Best Restaurant Ad this Month
Visible from planes arriving at and departing from Denver International Airport, the 6-acre display, a mile from the airport and about 30 miles from downtown Denver, was created in a Commerce City, Colorado wheat field by earthworks artist Stan Heck, whose team required some 600 hours over three weeks to make it.
It's topped with pepperoni (red mulch), green peppers (corn stalks), black olives (black mulch) and cheese (harvested wheat), cost $50,000, and should remain visible until the first snowfall.
Tip optional
BookofJoe
Fish and Flush
If you're looking for the perfect gift for GM Bill, look no further.
Bill maintains all the Mango Mike's fishtanks, no easy task when two of them hold 600 gallons each. So this would make the perfect present.
He can read the paper and enjoy the fish simultaneously.
From their website:
Kit Includes:
Two-Piece Aquarium Tank
Dual-Filter System With Pump
Two-Nine-Inch Artificial Plants
Basic Aquarium Guide
Flushing System
Flush Valve
Fill Valve
$299Thanks Uber-Review and BookofJoe
Staying Power
Coming back from setting up for the Chamber's golf tournament I stopped in at B & J's carryout on Rt 210 in Southern Maryland. When I had the restaurant in Port Tobacco, MD (The Old Port Inn, In the 70s) I always stopped at the B&J during my trips up to DC to see my buddies.
This carry out has been around now for 60 years.
Pretty amazing in the restaurant business when sometimes places only last less than a year. (IE Eastport Oyster Bar in Fairfax, City).
But I'm not surprised. As you can see by the photos the place is kept extremely clean, the food is good and service is prompt.
Of course every good carry out has a business card board.
I hope B&J's is around for another 60 years.
Free Appetizer
More Free Food from your Island on Duke Street.
Bethany Beach Still Stroking
Families are still pouring in to Bethany Beach and Mango's to enjoy the final weeks of summer.
Here are just a few of the fine folks that dined with us this weekend.
St. Mary's BBQ
Principal Janet Cantwell of St. Mary's School in Old Town, opted to throw a BBQ for all the kids coming back to school this fall. I never remember my grade school principal being this nice.
So Janet callled for the Mango Mike's A Team to come on down and throw the bash.
Bill, Julio, Oscar, Mangoette Chelsea and myself grilled away for about 2 hours. 800 burgers and 450 hot dogs later we had a BBQ. Notice that Julio (red shirt) has got the wind direction figured out.
With the help of some 8th graders and a couple of mom's everyone was chowing down in no time.
What a great way to start the school year.
Fresh Fish Tonight Alexandria Mango Mike's
Tonight Chef Andres is featuring two very unique seafood treats:
Tasmanian King Salmon:
"There is no finer tasting salmon in the world. Picked from the Pacific Ocean's coldest depths, this salmon species is stacked with omega three oil. Bright candy orange meat and fatty white membranes are zebra patterned in a visually rich presentation."
Chef Andres tells me that this is the best cut of Salmon he has ever seen.
Hawaiian Monchong:
A super fresh Snapper flown in today from Hawaii, This is always a popular fish with our guests, tonight it will be prepared in a soy sesame brandy sauce.
These are only available while our small supply lasts so come early. Hope to see you tonight.
Alexandria Chamber Golf Outing
We had the pleasure of catering the Chamber's golf outing yesterday was some of Bubba Mike's great BBQ.
Simply a beautiful day out at Potomac Ridge Golf Course in Southern Maryland, just outside of Waldorf.
We couldn't just leave the beverage cart alone so we had to decorate it as a mobile tiki bar. Seen here with one of the organizers Roger Parks and wife Georgina.
The had about 125 golfers who participated on this nice course.
Pix of Wilhelm from the Potomac Riverboat Co. (Cherry Blossom) with boat namesake, son, Matthew Hayes.
Free Dessert
We know you don't need a good reason to visit Mango Mike's. But a little free food never hurts.
My favorite: Bermuda Bread Pudding with Jamaican Rum Sauce.
Olympian Fever
Local Baltimore wonderfish Michael Phelps may have 8 Golds. But the Mango's Staff has voted Leryn Franco of Paraguay the best looking.
She competes in the women's javelin throw.
