Mom Can Cook-Take Two and T-Bo's "Supposedly Best" BBQ In Town

Okay, so I have two restaurants that I went to this week. One revisited and one for a work holiday event. Mom Can Cook and T-Bo's House of BBQ.

The first---Mom Can Cook. The last time I went, in October, I was sick, didn't have my sense of smell and taste, and relied on my friend Paola to tell me the flavors. So I decided to go back, try it again, and re-do my review on it before. Won't change my thoughts from before but I'll give more accurate descriptions from my tastebuds this time around.

You can make fun of me if you want, but I ended up ordering the same food as before, minus the Tom Kha, just so that it is fair and the fact I had no problems with those two dishes before! And a bonus that I took home my food this time!

Siamese Fried Rice with Shrimp and Scallops



I'll just say this again--you may think "whoopdy do!", this is just fried rice. NO, this is not just fried rice. This is better than regular fried rice! The flavors have that Thai kick that make it stand out and place this in the "better than normal" category. I thoroughly enjoyed this, but to be honest, I think this was better the first time around. It wasn't bad, but I didn't get that special feeling inside like the first time I tried it. The rice was just a little soggy, was missing the lemongrass, and it was also missing the fried garlic and shallots that I LOVED the last time. I asked the waitress if I could have some on the side and she brought some to me right away. Poured it all on top of the rice and tried again. Gave the rice the kick it needed but still didn't feel the same. They said Mom cooks in the kitchen everyday, but I wonder if she had help that day.

Pad Woon Sen



This time around, I didn't want to try it with the beef since it was overcooked last time, so I chose between tofu and shrimp, and well, shrimp is one of my weaknesses so I chose shrimp. The dish was good, but the flavor was different, which I'm assuming it was because of the protein used in this dish, the shrimp, and not beef.

This time I was able to taste the fish sauce (nam pla ??????), but not enough of it. I actually asked them if I could have more of the sauce because I could only grasp a hint of it and that wasn't enough to hold the dish together, to me. And I really disliked having to do that. It made me feel guilty, but it truly did not have much sauce in the dish. They took the food, added the sauce, heated it up quickly and returned the dish. It was definitely better after. Could taste the flavor, the saltiness, and completed the dish, but again, it just wasn't as special to me as it was the first time around. I really don't know why I was feeling like this that night because it really is unlike me. I dislike change but I also like change and trying new things. Odd combination. I'm weird, I know. :)

And this time, I actually did look for the dessert menu, but there was none! Dessert is basically whatever they have on hand, or how everyone knows it as, the "Special of the Day". What they had on offer that night was Green Tea or Coconut Ice Cream and Fried Banana with Coconut and maple sauce. Of course I chose the Fried Banana because I JUST LOVE banana fried in the many ways that it is utilized in different cuisines and wanted to try out their style of the fried banana. And the fact it was my only option since I can no longer have ice cream (long story, I'll explain in my future blog "2009 Through My Mouth", which I am currently working on).

Fried Banana ????? ???



Fresh banana completely covered with freshly grated coconut, fried to perfection, and served with maple syrup.

I simply adored this dessert. I wanted another one, but had to have some self-control! The outside, the grated coconut, was just wonderful; so crispy. The banana was soft, smooth, and sweet. The combination--flawless, sexy, luring, and satisfying! And I loved the maple syrup with the banana. I actually utilized the sauce; not normal for me. (Not a real fan of most syrups--chocolate, caramel, honey, maple/pancake syrup :), butterscotch...etc) This won't mean I will be indulging in maple syrup from now on, but I will always enjoy this fried banana with the syrup. Pair well with eachother. Overall, satisfied and no issues. I recommend!

My friend Jessica got the Green Tea Ice Cream and of course enjoyed it.



Overall, good food and I would go back. Jessica said she would go back as well. The only issue I had was that I didn't get the same special feeling like I did the first time around. The food is really good and not at all putting anything I had that night down. Maybe it was just my mood before I got there? Not sure. As for the people, I LOVE the owner and his staff. I love the fact that he remembered me when I arrived there. He is very good at recognizing faces. Good experience, humble environment, and still makes you feel like you are in a restaurant in Thailand (again, I am assuming)!

Next up, we have T-Bo's House of BBQ

I'll make this quick, unlike the staff there with our meals. Went there Thursday night for a work holiday party. While there, I realized I could take what I had there and put it on here! Everyone at my table got a kick out of it, especially since it gave us all something to do for the amount of time we were there.

The whole night was just lagging. Got there at 7:00pm, saw that there was only one waitress for around 60 people. Really?!? I was literally at the forgotten table with a couple other coworkers. Everyone was enjoying their appetizers and after awhile, one of us alerted the waitress, who acted surprised that we were the only ones with no appetizers. I'm not blaming her for a poor start of the night, more like the whole restaurant staff in general. They finally got another waitress to help out, which did help a little but not a whole lot. The menu was planned in advance so the whole night shouldn't have been difficult. Everyone just assumed the food was made already and just needed to be "microwaved" :-P.

So here is what we had...

Appetizers

Pickle chips, Spinach Artichoke Dip, and Mad dog bites.



