“Man vs. Food” recently visited Tulsa and made several stops to check out our local food scene. Adam Richman, host of the show, along with the crew filmed a food challenge at Joe Momma’s, a rockin’ pizza restaurant in the Blue Dome district. This is where a Tulsa firefighter took on the extreme Incinerator challenge. What is that, you ask? Oh, it’s no big deal…just a large pizza with

Richman also made some other stops at the Spudder, Elote, Ann’s Bakery and Bill’s Jumbo Burger.

Check out the show at Joe Momma’s TOMORROW, Wednesday, June 15th on their projector screen beginning at 7:30pm to 9:00pm! Free drinks will be given to the Tulsa Fire Department through the month of June. Woohoo! Joe Momma’s is located at 112 S. Elgin Avenue. The episode featuring Tulsa airs at 8:00pm on the Travel Channel (cable channel 59).

And can I get a “hip-hip-hooray” to the Tulsa food scene??? Hip-hip…hoooooraaaaay!

Water, Water, Water!
Make sure your pup has lots of cool, clean, fresh water. I’ve also read about making low sodium chicken broth or yogurt ice cubes, and introducing canned dog foods (freeze and toss into a Kong!!!). Canned dog food will help increase the moisture content in your dog’s diet.

My Dog Pads Are Barkin’!
The super hot sun really heats up the asphalt on sidewalks and streets. So much so, that it can heat to a temperature that can burn our dog’s paws. To avoid this try to walk your dog very early in the morning or in the late evening when the streets have cooled off. If you have no choice, walk your dog during the day and rock some dog booties in an effort to protect his feet or try and find space in shade with some grass. The hand test is the best way to determine if it’s too hot to walk. Just place your hand down on the asphalt for about thirty seconds–if you need to pull your hand away because the street is too hot, it’s too hot for Fido to walk on without hurting his paws. The rule of paw (or thumb): if you don’t want your hand on the street for thirty seconds, your pup probably does not want his paws on it for thirty or more minutes of walking. Check out some cool booties at The Dog Bowl - Eatery and Boutique for Dogs at 4250 South Peoria in Tulsa, or call them at (918) 574-BARK.

Icky Parasites
Summer is the season for fleas, ticks and mosquitoes; pests which can present a minor discomfort to your dog at best and at worst may be life threatening or cause self-mutilating behaviors. There are a wide variety of products out there, such as chemical spot-on treatments, repellent shampoos, essential oils, and the old school flea/tick collar. Check in with your vet to see what would be recommended for your dog. I put Frontline on Lola and she has been doing great for years.

Heat Stroke
Heat stroke is no laughing matter. I despise seeing dogs stranded in hot cars. Can you imagine if someone locked you up in your car when the outdoor temperature is a blazing 98 degrees? I can’t because I’d probably die! So, if I see you and you’ve locked your dog in the car I will punch you in the nose, take your car keys and drive your dog to my house…and then set your car on fire. But really, heat stroke is a serious risk to your dog’s health - it can be fatal. Prevent heat stroke by restricting your pet’s exercise and lots of fresh water, provide a cool place to rest, if your dog likes to swim–go find a spot to hop in the water, cooling mats are a great option too, and puh-lease do not leave your dog unattended in the car during summer heat.

People think that you can simply crack your your car windows, find some shade and everything will be alright. Nope. You’re wrong. If it’s 95 degrees in the middle of the day and you leave your windows cracked, the temperature in your car can actually get as high as 113 degrees. If you must leave your dog in the car the air conditioning should stay on. It’s that simple. Leaving a dog to die in a hot car is animal cruelty. ‘Nuff said!

Aaaaa-choooo!
Seasonal allergies can include fleas, grass and various plants, and mold. Your dog may have seasonal allergies if you notice them scratching and losing fur. If that’s the case, I’d set up a visit with your vet. Run a Google search because there are plenty of informative websites where you can learn more about the various kinds of allergies affecting dogs and treatments for canine allergies in any season. I’ve used this miracle supplement on Lola before and couldn’t believe the difference!

Parkhill’s Liquor and Wine has recently opened its brand spankin’ new doors in South Tulsa ( northwest corner of 101st and Memorial, by QuikTrip). What a beautiful store! The moment I walked into the spacious shop and was surrounded by wines, liquors and beers (oh my!) I thought, “Yep. I’m definitely going to find what I need in here.”

In addition to their expansive selection they have a sommelier by the name of Tyler Mirt (a familiar name and face to the Tulsa restaurant scene), who began his career in Scottsdale, AZ where he gained a vast skill set as a Sous Chef, Bar Manager and Mixologist. After moving to Tulsa he oversaw numerous beverage programs including the grand openings of Cherokee (Hard Rock) and Osage casinos; acted as the bar & wine trainer for Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine bar and most recently served as GM of LXI which garnered numerous accolades for wine pairings, service and cocktails.