She works off Olympic season as a catwalk model when she's not harpooning.
Happy Anniversary Trisha
Trisha Haines and her husband Fred celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary this past weekend with a huge party at their Manassas home. I can't believe Fred has put up with her that long!!!! Just kidding Trish we love you. Trish has worked for Mango Mike nearly 20 years and is the head server at the Alexandria Mangos. Cheers guys
bloggers note: No, that is not Hulk Hogan, it really is Trisha's Husband.
Happy Birthday Jeff
Jeff ( AKA sunday Brunch Jeff) celebrates his birthday with a big bash every year at Mango Mike's Alexandria. This years party included 2 bands (Island Gerry, outside on the deck and The Calypso Nuts inside on the main stage) and a huge Island buffet for his 100 plus guests. Great Party Jeff, can't wait for next year.
Customer of the Week
Jerry Winchester.
Thanks for all the business, dedicated support and loads of advice.
Mango Mike and Staff
Even More Tony Hanagan
The Hanagans are going to accuse me of stalking them.
I was going thru some of my backup drives last night looking for some tiki drink photos for Mango's and came across this photo.
Taken about 5 years ago at older brother Michael's graduation from Blessed Sacrament. I have to say one handsome family.
You can tell that even at that age Tony was going to growup to be one cool dude. And he has.
Go Tony.
In the interest of full disclosure he's a pix of the Anderson tribe at the same event.
Staffs Old and New
Here's Patty on the far right. She and I worked on Duke Street in the 80's. She was at Bombay Bicycle Club, which later became Mango's Mike's #2, and I was working up the street at Shooter McGee's. ...and no, even though she is hot, we never dated.
While I'm still running food and bussing tables, she's moved on to the big time down in Charlottesville, Va. living the dream. Go Patty
The couple in middle (her step daughter) are getting married next weekend, so it's once last single fling at Mango's.
Here's the new staff, who kids I'll be serving about 5 years down the pike.
Good Beach Times
We had a lot of fun customers at the beach last night.
Really makes the night enjoyable when everyones having a great time.
The kids always make me laugh.
The three boys and I kept on doing High Fives all night. I guess they were just showing me how much they enjoyed their delicious Mango Mike's meal.
Check out the rising full moon over the calm ocean. Just an incredible night.
Some more pixs.
Summer Still Strong at the Beach
Lot of great customers in this weekend at Mango Mike's in Bethany Beach. Some families returning with their kids who now have kids. Not surprising as this is our 11th season.
And a few birthdays.
As Jimmy Buffett says "Weather is here, wish you were beautiful".
Bomb Set for the Patio
This is not an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile head or an old World War II V-2 bomb or an alien monolith, but a set of table and chairs that will transform any terrace into a chill-out lounge, sans the Margarita and Manhattan cocktails. Here is how it unfolds:
No idea on price or even supplier. But its looks pretty cool.
Thanks:
gizmodo.com
Eat Free Deal - One Day Only!
If you've been reading the blog daily and paying attention, here's your reward.
A free Entree.
No strings attached, except for Alexandria only.
Just print out, bring in, and eat up.
One certificate per table.
MangoBlogger.
Read It! Enjoy It. Use It.
Fathers and Daughters at Work (or how to get slave labor)
Nothing better than having your daughters gainfully employed. Better yet if they're gainfully employed at your establishment.
Both Danielle and Chelsea have worked all summer down at Mango's at Bethany Beach. Danielle as a server and Chelsea as our only female food runner.
I can't tell you how proud of them I am, as they both worked liked sled dogs all summer.* And the times I got work with them was actually a lot of fun. (Kinda like bossing them at home, but getting paid to do it.) ;)
Producers instead of consumers. It warms a fathers heart.
They're both ready to head to school, but with the knowledge they had a very productive summer.
*To be fair, the rest of the staff worked equally as hard. Every day at Mango's at the beach is like a Friday night in most restaurants.
Bachelorette Party
We have a lot of different groups that congregate at Mango's at the beach for dinner.
The most fun group has to be bachelorette parties.
Here's Tracey and her buddies that were in the restaurant on Saturday celebrating her upcoming wedding.
Nice Guys Finish First
You know the neighbor. Always there when you need him. Watches your joint when you're not around. Loans your kids money and keeps your wife happy.
