LENTEN LUNCHES IN SOUTH RENO

I’m not a vegetarian but I often eat meatless meals during Lent and at other times, too — because veggies taste good and are good for you (and me).

On Ash Wednesday, I planned to buy a Pepper and Egg Sandwich for lunch.  This item is a Lenten mainstay in my native Chicago.  But a quick Google search for Pepper and Egg Sandwiches in South Reno turned out to be futile.  Sometimes I’ve succumbed to the lure, pun intended, of McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish during Lent. But this time, I wanted something that wasn’t breaded, deep-fried and drowned in Tartar sauce.

I went to Spicy Pickle, 5210 Longley Ln., Suite 100; (775) 852-4440.  My vegetarian lunch choice, the Aphrodite Flatbread Pizza ($7.99), was a winner.

Aphrodite Flatbread Pizza at Spicy Pickle in South Reno

The good-sized pizza featured sliced, fresh tomatoes, artichoke hearts, kalamata olives, red onion, feta, mozzarella and oregano, on a thin, crispy crust, with a pickle spear on the side.  It was colorful, flavorful and not at all heavy or greasy.

I’d order Spicy Pickle’s Aphrodite pizza again, for a Lenten lunch or at any time.

Here’s a quick recap of a few more South Reno spots that serve delicious, meat-free lunch dishes:

Not far from Spicy Pickle, you’ll find La Posada Real, 5270 Longley Ln.; (775) 852-1227. 

Meatless Mexican goodies are available at LaPosada Real

Their cheese enchiladas are great, as are their chile rellenos.  Vegetable fajitas are another satisfying option at La Posada Real.

Returning to the theme of “eggs for a Lenten lunch,” you can’t go wrong with the sensational vegetarian omelettes at Squeeze In, 25 Foothill Rd., Suite 3; (775) 853-6090.

Among my go-to veggie omelettes at Squeeze In are Neighbor Jackson (with tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, avocado and jack cheese) and Gary’s Gord (spinach, artichoke hearts, tomatoes, mushrooms).

 Other veggie combos, with or without cheese, are available, too.

Squeeze In normally serves its omelettes with spuds, toast and a choice of sauce (tomato-pesto, mushroom or cheese).  I often request a side of soup or salad instead of the potatoes — and Egg Beaters instead of whole eggs.  Heavenly and healthy!

Squeeze In veggie omelette made with Egg Beaters and served with salad

Peg’s Glorified Ham n Eggs, 720 S. Meadows Pkwy; (775) 851-7200, is another outstanding place to order egg dishes.  They have veggie omelettes with hash browns and toast but their signature dish, as far as I’m concerned, is their Monterey Skillets with entrees such as Huevos Rancheros or Chile Relleno with Eggs, pictured here:

Peg's Monterey Skillet with Chile Relleno and Eggs

The beans and tangy slaw as sides are outrageously good.  And there’s so much food on these platters that I end up giving my potatoes to my hubby or son.

Asian restaurants are sure bets for Lenten lunches, as well, especially if you want to go vegan.  Remarkable rice or noodle dishes (with shrimp, tofu or just veggies) can be found at Asian Paradise, 1131 Steamboat Pkwy; (775) 870-1788 and Bangkok Cuisine South, 5851 S. Virginia St.; (775) 284-3802, along with Caie’s Oriental Café’, 770 S. Meadows Pkwy., Suite 101; (775) 853-9668.

My son is wild about Pad Thai at Bangkok Cuisine South; he orders it with chicken but you can customize your order to go meatless.

Pad Thai at Bangkok Cuisine South, available with or without meat

And in my opinion, the Kung Pao Shrimp at Caie’s, available with either peanuts or cashews, is superb.

If you’re undecided about what to eat, or you’re lunching with a crowd (including individuals who might not be doing the meatless thing for Lent), a no-fail choice is Whole Foods, 6139 S. Virginia St.; (775) 852-1227.

Whole Foods in South Reno has a vast selection of veggie lunch items!

I love their hot soup bar, which always offers several vegetarian and/or vegan selections.  

They sell pizza by the slice, including plain cheese or veggie.

 

Plus, Whole Foods' salad bar and "Global Cuisine" bar feature a myriad of meatless munchies, including Italian, Indian, American, etc.  But don’t forget that these mix-and-match choices sell for $8.49 per pound. Your personalized smorgasbord plate from Whole Foods may cost more than you expect.

