Image by Jay Arcansalin/UVU Review

In this day of Facebook, instant search engine results and that ever present life-sucker, the television, one almost forgets what it’s like to use one’s own brain. So many of us are, I fear, running on cognitive auto-pilot, where entertainment is spoon fed to us and information is dropped in our laps.

Gone are the days of imagination and adventure seeking. Even for the kids of our day, the baseball glove is being replaced by the gaming controller, and the tree house is being replaced by the living-room couch.

Fortunately, right here in Utah Valley, there is an escape to reality and cerebral exhilaration, something no amount of electronic stimulus can substitute for. I’m talking about UVU’s very own Woodbury Art Museum, located on the second floor of the University Mall, between The Gap and Nordstrom. The gallery boasts a variety of art that succeeds in intriguing the imagination and setting free the intellect. It was refreshing to let my mind wander off to imaginary worlds and to rediscover various childhood fantasies and elaborate on them, rather than mindlessly wander about a mind-numbing internet page.

Among the Museum’s current exhibits is a selection of Christmas dolls from the McCurdy Doll Museum, home to more than 3,000 dolls. The Christmas dolls are different replicas of Santa Clause as he is understood and viewed in various world cultures, and each doll has a small history and description posted by it, identifying the character of Santa from the early fourth century to the jolly old man that he is known as today.

In the photography section I had a rather peculiar experience — I came across a picture of a lady laboring in a sweat shop; my initial reaction to this photo was one of complacency — “Why is this picture so special?” I moved on to the next photo to find a breathtaking, coniferous-clad mountain enshrouded in clouds and boasting mighty granite faced cliffs. It was here that I experienced a euphoric insight regarding the worth of people, and how this forgotten little sweat shop worker was much mightier than those mountains. I’m not trying to get religious here, I simply want to emphasize the rich mental processes that an art museum can promulgate.

Do yourself and your GPA a favor and visit the Woodbury Art Museum, open Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. It’s an intellectual feast!

---

[Translate]

Jay Arcansalin/UVU Review

For those of you who haven’t been courageous enough to wander into the depths of Zoobieville (the campus of Brigham Young University and the perimeter that surrounds it) let me tell you about a nice little place called Sammy’s.

Located just off of Provo Center Street – Utah County’s best attempt at a night life scene – Sammy’s is clearly aimed towards the college crowd, the jury-rigged iPod stereo system blasting a personal playlist of tunes to a horde of students sitting around a diner-style countertop is evidence enough to support this assertion.

As any patron of Sammy’s will tell you, this place is best known for its pie shakes. For those of you who have fantasized of taking your Thanksgiving dinner and putting it in a blender for whatever reason, Sammy’s may be the incarnation of your fantasy, at least where the Thanksgiving dessert is concerned. Sammy’s offers a full dessert right in a cup by combining the ingredients of a slice of your favorite pie a la mode and blending the sugary confection for a few moments. After the culinary metamorphosis transpires, a generous helping of Whipped Cream is slathered atop the masterpiece. Pie types include Pumpkin Cheesecake (which is my absolute favorite), various fruit  flavored cheese cakes (such as blackberry or raspberry), apple or peach cobbler, and even Mint Oreo.

Sammy’s also offers cupcake milkshakes, the same concept as the pie shakes with the exception of a pie-out cupcake-in substitution. For those who are disinclined to a pastry-based milkshake, Sammy’s offers a score of other types of shakes and beverages (like Italian Ice.)

Sammy’s also prides itself on its gourmet burgers, but I don’t share the feeling. I helped myself to a Big Buddha Burger, which siphoned $7 out of my wallet and multiple napkins from the napkin dispenser. After all, it was a messy burger. Messiness is certainly the mark of a fine burger, and it was good, but not $7 good.

So for a great shake, go to Sammy’s, but if it’s a burger you fancy, try Joe’s Café.

