Chicken & Somethin'

Dairy Queen didn't start in Texas and they certainly aren't exclusive to Texas but somehow over the years the fast food chain has really dug its heels into the Lone Star culture.  Imagery of Friday night noshing at the local small town DQ before heading out to the high school game flood the small screen during commercials every fall.

And now they've taken it to the next level by introducing an unusual menu item.  Sure, lots of fast food chains like Taco Bell and Pizza Hut get the headlines but stuffing something into something or taking an odd flavor and incorporating it into your favorite snack but DQ has taken it up a notch by going after Grandma's beat.

Chicken and Dumplings from the drive thru?  Sounds like something that could easily go horribly wrong.  Would you forgo the Hunger Buster for a warm bowl of old school comfort food?  We decided to find out and here's what we got:

So what's the verdict?  They're actually not too bad.  Certainly not in the same category as Grandma's home cooking but better than what you'd expect from a fast food chain.  Not that you would necessarily expect chicken and dumplings at a fast food chain though.

The creamy broth has enough flavor to be acceptable and make up for the obviously processed chicken.  But salt lovers may want to grab an extra packet or too.

The dumplings could have been a little firmer.  As it is, they are slightly mushy.  The dish is probably on the same level as what you might get at a Luby's or Golden Corral type restaurant.  So not great, but definitely a nice and convenient lunch during the 10 days per years of cold weather that we get here in Texas.

But for me personally, Dairy Queen will also be known as the best fast food tacos on the road.  Yeah, that's right.  Try some next time.

Review: Bamboo House

Previously:  East Texas Burger Company 

Typically in Texas (or across much of the U.S.) "Asian Cuisine" is usually found in strip mall buffets filled with radioactive red sweet sour & sauce and deep fried shrimp that would best be used as packing material.  Occasionally though, you can find the rare cherry blossom tree among the thorny briar patch of subpar "Take All You Want, Eat All You Take" establishments.  Which brings us to the Bamboo House in Bonham, TX:

The outside windows boast "Sushi" and "Pho" so that's what we decided to try.  But the menu was fairly extensive and could surely provide enough options for the most eclectic groups of dining companions.  So let's head inside:

The mellow, intimate atmosphere easily lends itself to cozy conversations regarding menu selections and topics like: "Wow, that looks good!  Let me try some!"  We got there a little after the lunch rush so the crowds had gone which makes it hard to gauge the quickness of service with very few other patrons needing to be served.  But everything came out in a timely manner.  So let's start with the first course:

Let's start with something simple:  "Salmon Sushi."  It's a simple starter that's reasonably priced but it sets the scene for a satisfying meal in the simplest way: with the high caliber ginger and wasabi.  You might not think that there is a big difference between great garnishes and mediocre ones but the sinus clearing effect of even the tiniest amount of this wasabi proves that the good stuff makes a big difference.  Let's keep eating:

Course #2: "Tuna Roll"!  Sure, we're keeping it simple as far as sushi goes but it's not too hard to be hesitant when ordering raw fish this far away from the ocean.  But fortunately this one was also a winner and could easily go toe to toe (or fin to fin) with the equivalent from some fancy pants place.  Onward we go:

Final Course: "Pho Dac Biet"  We finished off our meal with a big bowl of their famous pho described in the menu as "Rice noodle soup w. special combination of steak, well done brisket, & meatballs"

The great tasting, flavorful broth compliments the three types of meat, each with their own unique taste.  It's a great finish to a not so common Texas meal and a great way to refuel on the road to your next adventure.