Hotter'N Hell part 2 El Norteno

That Friday evening after we toured the Convention center we decided to grab some Mexican food that was close by. Parking and driving anywhere was pretty out of the question since this small town was flooded with 14,000+ extra people. Luckily this place was no more than a 2 minute walk. Very ideal after a long day in the heat, fixing bikes, setting up tents, etc. Though it was late and we had not eaten anything besides the Clif bar samples for a while (that was one of the highlights of the trip, Clif is pretty good) there is no doubt that this was one of the better hole in the wall Mexican restaurants I have eaten at.

Though the place looks big the right side is for To-Go food and the left side is for sitting down. There were about 10 tables inside and they had a small TV with some Spanish soap running. The walls were decorated with a variety of items and the whole place definitely had the vibe of a whole in the wall Mexican restaurant. There were only 3 people working. One cook/To-Go guy, One waitress, and the waitress's kid who would help every so often. We were the only ones in there at first but as soon as people saw us go in about 10 others took the chance at this Spanish named venue. Sadly this slowed things down but in general the service was OK considering all of the above

I ordered a chopped steak melted with some white goat cheese and fresh veggies on top. It was very good and kept getting better the more I ate it. My dad ordered some Pork taco items that he said he liked. I order a Dos Equis but I was surprised they didn't have any Sol, one of my favorite Mexican beers. Then again it was probably more expensive and it didn't look like any beer advocate from Wichita Falls was going to El Norteno for a unique beer.

Rating: 8/10 Great

I will eat here again next year if I do Hotter'N Hell next year.

Hotter'N Hell Review Part 1 Bono's Chophouse and Saloon

Bono's Chophouse and Saloon

http://www.bonossaloon.com

My father and I ended up at Bono's around Decatur Texas on the way the the Hotter'N Hell in Wichita Falls. This place was probably the best thing we could have hoped for on that 3 hour car ride. There wasn't much else on the way besides what we could of gotten in Denton. This place was big. The picture doesn't do it justice but the roof seemed to exceed what I would have though had been a sensible height. It was pretty neat and you could tell it was the towns cool place to go on weekends to listen to bands. Bono's must be fairly new and if it isn't it at least least looked that way.

 Me and my dad ended up with buffalo burgers(with the works + Jalapenos and Mushrooms) with sweet potato fries. Needless to say it was delicious. It took a while for it to come out (20-30 minutes) considering that there were only 2 other tables in the whole place but the food sure hit the spot. We ended up doing the same thing on the way home except I tried the beer battered fries which were pretty good as well.

 Rating: 9/10

Since the second time around they were able to make the burgers a little faster I decided to bump the to a 9. I am a sucker for wild game plus they had tons of barbecue I would love to try again some time. I don't think I am going to make the 40 minute drive out there from Denton anytime soon but If I am 10 minutes away I will definitely check Bono's out again.

Denton's Greenhouse Margarita

No that is not a picture of the margarita at Greenhouse but it looks very similar. Sadly the refrigerating unit that keeps the taps cold broke so I ended up with a Mexican mixed drink. The mixture is dispensed from a machine like an ICEE and the drink is as refreshing as one. I do have to say that it is a tad too sweet for me but I think that is how most people like it. This R-rated slurpee is sure to scratch the itch of a margarita lover. Thought I wouldn't say this is anywhere near the best margarita I have had I would also say it isn't the worst either.

How it was tasted: In a margarita glass with salt on the rim at Greenhouse.

Rating: 6/10

1-2= Disgusting

3-4= Not worth the calories

                                                                  5-6= Average

                                                                  7-8= Good

                                                                  9-10= One of my favorite beers

Ziegenbock

This smooth amber beer is a tasty larger. Brewed and only sold in Texas, Ziegenbock is not our states best beer but for the price it is hard to beat. Ziegenbock has a sweet taste and though it is dark in color this beer is not as filling as it looks.

The Labb is a clean sports bar in Denton Texas that sells $1 Ziegens every Mavricks and Rangers game. This is one of my favorite ways to enjoy the sport minus actually being there.

How it was tasted:From the tap in a glass at The Labb.

Rating: 7/10

1-2= Disgusting

3-4= Not worth the calories

5-6= Average

7-8= Good

                                                           9-10= One of my favorite beers

Guest Blogger Preston Bell Reviews Cowboys and Aliens

Preston does not have his own blog but has agreed to throw me a review here and there. 

I had been anticipating this movie for a while now. This movie was entertaining and worth the money I paid for it. Not the best sci-fi film in the world but the idea was interesting and I would go see it again. Aliens coming down to invade Earth during the western times is genius.
Daniel Craig plays the guy who is kidnapped by aliens and left in the middle of the desert. At the very beginning we find him waking up with the strange device on his arm and he has no idea what happened. He has to find out where he is and he eventually finds out the powers of the device when the aliens attack the village. It is a good start to the film and I won't give anything more away, you would have to see the film for yourself. The execution could have been a little bit better throughout the movie though. Acting was pretty decent and the movie will keep you interested throughout most of it. 


Overall, I would give this movie a 7.5 out of 10.

Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale

Oh Dogfish Head. The makers of one of the best IPAs and from what I hear go through a lot of research for all of their beers. This is a dark beer that does not have a strong taste though you can tell that Dogfish Head uses caramelized sugar. This Indian Brown Ale is not very crisp/ carbonated but it gets the job done. This would be a good dark beer to easy novices into more potent tasting dark beers.

How it was tasted: Out of a glass at Flying Saucer in Austin.

Rating: 9/10
1-2= Disgusting
3-4= Not worth the calories
5-6= Average
7-8= Good
9-10= One of my favorite beers

Unibroue Trois Pistoles

You know you are having a Unibroue when you are having a delicious and artistic beer. So besides the epic art what else makes Trois Pistoles so great?

This is a strong dark ale which is refermented in the bottle. Trois Pistoles has a sweet taste as well as a pleasant aftertaste. You only catch a hint of chocolate, brown rum and spices. I ended up drinking this beer by the pool but I would not recommend it. It would be best enjoyed chilled in a glass and sipped on while perhaps smoking a cigar with your friends.


How it was tasted: by the pool. Not recommended.

Rating: 9/10
1-2= Disgusting
3-4= Not worth the calories
5-6= Average
7-8= Good
9-10= One of my favorite beers