Did you say Salad Bar?

I did, but before I get to the tasty stuff; here is a little info about Laramie in case you were wondering. Located about 50 miles west of Cheyenne sits Laramie Wyoming. Home of The University of Wyoming, Laramie boasts a population of just under 30,000. Surrounded by the pristine wilderness of the Snowy Range Mountains and Vedauwoo national forest it is easy to over look the excitement that awaits within the city limits....

Excitement, in Laramie? Yeah you heard me, lets dive right into our first foray into the epicurean wonders this minuscule mountain municipality has to offer. Last week my P.I.C. (Steve Hansen) and I were invited to dine at the big red roof; one of Laramies most respected establishments. It was just after noon, and not a chair was empty except for the small corner table reserved for their distinguished guests. I was immediately struck by the simplicity of the red and white checkered vinyl table cloth adorned with half empty parmesan and hot pepper shakers. I was put at ease when greeted by the flour caked maître d' with beard to match. Any hesitation was put to a halt when we caught the aroma of endless potential, laid out before us was an italian spread Tony Soprano would have been jealous of. Pizza, Pasta, Breadsticks and did i mention a salad bar?

My first course was a garden salad, the subtle nuances of the fresh iceberg battling the tangy banana pepper really wet my appetite for something more substantial. I was almost moved to tears when I got to the pizza buffet and realized there was no meat lovers. Any connoisseur of this classic spot knows they are famous for putting the things you love on their pizza; meat, veggies, cheese, just to name a few. To my chagrin the crust was thin and the toppings were terrible. Dismay followed me like toilet paper on the sole of my shoe. I got back to work with a stomach ache from physical realization that the salad wasn't as fresh as advertised and that i smelled like we ate in the kitchen.

A disappointing buffet is similar to the hopes and dreams of a recent college graduate. Bursting at the seams with potential, stuffed to the brim with high hopes only to realize they graduated during a recession and are now serving thin crust sausage and olive pies to their equally chapfallen customers.

Next Week - My Courageous Comrade and I venture "south of the border" to take on a well known yet often over looked establishment.

eat to feel good, don't eat because you feel bad (this also applies to drinking and maybe knitting).

Matt