Ned Ludd vs. St, John's McMenamins

Two nights without cooking brought two radically different culinary experiences. Wednesday was the thoughtful and eclectic menu of Ned Ludd, as you follow the link you'll see that the hook comes in the form of a completely wood fired menu. Wonderful surroundings replete with a giant stack of wood center stage fueling the fire in a brick open faced wood burning oven. Funky, tasty, simple and well done with the only exception being a truly unimaginative version of a smore for dessert. You'll find the menu HERE. In stark contrast came Thursday night, Jess and I hot and tired and completely uninterested in standing over a range, caved in to not finding a real dining experience and shuffled over to the local McMenamins Theater and Pub in our little burg of St. Johns. You'll find the menu HERE. They have mastered the art of "just good enough". Always a cool interior as long as you block out the knowledge that there are over 60 of these 'unique' concepts all across Oregon. Long story short: a mediocre burger, tater tots and a bland beer. Jess and I ended the evening as we ALWAYS do, by stealing the bottle of FANTASTIC house made mustard, (their one saving

grace).