Monday, June 25, 2007

At Least One Utahn Asks, "What the Heck?"

Alison Moore Smith, on the blog "Mormon Momma" asks, "What the heck?" in relation to Chadder's. She writes, "Overall, Chadder’s provides a decent meal, but I can’t for the life of me figure out what all the fuss is about. I’ve heard the draw is that it reminds some of In-n-Out Burger. There’s just no accounting for what Californian’s will go for." Ooooo, a little CA bashing. But obviously it's the similarities with In-N-Out that are drawing the crowds. BTW, JCW's has better hamburgers and is closer to the temple.

Chadder's in Court Today

Watch KSL news for updates. Chadder's finds itself in court today (June 25, 2007).

Chadder's Gets Sued By In-N-Out

I guess it was only a matter of time, but Chadder's is currently the target of a lawsuit by In-N-Out. Here's the story from KSL TV. The Daily Herald offers an even more detailed account, including comparisons between the two restaurants.

Blogger Tim Schreiber gives the best coverage of this issue, and he has obtained copies of the actual legal documents (the restraining order). Thanks Tim for the nice work.

Blogger Mike Stratford finds Chadder "all too familiar." And this is someone who has ate at In-N-Out over 100 times while serving a mission in CA.

Get down to Chadder's while you still can.

Thursday, June 7, 2007

Stevenett's Malt Shoppe

It's currently just called "The Malt Shoppe" and I'm pretty sure there is a different set of owners (although The Malt Shoppe refers to itself as an "icon for ages"). But back when I was a student it was just Stevenett's (1984-1992?). (Did it become something else after that? Before it became The Malt Shoppe?) I don't ever remember eating any of the food there, although we must have had a burger or fries or something. But I do remember the shakes and the root beer floats. This is one of the first places I remember having thick shakes with mix-ins (which you can now find everywhere). Big thick Oreo shakes, or Butterfinger shakes. And on Monday nights, they would have root beer floats or 99 cents. When we were first married, AnneMarie and I would save up our spare change, and when we had enough, we would head for Stevenett's for a root beer float. I'm sure the people at the counter hated getting all the loose change, but it's what we had (and it's still acceptable as money, right?).

The Malt Shoppe offers half off shakes on Wed nights for BYU/UVSC students. I wonder if it's the same.

Monday, June 4, 2007

Tommy's Burger--Famous by noon tomorrow

Before all you Californians get too excited, you need to know (as many of you do already) that this is not the "Original Tommy's," which is a California chain with the original Tommy's "shack" in Santa Monica.

Tommy's Burger in Provo does a brisk business, and obviously models itself after the California original.

Smart Cookie--It takes one to know one

Smart Cookie is the ultimate snack shop just south of BYU campus--certainly a favorite during Education Week and Women's Conference. These are big cookies baked from scratch and made with care. They offer over 20 varieties, so you could have one every two weeks and not repeat a cookie for almost a year: Milk Chocolate, Semi Chocolate, Milk Chocolate Toffee, Semi Chocolate Toffee, Triple Chocolate, White Chocolate Macadamia, White Chocolate Coconut, Milk Chocolate Walnut, Semi Chocolate Walnut, Double Chocolate Fudge, Mint Chocolate Fudge, White Chocolate Fudge, Snickerdoodle, Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter Chocolate, Oatmeal Raisin, Oatmeal Chocolate Coconut, Oatmeal White Chocolate Cranberry, Ginger Snap (seasonal), Pumpkin Chocolate (seasonal), & more. In the mood for a cookie? And at 50 cents each, these are cheaper than a doughnut or a muffin.

And here's the good news for us in the north valley: there's a Smart Cookie opening soon in American Fork (between Pier 49 and Ottavio's, over by the movie theater).

Friday, June 1, 2007

Kneader's--All You Can Eat French Toast

If you're a student at BYU and you're not eating breakfast at Kneader's at least a couple times a month, then you're missing out.

Kneader's is a great place to buy some European style bread and also has good soup and sandwiches. But my wife and I keep coming back for the all-you-can-eat Chunky Cinnamon French Toast. (They also have all-you-can-eat pancakes, but these aren't all that special.)

The french toast is thick-cut cinnamon bread with whipped cream, strawberries, and caramel syrup on the side ($3.99). There are locations in Provo (just west of BYU campus on 1230 North) and north Orem (1990 North State Street--near the Lindon border).

Chadders Back in Business

After the long Memorial Day weekend, it looks like Chadder's is open again. And the lines are just as long. I drove by yesterday during the lunch rush and it looked like there were 30 cars in line with about a dozen people standing outside the door waiting to get in.

Having to wait too long to get your food: that's part of the In-N-Out experience, too.