelletti overnight to Anchorage. I think it might be possible to get FedEx to make the overnight trek to Illinois with some Bucyrus bratwurst.

I was thinking about crashing Smoke Day with lleechef, but considering upcoming roadtrips to Connecticut, Mississippi, Missouri and Oklahoma it doesn't look like a possibility.

Re:going through Minnesota (BuddyRoadhouse)

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:57:14 GMT

My annual business travels used to make me a semi-regular visitor to Mr. Hoffman's neck of the woods. But seeing as how I've been cutting back on those roadtrips the last couple years, and since Michael Hoffman doesn't get to the Chicago/Milwaukee area all that often, it's not likely I'll see those brats anytime soon. However, given the seeming "new lease on life" exhibited by Gahanna, Ohio's most prominent citizen, I suppose anything is possible.

Philosophically though, sometimes just being right is its own reward.

Meanwhile, you haven't said whether or not you need those Twin Cities recommendations.

Buddy

Re:going through Minnesota (muskokachef)

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 11:50:01 GMT

well BuddyRoadhouse; it seems that you are the winner as we are leaving from Huntsville Ontario
It is rather funny that after getting a bit of being taken to task for not doing any research(not true but off topic) there are a slew of responses! Both my wife and self are no holds barred eaters and have a great disdain for any large chain style slop.
If there is anyone out there that can include Canada as a place to go for a drive you would find quite an assortment of great food as well as great drives.
Hope that you enjoy your sausages

Re:going through Minnesota (BuddyRoadhouse)

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 14:22:53 GMT

Michael Hoffman

Buddy, you're on. I'm guessing you're right, but I need an excuse to head up to Bucyrus. Considering my schedule, which includes trips to Connecticut, Mississippi, Missouri and Oklahoma, I'm pretty sure I can't make it to Wisconsin in May.

Okay, muskokachef, you've got your responses. Now it's time to settle a bet: Are you starting from Oklahoma or Ontario? There's a lot riding on this so don't disappoint.

Buddy

Re:going through Minnesota (ALLGOOD)

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:14:22 GMT

If traveling through the Upper Peninsula near the Wisconsin border, stop in Presque Isle (WI or MI, the city is in both states), and go to the P.I. Pub for any type of sandwich. Also great pizza.

Re:going through Minnesota (Michael Hoffman)

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 11:07:34 GMT

Buddy, you're on. I'm guessing you're right, but I need an excuse to head up to Bucyrus. Considering my schedule, which includes trips to Connecticut, Mississippi, Missouri and Oklahoma, I'm pretty sure I can't make it to Wisconsin in May.

Re:going through Minnesota (kaszeta)

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 09:02:10 GMT

A lot of good places in Duluth.

One random one I'll mention because it left an impression: Fitger's Brewhouse. I often like to stop at brewpubs when traveling, and I rather liked the beer at Fitger's (they have an outstanding oatmeal stout). But what I remember was ordering a pub burger (burger with ith sauteed mushrooms, onions, Swiss cheese and our chipotle pepper sauce), and having the waitress tell me "You know, you really should try the vegetarian burger, it's actually better." Wait, what? Never had that happen before, but I did order the vegetarian burger instead. And didn't regret it. It was rather unique, with a blend local wild rice, regular rice, spices, and a few other things, and was one of the most outstanding vegetarian burgers I've ever had. Served up with their chipotle pepper sauce, to this day it was the only vegetarian burger I've ever had that really could stand up well on it's own merits.