Ruby River Steakhouse

It has been a while since I ate there, but an even that my taste buds will not soon forget. Since I moved to Provo, I have been trying to avoid chain restaurants and eat more at the little places that can only be found in Provo. However, I think I have only eaten at Ruby River once in my life before recently, if that. I must start out by giving a shout out to my Aunt Lola and Uncle Robert who treated me, along with my cousin Cathy to this delicious meal. So I think I will go through each item I enjoyed off of the menu. I almost want to say that I am going to go through it from least to greatest, but I hate to call anything I ate there the 'least.'

Steamed vegetables were wonderful. Of course I like steamed vegetables and the fact that they are vegetables is probably why they earn the position of 'least.' It's an item that doesn't seem too difficult to get right and when done right, there's not much to distinguish it from some other place that does them right. Anyway, these were done right. Not to mushy, but not so crisp that you might as well be eating raw vegetables. They really were just right.

Bread was really good. I remember liking it and wanting to eat more and more of it, but I can't quite remember why. It was obviously fresh and good. That's all.

Baked potato with the works (minus chives - no need for those). This was amazing. It was also perfectly cooked. Not overly cooked to where it is leather and not raw and under cooked. Just right. The kind of potato you would use a s model to teach culinary arts students how a potato should feel when you stick it after baking. The ingredients were quality all the way around, which is appreciated, and at Ruby River they dip your baked potato in a batter and fry it, which adds quite a delicious flavor to the whole experience.


The steak was excellent. I think at some point someone requested A1 sauce, which I love and usually enjoy on my steak, but I don't remember if it was ever brought to the table. Also cooked perfect to my liking, the meat was tender and nice. Not chewy or tough by any means. And the reason that no sauce was required was because it was so well seasoned and flavored that it did not need anything else. One of the best steaks I have had in a really long time.

Finally, and this may seem strange coming in as the best part of the meal, especially considering how wonderful the steak was (and I'm not joking or exaggerating on that part), but the must try for everyone going to Ruby River Steakhouse is their home brewed Cream Soda. I must confess, I have never had hand crafted cream soda before, so I don't have much to compare it to, but it was manna in beverage form. Absolutely the best soda I have ever had. A definite 'do not miss' the next time you are in Ruby River Steakhouse.

Best Cupcakes in Utah County

It just so happens that there is this amazing cupcake place in Provo. I know what you are thinking--It's a cupcake, how great could it be. Aren't basically all cupcakes created equally? I thought the same thing until I discovered (thanks to the recommendation of a law school friend) The Cocoa Bean. It really is an amazing place, so much that I have gone there with the girls that my roommate and I home teach, with dates, with my family, with my friends from out of town--yeah, I seem to find a lot of excuses to go there. But the goodness of this Cupcake Cafe does not end with the cupcakes. Their gourmet hot chocolate is absolutely divine and I believe it is made from roasted cocoa beans. I have yet to try their Italian Sodas (and I usually love Italian Sodas) but I am sure that will happen when the weather warms up. As for now, I have been taking advantage of the hot-chocolate-weather to enjoy these wonderful flavors. It is a bit more expensive than you are probably accustomed to paying for when buying a cupcake and hot chocolate, but that is the price of quality and here you really are getting the best. My favorite so far: Mexican Artisan Hot Chocolate with a Madagascar Vanilla Vanilla Cupcake (yes, two vanillas), but you really can't go wrong with anything they have to offer. Check out their blog and their cupcake schedule, since they rotate the flavors of cupcakes each day and be sure to stop in for some of their delicious yumminess. (I can't believe I just used the non-word 'yumminess,' but then I am critiquing cupcakes, so there you have it.)

http://thecocoabeancupcakecafe.blogspot.com/