For “grab and go” Lenten lunches that are kinder to your wallet, visit the deli cases at WinCo, 9750 S. Virginia St.; (775) 853-7474 or Smith’s, 750 S. Meadows Pkwy; (775) 851-8060.  Both sell lunch-sized salads and sandwiches such as tuna or egg salad.

With all these Lenten lunch options in South Reno — and these are just a sampling — does one really need a Pepper and Egg Sandwich joint?  Well, yes, it would be nice, but I’ll keep searching.

  

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PACZKI DAY IN SOUTH RENO

Paczki Day 2014 falls on Tuesday, March 4.  If you’re not Polish and/or not from the Midwest, you probably just mumbled, “Whaaat?”

Paczki (pronounced POONCH-kee) are dense, deep-fried Polish pastries filled with fruity jelly or buttercream and often sprinkled with powdered sugar.  They’re gobbled up with gusto on Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) in cities and towns with large Polish populations.  You know, it's the last day to indulge in treats before the beginning of Lent. 

In my hometown of Chicago, everyone is Polish on Paczki Day — just as all of Chicago becomes Irish on St. Patrick’s Day.

Long lines form outside of Chicago bakeries, which sell thousands of paczki packed with blueberry, strawberry, peach, prune, lemon, apricot, any fruit you can name — as well as custard or chocolate cream and sometimes poppyseed.  Note: The singular form of paczki is paczek (pronounced like pooncheck).

Displaced Midwesterners won’t find Paczki Day extravaganzas at the South Reno casinos.  Wouldn’t it be fun to see “Paczki at the Peppermill” become the winter equivalent of Hot August Nights?

Yet imagine my amazement this past weekend, almost a month before Paczki Day, as I walked into the local Smith’s  (750 S. Meadows Pkwy.) and spotted — right in the doorway, next to the shopping carts — a display of paczki. 

They were even labeled PACZKI, not jelly doughnuts or bismarcks as they’d be called in most supermarkets.  My husband teased me, “They must have heard you were in town.”

At Smith’s, the paczki choices  (in containers of four for $2.39) were lemon, strawberry, blueberry, Bavarian Cream and apple.  I bought strawberry paczki but was peeved to find out that the package actually contained apple paczki.  

Smith's apple paczek (mislabeled as strawberry)

It wasn’t a crisis but sort of like asking for Dr. Pepper and getting Pepsi instead.

This morning at Doughboys Donuts  (57 Damonte Ranch Pkwy.), jelly-filled varieties included lemon, strawberry, blueberry, Bavarian Cream and raspberry.  Items here are sold a la carte and I ordered (and received!) one with lemon filling ($1.10). 

Lemon-filled paczek from Doughboys Donuts

In a taste test, I think the Doughboys Donuts version won, not only because I prefer lemon over apple filling, but also because the texture of the dough was lighter.

Do I anticipate that mobs will storm Smith’s or Doughboys on the morning of March 4, chanting, “PACZKI …. PACKZI … PACZKI …?”  

Not really, but both of these South Reno stores are clean, bright and friendly. A safer bet than the grungy-looking Jelly Donut Coin Laundry in Midtown Reno. 

Jelly donuts at a laundromat?  Why?

UPDATE!  Are you fearless enough to try making your own paczki at home?  Here's a link to a video demonstration from Bogna Solak of Chicago's Oak Mill Bakery.  The video is part of the "Poland On A Plate" series that airs on Chicago's Polvision and is sponsored by Krakus Ham.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBLO-flHt5M

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GOOD TIMES AND GREEN BEANS AT SOUTH RENO'S SOUTH CREEK PIZZA

South Creek Pizza, 45 Foothill Rd., may no longer be South Reno’s best-kept secret.  On a recent Friday evening, droves of diners dug into beautiful, Naples-style pizzas handmade from fresh, local and international ingredients.

The busy dining room at South Creek Pizza in South Reno

About a month earlier, on our first visit to South Creek Pizza, my husband and I were surprised when the hostess asked if we wanted to sit at the bar.  There were lots of empty tables, but the hostess explained that we’d be able to watch the kitchen staff prepare our food.  “It’s fun for first-timers,” she promised.

