Tag: amy westerman

Food Review: Gettin’ Basted in Branson

Gettin’ Basted is a newer restaurant that is climbing the Yelp and TripAdvisor ranks very quickly. I’m always looking for food that isn’t very typical of Branson- so nothing Southern, including barbeque. But these reviews were too good to pass up. So, I checked it out, and I am so glad!

ENVIRONMENT

I would not have known about this new place unless it were for online reviews, since it is hidden in the retro diner in the Starlite Theatre. However, the food truck full of about 8 smokers outside of the theatre helps give a tasty-smelling hint.
However, the diner inside is super cute and helps fit in with the Branson theme.

MENU

(https://www.facebook.com/pg/GettinBasted/photos/?ref=page_internal)

This menu, posted on their Facebook page, is about what you would except- lots of barbeque.  However, there are more salads, sandwiches, and sides than I expect from a typical bbq place. And they have beer and wine!

While I first ordered the Burnt & Bleu salad, they said they were out of burnt ends, and usually that’s the first thing they run out of. So, eat here early if that’s what you’re craving.

FOOD

Pittsburgh Sandwich- $9 with one side
Description: Texas toast, smoked bologna, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, mayo, mustard, fried egg

Apparently, I’m a sucker for a bologna sandwich and this was no exception. The bologna was also pan/ griddle seared and was a great texture without being overly smokey or too thick (which can be off-putting). The fried egg was PERFECT with some yellow yolk running all over the sandwich. The other toppings were in great proportion as well, with the mustard adding that delicious tang. Oh, it was good.
The chips I ordered for a side (I first went with the steamed veggies, but our helpful waitress warned me that today it was going to be just steamed broccoli….so I ordered the chips instead). These were fantastic house-made chips. They weren’t greasy, super crisp and seasoned well. I even took most home, there was a ton, and ate on them for another couple days without them getting stale.

Pulled Pork Plate- $12
Description: 1/2 lb of pulled pork with two sides

Drew got this dish (of course I got half) and with the help of our waitress, ordered amazing sides. The potato salad has won awards, so we went with that one. And I already knew from the Yelp reviews that we needed to try the Poblano Cream Corn Brule, which surprisingly has no cheese! Both were hits, and I want to make that corn dish at home now.
The pork was A LOT. We took over half of it home, but it was very good. Smokey, juicy, with a little sauce over the top. The sauce wasn’t overly sweet or thick, it had a little tang, which I really enjoyed.
Also, both of these plates came with some house-made pickles, which were a great addition to the richness.

OVERALL

I will definitely visit this place again. Not only was service fantastic, the prices seemed fair for all the food you get, but the food (especially the sides which can fall flat at many bbq joints) was VERY memorable. Give this place a shot, even if you don’t LOVE barbeque like me, you’ll still be very impressed.

Food Review: Chang Thai in Sherwood

I have heard from only two friends about this place, and they love it. However, I hardly ever go to Sherwood. One Friday night we decided to finally try it, and I’m glad we did. Here’s the breakdown:

Environment

Chang Thai is located on Hwy 107 in a small shopping center.

It is certainly nothing fancy, but it large enough to seat quite a crowd. Our waitress was very nice and knowledgeable about the food, which is always a plus.

The Menu

Their menu is quite expansive, with everything playing within the Thai category. However, many items were given unique twists. For example, you can get regular Pad Thai here OR an egg-wrapped Pad Thai…I’m going to have to try that one day. Everything sounds so delicious, it was very hard to narrow it down, so I tried not to go too narrow.

You can find their menu HERE on their Facebook page.

The Food

What I wanted to try was the Meing Kham. With a picture of 5 large spoons filled with large bite-size servings, it includes ginger, coconut, cashews, shallots, and lime wrapped in a Betel nut leaf with a tamarind coconut sauce.
Right?! I was so excited. But no, it is “seasonal” and they didn’t have it. So, I guess I’ll return in the summer?

Sesame Balls (8) $3.75
Description: Deep fried glutinous rice balls with sweetened red bean paste filling.
Our table of four shared these three appetizers. I love sesame balls, but if you have never had them, they are really sweet (even though red bean paste doesn’t sound like it) and a dense, but soft texture with a little crunch and nuttiness on the outside from the sesame seeds. They are great! These could have been cooked a little longer for me, but I like everything but steaks cooked longer than most people. 

Por-Pia Sod, Fresh Spring Rolls (2) $3.75
Description: Fresh organic baby spinach, shrimp, fresh basil, and shredded carrots, rolled in rice paper and served with tangy peanut sauce.
This was the most impressive appetizer to me. It was extremely fresh and bursted full of flavor. I will definitely get these again.

Tao Hoo Tod $5.00
Description: Crispy fried tofu served with sweet and sour sauce with crushed peanuts.
I love fried tofu and this one was cooked a little longer than other places where I’ve had the dish. I loved it this way, but most would consider it too dry and crunchy. There was no flavor in the tofu and I love it when they marinate the tofu first to give it some taste. But it was still tasty dipped in the sauce.

 

Small Tom Kha (Galanga Coconut Soup)
Description: Aromatic herb soup with coconut milk, galangai, lemon grass, kaffir lime leaves, mushrooms, onions, and fresh lime juice

Wow! Hands down, my favorite Tom Kha. I had options to order with chicken, vegetables, or tofu. I decided to try the veggie option and I’m so glad I did. Besides the normal veggies that already come in it, there was a ton of others: broccoli, carrots, extra mushrooms, etc. They were fresh and cooked perfectly in the soup, so they still had good chew.
But that broth! It was thicker than any other version I have tried. It was flavored perfectly (I ordered it a medium heat ,5/10) which ended up being spicier than most versions I have had, which are hardly spiced at all. It was still sweet and rich, so the heat matched it perfectly.
*They asked if i wanted the small or large, even though the small is not listed on the menu. So, I am not sure how much this costs. But the large is $9.

 

Yum Neua (Thai Beef Salad) $9.00
Description: Grilled beef mixed with Chang’s chili-lime dressing, red onion, tomato, scallions, and cilantro.

This was the most disappointing dish. If you read my blog, you know I am a huge fan of Thai beef salads, and I have had many by now. This one is undoubtedly my least favorite.
The only lettuce is thick cut romaine. The beef was overcooked and hard to chew. And I ordered it at a 5/10 spice, and that was too spicy for me. It was good, but after a few bites, I had to break for Panang to cool off.

 

Panang Curry $9.00
Description: Panang curry cooked with rich coconut milk, ground peanuts, bell pepper, and basil.

What a steal! With the curries only being $9 for chicken or pork, I figured they would be smaller portions. Nope! This came in a huge bowl with a ton of sliced pork. The pork was tender (which can be an issue at other places) and the panang was delicious! It was peanut-y just like I like it. We ordered this one’s heat 3/10 (which the waitress said was a “medium” to most people that aren’t of the Thai culture) and that was just right. Just a  kick, but didn’t start hurting you after a few bites.

Pad Thai $9.00
Description: Rice noodles stir-fried with eggs, bean sprouts, scallions, crushed peanuts, and homemade sauce. Garnished with fresh bean sprouts and lime wedge.

I didn’t try this one, but it was pretty! And our friends said it was good.

 

Overall

I love the prices and portion sizes and I had some of the best versions of Thai food here, and one of the worst.