Moose Tracks. The first I ever saw of it was in my local Tom Thumb grocer’s freezer section. The fiance informed me that it was a legitimate ice cream flavor, but I was rather bewildered by the number of options. I finally settled on taking home Extreme Moose Tracks by Safeway Selects…fudge, chocolate, and more fudge! No surprise that the gallon container I purchased didn’t last a week in my fridge.
So where did Moose Tracks come from and get its funky name? A Google search turned up the home site for Moose Tracks and Denali Flavors, who apparently makes ice cream products for several major grocery retailers. In their FAQ it states:
Like many brands, Moose Tracks is not meant to be a description of the product. Just like “Tide” is a brand that doesn’t describe that the product is a detergent or “Snickers” doesn’t describe a candy bar, Moose Tracks isn’t meant to describe the product it represents. It’s simply a brand name.
How was that name created? It was developed as a cute, quirky, fun name that would generate curiosity and interest in the product. This was then translated into our logo that includes both the moose (head) as well as the tracks (footprints) of the moose.
A crawl of their site reveals 11 combinations of Moose Tracks (including my Extreme Moose Tracks), 5 of which are limited availability. In Texas, Moose Tracks ice cream is branded by 4 different big-name grocers, so it won’t be too hard to find at the neighborhood store!
2625 Old Denton Rd, #700
Carrollton, TX 75006
(972) 483-3600
It didn’t bode well when I discovered that Cobb Switch BBQ occupied the space vacated by another barbecue restaurant. I felt the same concern for the future of that restaurant as much as I felt for Cobb Switch when I walked in on a quiet Tuesday evening after 7pm. I expected a bigger crowd since Cobb Switch is the lone Anglo destination (aside from IHOP) on the corner of Old Denton that is quickly being encroached upon by Asian strip malls and eateries. But what I suspected to be mediocre barbecue turned out to be just that.
I took home the dynamic duo of Texas barbecue meats: brisket and ribs in a two-meat dinner box. The counter staff was courteous and accommodating, even pleased to hear that I wanted crust on my brisket. However, when asked if I wanted barbecue sauce, I made the mistake of answering yes, not realizing they meant to ladle it over my meats. (I realized this too late when I opened my dinner after arriving home.) The counter appeared well stocked with sides that appeared freshly made and inviting; I chose the potato casserole and skillet corn.
There’s something about a barbecue establishment that ought to reek of smoke…sadly I detected none of that, in either the restaurant or the food. I suppose if the sauce hadn’t drowned the meat I might have detected more flavors, but I had already decided that I disagreed with their tomato sauce even more. Yes, I said tomato sauce..and it was more tomatoey than any barbecue sauce I had ever tasted. I considered it a crime to have doused the meat with it. Tender and moist though the brisket or the ribs may have been, I can’t be sure of blaming the cooking method or the sauce. Either way, neither the meats nor the sauce could rise to the occasion and overturn what had become a disappointing and ultimately forgettable experience. (And where was the crusty brisket I ordered?)
Too bad, I rather enjoyed their buttery spicy skillet corn and their potato casserole. Their dinner roll wasn’t half bad either. But if I went just by meat alone–since this is the restaurant’s driving force–then I’m not persuaded to revisit Cobb Switch again. Maybe if they reformulated the sauce, I’d give it a try again.
Buz’s doesn’t have too many items on their menu to flub up. I have ordered their caesar salad twice and found their dressing too runny. Their chicken cutlet was tough and just too flavorless. But I suppose that’s not what people should be ordering at a spud place. The biggest draw here are their potatoes and wraps, and the lunchtime crowds seem to agree. Buz’s offers a decent selection of both and they never fail to satisfy. On occasion they will post specials on the board, and the friendly staff seems always eager to advertise this. This is also the only shop in the food mall to offer smoothie teas…though I have yet to try them. A safe bet for cheap satisfying lunches if you’re in the area.
To think I’ve gone a season without growing my own lilies! The arboretum visit was not enough! It makes me sad that I cannot enjoy the brilliant, oversized blooms any time soon. Ah…if only my cosmos seedlings will start giving me some blooms, I imagine I wouldn’t be so despondent from the lack of lilies.
I’m still scratching my head over the rosemary plant; it still has not stopped browning. I’m also fearful of losing my Coconut Ice lavender…I’ve been studiously ignoring the watering on both of these herb plants to make sure they aren’t suffering from root rot. But with the temperatures broiling outside, I’m not sure how often I should be attending to their water needs…I imagine it’s time to re-pot them and see if amending the soil will improve their chances.
I think the unkillable potato vine is killable. A purple potato vine that shared its new home with a caladium has dropped all its leaves. Not sure if it’s due to overwatering or lack of soil depth. This bears further investigation…
Excellent customer service. The b.b.bop guys were enthusiastic about their place and the food they served. I got a thorough rundown of the counter options, from the 3 types of rice, 3 meats (or 2 extra veggies), to the various veggie and sauce options. I ordered the spicy pulled pork with fresh spinach, steamed broc, and green onions (minus lettuce or cabbage offered), topped with their Chiang Mai Chili sauce. Their regular sized order was nearly too big of a lunch portion for me…I cleaned up every last bite. One thing to note: I did not get the signature plastic bowl that other reviewers have mentioned—they stuck my meal in a foam box. Clean and quiet place, more appealing to the fast-casual lunch crowd, not really a place I would linger in over dinner. Good food, casual digs, great price!
Nothing truly stellar about this all-you-can-eat sushi buffet. The sushi seemed buffet-grade so their freshness is questionable. This is the only place in the area I’ve visited that offers a conveyor-belt for their specialties, handrolls and house sushi/sashimi. There seems to be more Korean choices on their hotbar…though I wished their kalbi wasn’t overcooked and their other offerings spicier. The most memorable food on their spread are their desserts…I’ve been pleased to see sticky rice covered in peanuts and sesame puffs offered amongst the Western-friendly selections like pecan pie and cheesecake–though I can’t imagine anybody enjoying the basil seed jello! The hostesses here were cheery and inviting, but quick to usher you out once they closed down for lunch. I’ve visited Japan House several times for lunch and it seems their prices are on the rise, while their quality continues to diminish. I’m not sure that I’ll be revisiting them in the future unless their food improves.
Standard fast food Japanese eatery offering meats with rice. The menu caters to the business lunch crowd from the surrounding warehouse area…so the flavors are simple. You can’t really go wrong with chicken, beef or pork teriyaki. For the adventurous asian-food neophyte, the gyoza plate beckons. On my last visit I ordered a house special of beef and chicken and requested it spicy…which arrived as ordered with lettuce and steamed rice. I’m not quite sure that I enjoy the jerky-like texture of the beef…but then again, I’m not paying for prime grade steaks either. I also could have done without the lettuce medley, but I suppose that I really didn’t have many choices for veggies. Teriyaki sauce came tableside, in a squeeze bottle, along with the usual condiments: soy sauce and sriracha. Hard not to like this place for what it offers: the place was clean, service and food okay.
