Hayden Block – Life Altering BBQ

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Chew Steel wanted to go out for dinner on Friday, so I told him to pick the restaurant. He was hesitant, as I last gave him free rein when we first started dating in 2010. He picked Hayden Block. Let’s listen to “Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd.

I’ve been to Hayden Block about three or four times, but this time, the food blew me away. I ordered the Beef Short Rib ($35), which my brother-in-law Dave recommended. I’ve come to realize Dave knows his food.

Chew Steel ordered a Smoked Old-Fashioned ($17) with a glossy, pristine sugar cube. He noted the ice cube was clear, unlike the ice we make at home, which is chock full of impurities. There is science behind restaurant ice cubes, which, while I appreciate, I don’t care enough to read the whole article.

I asked our server to give me more time to decide what I wanted to drink. She heard “lemonade,” and minutes later, I received the most deliciously tart carbonated lemonade I’ve ever had. When I clarified that I needed more time, not “lemonade,” she kindly removed the drink from our bill and told me to enjoy the free drink. I opted for the Lil’ Darling Hard Tea ($9), which had a homemade taste and a hint of dryness. In future visits, I’d order the iced tea and the lemonade, though with vodka.

Chew Steel ordered Brisket ($18) with a side order of Broccoli Salad ($6), and I ordered Bacon-Wrapped Corn on the Cob ($6) to go with my beef rib, as well as Corn Bread & Honey Butter ($2). Our server warned us we ordered a lot of food, but I waved away her concern, as I could eat competitively.

Holy smokes! When the food arrived, I sat stunned by the beautiful bounty. The beef rib was enormous! The amount of meat on that Flintstone-sized bone must have been at least 18 ounces. The beef was steaming hot and so beefy in flavour I didn’t bother with any of the BBQ sauces. No knife is needed with this beauty. I would tear parts apart with gentle pressure from my fork. With each bite, I could feel myself growing a pair of balls. The portion was so big, I could only eat a quarter of it.

Chew Steel’s broccoli salad was so generous that I must have eaten eight chunky florets. The broccoli was crunchy and not saturated with sauce. The dressing was slightly sweet, punctuated by the tartness of the cranberries and nuts. I could tell the salad was freshly prepared. I would get this again.

The cornbread was so good that I shed a tear. Crumbly and light, the whipped butter melted into its warmth, accenting the bread’s sweetness. I would order this again.

The bacon on the corn on the cob was crispy, though not hot. It didn’t matter to me, as the corn was sweet and cut into the richness of the beef and butter.

I can’t wait to return to Hayden Block again. That beef short rib is one of the best things I’ve eaten in 2024. When heated the next day, it tasted just as good. Hayden Block, I salute you!

Hayden Block Smoke & Whiskey – Live Music

March 18, 2023March 18, 2023 Hitting the SauceLeave a comment

Jacuzzi is in town! As he arrived in Calgary late at night, I suggested we check out Hayden Block Smoke & Whiskey for their late-night menu. For this post, let’s listen to “Nashville Skyline Rag” by Bob Dylan.

When I checked in, I learned we landed a table on the second floor, where live music plays from 8:30 pm on Friday and Saturday. The venue itself is charming. The cozy vibe is similar to Nashville’s bars but cleaner and more contemporary. The room is fresh and modern, with white panel walls. The stage is lit up with neon lights and a bright background screen. Under the ceilings, strands of tea lights twinkle.

L ordered a Pilsner ($9), and I picked the South Block Tree Shaker Peach Bourbon Ale ($9) for myself and the non-alcoholic Village Blonde beer ($8) for Jacuzzi. I took a sip and could tell it lacked the bite of booze.

For food, I selected a pound of brisket (HH $17) and Pulled Pork (HH $16), Smoked Wings ($17), and Bacon Mac n Cheese ($16). All our food came out at optimal temperature. The wings were meaty, so blisteringly hot my fingers tingled from the heat. The chicken skin had an extra crunch from the layer of salt and spices. Jacuzzi and L raved about the wings and mentioned the seasoning reminded him of his all-time favourite place for wings, Hooters. I asked him when he was last at a Hooters. He recollected it was 15 years ago when he lived in Toronto. Wow, that must have been some memorable wings.