---

[Translate]

It’s official. I’ve found my new favorite restaurant, though I don’t feel it’s fair for me to call Joe’s Café a mere restaurant; this place is something all its own.

Joe’s is a spot you recommend to friends and family visiting from out of town, a place destined to become one of those local legends found in every college town that makes the college experience complete. That legend will exist in part because of Joe and in part because of his food.

Joe – When I walked in I was greeted heartily by the cook and owner himself, Joe, who gave me the feeling that I was simply visiting and hanging out in the kitchen of an uncle I never knew I had. Joe will talk with you, share a laugh, and even take a picture with you when you’re done with your meal.

The Food – Joe’s heart and personality are only rivaled in size by his amazing food. Having heard of Joe’s grits but also eyeing his “Ultimate Burger,” I informed the cashier that I wasn’t quite sure which to choose. Hearing this, Joe took me back by the grill, scooped me up a bowl of grits and said “you tell me what you think.” Having lived in the south for a few years, I’ve had my share of grits, some great, some not so great, and Joe easily makes the best grits I’ve ever had. Whether you like grits, hate them, or if you’ve never had them, you will love these.

Satisfied for having tried the grits, I went with “Joe’s Ultimate Burger.” Grilled mushrooms, grilled onions, thick and plentiful bacon, two cheeses, jalapenos, and a thick juicy patty along with some special “Slap Ya Mama” seasoning shipped from Texas, easily make this the best hamburger I’ve ever had. As far as size goes, Joe could teach Burger King a thing or two about using the term “Whopper” correctly when naming food.

Joe’s Café offers plenty of other hefty portions of southern-style breakfast and lunch options, and I can’t wait to return and discover another best “something else” I’ve ever had. All in all, I can’t say enough good things about Joe’s café. Do yourself a favor and visit Joe’s, located at 1126 S State St in Orem. Come early because Joe’s closes at 4 p.m. See Y’all there!

---

[Translate]

Ali Mitton/UVU Review

This week my travels took me to a Vietnamese restaurant called Pho Plus Noodle House located on 908 S State St in Orem. I took a fine young lady with me, which always makes the experience even better – especially with the opportunity I was given to demonstrate my best attempt at slurping noodles and broth without drowning myself. That really impresses a girl.

For those of you who enjoy Vietnamese food, you likely know what pho (pronounced “fuh”) is. You likely also know that before now, the only place to get pho was SLC. Now Orem boasts a new pho restaurant, which opened about a month ago.

For those unfamiliar with the dish, it is a very popular Vietnamese soup of beef and noodles with fresh basil, sprouts, jalapeños and a lime presented on a side plate to allow the diners to add these items at their own discretion throughout the meal. If the ingredients are dumped in all at once, the sprouts and basil leaves wilt.

A cursory scan of the menu showed that though the restaurant it is primarily dedicated to pho, it does also offer other authentic asian foods such as real barbecue pork and yakisoba. We’re talking real asian food here, not Panda Express or some chinese buffet.

We ordered an appetizer of edamame which proved to be delicious, and, like the rest of the food there, highly nutritious.

Then came time for the main course. As a first-timer, I decided to take the path of adventure and ordered pho with flank, tendon, and tripe (intestine lining).

About ten minutes later, out came my massive bowl of Pho, which was only the “regular size” on the menu. I wondered if the chef had accidentally sent the whole pot out to me.

The quality of the food was superb. And while tripe and tendon aren’t quite my thing, they didn’t ruin the meal at all. Next time I think I’ll try the steak, flank, and brisket – and there will be a next time. As for the side vegetables, I figured that the restaurant had a garden in its kitchen.

The environment was comfortable and relaxed – not the kind of place to catch a football game on the bigscreen while you eat. However, this restaurant provides a wonderful retreat for fresh, delicious, and nutritious food. Sports and trans-fats are so Applebee’s anyway – give Pho Plus Noodle House a try.

---

[Translate]