Well that guy in my beach neighborhood is Lynn Adams. And he was nice enough to invite me to his blow out birthday party.
Live band, great food, a couple of cold ones, it was a perfect evening.
You may recognize the guy on the far left. Notorious ex principle of TC Williams - John Porter. Now there's a guy who has some great stories.
Happy Birthday Lynn.
.
On the Road from Bethany
Tough travel day yesterday for the thousands of tourists returning from the beach (unfortunately much tougher for the truck driver). The truck, after hitting a couple of cars, flipped over the bridge railing and hit the water. See arrow.
Normal, non traffic, time to the beach is about 3 hours. Yesterday it took 7 hours to get home, and I left early.
An 11 mile backup from the bridge West bound. But plenty of time to contemplate the meaning of life.
BBQ Coaster Set
Keep this in mind for the next Fathers Day.
From their website:
Danger Men Cooking Coaster Set that appears to be a big whopping BBQ burger only it is a plastic coaster set.
$15.99Thanks Uber-review.com
More Tony Hanagan
After our blog posting of Tony Hanagan with teen singing sensation Taylor Swift, we've had a lot of request for more photos of Tony. (I'm surprised there weren't more requests for Taylor Swift, but that is the stunning power of T.H.)
Seen here with Mangoette Chelsea, Tony is adorned with a coconut bra in accordance with Jimmy Buffett pre-concert party rules.
Go Tony.
Collapsible Portable Rocking Chair
We do a lot of camping so this chair hits the mark.
Would also be great in the parking lot of the Buffett concert pre-show.
From the website:
Fold-up portable rocking chair for tailgating and camping. Enjoy one of life's comforts anywhere, camping or enjoying an evening on your patio. Features a built-in cup holder and solid steel frame. Folds for easy transport. Polyester with PVC coating, 55 x 45 x 95".
$39.95Thanks BookOfJoe.com
Monthly Parrothead Meeting
The Washington Area Chapter of Jimmy Buffet Fans AKA Parrotheads were in tonight for their monthly Mango Mike's Social. Good group of people, if you are in to Jimmy Buffet stop by any first Wednesday of the Month for our Weekly Wednesday Deck party and meet the Local Parrothead Chapter
Website here. Music Tonight by Island Gerry Maddox.
Schlitz returns, drums up nostalgic drinkers
I remember quite fondly drinking "the beer that made Milwaulkee famous" in my college years.
Then it just disappeared off the face of the earth.
Well it's coming back.
Read what happened to destroy the best selling beer in the country and why it's coming back.
From USA Today.
MILWAUKEE (AP) — It's the beer that made Milwaukee famous. Now Schlitz is making the city nostalgic.
That beer with the old-time mystique is back on shelves in bottles of its original formula in the city where it was first brewed more than a century and a half ago.
Schlitz was the top-selling beer for much of the first half of the 20th century. But recipe changes and a series of snafus made the beer — in many a drinkers' opinion — undrinkable, turning what was once the world's most popular brew into little more than a joke.
But after decades of dormancy, the beer is back.
Schlitz' owner, Pabst Brewing Co., is recreating the old formula, using notes and interviews with old brew masters to concoct the pilsner again. The maker of another nostalgic favorite, Pabst Blue Ribbon, it hopes baby boomers will reach for the drink of their youth, otherwise known as "The Beer That Made Milwaukee Famous." They also want to create a following among younger drinkers who want to know what grandma and grandpa drank.
"We believe that Schlitz is if not the, one of most iconic brands of the 20th century," said Kevin Kotecki, president of Pabst Brewing Co., which bought the brand that dates to 1849 from Stroh's in 1999. "And there's still a lot of people who have very positive, residual memories about their experience. For many of them it was the first beer they drank and we wanted to give it back to those consumers."
In Milwaukee, the comeback is creating a buzz. Stores are depleted of their stock within days, they're taking names for waiting lists and limiting customers to just a few six- or 12-packs each.
People like Leonard Jurgensen say the beer reminds them of better days. The 67-year-old, who grew up on the edge of the brewery downtown, said decades ago it seemed that everyone in the city either worked for the brewery or knew someone who did. If there was a special occasion, you drank Schlitz. Jurgensen had it on his wedding day 45 years ago.
