We did the Mash

It has been awhile hasn't it? Yes it has.

Broken bones,a wedding and slowly creeping apathy made us decide to give this blog a break. We weren't burned out on pizza so much as we just didn't want to document every time we went out. Truth be told we haven't done any pizza for a few months.

I know. I know what your thinking.

Be that as it may,this blog isn't dead. Haha! It's my favorite time of the year. Halloween. Although the weather has been more like monsoon season.

What better way to come back with some fun Halloween themed food?

I think we did it up right tonite.

Cocktail time with Pinky Tuscadero.

A little interlude.

Okay. On with the fun. I was looking for something to do to get back in the blogging mood. I think we did good,

Those that know me,know I love Halloween. I do to.

Looking around the QC for something different I came across this place.


http://igorsbistro.com/

The Quad Cities Halloween themed eatery. Well? Worth the drive from Eldridge?

Hell Yes!

Wasn't any pizza,but they had breaded tenderloins on the menu let's go!

Some more pics.

As far as I know Igor's Bistro is the only Halloween themed restaurant in the greater Quad City area.

The menu. The menu is pretty small,but don't let that fool you.

The food. Sher and I both ordered breaded tenderloins. Moll got a grilled chicken sandwich.

So how were the tenderloins? Outstanding. As good as Stouts from Clinton IA.

They do have a limited breakfast menu that looked as good too. Will we go back?

Hell yes we will. If only to try the rest of the menu. The Halloween theme is just the frosting on my pumpkin flavored best time of the year.

A few more pics.

It feels good to be back to some good time pizza and whatever food blogging.

We needed some time off and we hope you enjoyed our return.

Scott,Sher and Moll

Cheese Pizza Part Dough

So we got to see one of my fave guitarist's last night. Chris Duarte as usual played lights out!

Like last year we ventured over to the greater LaSalle/Peru Illinois area to visit with friends,see Chris and eat some outstanding BBQ. I'm sure I've said before that BBQ is not really one of my faves,but.

Our visit to see Chris and eat Q was at Haze Smokehouse. And of course to reconnect with Ron and Gail too.

https://www.facebook.com/hazesmokehouse/

So this isn't really a deep down Pizza Blog review,more of a recording of the fun from last night.

Okie dokie on with the show.

Now Scotty,what does to title of this blog have to do with Cheese Pizza? I'll tell you why.

Haze Smokehouse is owned by the singer from Cheese Pizza. Lee Pakula and his wife Keegan.

https://www.facebook.com/CheesePizzaTavernTour

Had a chance to grab Lee for a pic. Lee and his wife run a tight ship at Haze so go there.

Our good friend Gail,the wife and I before we started melting from the heat. And lord there wasn't much of a breeze on the patio last night. Wish I could have grabbed a pic with Ron.

So Chris shows up and starts his warming up.

5 o'clock,right?

Let's get to the meat of it,shall we? I'm not sure what everyone at the table ordered. I do know some bacon was passed around.

The wife ordered a pulled pork sandwich. I grabbed some and Haze's pulled pork is off the hook!

 As for myself. I've been waiting almost a full year to get Haze's smoked chicken wings. I doubled down and ordered the twelve pack this year. I love chicken wings and let me tell you. Smoked chicken wings are why we put up with this thing called life. It's a party goin on in my mouth! I could make those bad boys a regular habit if I lived any closer.

I dunked the wings in this sauce.

The end.

So I had had a few rum and cokes before we got there. After we ate I seriously started to sweat. And it was a warm one and still is. I'm melting!

Time for some Blues!

Chris's drummer. Mike Peters. I can say they had a fill in bass player but that guy played pretty damn good for never playing with Chris.

After dark when fun things happen. And the bugs come out.

Things got a little Hazy.

A few final thoughts and ramblings.

First off. I love blues music(ask my wife). To get to see Chris Duarte up close and personal like this is what makes me get up in the morning. I did not stalk him like last year,but sooner or later I'll get another pic and have a quick chat with him. He doesn't bite and seems to genuinely enjoy talking to and being around his fans.

Go buy his music.

Second. Haze Smokehouse has great BBQ.  The smoked wings are divine. I do know a lot of Cheese Pizza fans too. Strangely enough I have never seen that band,but Lee took the time to snap a pic with me.

Go there and eat.

Third. The Illinois River Valley has a lot of bucket list places that I want to visit. Pizza places.Fried chicken seems to be the thing. All in good time my friends. My checkbook ain't that large. But hey listening to good music,eating good food makes this blog worth doing.

Fourth and certainly not last. It was good to see our friends Ron and Gail last night.

And Sher and I had an awesome time last night. It was nice to adult and I actually behaved myself if you can believe that!

As always

Scotty

Back to where it all began!

It's been a while hasn't it? Yes it has. Graduations,birthdays and other assorted good times has put off a genuine ole fashioned pizza update.

Well today that changes,because we did go back to where my love of pizza began.

A short digression. My love for pizza began back in the mist's of the 70's at some point. Probably at Shakey's on Brady St. Then maybe The Green Pepper in Iowa City. Why bring this up? My Dad who loves pizza more than I do can't get out and about anymore. So the wife and I delivered a Pizza Shack Pizza to him the other day. I even gave him a Front Street Brewery Cherry Bomb Ale too.

What does all this story telling have to do with me? In the way back machine my Dad took me to at that time the holy grail of QC Pizza joints. Frank's in Silvis. Is it still the grail? Let's find out.

The dog and I enjoying this fine day.

The iconic sign. I must say Frank's is the same as it was in the 70's,80's and on and on. The bathroom and the formica table tops are probably original equipment too!

I ordered a small sausage. The wife got a small pepperoni. The kid got Spaghetti and 2 meatballs.

The menu.

So let me just say. We had been to Frank's about three years ago and I'll just say I was really disappointed in the service and quality of the zza.

I'm not sure what happened behind the scenes because our visit today was so much better than 3 years ago.

Our waitress was all over us with  help. We tipped her well for her effort. In the very beginning of this blog I didn't have much good to say about Frank's.

So something has changed and it doesn't matter to me. Obviously the staff got their shit together because Frank's was packed just like back in the day.

For that alone I gave Frank's a good 8.5.

Cheers! Go to Franks!

Scotty.