WHEN COLUMNISTS RUN OUT OF THINGS TO WRITE ABOUT we write about stuff that we wrote about so long ago, we hope that you don’t remember reading about it the first time. Dining critics do it just a wee bit different. We go back and eat at those places we bashed decades ago to see if perhaps the food got better. Or maybe they have a new chef and the food is now terrific. Or maybe we mellowed over the years.
Since that fateful day in the spring of 1993 when last I ate at Zaidy’s Deli (121 Adams St, 303/333-5336), I’ve written several negative articles about the proprietor, Gerard Rudofsky. Without rehashing all the gory details, suffice to say he screwed me. And I’m the kind of guy who holds grudges for eternity. But I’ve also written positive things about Zaidy’s in that I told you they have the best damn apple pie in town. But I’ve also refused to go into his store, even tho I luv apple pie about as well as anything, ceptin’ maybe buggers and tuna sangies.
The other thing that happened was that I was at a meeting with a client in Cherry Creek and really hankering for some corned beef. So without lotsa thought, I asked the client if he liked delicatessen - that’s the real name for a “deli”, in case some of you have never been to New York. The client responded affirmatively and we walked over to Zaidy’s. As I’m sitting at a table realizing what I had just done, I rationalized to myself that there was no point in denying myself the best damn pie in America.
LAST CHRISTMAS G AND I TOOK THE GRANDKIDS to Disneyland. That’s the one in California. That experience is a major story in and of itself, but I gotta tell ya about In-N-Out Burger and it’s Colorado Cousin. Well, not really related.
Y’all know that G and I have five grandchildren, the two oldest being Emma (age 5) and Harper (age 3 ½). Of course there was no way we were taking the girls to Disneyland without their parents. And there was no way that I really wanted to, not for six long days. Actually, six adults for two girls would probably have been a better ratio. But I digress.
When daughter Camille was researching the dining options, she discovered that there was an In-N-Out bugger place in Anaheim, and there was no place on earth she and hubby Ted would rather eat at. Now if you’ve never eaten at an In-N-Out bugger joint, it’s a Los Angeles based upscale McDonald’s. There are several in San Francisco but they are always packed when I’ve been in that great city, so I’ve never been to one. I’m not sure that Camille and Ted have either, just that they really had to go and eat there.
So one night the six of us got into a cab and went to In-N-Out Burger. $68.00 for six of us. Well, more like $55 for the cab and $13 for the grub. OK, it was good. Certainly a level or two better than McDonald’s. They had really good french fries. But it wasn’t until we were on our way out that we discovered the best thing they offered we didn’t see on their menu. They serve tiny (2 oz) burgers with all the trimmings, either single, double, triple, or double double; french fries; and shakes. Period. What wasn’t on the menu is the special fries they serve with grilled onions, cheese, and special sauce. They sure looked good. But our special taxi was waiting. That dude knew he had a sucka cuz he waited til we were done soes he could take us back to the hotel. Methinks the meter was running abit fast.
So now we’re back in Colorado. G and I are on our way to dinner when we drive by the former Cinderella City on Hampden Avenue and about Huron Street. I see a sign for Old School Burgers. Never heard of them before, so me being the bugger aficionado, on the way back I stop and check out the menu. Hmmm. Single, double, triple and “the Quad” 2 oz burgers, fries, shakes and something called, “Old School Fries“; french fries with cheese, grilled onions, and spread. Sound familiar? So guess where G and I went the next day for lunch?
There are some BIG differences. At OSB I can get my buggers cooked any way I want, as in rare and yummy. Also their fries are better than In-N-Out. And they serve Certified Angus beef. Finally, Camille and Ted and the girls are happier than a pig in a poke.
The original store is at 18695 E. Stage Run Road, Parker, 303/805-7945; www.oldschoolburgers.com. The company will open its third eatery this fall in Aurora at Florida and Havana. Y’all may remember the publicity surrounding that first store cuz Goose Gossage (y’all old enuf to remember baseball, the New York Yankees, etc?) was one of the founders of this company, and the public gave rave reviews almost immediately. Anywho, Goose is still involved in the operations and long-range planning, so when you buy a bugger here, think of great sports heroes and those damn Yankees. You gotta check out their website also; as with the buggers, it’s one of the best in town.
If the medical profession can create pills to replace food, why the hell can’t they create food to replace pills? “Oh, you have a cold? Eat a bugger, have two bowls of ice cream and drink five Pepsi’s.” Thanks doc, I’ll get that done ASAP.
Cya.
In his real life Jay Fox is a CPA. He offers all kinds of good tax planning advice, financial calculators and the latest in tax news at his website: www.jayfoxcpa.com. He just writes this column for the money.