The bar at South Creek Pizza

Sitting at the bar was indeed fun and informative.  The friendly young pizza artist working directly in front of us explained that the pizzas are baked in 90 seconds in a 900-degree, wood-fired, brick oven imported from Italy. 

The special 900-degree oven at South Creek Pizza

Our server presented us with a small, complimentary dish of CeCi, which the South Creek Pizza menu describes as “chickpeas prepared with EVOO, SarVecchio Parmesan, onions, basil, cracked black pepper and chili flakes.”

CeCi at South Creek Pizza

We also ordered an appetizer of Fire Roasted Fresh Green Beans ($6), tossed with bread crumbs and chili oil.  These were extraordinary green beans! 

Fire Roasted Fresh Green Beans at South Creek Pizza

I know, it sounds kooky to rave about a common vegetable, but the preparation was quite interesting.  The chili oil seemed like something you’d find in an Asian eatery, yet our "pizza whisperer" suggested that we save it as a dipping sauce for our pizza crust.  He didn’t steer us wrong.  It was so delicious that we ordered the green bean dish again on our next trip to South Creek Pizza.

As for entrees, on our initial visit to South Creek Pizza, I chose a Spinaci Pizza ($16) while my hubby opted for the Classic Pizza (also $16), both of which are listed on the menu as South Creek Originals.

The Spinaci features tender spinach, fresh mozzarella, Gruyere, ricotta, SarVecchio Parmesan, garlic, cracked black pepper and sea salt.

Spinaci Pizza at South Creek Pizza

The Classic is topped with tomatoes, Italian sausage, fresh mozzarella, roasted red peppers, shiitake mushrooms, basil, garlic, ricotta and sea salt.

Classic Pizza at South Creek Pizza

Both were delightful, even though we’re forever hooked on Chicago pizzas, which have radically different types of crust.  Whether you’re talking about thin-crust, deep-dish or stuffed, Chicago pizza crusts are not at all “bready,” but crisp and often underscored by cornmeal.  Toppings on Chicago pizzas are also much more generous than on those of the Neapolitan ilk.

By contrast, South Creek Pizza’s menu notes, “Our artisan Neapolitan-style dough is made from type ‘00’ flour imported from Italy and is cold fermented for at least 48 hours.  This technique produces a soft, chewy crust … .”

So for me, as a native Chicagoan, and my husband, who didn’t grow up in Chicago but lived there for 20-some years, eating Naples-style pizza with soft, chewy crust seems almost blasphemous.  But life is all about trying new things and in the absence of a Chicago pizza restaurant in South Reno, we can be flexible.

On another trip to South Creek Pizza, this time accompanied by our college student son, we also tried a traditional Margherita Pizza ($14).

Margherita Pizza at South Creek Pizza

The Margherita was dressed with tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, EVOO and sea salt.

Simple, but tasty — and my slight objection is that the toppings were definitely skimpy, as compared to the pizzas to which I’m accustomed.  (More cheese, pretty please?)

Other pizza offerings at South Creek include Originals topped with items such as meatballs, bacon or sliced pears, as well as Guest pizzas inspired by restaurants in New York, New Jersey and right here in Reno (Campo, located downtown).

Also available are cheese and salumi plates, a number of salads, a few desserts, beer and wine.  A couple seated near us, the other night, split a lovely-looking salad.  It appeared to have been the Daggi Salad ($9) with mixed greens, smoked blue cheese crumbles, bacon, grape tomatoes, avocado, red onion and blue cheese dressing.  I’m eager to try that on a future visit.

For more information about South Creek Pizza, visit http://www.southcreekpizza.com/

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ARCHIE'S: ABOVE-AVERAGE BURGERS AND BREAKFASTS NEAR UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, RENO

A new academic year and a new season of Wolf Pack football are approaching, so it seemed like a logical time to try Archie’s Giant Hamburgers and Breakfast, 2195 N. Virginia St., across from the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR).

From Archie's parking lot or upper deck, you'll see the sign for UNR’s Mackay Stadium to the east and Peavine Park, bearing a big “N” for Nevada, to the west.

Looking east from Archie's, toward UNR's Mackay Stadium

Peavine Peak, as seen to Archie's west

My family ate lunch on the ground floor of Archie’s, which looks like your typical small diner.  It’s neat and clean and service is fast and friendly.

