Hell’s Backbone

I like to record old episodes of Frasier on my DVR. It’s on late at night, so the commercials during the half hour show are pretty campy and terrible. There is one particular commercial advertising a trashy dating service. It shows a boyfriend and girlfriend sitting on the couch together. The boyfriend is engrossed in some sort of sports event on the television and the girlfriend is rambling on about her best friend’s breakup, something about dinner reservations and so on. It appears as if the boyfriend isn’t listening at all, but when she skeptically turns to him and asks him to repeat what she had just said, he answers back verbatim. A happy and romantic look spreads across her face and then a sexy sounding voice over chimes in with…”There’s nothing hotter than a guy who listens. Call today.”

It’s a terrible commercial, but I agree with the sexy voice over 100%. There really is nothing hotter than a guy who listens. Really listens. That’s why I’m loving Mike. He planned this whole trip with very little, if any input from me; so when he presented me with his plans for the last day, I was over the moon.

What did he plan? He planned for us to stay in Boulder, Utah for the soul purpose of having dinner at Hell’s Backbone Grill during opening weekend of their 13th season.

This might not sound like a big deal to anyone, but I’ve been telling Mike for years that eating at Hell’s Backbone Grill is high on my bucket list. He knows I love Blake and Jen’s cookbook and make their recipes all the time. I know Blake and Jen (the owners) and I’ve been dying to try the food I’ve heard delightful things about from so many people. He knows how much I enjoy a good culinary experience. Mike listens!

Here’s the best part…the experience did not disappoint!

Oh, yum!

Such delicious food.

I had the Spicy Cowgirl Chipotle Meatloaf with roasted veggies and smashed red potatoes with sage on the side. Mike had a deliciously prepared chicken dish which included some kind of grape sauce and herbed pilaf. We tried the Apple and Sweet Potato soup, the Smoked Trout Pate; and courtesy of the owner Blake Spalding, the Goat Cheese Fondue with handmade, black pepper crackers and dried fruit. Of course the meal came with the Grill’s famous Black Powder Biscuits and creamy herbed butter. And because it was our anniversary, we shared a piece of tangy Lemon Chiffon cake for dessert. It was one of those meals when you truly wish your had a bigger stomach!

And to make it even better, we had the pleasure of sharing our meal with three fabulous people. Look who we ran into upon arrival…

Our dear friend Kendall Wilcox was down for the Grill’s opening weekend as well. It was great to see him there. He was with his friend Rachel (who I know and love) and her new husband Lin. 

Great company. Great setting. Great food.

If you haven’t been down to Hell’s Backbone Grill, it is so worth the trip. You can dine there on the delicious, fresh, local, organic food and then drive back home via Scenic Highway 12, which is incredible candy for the eyes. Utah is a beautiful state!

We had planned to do a little exploring in Escalante and Corral Reef National Park the next day, but alas we woke up to this…

…three or four inches of snow had fallen during the night and it was windy and bitter cold, so our plans for the day had to be canceled. No worries though because I plan to return the area often, I’m going to be a frequent visitor from here on out.

It was a wonderful anniversary celebration and it opened my eyes to some of the most beautiful places on this earth. God did not skimp when he created Southern Utah.

Thanks Michael for planning this beautiful trip and for making the last 16 years of my life beautiful too. I love you!

*And thanks Rebecca Marie for so lovingly watching our kids while we were away. They adore you, as do we!