"For many years the product was associated with happy times, especially to people my age," said Jurgensen, who's writing a book on Milwaukee's breweries. "As we all know, the world is not the best it can be today. We used to think those were hard times and when we look back on them, those were the good old days."
Schlitz' comeback has been slow, just like its fall from the top. It was tested in a few markets and is available in Minneapolis, Chicago and western Florida, besides Milwaukee.
Its ties to the city are deep. Schlitz began its life at a brewery founded by August Krug in 1849. Joseph Schlitz took over and opened the Jos. Schlitz Brewing Co. several years later.
Nostalgia could prove a driving factor in sales, Kotecki said. Pabst is certainly using it in its marketing, reusing its '60s-era advertisements urging drinkers to "Go For the Gusto" and simple maroon and gold packaging, marked with fanciful script.
The Woodridge, Ill.-based company wants the brew to go national but is taking a slow approach, reintroducing it first in places like the Midwest where the beer was popular.
Hearing from Schlitz-thirsty consumers prompted Pabst to revive the brand, Kotecki said. A malt-liquor form of Schlitz has been available for years in cans. But fans say it's not the same.
The brew became a top-seller, Jurgensen said, after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 wiped out its competitors. It was the world's best-selling beer from 1903 until Prohibition in 1920, and regained the crown in 1934 until the mid-1950s. That's when a strike by Milwaukee brewery workers interrupted production and made way for others, like St. Louis' Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc., to eat into Schlitz' market share. That company, which makes Budweiser and Bud Light, has held the top spot to this day.
Before it vanished, the beer changed — for the worse. According to Jurgensen, considered by Pabst to be the foremost "Schlitzstorian": First, brewery control shifted from immediate family members to more distant relatives, who wanted to expand the business. With demand high, the new owners wanted to make more, so they shortened the fermenting process. And they let customers know it through heavy marketing. There were also quality control issues for barley, so the beer went flat quickly. Customers associated the flatness with the quickened brewing time, and they weren't pleased. To fix the flat problem, the brewers added a seaweed extract to give the beer some foam and fizz. But after sitting on the shelf for three or four months, the extract turned into a solid, meaning drinkers got chunky mouthfuls.
And then, the biggest of errors.
"They decided not to pull their product off the shelf," Jurgensen said. "They decided to weather the storm and sell that product. That's the worst possible mistake they could have made."
Floaters? Flat beer? It was all too much for drinkers to swallow.
And by 1981 the Schlitz brewery closed. The owners sold the brand to the Stroh Brewery Co. in Detroit in 1982, which eventually sold some of its lines to Pabst.
The Schlitz revival is bittersweet for the former brewing capital of the U.S., which has seen its heritage slip away.
Beer was once brewed at about 100 places in Milwaukee, Jurgensen said. The city was home to names like Pabst, Blatz and Miller Brewing. Those first two are long gone, their former breweries now an abandoned site awaiting redevelopment and a condo complex.
And Miller is leaving too. This summer it became MillerCoors LLC in a joint venture with Molson Coors Brewing Co. The headquarters will move about 90 miles south to Chicago, though Miller says it'll keep jobs and breweries in Milwaukee.
Miller, coincidentally, brews Schlitz for Pabst under a contract at its east coast facilities. Kotecki said he hopes to eventually have the brand brewed back in Milwaukee, once some changes at breweries in the city are made.
Kotecki wouldn't disclose sales figures for Schlitz but said they are considerably smaller than for the company's top-seller, Pabst Blue Ribbon. In Milwaukee, it's at about 75 locations, including bars and liquor stores, though that'll grow when more is made.
John Thielmann, 55, of Milwaukee, says his first sip of the new Schlitz sent him back decades. He remembered being a teenager — drinking underage, he noted — spending summers with family on Druid Lake, about an hour from Milwaukee.
But when the formula changed, he started getting headaches after two or three sips, so he stopped drinking Schlitz.
Thielmann, who works at a liquor store in suburban Elm Grove, said he was confident the new formula wouldn't fail him. He figured Pabst had put in enough effort that they'd get the old formula back.
They did.
"That first sip was like 'I remember this. This is right,"' he said.
Blog Tip thanks to Zimm.