We figured we’d stick to the signature items on the menu, burgers and breakfast.  My husband ordered a Giant Cheeseburger with Fries ($9.50).  He said the half-pound burger was flavorful and filling and that the fries were light and crispy.

Archie's famous Giant Cheeseburger with fries

My son chose a Western Burger ($11) minus the bacon, but he liked the tangy BBQ sauce and onions on the burger, which was also a half-pounder accompanied by good fries.

Note:  Archie's features a 2-for-1 burger special for students from UNR and TMCC (Truckee Meadows Community College).  Can't go wrong with free burgers, especially burgers as big as these!

I ordered a Spanish Omelette ($11) including bell peppers, onions, jack cheese and pico de gallo, served with hash browns and wheat toast.  I liked the fact that the toast wasn’t already buttered — I opted to skip the butter — and that the omelette and hash browns weren’t oily.  Everything tasted fresh.  I might have liked a bit of salsa or sour cream; I think I could have ordered those for a extra fee.  I'll consider that next time.   And by the way, you can get breakfast anytime at Archie's!

Spanish Omelette with hash browns and toast at Archie's

We visited on a quiet, summer Sunday afternoon and didn’t go upstairs to Archie’s bar area, but judging from online comments, it’s an interesting place when UNR is in full swing — that is, for the Wolf Pack crowd and maybe some alumni, reliving their drinking days.

As of blog time, Archie’s Web site was under construction.  For more information, call (775) 322-9595 or visit http://www.archiesfamousgrill.com/ .

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SHINY, CLEAN SOUTH RENO DOLLAR STORES FEATURE BARGAINS ON SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND MORE

Recently heard at a fitness class in Reno’s South Meadows area: “That new dollar store is really nice!  It’s a dollar store where I don’t have to fear for my life!”

I don’t think I’ve ever feared for my life while visiting a dollar store, yet I concur that J & J Dollar Store, which just opened in the Village at Double Diamond, 750 S. Meadows Pkwy., Suites 108-109 (next to Smith’s Food and Drugs) is more attractive than most.

Remember that scene in the movie “Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion,” when down-on-her-luck Michele (Lisa Kudrow) got a job at a dismally dumpy dollar store in L.A.?

J & J Dollar isn’t a dump!  It’s bright, clean and well-organized.  And while no dollar store is going to qualify as a place to “see and be seen,” if you’re looking for bargains on school supplies, craft supplies or common household items, J & J could be a smart stop.

Note:  On my first trip to J & J, a sign on the door stated that debit and credit cards were not being accepted.  The cashier told me that this was a temporary situation.  She wasn’t sure when their card approval system would be functional, so until you know that the issue has been resolved, bring cash.

If that’s a problem — or if J & J doesn’t have what’s on your shopping list — another nice, clean dollar store is located just a few blocks away in South Reno: 

Dollar Tree at 9760 S. Virginia St., next to WinCo.

Happy hunting for dollar deals!

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FIVE GUYS BURGERS AND FRIES IN SOUTH RENO: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

After dining at Five Guys Burgers and Fries in South Reno this past weekend, I have crossed this idea off my family’s “to-do” list and renamed it a “to-don’t.”

Five Guys opened at 6395 S. McCarran Blvd. a bit earlier this summer.  Our first attempt at eating there fizzled out because it was too crowded.  This time around, the restaurant was busy but not to the point where every table was full.

As you enter Five Guys, you’ll notice big boxes of peanuts with little cardboard trays and scoopers so that you can help yourself.  This is a novel touch but somewhat surprising, due to the number of children and adults who have peanut allergies.  (Why would a fast food chain choose to alienate a sizable segment of its potential customer base?)

Instead of offering free peanuts, Five Guys would be wise to offer ear plugs.  Between the kitchen crew yelling orders, the music at high volume and kids screaming, this place is very noisy and therefore, not relaxing.  Tables are crammed close together, which doesn't help.

Of course, we weren’t expecting elegance.   It’s a fast food joint.  But would the burgers and fries at Five Guys be as good or better than at nearby fast food restaurants in South Reno?

“In a nutshell,” our answer was no.

The good news is that all toppings for your burger are free and include options such as mushrooms,  jalapeno peppers, A-1 Steak Sauce or hot sauce in addition to the more common ketchup, mustard, pickles, lettuce and so on.