Pickles were fried with a regular flour, salt, water dough. Different and I did actually like it. Spinach Artichoke Dip was off to me. Don't think I really liked it, except for the cayenne pepper on top, which gave the dip a kick. I think it was the cream of the dip that gave me that odd taste. Didn't fancy it. The Mad dog bites were more like rubber dogs. I liked the concept, I'll give it that, but I don't think any of us could eat it. They basically did the same thing with the pickle and batter and fried the mini hot dogs. Literally couldn't bite into the hot dog. So rubbery. The pickles were the only hit of the appetizers.

Next up, the salad. There were three salads to choose from; I chose the Orange Salad.



I really don't know if I want to get into this, so I'll just make it quick. The salad was made up of mandarin oranges, granny smith apple slices, gorgonzola cheese, burned and stuck together candied pecans, raisins (why, I don't know), lettuce, and an odd tasting vinaigrette--citrus flavor but with an odd pairing. They said there would be jicama in this salad and there wasn't. Would have liked to enjoy the salad with it. The only parts of this salad I liked were the oranges, gorgonzola cheese, and just slightly, the pecans--just complaining because I have never seen a salad with chunks of pecans stuck together like the ones in our salad bowls. I'll just say poor execution of the salad.

Next up, they forgot the soup and went straight to the entree, which was late by the way. Party was supposed to end at 9:00pm. We got our food at 9:30 while some tables were already ordering dessert. When we had got our meals, we had also asked for to-go boxes since none of us really wanted to eat so late. Had many options with the pulled pork, BBQ smoked chicken, salmon, 1/4 rack of baby back ribs, and brisket. I wasn't really hungry to begin with so I just chose the BBQ Smoked Chicken. There were several options for the sides to choose from and made the decision to get the garlic mashed potatoes and BBQ beans.



Chicken skin was crisp and I loved the BBQ sauce. Only things I liked on the chicken. The chicken was dry. Ate a couple bites and put it in the to-go box. I had promised my friend at work beforehand that I would share the food with her at work the next day since she wasn't able to attend. (I gave her the whole chicken.) I will not complain about the sides though. I really did love the garlic mashed potatoes and BBQ beans. The mashed potatoes had the right amount of garlic, not too overpowering (though I love garlic so I wouldn't have disliked it otherwise!) and the BBQ beans had that spicy and sweet flavor that I am always fond of. I didn't give her the sides! :)

Last but not least, we had ordered dessert when we had got the to-go boxes so that we wouldn't have been so far behind (at this time there were about 4 servers, which made things move more smoother). Choices were: Cow pie (?), Carrot Cake (!), Peanut Butter pie (iffy), T-Bo's S'mores (YUM!!), and Lemonade pie (interesting!). Two people at the table ordered the carrot cake, which I'm sure it was good because I love carrot cake! One ordered the Lemonade Pie.

(At this time, my camera chose to die so remainder pictures come via my phone.)



Basically a lemonade-flavor ice cream pie with a really crumbly graham cracker crust. I had a bite and it wasn't bad at all. Her husband ordered, I believe, the Cow pie, which he didn't get because one of the waitresses gave his order to someone else. He then ended up ordering the T-Bo's S'mores to go, of course after looking at mine.

Yes, you know it! I ordered the T-Bo's S'mores to-go because you know I fall to my marshmallow weakness easily!


Seriously how good does that look! I might have to go get my leftovers after writing this!

How it looked like in the to-go box. Not as appetizing or pretty but remember---Don't judge anything by its looks until you try it!

It is made up of again, crumbly graham cracker crust, a brownie, topped with marshmallows, and chocolate sauce if you want it. I didn't. And I don't think it needs it. Really, I just fell in love with this. It was sooooo good. I let it cool down because I liked it better slightly cool/warm than when it was hot. I believe I made a perfect choice for dessert! When we all got dessert at our table, it was 10:40pm.

*Shockingly, I did bring some of it to work for Lacey, which she was SO excited because---ONE, she said it tasted like Heaven--she loved it and TWO, do you know how hard it is for me to give up anything with marshmallows in it?!?! VERY hard. She knows that and she better think I'm a great friend. She said my director told her that I am a very selfless person.

In the end, I give T-Bo's House of BBQ 2 1/2 hearts: ??1/2. Honestly, this really has nothing to do with the waiters. I blame management for not having sufficient staff for a party that was planned ahead of time. Very unorganized. I've been to a couple work parties through this company (going on 4 years) and this party was the only one that was off. Anyways, I'm not judging the party, I'm critiquing the restaurant. The 2 1/2 hearts is because of the food. I really didn't like any of it. The only things that stood out to me were the fried pickles, entree sides, and the dessert. Wasn't too impressed with the whole meal. I'm sorry.

Would I go back? Probably not. If I did, it wouldn't be coming out of my wallet. I might just go back for the dessert, but then again, I could just make it whenever I was craving it! ;) It isn't a complicated thing to do.

There you have it. Two restaurants--two different reviews. Next up should be two new restaurants--Argentine and Vietnamese. And a recap of 2009 Through My Mouth to follow after.