The Halloween Festival, It's About the Food, Not JUST the Fright for this Foodie...

... at The Castle in Muskogee!!

     And although there are some super tasty foods, there is still plenty of fright. No joke, it's scary. There's also plenty of fun stuff for adults and even the kiddos!

      From the Halloween Shop to an actual wine shop... Summerside Vineyards & Winery from Vinita, OK. There's even pony rides and those blow up jump and slide thingies for the little ones...(literally, a little something for EVERYONE!)


      During the daylight, fun-ness for the kiddos...

     ... then at night, scary-ness for the rest of us!!  I kept seeing that ghost bride everywhere!!! Eeeek!!!

     In addition to all the scary sights and sounds, they have serious haunted attractions, even scary hay rides...watch out, don't let the zombies and ghosts in the fields get ya!!

     Okay, ON to the food!!!!!!!  And it has to be said, this food isn't your ordinary "event/fair" kind of food. It is SERIOUS good eats.  Made from scratch everything. Otherwise, I wouldn't be blogging about it. So, I'ma blog on.

     My first stop was the Pauper Eatery...this eatery has a great story behind it. The Barnett family owns it, and although they had a steady flow of hungry scare-tee cats, Bob Barnett took the time to chat with me.

     No! That's not Bob Barnett in the white coat...although I did try to talk to this 
white-haired chef dude but he didn't have much to say (insert shoulder shrug here).

     So, Bob Barnett, owner-proprietor, said they started this about four years ago, from home.  It started when they fixed their kids what they now call Chicken Poppers.  From there, they started doing small caterings which led to events and eventually, a mainstay at The Castle, which they've been a part of about three years now.  This business is successful to the point that it literally put his kids (a son and daughter) through college...that's some good eats for that type of accomplishment!  
     I wasn't hungry yet when I chatted with Bob, but some customers, who were getting their orders, allowed me to take some snap shots of the goodness they were about to consume :-)

 Jumbo Spicy Shrimp and Waffle fries!!!!

 

 Meat & Potato Bowl...with cheese, jalapenos and slow roasted pork.  OMG, I bet the waffle fries soaked up those pork juices!

     Later, I mustered up an appetite (kind of hard not to with the amazing food aromas filling up the night air).  I ran into a friend (hi Kay), and she ordered the Pig Wings, which are actually bone-in pork shanks. You can't imagine the taste...another friend earlier gave me a taste (hi Sherri) and it was just as you are thinking it would taste...

      ...you can wipe up your drool now, there's more to come. Above, Pig wings w/waffle fries.

     I finally partook in some of this (cover your ears/eyes kids) food porn. Yep. I had the BACON WRAPPED Venison Poppers. Words really can't describe the savory, bacon and venison flava-ness that was pleasing my taste-buds. 

Venison Poppers wrapped with smokey, yummy bacon served w/waffle fries.

     I really wish I could've tried everything on the menu but there's no way my tummy would've survived all that food.  Bob said he and the rest of the Barnett family attend and participate in other events such as the Bixby BBQ & Blues and the Coweta Festival. I'm hoping they consider Baconfest Tulsa 2014 and enter that bacon wrapped Venison Popper into the competition!  

     Next, I found my way to the Yummy Mummy Cafe. They served up all types of meat on a stick, including beef, chicken, pork and lamb!! They also served up falafel, crepes and baklava!

      The owners were also super nice. Originally from Israel, they now travel from Austin to Miami and everywhere in between,  serving up this yummy mummy food. Owners Ori and Elani travel with their daughter. Their specialties are Lamb on a Stick, Falafel, and Crepes.  I decided to try the Lamb on a Stick.  It was juicy and had that robust fire-roasted flavor.

                         Lamb on a Stick ... see the juices? Yes you do, yessss, you do.


     There were many other food vendors and eateries on site, but there was only so much I could consume!  This is Kay's daughter, she enjoyed a caramel, chocolate and sprinkle covered apple.  The smile on her face and the splash of choco-cara-sprinkle apple item all over her face says it all.

