Hogle Zoo's New Beastro Restaurant

Jayden Phillips and her lion-shaped juice bottle.

Last week I visited Hogle Zoo with my granddaughter, Jayden. We had a great time! Part of the experience involved a little work, as I was doing a story for the Deseret News on the zoo's new Beastro restaurant. 

Artisan sandwiches at Hogle Zoo's new indoor Beastro cafe.

For the first time in the zoo's history, guests can eat indoors. As of April 30, the old outdoor, order-at-the-window Beastro concession stand has been surpassed by an newly built quick-casual cafe with a wider menu, such as pizza, panini sandwiches, salads, and mac 'n' cheese, along with the usual burgers, fries, hot dogs and chicken tenders."We are open all winter and summer, and people really needed a place to get out of the heat in July and August, and come in from the cold in the winter," said Erica Hansen, the zoo's community relations coordinator. (Since I used to work with Erica at the Deseret News, she gave me a heads-up about the new restaurant and invited me to check it out. Thanks, Erica! )
The new building seats 106, and the west side windows offer a view of the elephants. Last year, the zoo had over one million visitors. Those numbers will likely increase as the zoo opens its new Rocky Shores exhibit next month, with with polar and grizzly bears, sea lions, seals and otters.
When I was growing up, my family pretty much avoided concession stands whenever we went to events such as the zoo, rodeo, the State Fair, amusement parks, etc. The food was usually over-priced and not very good.  And, that's a rule I continued with my own kids most of the time. 
But the times have changed.  People are used to eating out, and offering a nice eating venue with better quality food will definitely improve sales. 
"It's become a bit of a trend for zoos to offer more high-quality, fresh food," said Seth Palmer, general manager of Service Systems Associates, which runs the food concessions. 
He said the new Beastro design was based off of a similar indoor venue at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs, he said.

Jayden on the hippo statue at Hogle Zoo.

Palmer said there's been some effort made to keep prices close to what you would pay elsewhere for similar quality. But you won't find any $1.99 fast-food kids' meals here; most meals are around $5.50-$6.50. If you are taking a family, I'd suggest splitting a meal between two kids.One of the least expensive options is a slice of pizza for $2.95.  Palmer pointed out that the cheeseburger is a 1/3-pound fresh Angus beef patty. There's also a black bean veggie burger. The crisp-coated chicken tenders are real chicken breast, not sponge-y "nuggets."  The "artisan" sandwiches and paninis come with house-made kettle chips. The 16-inch family-size pizzas ($19.95- $24.99) are cooked in a 600-degree oven for a crispy outer crust. The creamy, gooey mac'n' cheese ($3.95) has a house-made cheddar sauce and toasted panko crumb topping.
Every day there's a special offered. Last Thursday when I visited, that was barbecue ribs, served with corn bread, a watermelon wedge and sweet potato fries, for $8. Other specials so far have included shrimp tacos and Philly cheesesteak sandwiches.
I dined at the Beastro with Jayden, who was excited about the juice drink that came in a hot-pink lion-shaped container. It costs around $3, but it can do double-duty as both a souvenir and a refillable water bottle. She didn't care that the zoo doesn't have any lions. The executive chef is Cory Crozier, a native of Tremonton. Before coming to the Beastro, Crozier cooked at an upscale retirement home, and was also a private chef of a yacht.
"I plan to use some of my farm boy skills in our garden where we will grow some of our fresh herbs, in some land just west of the giraffes," he said. 
Sous chef Anthony Scarborough has cooked in various Salt Lake City restaurants including Log Haven, Squatter's, Hard Rock Café and Wild Grape.
"I've always loved the zoo," Scarborough said. "My major in college was biology and zoology, so the job sounded like a lot of fun. They giving us a lot of leeway here to use our creative powers and it seems like we're off to a good start."
The chefs are gearing up for next month's opening of Rocky Shores, a new exhibit with polar and grizzly bears, sea lions, seals and otters.  The outdoor concession stand there will serve a mesquite burger with house-made dry sauce, or a spicier version called Safari sauce.

Weekend at Grandma's

Anthony and Jayden spent the weekend here while their folks are on a cruise. In the past 48 hours we have:
Raked lots and lots of leaves in the backyard.

Lonn & Jayden raking leaves.

Jonathan's creative gingerbread house.

Made gingerbread houses with Amy, Brayden, Anthony and his friends Jonathan and Sam.

Went to the playground with Annalise, Jayden's friend from across the street.
Saw a display of about 500 Nativity scenes at the Kaysville Tabernacle.
Saw the 35-foot (real) Christmas tree and skating rink at the Station Park stores in Farmington. Tried to see Santa but Jayden got scared and began screaming.
Played Old Maid, War and Match Game.
Went to church.
Made refrigerator magnets from Perler beads.
Went on a walk.
Made pink Rice Krispies treats.

Sam's house caved in so he ate it. 

Anthony 's creation wasn't really a house.