Reserve your seat and join Tyler (Certified Sommelier/Certified Specialist of Wine) for Beyond the Label’s series of educational tasting classes that will allow you to explore the worlds of wine, spirits and beer.

Class 1 - The ABCs of Wine

Wednesday, June 8th

Our first class will cover the basics, how to evaluate wine by sight, smell and taste.  Find out not only what style of wine you like but, more importantly, why you like it and how to describe that style verbally.  The ABCs class will be offered on an ongoing basis.

Each class will start at 6:30pm and last approximately an hour and a half.  Small snacks such as cheese, meats and crackers will be provided to compliment the wines.

The class is $25.00 per person (cash or check payable to Beyond the Label).

Please RSVP as soon as possible as space is limited to 30 persons. Call Parkhill’s at (918) 528-6700 to reserve your space for this unique event.

Anyway. Back on track, Kristin! (cue up the Cake Pop daydreaming music here)

Okay - so if you’ve never attempted to make these - have no fear! I made my first batch the other weekend for one of the MANY (ha!) parties I have been attending (I know, the joke is getting old) and I got my feet wet and feel like I could really rock out on making these again. And I am seriously looking for excuses to make them. Hint, hint.

So, I basically knew that I wanted to be creative, make something that people wouldn’t spit out and see if I could actually make these suckers…errr…I mean…pops.

There are several sites that talk about how to make these delicious dreams - but the one that I found to be the most straightforward and helpful was this sweet (and I mean that) little website called Cakeb0t.com. The video was all I used becauseI just happened to stumbled across it via YouTube.

My words of wisdom, bits of advice, two cents or whatever when you’re making these would be: 1) to make sure the cake is cooled before you crumble it, 2) understand that mixers are your best friend, 3) put crazy things on top, 4) don’t overheat your chocolate! and let the cake stuff cool long enough (refrigerator is probably best) so the chocolate coating covers it well. My chocolate got a bit to hot so I ended up swirling the chocolate and it did actually look pretty cool in the long run.

I purchased my cake pop sticks, edible glitter, and chocolate (dark chocolate and blue chocolate with vanilla flavor) at Michael’s. Then I motored over to Reasor’s where I purchased two cake mixes (strawberry for the dark chocolate and triple chocolate for the blue), icing (get the regular stuff - I went with strawberry and chocolate), ingredients for cake mix, sprinkles, coconut, fresh strawberries and bacon! YES! I cooked and crumbled bacon on my dark chocolate pops and they rocked (if I do say so myself!).

Alright, so that should be enough to keep you busy for a while. Throw on your apron and get to cookin’! Save the cake mix on the spatula for me though. Yum. Thankyoukindlybye!

Disc Golf. Not to be confused with “frolf.” The two are very different. Disc golf has a more defined set of rules played out on courses that are specifically designed for the sport. In frolf, the world is your course, so to speak.

But here’s the gist of what disc golf is:

Similarly to the game of golf, individual players throw a flying disc into a basket or a specific target. The Professional Disc Golf Association says, “The object of the game is to traverse a course from beginning to end in the fewest number of throws of the disc.” The popularity of the sport has grown over the past 5-plus years and the number of courses nationwide is estimated at over 3,000 as of 2010! And what’s really cool is that approximately 87% of those courses are free. Take that to the bank!

If you’ve never played before, locate a nice shady spot on Riverside or Hunter’s Park (out of the line of fire though!) and watch the game, maybe even talk to some of the people playing (I bet they’ll be your best friend if you have an ice cold beverage to offer)!

I was amazed to find that Tulsa has several great courses, leagues and a very cohesive community. Check out Tulsa Disc Sports Association to learn more as they have tons of information about leagues, membership and more on their site. Tulsa Disc Golf is also a great way to connect with players on Facebook.

Now go get your disc golf on. See you on the course!

Josh Groban May 20, 2011 BOK Center

Josh Groban is coming to Tulsa and struttin’ his stuff on the BOK Center Stage May 20th! Do you have your tickets?? Quick! Go get ‘em if you don’t!

Groban’s “Straight To You” Tour has a prominent theater-like experience which is uncommon in an arena setting. Creative stage design, lighting, and projection, as well as Groban’s spontaneity and interactivity delighted his fans with last year’s ’Before We Begin” shows, and he is sure to repeat that same energy this tour.  Groban will  perform favorites from his best-selling albums, including his self-titled debut, Closer, and Awake, as well as songs from Illuminations.