     Special thanks to the folks at In-House Media, Renee, Ashlei and Beki, you all work your bums off making sure this event goes off without a hitch each year. Also, thanks to Bob Barnett of The Pauper and Ori & Elani of Yummy Mummy for taking the time to visit with me.  I scream, you scream, we all scream for (no not ice cream) food at The Halloween Festival, Haunted Castle of Muskogee!!

For more information on dates, times and happenings at the Haunted Castle of Muskogee, visit http://okcastle.com/halloween/ or visit their homepage http://okcastle.com for other upcoming events.

The Rusty Crane's Rustic Goodness Makes for a Good Day!

 

Today was an awesome day...my sister invited me to watch a great college football team play then, she took me to dinner at The Rusty Crane. We both hadn't tried this place yet so we were famished and excited to stop at this rustic eatery. With our team winning, what better way to top off this awesome day, than with some good eats?





     There was a 15 minute wait for the patio, 30-45 minute wait for inside and there was just TWO of us!  The long wait made us realize this place HAD to be good.  Okay, to be brutally honest, the reviews I'd read made me nervous about trying this place out. I'd read they were rude, slow, and the food not too tasty...thank goodness my sister and I both are "try it for ourselves" type of gals. I never take reviews to heart but it is good to know what's being said, you know, just to prepare ourselves for what to expect.  Here was our experience...  

     ...we were greeted by the hostess with a smile...a little stressed look, but she was friendly nevertheless.  We waited about 17 minutes and then we were seated.  Immediately, a drink server came over and took our drink order. As soon as they brought us our beverages, we were told who our actual server would be. Another ordinary wait and boom, our server was there.  Greeted us with a friendly smile and took our order.  

     We wanted to start with the chips and salsa...my sister, who makes the best homemade guac ever, wanted to taste their version of house-made.  It did NOT disappoint, rich in avocado freshness, cilantro, onions and seasonings. A little heavy on the lime juice, but still absolutely delicious. The salsa was oh so fresco too. I couldn't stop eating the fresh, crispy, perfectly salted chips with these flavorful chip dressings. 

 Chips & Salsa $3.99 Guacamole order added +$2.00

      My sister Chris ordered the spinach salad with baby spinach, black bean hummus, feta cheese, tomato, red onions and sliced almonds, tossed ever so lightly with a balsamic vinaigrette. She said it tasted perfect and delicious, she absolutely loved it. 

The Spinach, baby spinach, black bean hummus, feta cheese, tomato, red onions, sliced almonds, all tossed with balsamic vinaigrette. $8.99 w/grilled chicken $11.99

     I had the Uncle G's Pulled Pork, Crane rubbed pork, slow roasted with house BBQ sauce, red onion & pickles, served on a grilled bun, which has been brushed with butter...mmm, butter. All sandwiches come with your choice of Crane fries or sweet potato fries. Let me just say...sweet mother of potato fries. The pork sandwich was juicy and LOADED with flavor and they put just the right amount of sauce on it.  The sweet potato fries (they should really rename them "sweet mother of potato fries") were perfectly crispy on the outside, and fluffy on the inside, with a dusting of some kind of pepper, like cayenne or something. They had a slight kick to them...gosh, they were good. EVERYTHING was delicious. 

Uncle G's Pulled Pork sandwich with house BBQ sauce, red onion, & pickles, with sweet potato fries (aka, sweet mother of potato fries). $8.99





     The atmosphere was great, the employees were all awesome and friendly. Even though our wait was a bit long for the food, they informed us and followed up, letting us know the status of our wait time AND kept our drinks and chips a flowin'. Super awesome service, food and peeps. So glad we gave them a try. Remember, reviews, be it from critics, diners or bloggers are just stories of their/our experience. I suggest you always give a business a chance. After all, everyone has an off day now and then, but today was not one of them for The Rusty Crane...today, was a good day. Cheers!