Made Barbie a new skirt.
Did puzzles.
Made lots of mac & cheese and chocolate milk.
Told Jayden's story of the girl who "put on a little red outfit so the fox would chase her on the way to her grandma's house." And then, "The fox said I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house down."
Watched Sponge Bob.
The idea was to keep t hem so busy they wouldn't miss Mom & Dad. What a weekend! I need the week to recuperate.

So what if it's not perfect? The kids had fun.

Veteran's Day: Taking My Hubby Out For A Free Meal

Since today was Veteran's Day, my daughter and  I took my hubby, Kim, out to lunch.  Of course we wanted to honor him (and I wanted to say thanks for putting those new shocks on my car as well).

But there was also a little ulterior motive on my part. For several years I have written about restaurants offering a free meal to veterans, and I wondered what the experience was like. Super-crowded? Not as great as expected?

We went to the Applebee's in Bountiful at about 3:30 p.m., and it seemed so quiet when we walked in that I wondered if I'd made a mistake in my reporting of this event.  But, it turned out that there were lots of tables taken, there just wasn't a crowd waiting for a table. The press release said that some form of military ID was required.  Kim was wearing his Vietnam Vet hat, but I also brought along  the shadow box my daughter made for him, with his photos and army insignia. I mean, anyone could put on a hat and say they served, right?  But, the hostess didn't seem to worried that we were trying to sneak a free meal.

Veterans had a special menu with quite a few choices, and Kim chose the Double Crunch Shrimp. He said his meal was great, although he didn't realize the shrimp were going to be deep-fried. (What puts the crunch in "double crunch?") Amy and I ordered off the regular menu, of course. She was happy with the  buffalo wings and side salad, and I enjoyed a grilled shrimp and spinach salad, with crunchy almond slices and a sweet, bacony dressing.

A hostess came to our table and gave us a $5 voucher to use on a future visit to Applebee's, and thanked Kim for his service. Those words of thanks still mean something to him, because when he came home from Vietnam, there was no hero's welcome. War protesters were calling soldiers "baby killers" and most Americans just wanted the war to be over.

While we were finishing our meal, the waiting area began to fill. It was interesting to watch people walk in and guess where or when they served their country. Kim talked to a man who served in three wars: World War II, Korean War and Vietnam. 

Our overall experience was a positive one. The food and service were great, and there was a feeling of comradery, mostly unspoken, among the diners there.

But I would advise anyone to go before 4 p.m. You'll avoid a long wait for a table, and wait staff usually give better service when they're not rushed and trying to turn over tables quickly.

Next year I hope to make the trek out Tooele way and take my Dad to Applebee's there. He served in the Navy during World War II.  It's not a matter of getting a "free meal," because we certainly could buy him lunch elsewhere.  But it felt like we were part of something a little special today, and I'd like for him to feel that way as well.

BABY CAKES: Boy or Girl?

My daughter-in-law Stephanie had an ultrasound on Friday and the doctor was 95 percent sure of the baby's sex.

Without looking at the results, Steph gave the envelope with the ultrasound to a good friend, who baked a cake and frosted it with the appropriate color inside.  

As friends and family gathered around, Jess cut open the cake, and found......   

PINK frosting! Yes, it's a baby girl due in April.


Anthony wanted a little brother; Jayden wanted a little sister (and said that Jesus told her it was going to be a girl).


Grandma Val is happy either way. I've already crocheted one pink blanket and one blue blanket, just hedging my bets!

Farewell to Uncle Bob

For friends and family who weren't able to make it to Uncle Bob Sagers' funeral In Grantsville, here are some photos of the military graveside services.  And, here is part of his obituary:


He was born August 26, 1922, in St. John, Utah, to Milton and Doris Bracken Sagers. He grew up on the family farm where he developed a strong work ethic, learning to drive a team of horses when he was such a small boy that he had to be tied to the wagon to keep from being pulled off. Bob enjoyed playing ball, swimming at the Warm Springs, 

Playing "Taps"

sleigh riding and going to Saltair and dances around the county. 
Bob served in the U.S. Army 106th 'Golden Lions' Infantry Division, 423rd Regiment during WWII. He was captured during the Battle of the Bulge and was a prisoner of war in Germany for the duration of the war. Bob received several medals including three bronze stars.
When Bob returned home he fell in love and married Beulah LaVon Severe on May 5, 1946 in Elko, Nevada. They were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on September 13, 1978. They raised their family in St. John, Utah, moving to Grantsville in 1973. As a young man, Bob worked in the mines in Tooele county. He went to work at Dugway Proving Ground in 1953 and retired in 1981 as Chief of Grid Operations branch. He later returned to Dugway to work for Lockheed and was a member of the Dugway Survivors Club.

Bob had a lifelong love of farming and raising cattle, which he shared with his family. Some of his grandchildren’s favorite memories are of times spent with him hauling hay and feeding cattle. He missed his days on the farm when he moved to Corpus Christi, Texas in 2008. Bob was devoted to his family, especially his grandkids! Everyone enjoyed his sense of humor which he kept until the very end. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

Thanks everybody for the birthday wishes!
To my daughter-in-law Stephanie and her mom, Angela, for showing up with all the great food this afternoon!