Student discount offer is available for $25.00 at the Box Office or online by visiting the BOK Center’s website. Must show Student ID when picking up tickets at the Box Office. Offer valid thru May 19, 2011 at 11:59pm.

Starry Safari Night at the Tulsa Zoo!

Ummmm…this is a super cool event! The Starry Safari is a member-only zoo overnight adventure that will happen one night only on Friday, May 20th, 2011 at 6:00pm. You’ll have a chance to tour the zoo AFTER hours (Ooooo…how cool and oh-so-exciting!) and swing over to the Nature Exchange for some more fun. The night will include food, free zoo train and carousel rides, animal chats, marshmallow roasting around the campfire and breakfast the next morning! Get your family signed up for this unique opportunity to camp in the wildest place in Tulsa, at the Tulsa Zoo’s Starry Safari! For more information call (918) 669-6603.

Hello BBQ. So happy you're here. Photo courtesy of Burn Co.

It’s true, summer and barbeque go together, right?? Just agree with me. It is vital to the progression of this article, mmmmkay? So, I’ve decided it’s time. Time for me to scour the fair city of Tulsa (and maybe a few places just outside of Tulsa) for the “Top 3 Best Barbeque Joints.” Summer is upon us, the patios are open, and the fragrance of barbeque seems to mesmerize your food cravings and leave you asking, “where can I get some ridiculously good BBQ??? Like now.”

(Cue why this is a relevant article to your life and the pursuit of BBQ happiness…)

Barbeque is not just slappin’ some meat on a grill and hopin’ for the best. Nope. It’s an art form. You need to know what you’re doing! And I don’t trust myself enough to attempt it. And I love to cook. And I made what was supposed to be barbequed beef brisket that was truly like shoe leather for a party of 15 people. Ahhhhh!!! Nightmare. Anyway, my point is that when you find good barbeque it becomes a staple in your life and you’re the person saying, “you have to go to such and such place they have the best brisket E-V-E-R.” Okay, because of the varied opinions on what’s the best I’ve taken a “where should I go eat BBQ” poll. Here is the list thus far:

Big Daddy’s, Billy Sims, Elmer’s, Back Alley Blues and BBQ, Albert G’s, Billy Ray’s, Burn Co., Wilson’s BBQ, and Treehouse.

We all know barbeque isn’t barbeque without the companionship of a great sauce. Thanks to my friend, Laura, who recently made a very valid point that perhaps I should also look at the best barbeque sauces. I agree. So you’ll read about those as well during this little adventure. Keep your eyes out for the posts about BBQ here very soon!

Oh and feel free to comment with other suggestions! Here’s to my waistline growing and loving every minute of it. Pass the BBQ sauce, please.

Tulsa we missed you! Did you miss us? Don’t answer if you’re going to say no. But, we love you anyway. Oh, Tulsa, my Tulsa!

Now that we are moving full-speed ahead, be sure to check out all the funny, exciting, fresh stories, events, shenanigans and propaganda that will occur on here. And if you think of something that you would like to see more of on the site, do tell! We are meeting with people that want to share their stories with us, advertise and write for TulsaGuide - if you’re one of those folks, shoot an email over and we’ll chat! Okay, gotta go explore Tulsa. Seeyoulaterbye!

Jamaican-Caribbean cuisine in Tulsa? Huh? No, really. It’s there. And it’s awesome. You walk into this quaint little place right on Brookside and I hear some killer drums and I know the mood is set. Now, I will say this…if you’re expecting speedy service…this is not the place to go. But, if you can grasp the concept of “island time” you will be just fine. The gang at Hibiscus treated us well and we had an opportunity to enjoy some great beverages and discuss the menu.

Can you say “Hibiscus sauce?” If you can, say it when you order there. Prepare yourself for some yum while you’re at it.

The chefs at Hibiscus are legit, from Jamaica and know how to cook up a stellar meal. Their rum bar has a variety of rums and cocktails from all over the world - I happened to belly up to the bar and order a Ginger cocktail. It was so refreshing! Fresh lime juice, decadent rum and ginger beer. Don’t mind if I do! For dinner, I had the pleasure of enjoying the salmon with Hibiscus sauce, steamed vegatables and fried plantains. Oh wow. Oh wow. There were plenty of other options, however. One being oxtail. Ackee and Salt Fish (Jamaica’s national dish) Curry Goat and more.

The atmosphere here is light, fun and the live music makes you feel like you could be on the beach dancing around with friends. They also have an extensive lunch menu that is reasonably priced. I’m excited to return to Hibiscus and get my fix of “island time” once again. Until next time…eat, drink and be merry!

Hibiscus Caribbean Bar & Grill is located at 3316 South Peoria Avenue in Tulsa. Their phone number is (918) 749-4700.