The beef brisket was so tender that the meat fell apart when I forked a piece. L and Jacuzzi raved about the soft texture and the smoky flavour. I appreciated the contrast between the fattier sections and the more rigid surface of the bark. The pulled pork was juicy and paired well with the tangy house BBQ sauce. Of the two types of meat, the clear winner was the brisket.

The macaroni and cheese were a hit. The cheesy sauce was velvety and sticky, similar in texture to the molten orange nacho cheese 7/11 uses for their nachos. I appreciated the spicy heat in the sauce. The mac and cheese tasted even better with bits and pieces from the pulled pork, as the sweetness of the meat cut through the heaviness of the sauce.

Hayden Block is a hidden gem. I would return in a heartbeat to enjoy the music and steaming platters of smoked meats. Hitting the Sauce gives Hayden Block’s second floor two phat thumbs up, and it makes it on my list for best BBQ and live music.

Hawaiian · Restaurants · Vegas

Lefty J’s Island Favourites – Las Vegas

April 22, 2022April 22, 2022 Hitting the SauceLeave a comment

For our first breakfast in Vegas, I picked a place recommended by Strictly Dumpling. Like most of Mikey Chen’s recommendations that appealed to me, Lefty J’s Restaurant is located off the main strip. Let’s listen to “Gone Away” by Offspring for this post. Jacuzzi complained that Offspring is so 90’s, but hey, that’s the era we grew up in.

Our Uber driver told us to avoid the “bums” around the strip mall. We didn’t see any, but we appreciated his concern for our safety. I told Jacuzzi to make sure he tipped our driver. We arrived when Lefty J’s Island Favourites opened at 10 a.m., but there was still a group from Singapore ahead of us who ordered a huge feast. We ordered what Strictly Dumpling recommended – the Five Meat Platter ($25.99). The owner told us our food would take twenty minutes.

While we anxiously waited for our food, Jacuzzi mentioned he appreciated the air con and the fun, vibrant decor. He noticed the artistic touches, like the flags and paintings. These niceties were all fine and dandy, but I was here strictly for the food. So when I saw a picture of Strictly Dumpling on the counter, I knew we were in good hands.

Twenty minutes later, our platter was ready. What a bounty of gluttony! All the meats were so hot that I burned my greedy little fingers eating too quickly. Our BBQ platter included two big scoops of rice sprinkled with furikake and a small container of macaroni salad.

Oh, my Ford. The fried chicken was marvellous. The batter was crunchy and sweet, encasing some toothsome meat. The kalbi ribs were thick-cut, chewy and fatty, with a nice char. We sat in happy silence, shovelling the food into our mouths. We only talked when I asked Jacuzzi which meat was his favourite. He preferred the fried chicken.

We were also a fan of the chicken teriyaki. You could tell the chicken was marinaded beforehand, then glazed with a sweet, buttery sauce. Jacuzzi liked it so much that he even ate the chicken skin that I removed from my portion.

The katsu cutlet was a large portion, sliced into long, strip-like pieces. The katsu sauce tasted like it was homemade, addicting with its complex, tangy kick. The beef teriyaki looked like it was pounded into a thin layer before being caramelized on the grill. I ate most of the beef as Jacuzzi was getting too full—what a lightweight.

I loved mixing the bites of meat with rice and julienned cabbage, as the crunchy greens helped to cut into the fatty, rich flavours. The side of macaroni was refreshing, slippery, creamy and cold. By the time we polished off the platter, we were both in a food coma.

We chatted with the owner while we waited for our Uber. She’s a sweet woman and reminds me of my Auntie Joyce. She said we should check out Strictly Dumpling’s other recommendation – all-you-can-eat sushi at Umami. But, unfortunately, that will have to be for another trip, as I wanted to check out Strictly Dumpling’s favourite udon restaurant – Cafe Sanuka. In any case, if you are in Vegas, I highly recommend checking out Lefty J’s. Hitting the Sauce gives Lefty J’s two phat thumbs up.