$50 gift certificate to Blue Lemon Bistro!

It's 1:00 a.m. and I'm too exhausted to go into detail about th super cool venture I've started with some fabulous gals, but SassyScoops.com is on its way to becoming one of the tastiest--and sassiest--sites in the blogosphere. We'll leave it at that for now. (Lame intro I know, but I can hardly keep my eyes open!)

My point? SassyScoops.com is the reason for today's post announcing the giveaway for a $50 gift certificate to Blue Lemon Bistro. Many of you may remember my post about this delicious new dining experience in Highland, Utah. (If not you can check it out here--I promise it's worth a read.) Well, Blue Lemon is SassyScoop.com's first official fabulous find and we are kicking off our first Follow-up Friday post with a giveaway!

Click here to visit SassyScoops.com and find out how you can enter to win the $50 gift certificate. It's super easy, though I must wanr you, your mouth may water as you browse the menu. And no, it's not open to Utah residents only, though it might be a bit of a drive if you're out of state. Don't get me wrong--totally worth it!

I'd write more but I'm behind on drafting the SassyScoops.com Contact Us and How You Can Get Scooped pages. A sassy girl's work is never done! --Emily

Local find: Flour Girls & Dough Boys

This week I headed to Flour Girls & Dough Boys with the other girls from SassyScoops.com (more on that to come) and what a treat it was! From the funky chandeliers to the brightly painted walls to the tantalizing smells coming from the kitchen, the entire bakery is a delight.

The story behind Flour Girls & Dough Boys is a wonderful one and you really must read it. To whet your appetite here's a sample:

Flour Girls & Dough Boys is a 100% scratch bakery and an American Fork restaurant patterned after an East Coast style bakery and cafe. Carol Coppins, the owner of Flour Girls & Dough Boys, lived in Boston for 13 years. In that time, she came to love real European artisan breads. They were available everywhere. When she and her family moved to Utah Valley in 2005, it was very hard to find real European style artisan breads.

Thank heavens those real European artisan breads were so hard to find otherwise we might not have such a wonderful treat in American Fork! My favorite was the spicy chicken and bacon panini, the creamy tomato basil soup and the rich chocolate gourmet cupcake with mint frosting. Of course the sandwiches the 0ther girls sampled looked tasty as did the fresh salads. And the cream puff? I won't even go there!

On the way out I wanted to purchase a loaf of their decadent cinnamon bread and a chocolate mint brownie to go but unfortunately the register was closed. (We stayed a bit past closing!) Oh, and the soda dispenser had pellet ice--gotta love that!

If you're in Utah Valley or anywhere near American Fork you must give Flour Girls & Dough Boys a try. You won't regret it, though your waistline might! You'll find this fabulous bakery at 35 North Barratt Ave. (150 West). --Emily

P.S. Flour Girls & Dough Boys is all about supporting small, local business. Check out "Saving 'Main Street'"--if you're not already inspired to save small business you will be after reading their post.

Mark Anthony's Mexican Food: Smother it, please!

I'm kind of liking this "feature a local business on food for thought friday" thing because it means I went out to eat (i.e. I didn't have to cook) and hopefully had some really tasty food. So far I'm two for two when it comes to featured restaurants.

A couple weeks ago I wrote about Blue Lemon Bistro, a new restaurant in Highland that offers a wonderful and flavorful twist on healthy food. (I am going back tonight for a meet-up with my Twitter gals.) Today I bring you Mark Anthony's Mexican Food, a little restaurant hidden in a Herriman strip mall. But don't let the strip-mall facade fool you; this little Mexican place may be small on size but it is big on flavor--especially if your order is smothered in their famous homemade chile verde!

I was introduced to Mark Anthony's Mexican Food (not to be confused with Mark Anthony's Italian Food up the road 0wned by the same guy) by my sister and brother-in-law. We stopped in last Saturday with my parents to see if it lived up its "hole-in-the-wall Mexican" reputation. (That's a compliment, promise! If you ask most people, hole-in-the-wall restaurants are hidden treasures and the very best kind!)

When I saw something about Mark Anthony's famous homemade chile verde I asked if it really were famous. Instead of simply answering "yes," they gave me a small sample. Within about 1 1/2 seconds I could taste why it was famous: spicy but not too spicy, a rich, almost smoky flavor and meat that was so tender it melted in my mouth.

I of course ordered the Smothered Chile Verde Burrito combination plate, which came with beans and rice. I didn't have to wait long for my order to arrive, which was a good thing because that sample of their chile verde had me craving more...and I was hungry! The rice was awesome and the beans taste as well, though I wish I had the option of black beans (my fave). My mom loved her cheese enchiladas, which arrived topped with lettuce and cheese. (The lettuce was a new thing for her, though I think she enjoyed it.) I can't remember what everyone else ordered; I do know it was pretty quiet while we ate because it was that good!

