Rascals: Apple Valley

This past Friday night my family and I headed out to one of our favorite places to enjoy a nice quite, home cooked meal. Rascals Bar and Grill in Apple Valley, tucked behind the Wal-Mart in a little strip mall, has been a favorite for several years now. They offer something for everyone, kids included, from homemade meatloaf (my fav.) to BBQ Ribs, Hot Open Faced sandwiches and great burgers and bar food. The specials are some of the best South of the river with $3.99 burgers and fries on Mondays to Kids eat free on Sundays. All summer long, they offered happy hour drink prices open to close and an all you can eat Walleye (yes it is real) on Fridays for $9.99.

I had a craving for a good old fashioned homemade meal a few weeks back and didn't feel like making anything. We headed out to Rascals and I had just that, some of the best meatloaf other than that I used to enjoy growing up as a kid. While we were waiting for our food to arrive, we started searching through the little drink menu/table top decoration that every bar/restaurant has these days. Inside I found a page with bar specials and it just slapped me in the face. They now have a Juicy Lucy. After seeing this, I was going to order one and hope I had enough room after I enjoyed my meatloaf, but that didn't happen. Now I had an excuse to make my way back to Rascals in the very near future.

We decided that tonight we were going to sit in the bar area with the three kids and just have a some appetizers and a Juicy Lucy while the kids enjoyed some kiddie cocktails and playing with the games. My wife and I also decided that tonight was going to be one of our two times a year playing "cardboard crack" aka, pull tabs. While we waited for our first round of apps to come out, I put my $20 into a box and let the kids pull some of them. The wife and I were all done with ours, and not even a $1 winner until the 5 year old pulled one and she says "Mom, it has a big red line on it, what does that mean"? I grabbed it and she had hit a $200 winner. SWEET.. Dinner was paid for and then some. After tipping out the Pull Tab Lady and replacing my $20, we were up $160.

So the first round of Appetizers arrived along with the kids meals for the two girls. We ordered skins and cheese curds. They were OK, nothing over the top, but hit the spot for a Friday night. All through the time were were eating our first round of apps, the owner of Rascals came over to give us a visit. One of the nicest ladies I had ever meet and was very accommodating and entertaining to my kids. I tried to pawn them off on her, but she wasn't interested. She wanted to make sure we were getting everything we needed and made sure we not only were enjoying our food, but that we were enjoying our visit (I wish more restaurant owners cared this much).

Now onto the Juicy Lucy. What you are about to hear is something that pains me to write as Rascals is my #1 restaurant to take my kids to and I have never had a bad meal here, but the Lucy was nothing more than a 1/4 lb cheeseburger. Maybe this has something to do with my all time favorite meal and my two all-time favorite restaurants. Both the Buffalo Tap and Rascals are a toss-up as our main staples as far as visiting at least once a week and both offer Juicy Lucy's. And both places are some of the worst Lucy's around. Oh well, it still doesn't change my opinion on Rascals as a great locally owned restaurant that serves up some damn good food at a fair price.

Overall, I cannot even call this a Lucy. From the picture above, it appears as if they took one piece of cheese, tore it in half, placed 1/2 inside and the other 1/2 on-top. The burger was good for only $5 for the 1/4lb burger and a full basket of fries, but PLEASE take this off your menu as this is an embarrassment to all other Juicy Lucy's in this great state.

Tin Cup Restaurant and Bar - St. Paul

Playing around on the internet this afternoon,I came across a new Juicy Lucy restaurant in Saint Paul that I have never heard of, Tin Cup Restaurant and Bar. Apparently Tin Cup closed down last year and new owners have remolded the place and created a whole new restaurant all at the same time buy getting his hands on a chef who comes from a very reputable "old persons" restaurant.

The only reason why I am writing about them with out visiting them yet is, they have a Juicy Lucy eating contest. Now, the contest is just about impossible for anyone who is normal or somewhat messed in the head, probably myself included, but where is the fun in not trying. They have 10 or so Lucy's to choose from, some of them may require multiple visits to this establishment as some of them are the most creative I have seen to date. Here is the line-up of Lucy's on the menu.

The Challenge consists of devouring not one, but two, one pound Lucifer's. If that wasn't enough, you will also be required to eat two pounds of fries and for desert, just one bowl of coleslaw. Just when you thought it was impossible to accomplish, you MUST do all this in 30 minutes. If you succeed, the entire meal is free. Do not plan on just showing up to take on this challenge as they require advanced notice.

Anyone up for a challenge?

Cedar Avenue (stuffed with American cheese and topped with sautéed onions)

Lucifer (stuffed with pepperjack and jalapenos and topped in Diablo hot sauce)

Dirty Lucy (stuffed with bleu cheese, green olives, jalapenos, onions, & cream cheese)

Juicy Luciano (stuffed with tomato bruschetta & three cheeses)

The French Dipper (stuffed with Swiss cheese, caramelized onions, and served with au jus)

South of the Border (covered with taco seasoning and stuffed with six cheeses, jalapenos, black olives, and tomatoes. Topped with pepper jack, shredded lettuce, tomatoes, jalapenos, and black olives. Served with salsa.)

Big Mean Greenie (stuffed with cream cheese, avocado, and red onion. Topped with bleu cheese and pesto.)

The Inside Out California (stuffed with American cheese, pickles, and tomatoes. Topped with bacon, lettuce, and tomatoes.)

Eggcellent Lucy (stuffed with Swiss cheese and bacon. Topped with American cheese, caramelized onions, a fried egg, and Texas Pete hot sauce.)

Reader review crew at the MN State Fair: Metromix.com

Here is the full picture gallery and article on my experience at the State Fair compliments of Metromix.com.

Reader review crew at the MN State Fair

This is one experience that I will never forget. I mean, free trip to the fair to enjoy beer and food. It's a little boys dream come true.

Was I surprised at the food line-up? Completely threw me for a loop as everyone has their own perception on what is iconic state fair food. Was I disappointed at the food line-up? Absolutely NOT! It took me away from my "comfort food" and made me try things that I would never have tried. The one food item that I will take away and be first in-line this coming Saturday, Turkey-to-Go! Sarah couldn't have summed it up any better, "Sorry Dad, better than any Turkey-Day dinner I have ever had"!

The two other Reader Review Crew Members selected were absolutely perfect in every way. They each brought a different perspective on why we love this State Fair. The three guests, were a ton of fun and Sarah, what can one say? One of the most wonderful hosts and people I have ever crossed paths with (maybe it was because she was the one with the $$$ for the free food, no, not really). And to buck-up in 90 degree weather while carrying an unborn child, what a trooper.

Etta, calling me moments after the article was posted and the message she left with me, something that I will always remember.