Cricket Pizza at the Tulsa State Fair! Chirp, Chirp, Silence!

Did you ever think you'd try a "bug" pizza? Not me, that's for sure. But as I always say, "I'll try anything, at least once."  :-) In this case, definitely just once. 

     If you like to try "outside the box" foods, then by all means, please do! The vendor that sold the now infamous cricket pizza at the Tulsa State Fair, is shown below. I took photos so it'd be esthetically easy to find.

     The pizza itself was typical of fair food. I wouldn't even say it's "truck food" good, but it wasn't terrible. The crust tasted like it was pre-made, and honestly, the sauce did too. Yet, I just HAD to triumphantly order, taste, and consume this "insect" pizza. It wouldn't have been near as horrific if they hadn't all been standing on the pizza, as if they were going to jump up and fight off it's predator or as if they were saluting those of us brave enough to try them. 

     If I ever opted to make an insect pizza, I'd chop them up with a couple of quick pulses in the food processor, then I'd pan fry them before sprinkling onto the pizza. Also, I'd cook the pizza at a high heat so the cheese, sauce and uh (gulp), insects, melted together and at least they would be crisped up a bit. 

     But then again, what do I know about making insect pizza?  I'm just a foodie that'll try anything...hey now! (insert comic drum beat here)  Okay, so I'm no comedian, but if I was I'd hear crickets rather than applause, chirp chirp... bon appetit!

Lone Wolf Banh Mi Mobile Food Truck...their sandwich is as long as their name and OH SO FREAKIN' GOOD!!!!

  

I've heard of it, I've seen the truck, but I had yet to try Lone Wolf Banh Mi, until now.

 They open at 11:30 but I arrived at 11:15 and there was already a line. I've heard this place ALWAYS has a line and that they usually sell out. After having their food, I feel really, REALLY sorry for those that waited in line and missed out.  

 

The menu is simple. You can choose a sandwich with your choice of either pork, chicken or mushroom...I think they give you different choices every time.  And your other item is Kimchi Fries, with your choice of added toppings. See the window pic with menu.

As I waited in line prior to opening, I met some lovely ladies and fellow foodies. This was not only MY first time to visit this mouth-watering food truck, but it was their 

first time as well. When we finally made it to the window to order (it was only a five minute wait, but seemed like an eternity due to the mouth-watering aromas), we felt like we'd just won the lottery getting to order our food :-)

Meet my new fellow foodie friends, Heather Webb, Lisa Myers and  Regina Goodell.

Regina enjoyed some sweet potato fries from a different vendor, whom I've reviewed previously (they're Bohemian).  Heather and Lisa do what I do when I eat with a friend, they each order an item, then share!

Kimchi Fries with a spicy aioli, cilantro, and a fried egg...haaaaah!!!! YUM, or so I think, they offered me a bite but my sandwich was so big, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to finish it. 

I wasn't fortunate enough to have anyone to share my food with, so, I only ordered the Kung Pao Pork Sandwich...it had julienned carrots and I believe jicama, also, Thai chili aioli, cilantro and other spicy, savory tasty-ness.

 Kung Pao Pork Sandwich with julienned carrots and I believe jicama, also, Thai chili aioli, cilantro

The service was quick and friendly. I waited 15 minutes for them to open, but only five minutes from the time they opened, with a line already in front of me. I think they're quick because they don't complicate things. Some food trucks ask you if your order is to go, and they ask other questions that they should just not ask, and just send out the orders their way, like Lone Wolf Banh Mi does.

The ladies loved their Kimchi Fries and sandwich as much as I loved my food. To find out where these cool cats will be next, follow them on twitter @lonewolfbanhmi and/or like them on Facebook at facebook.com/lonewolftruck. I heard it through the grapevine their food was life-changing...sometimes, the grapevine is right. Cheers!