If you know me, you know I have to finish off a meal with something sweet so I ordered the fried ice cream. I was told their vanilla ice cream is made fresh daily so it will have the best and richest flavor. The verdict? Overall this dessert was really, really good. The ice cream was scrumptious and the "fried" coating perfect--not too heavy, not too light with a nice flavor. It was drizzled with caramel and chocolate sauce and served with ship cream.

What didn't work for me? They ran out of whip cream just after they started putting it on, so it arrived in a less-than-glamorous state, and the larger styrofoam cup they served it in only dwarfed the already single-scoop portion size. If it had been about $3, I might not have minded, but at $5 it was a big price to pay for such a small dessert, even if the ice cream were homemade.

BUT Mark Anthony's salsa made up for the fried ice cream disappointment. I bought some chips and salsa to go since my dear husband wasn't feeling well and was left (intentionally) at home. We broke open the salsa the next day and it was quite possibly some of the best salsa I've had in a really long time. Everything was super fresh, super crisp (I hate soggy salsa) and the ingredients were in just the right proportion. I'm no chef so I couldn't tell you everything that was in it, and of course I forgot to take a picture (I'll leave food photography to my friend Quinn over at Limelight Food Photography), but I'm pretty sure it had onion, tomato, cilantro, some green pepper and of course lots of other salsa-y ingredients. It wasn't runny but more like a good pico de gallo, which is another fave.

The menu also includes breakfast burritos, nachos, tacos (ground or shredded beef, carne asada, carnitas and fish), enchiladas, chimichangas, and a children's menu. I felt $1.29 was a bit much for things like extra cheese and sour cream, but the rest of the prices (fried ice cream aside) were very reasonable.

My mouth is watering just telling you about my recent experience at Mark Anthony's Mexican Food. I'm jonesing for some more--it's a good thing I'm heading to my sister's tomorrow. I'll be picking up some chips & salsa and maybe even a chile verde burrito to go! Wish I had a website for you but they don't seem to have one. Here's the info in case you're in the area. If you're over at The District in South Jordan, it's worth the drive! --Emily

Mark Anthony's Mexican Food
5530 West 13400 South
Herriman, UT
801.253.6823

P.S. They cater!

Photo 1 by marzbars, shared via Flickr.
Photo 2 by ajc3, shared via Flickr.
Photo 3 by erin.kkr, shared via Flickr.

Blue Lemon Bistro: A tasty twist on healthy eating

Consider today's food for thought friday recipe a recipe for success:

Blue Lemon Bistro's "pure clean food with a twist"
Chic style
Fabulously designed interior space
Inviting atmosphere
Friendly staff
Fresh, healthy, "clean" food
Tantalizing menu
Budget-friendly prices

Combine above ingredients and mix well. Throw in a dash of free WiFi and serve with a side of Blue Sky all-natural sodas.

I've never tried this recipe but Lychelle and Aaron, the owners of Blue Lemon Bistro, have perfected it. I was able to experience Blue Lemon Bistro this week with a few new and old (figuratively speaking of course) blogging friends (see photo at the end of thist post). It was an experience I plan to repeat with my husband, my girlfriends, my family...heck, I'd even go with complete strangers!

Blue Lemon Bistro is located in east Highland just off the Alpine Highway. The owners believe in creating "a delectable menu [that] features only foods that fuel the body in a healthy way without sacrificing taste. After all, what good is the healthiest food in the world if you can’t get it past your lips?" Their "clean" food is all natural and prepared in a way so it maintains and maximizes nutrients. And I will agree with what it says above--they don't sacrifice on taste and I definitely got A LOT of food past my lips!

Before I get into the sweet and savory dishes, let me set the scene. (I'd have taken photos but left both my Flip and digital camera at home, too distracted by my search for the cell phone my toddler had hidden somewhere.) The restaurant is sleek and modern in design yet comfortable and inviting. It has a casual atmosphere; simply walk up, order your meal and then seat yourself while you wait for your food to arrive. I loved the light maple tables and cheerful tiled blue walls. It was crisp and clean...and extremely refreshing, especially after a very long day home with the kids.

