DHMIL: The Emmenecker

Way way long time since we did one of these… but I thought I would share an epic journey in food… Thanksgiving came early for all of us here at QCI HQ…

You know… because we are very impressionable and are influenced easy… a loyal QCI-der inspired us to do this… (Thanks Humpy Bumpy!) Totally scored an Emmenecker at Jethro’s… what’s and Emmenecker? Here’s the deets from Jethro’s menu:

The Adam Emmenecker
The Missouri Valley Conference most valuable Player of 2008 loves this sandwich. It's big.. "really big".. just like all those really big shots Adam in the Bulldog's magical MVC Championship Season of 2008. Start with our huge tenderloin, add our Angus steak burger, top it with a slab of Texas brisket and apple wood bacon, finish it with buffalo chicken tender, smother this mountain with melted cheddar cheese, and white cheddar sauce, serve it with your favorite choice of side. This could hurt you! A sandwich fit for the MVP.

Now… all of us here at the HQ give Jethro’s a way thumbs up for everything… but for some dumb reason… we were all GAME! FREAKING! ON! I mean… look at the description… this is about as an epic sandwich you can get…

Did we finish it? Awe hell no… that wasn’t the goal. Just another day of being awesome… of which will be a chapter in the book entitled… “Why did you do that? Uh… Because It’s Awesome”.

Anyways… I Tex Mexed the pic to some of my peeps… reactions were the following:

“WOWWWWWW!” I know! “Epic.” Yes, epic. “You’re insane, get some help.” Insanely awesome! “Yes please!” Yes. “That’s revolting.” “That just made me sick.” Haters…“Holler.” “Good God G$, don’t eat it.” "Dude your heart is going to explode." Too late! “When I grow up, I wanna be awesome. Teach me master” Watch and learn grasshopper. “I miss your face.” What the… and finally “You have medical insurance, right?”

So yeah… here’s a pic of the Emmenecker…. Enjoy. Now off to Jewell before the snow hits!

THE GOOD NEWS – Water is going down. Iowa City crested earlier than expected… which means less damage to the U of I. Downtown Des Moines is coming back to life this week. The I-Cubs played a double header today. Slowly things are getting back to normal. The Northside is getting there. They are breaking levees today to drain the flooded areas as the river level is going down.

THE BAD NEWS – Cedar Rapids has a long way to go. Tempers are starting to flare. Just look at your front page of the DMR tomorrow. There is a great website set up for relief efforts in Eastern Iowa: http://www.corridorrecovery.org/. Has resources for victims and ways you can help. Check it out.






It’s been a while since I’ve used this header. But thought it might be appropriate given the recent weather and floods. There will be a lot of local joints that have been hit hard and face huge comebacks. Listen, I’m not saying the whole… buy a car, or the terrorists will win thing. I’m saying if one of your local joints has been hit, when they reopen, don't forget to show ‘em some love.






Back with a somewhat normal Countdown for you QCI-ders. Can I go on record for saying that last week, was about the crappiest of a week for the entire state? So, it was a great call to move the Convention this weekend, obviously. But there is another silver lining in the reschedule.

CONVENTION DRAMA – As the story built last week, all stuff we have talked about before. But, now, at least we have a month (hopefully) sooner to let cooler heads prevail. Krusty lead the way with this piece today. Fly Over offered this one that complemented Hershel’s very well. With so much at stake. Seriously guys and gals. Can I get anyone a Coca Cola?

QCI POLL STILL GOING - Vote early and often... some of you doubt me? Good to see most of the readers at QCI can relate to junior high humor. Rome salutes you.

RNC COMMITTEEMAN RACE – So I mentioned Scheffler as a candidate in a recent post. Steve Roberts is still running from what I am aware of. QCI has touched on this in the past, especially when it comes to the Iowa Caucuses. The NUMBER ONE PRIORITY of Iowa RNC members is THE FIRST IN THE NATION IOWA CAUCUSES. Nothing else. Absolutely nothing else. Because if we have that taken away… you want to know the only time Iowa GOP State Poobahs get to meet candidates? Oh yea, the National Convention. That is what is on the line.

And to close up today, because QCI is all about being educational today for a change, here’s Axel Foley of the Detroit PD who will show you how to foil a robbery in a strip club.

They whole famn damily was down in Kearney, MO a couple of weekends ago to celebrate Ainsley’s 1st Birthday. We rolled into Kearney mid afternoon, settled in and cocktail hour started. Per usual, with my family… a feeding isn’t far behind. The original plan was to hit a local Mexican joint with an audible to a GREAT local Italian joint simply called Gino’s.

THE SCENE – For you Des Moiners reading, Gino’s is basically a casual Tumea & Sons (one of my absolute favorites) but possibly a little more fun. Located in historic downtown Kearney, the birthplace of Jesse James, when you walk down the street you can’t help to wonder what kind of gun slinging was going on back in the day.

When you walking the door you immediately met with picture of Gino with his kids, cousins, and everyone in between. You’re seated and waited by members of Gino’s family. Locals were out in force and our group of 16 plus was treated and served with excellence. Which incidentally is a pretty tough gig to wait on a Young/Uthe party at any restaurant. For those of you who have had the honor, we’re a loud bunch… shocking, I know.

THE FOOD – Very good from reviews around the table. My brother announced (numerous times) that the meat balls there are awesome! As our family rolls, you could hear them saying, “Hey Adam, I hear the meat balls are good here.” Embarrasing my brother on the world wide web aside, he was right. He gets the ravioli and meat balls every time. Damn good. Per my Aunt Barb and others, the deserts were awesome. This coffee tasting dessert was getting huge reviews around the table. I had the fettuccini alfredo with chicken. Great sauce and everything… and the Coors Lights were ice cold…

WHY YOU SHOULD STOP – With good food, friends and family you can never go wrong. But at Gino’s, they treat everyone like the most important guests in the house. Gino himself makes this place a must stop. Rumor was that he’ll sing for you when asked. He stopped by and said, “I got something better! We have a professional singer on our wait staff, let me go get her.” The sound system in this joint starts playing and out comes this waitress singing “Where the Boys Are” by Connie Francis (my mom’s all time favorite song). She was great and is leaving for Branson in a couple of weeks.

Then Gino started singing a couple tunes in honor of Ainsley. She was getting a little tired, but the songs gave her a second wind. After a great rendition of “Ain’t That Kick in the Head”, he stayed to chat and get to know his new big fans from the Hawkeye State.

Anyway…. great host, great place, great food and great times… our family plans make regular stops when we come down to visit. And if you’re on your way to a Royals game, a party weekend in Westport or taking the kids to Worlds of Fun, make a pit stop in Kearney at Gino’s… your peeps will think you some sort of Food Channel stud or something. When in Rome, do what the Romans do... and don’t hassle them, they're local.