Mile Hi - New Things

Montana  - June 2016 Bull Mountain Grille (2376 Main St, Billings MT 59105) - Rocky Mountain Oysters, try not to think of what they really are (bison testicles) since they are sliced thin, battered, deep fried, and served with horseradish cocktail sauce, not as bad as I thought they would be. Hooligan's Sports Bar (109 N Broadway, Billings MT 59101) - Beef Pasty was excellent, which is a baked pastry stuffed with meat and potatoes served on cabbage mashed potatoes and topped with gravy, served with coleslaw. We also got the delicious Sriracha Mac & Cheese, with shell pasta smothered in cheese sauce with Sriracha fried chicken chunks, served with a soft pretzel. Other snacks & gifts - Huckleberry Syrup Wyoming  - June 2016 Poor Boys Steakhouse (739 N Center St, Casper WY 82601) - We got the Chicken Fried Steak to split between two people since it came with relish boat (raw veggies), wheat loaf, salad bucket, and sweet potato fries.  Missed by

South Dakota  - June 2016 Laughing Water Restaurant in Crazy Horse Memorial (12151 Avenue of the Chiefs, Crazy Horse SD 57730) - get the Native American Taco, a type of Indian Fry Bread like Naan, with regular taco fixin's like ground beef, refried beans, cheese lettuce, tomato, onions, and topped with salsa and sour cream! For dessert, get the Fry Bread with Wojapi (warm berry sauce). Prairie Berry Winery (23837 Hwy 385, Hill City SD 57745) - Red Ass Rhubarb (semi-sweet rhubarb raspberry wine). Shooters Wood Fire Grill  (2424 W Main St, Rapid City SD 57702) - Beef Chislic is marinated Angus sirloin strips lightly breaded and fried, served with tangy BBQ sauce. Colonial House Restaurant & Bar (2315 Mt Rushmore Rd, Rapid City SD 57701) - Rhubarb Custard Pie (seasonal - rhubarb in an egg custard baked in a flaky butter crust). Other snacks & gifts - Deadwood Chokecherry Jelly, Sturgis Beef Jerky Missed by recommended - bread pudding, bars North Dako

Minnesota  - May 2016 Matt's Bar (3500 Cedar Ave, Minneapolis MN 55407) - get the Jucy Lucy, a burger where the cheese oozes out on your first bite, ordered with grilled onions and pickles; don't forget to bring cash!     Wild Rice from local grocery store in Minneapolis! Wisconsin  - May 2016 The Breakfast Pub & Club (214 Main Street, La Crosse WI 54601) - long wait for table and then once food was ordered, long wait for food to come out; everything on menu sounded good. T.J. Cheddarheads (215 Pearl St, La Crosse WI 54601) - Wisconsin Cheese Curds Strawberry Rhubarb Pie (my friend's wedding)

New Mexico - September 2015, bring your fur baby as it is very dog friendly in Sante Fe Tortilla Flats (3139 Cerrillos Rd, Sante Fe NM 87505) - don't forget to order Christmas style (red and green chile); so good, we had to buy a dozen tortillas to go!   Cafe Pascal's (121 Don Gaspar, Sante Fe NM 87501) - small and cozy inside, we shared a community table with other tourists; went for the Tamal Dulce but they don't serve it anymore, so had the Grilled Polenta with Sauted Chorizo, Corn, and Red Chile. Don't forget to stop by the Sante Fe Farmers Market at The Railyard on Saturdays! The Shed (113 1/2 E Palace Ave, Sante Fe NM 87501) - cute, courtyard outdoor patio with a guitar player; had the Chicken Enchilada Plate (with blue corn tortillas). Don't forget to visit Canyon Road for some art shopping!    Sante Fe Bite (311 Old Sante Fe Trl, Sante Fe NM 87501) - diner style with another nice outdoor open air patio; highly recom