Blue Lemon Bistro's menu offers everything from salads and sandwiches to entrees, soups, sides and kids meals. It took me a really long time to decide on a dish, and even when I walked up to the register I was still unsure...should I stick with the Lemon-Lime Grilled Chicken B.L.T. or go for the Blue Lemon Grilled Vegetable Sandwich? Chelle's Famous Vegetable Lasagna was also calling my name as were the soups of the day. What's a girl to do? I went with the B.L.T. and added on a side of fruit salad with strawberry yogurt sauce and a cup of tomato bisque soup. I also wanted to sample their Blue Sky Natural Sodas so I tacked one of those on as well.

I sat down and sipped my all-natural raspberry soda (to die for and well worth the extra calories...and that coming from a die-hard diet soda fan!) while watching as plate after scrumptious plate of food was delivered to our tables. I caught sight of the vegetable lasagna and had second thoughts about my B.L.T. Then the grilled vegetable sandwich landed across from me and I worried I had made a mistake. Soon my B.L.T. arrived and all worries disappeared. The sandwich was decked out with crispy turkey bacon, juicy red and yellow tomatoes, smoked mozzarella, lettuce, and pesto aioli served on grilled sourdough bread. Is your mouth watering yet? It should be. I was drooling all over that thing before I could pick it up! The sandwich was wonderful, the fruit salad an array of crisp, colorful fruit and the tomato bisque? It definitely rivaled my current favorite from Paradise Bakery.

I could go on and on about how much everyone enjoyed their food but I'll spare you the hunger pains. I will say this, and it should pretty much convince you you'll love Blue Lemon Bistro. I don't like squash. I don't like anything related to squash: pumpkin pie, yams, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, you name it. While I was enjoying my B.L.T., Lychelle brought out the Bistro's specialty butternut squash soup (I'm sure it has a fancy name but I wouldn't know it since I didn't even consider ordering it) and after the extreme peer pressure to try it, I took a very, very small taste. HOLY COW! It was, as one girl said, like drinking candy. It was smooth, buttery, cinnamon-y, brown sugary and topped with some sort of cinnamon croutons and what I think were brown-sugar-glazed walnuts. I could have bathed in that stuff it was that good! It was a serious ride for my tastebuds as was the hummus (another side I don't usually care for), mac and cheese and fresh fruit smoothies.

My husband took half of my sandwich to work the next day. He called me to simply tell me something along these lines: "This is one tasty sandwich. The tomatoes are so good and the cheese is mellow and tasty...All right, I'm a believer." I have never heard him say "mellow" and "tasty" or describe a sandwich in such detail. Could it be that Blue Lemon Bistro's "pure clean food with a twist" had some sort of affect on his tastebuds as well? I'm thinking, yes.

I was able to go on a tour of Blue Lemon Bistro and discovered the restaurant also has a smaller cafe where you can order treats like cupcakes, truffles, and tarts along with coffee, espresso, and a wide variety of blended drinks. In the back there is a fun little kitchen designed for cooking classes, group gatherings and even date nights. (Did Lychelle really say "Iron Chef Date Night?" I am so there!)

Blue Lemon Bistro is located at 11073 North Alpine Hwy in Highland, Utah and is open Monday through Thursday from 11:30 am to 10pm and Friday & Saturday from 11:30am to 11 pm. Though it's pretty far east off I-15, it is totally worth the drive. And if you carpool, that's some pure clean goodness for the environment! --Emily

P.S. Want to hear what a few other blogging women had to say about our night at Blue Lemon Bistro? Check out these tasty posts (more to come):

• Kami from No Biggie: "They're Smart..."
• April from Sweet Life in the Valley: "Sweet Eats in the Valley * Blue Lemon Bistro"
• Kelsey from VanillaJoy: "Blue Lemon Bistro"
• Jyl from Mommy Gossip: "The Best Part of On Is Off" (scroll down to the bottom of this post for the part about Blue Lemon Bistro, but the whole post is a great read!)
• Vanessa from I Never Grew Up: "Saturday: Shop!--Going Out to Eat as a Family"
• Liz from Say YES! to Hoboken: "Blue Lemon Bistro"
• Vanessa from Little Window Shoppe: "Blue Lemon"
• Azucar from The Jet Set: "Blue Lemon Confidential" (Ah, the memories--thanks, Azucar!)
• Lindsey from the r house: "blue lemon bistro"
• Allison from Petit Elefant: "blue lemon bistro."
• Marie from Make and Takes: "Blue Lemons and Blogging Babes" ("blogging babes" pretty much nails it!)
• Lindsey from Cafe Johnsonia: "Local Stuff: Blue Lemon Bistro" (some great behind-the-scenes photos)
• Kim from Simply Me: "Blue Lemon = Deliciousness" (more great photos!)
• Stephanie from Stephmodo: "Blue Lemon Bistro"
  

Photo courtesy of Kami over at No Biggie