The bad news is that burgers and fries at Five Guys are about what you’d get at a greasy spoon diner in the middle of nowhere. South Reno consumers are not a captive audience.  And the food at Five Guys is also overpriced for being so disappointing.

My Little Hamburger cost $4.09.  My guys ordered a Cheeseburger ($6.59) and a Bacon Cheeseburger ($7.59).  We also bought a Little Fry ($2.49) and two Regular Fries ($3.59 each).  All of the fries were dumped into a large paper bag and we couldn’t quite tell how the portions compared to one another; we just picked out a few gloppy fries at a time.  With a couple of fountain drinks, a bottled water and tax, our tab came up to $37.74.

Little Hamburger and fries at Five Guys

In-N-Out Burger, at 8215 S. Virginia St. in South Reno, has far superior burgers and fries and superior value, too.  The last time I went to In-N-Out with my husband and son, the bill was less than $20.

So it will be interesting to see if Five Guys continues to do brisk business in South Reno, when they’re no longer the new guys in town.  I know that my family won’t go back to Five Guys.

For information about Five Guys, visit http://www.fiveguys.com/ .

To learn more about In-N-Out Burger, visit http://www.in-n-out.com/ .

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HO-HUM PANCAKES AT HEIDI'S IN SOUTH RENO

UPDATE:  As of Spring 2014, this location of Heidi's Family Restaurant is now CLOSED.

This weekend, I finally got around to trying some pancakes at Heidi’s Family Restaurant, 189 Damonte Ranch Pkwy. in South Reno (near Walmart). 

It’s not like my family never goes out for breakfast.  But we’ve become really partial to the South Reno Squeeze In on Foothill Road, home of the “best omelettes on the planet," along with outstanding service and a lively atmosphere.  We also like Peg’s Glorified Ham n Eggs on South Meadows Parkway, which features marvelous Mexican skillet breakfasts.

Those restaurants serve pancakes, as well, but pancakes aren’t prominently featured on their menus.  Heidi’s seemed more like a place that might satisfy my yearning for the kind of pancakes I’ve always loved at the Original Pancake House, which started in Portland Oregon and has several locations in our former hometowns of Chicago and Seattle.  

Obviously, I don’t know the Original Pancake House’s secret recipe, but it makes the humble pancake into something worth going out for, as opposed to opening a box of Bisquick at home.

Off to Heidi’s we gallivanted.  From the parking lot, it doesn’t look like much.

Inside, Heidi’s is unexciting, too. It’s clean and quiet and resembles the weathered home of a little old lady with a weird collection of children’s books, toys and Alpine-inspired curios.

The whimsical (and very quiet) dining room at Heidi's

Pancake, French toast and waffle fans will find many choices on Heidi’s menu.  They serve egg combos and breakfast sandwiches, too.

My husband ordered Three Little Piggies in a Blanket, pancakes rolled around breakfast sausages.  He offered a bite to me; the sausage seemed a bit overcooked.

Three Little Piggies in Blankets at Heidi's

My son opted for a simple short stack of buttermilk pancakes.  Two types of syrup were offered with these: maple and boysenberry.

Buttermilk short stack at Heidi's

I requested a short stack with blueberries.  These were plain pancakes topped with fruit. Blueberries were not incorporated into the batter, as they might be at some restaurants. 

Heidi's short stock with blueberries

 

These pancakes were all right, but definitely nothing to yodel about.  Sorry to say it, yet  I think I actually prefer the inexpensive Bisquick pancakes that I can prepare at home.  (Pancake selections at Heidi's are in the $6-8 range and up, depending on what you order.)

Service at Heidi’s was fine, although it was a bit off-putting that the host seated parties in the booths directly on either side of us when the rest of the dining room was empty.  We were all positioned near a window and my companions joked that this was because the host wanted passersby to spot us and to think that the restaurant was busy.

Heidi’s also has locations in Carson City, Nevada and South Lake Tahoe, California.  For more information, visit http://heidisfamilyrestaurants.com/ .

In my honest opinion, however, if you're searching for exceptional breakfasts in the Reno-Tahoe area, check out Squeeze In or Peg's Glorified Ham n Eggs, both of which also have multiple locations.

Squeeze In: http://www.squeezein.com/

Peg's Glorified Ham n Eggs:  http://eatatpegs.com/

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