 To my daughter Amy for making the birthday day cake -- dark chocolate fudge with some autumn frosting leaves! Very creative when you realized we only had a half-package of powdered sugar in the house and it was already past 11 p.m. last night!


And thanks for buying those steaks and surprising me.  Now that you asked the butcher all about buying steaks, you can pick them out every time.  


And I appreciate my hubby's good intentions to cook dinner (although, he somehow appearred  just as the steaks came off the grill....) 

I had a great day! And thanks, Kim, for the new freezer. It's already filled with homemade salsa and spaghetti sauce! Love to everyone!

EXPLORING OPHIR, UTAH

Grandma Doris Bracken Sagers  with siblings growing up in Ophir.

I spent today visiting Ophir, Utah at the Aaron Watson Bracken reunion. It was interesting to reconnect with a lot of relatives that I don't see very often, and meet some that I didn't know.  Interesting that a lot of them have ended up in Texas.  I think there were probably as many people there from Texas as there were from Utah.  I really appreciated seeing some of these old photos from the albums of my Aunt Jessie Johnson and cousin Carol Cluff.

History buff John Skinner shared with us a lot of stories from Ophir's boom town days, when the mines there were producing thousands of dollars' worth of silver. And yes, our ancestors were part of that era. 

When I was a kid, I remembered  hearing that Ophir was a "ghost town," and that sounded pretty scary to me!  I don't remember ever going there, although I probably did as a kid. 

Awhile back, the city (permanent population:16)  erected a site with the old historic buildings, school house, Post Office, etc., to show what life what like back then. I loved seeing John's collection of old bottles that he's found over the years.  Some are whiskey or beer bottles; others once held tonics and "home remedies." An interesting day!

Uncle Orson Johnson and LaVerle Bracken on the tour.

My dad, Jay Sagers, probably in the 1930s. 

Not sure if any of our ancestors used this drunk tank!

Part of the historic site.

Some of the buildings were original; I think the double outhouse is a replica!

Cousins taking the tour.

Beautiful mountains that were once full of silver...and maybe still are.

Photo of my Grandma Doris Bracken Sagers.

John Skinner's old bottle collection.

How would it be cooking on that wood-burning stove?

Ophir's town hall.

BABY BLESSING IN LOGAN

Quentin Sagers and his niece, Brooklyn

Garrison Sagers, the new dad.

My nephew, Garrison Sagers and his wife, Teresa, had a baby boy a couple of weeks ago, named Griffin Briggs.  I think we doubled the ward's attendance in Logan to attend the baby blessing.  Grandparents Matt and Janice Sagers, brothers Quentin and Wyatt, and Wyatt's wife Trish and daughter Brooklyn came from Maryland.  Here are some photos. Sorry,somehow I didn't get any pix of the new baby, who was sleeping at the time.

My husband Kim Phillips and my mom, Patricia Dymock.

Wyatt Sagers.

My grandson, Anthony, son Jess, daughter Amy and daughter-in law, Stephanie.

Just sitting in the shade and talking. 

The Nashes: Carrie and Chism  Chase Nash,  Olivia Nash, Christi and Chelsea . 

Amy Phillips, Janice Sagers, Patricia Dymock.

My dad Jay Sagers and my brother Matt Sagers.

Wyatt, baby Brooklyn,  Luz Nash, Jay and Matt Sagers.

My siblings, Matt Sagers, Christi Nash, my dad Jay Sagers, and me.

Cousin Heather Hall, Patricia Dymock, a family friend and Matt.

GOOD-BYE PEACH TREE!

Peach tree stump & roots.

This photo isn't some space alien.  It's the roots of what's left of our peach tree after we pulled it out last week. It took quite a lot of digging and pulling -- thanks, Lonn & Kim.  It wasn't diseased, but it was the victim of  broken branches and bad pruning jobs over the years. I loved the big juicy peaches, but the branches that were still producing fruit were so high that I couldn't reach them. And since it was growing on a slope, ladder-climbing was always a scary prospect for me. .

Hole where peach tree once stood, filled with water to aid the pulling.

This is actually the second peach tree we've had in our yard.  The first one was growing just fine for over ten years, with wonderful sweet peaches, on a nice flat part of the backyard. As a new fruit-grower, I didn't realize that all peach trees are not the same. Mine produced sweet, flavorful peaches, but they had a cling stone that was hard to remove.

Then my husband, Kim, had the idea to build a shed in that nice flat spot. He knew I wasn't keen on that. While I was in Sacramento for a couple of days covering a National Chicken Cook-Off, he brought in a backhoe to dig out that spot. By the time I came home, the tree was gone and a shed partially installed.  I didn't even get to say good-bye.

So I planted Tree Number 2 in a different spot. But ten years later, I sadly knew that last fall would be its last harvest.

I'm not saying good-bye to peaches, however. I'll be buying a new tree soon.  I'm going to plant it back the flat sunny spot where Tree Number 1 used to be.  It happened that our city zoning didn't like Kim's placement for a shed any more than I did, so the shed is long gone.
  
And now that I'm much wiser about caring for peach trees, I feel certain it will be around for a long time.