March Madness in the Gump: The Effete Eight

It's still March--and it's "Madness!" The LITG gang secretly seeded all the top 64 local restaurants in the Gump and initiated the first ever LITG Gump Championship Tournament (LGCT) for 2010.  Watching the seedings was akin to watching a slaughterhouse make sausage or our legislature make laws.  We will spare you the horror or the details. Bottom line: Here are the EFFETE EIGHT:

In the "Central American Regional" the Fighting Chile Poblano's of La Zona Rosa overcame the El Taqueria Cantero's Jolly Jugs and their knife and fork offense.

In the "Soul Food Regional" in Memphis the Cookmas Ham Hocks eeked by the Davis' Cafe Wings by 196 diastolic over 130 systolic to place the upstart Cook Ma's into the final four for the first time in forever. The Cook Ma's dressing scored 110 bad cholesterols in the last half of play.

In the "Cardiac Regional" it was the 'Widowmaker' of the Hamburger King Kings dunking over the "double" of the Chris' Hot Dogs Bulldogs to slide into the Effete Eight by a score of 16 to 12 oz (with a recorded heart attack in the paint). Brrrrrrrp!

The "French Regional" in San Francisco was a real stem-winder with the Lunde's NOLAs stomping the tofu out of the Cool Beans Lady Sprouts by serving up the goods at half the price with half the attitude.

In the "Lard Regional" you had the Martin's Crimson Pullybones dunking their cornbread over the top of the Cattlemen of Stockyard Cafe with real butter on the side.  It was perhaps the closest contest leading to the Effete Eight.

In the Far Eastern Regional the Green Papaya Stir Fries got Thai Hot in the second half to kick the pud out of the Lek's Railroaders.

In the "Fine Dinning" Regional the Chop House Legislators used their sharp steak knife offense to split the wedge defense of La Jolla Hoyas and defeat them in double overtime with, of course, lobbyists cutting down the nets and picking up their checks.

Finally, in the Mediterranean Regional it was a dominating performance by Joe D's scrappy Sa-Za's Ta-Tas putting the pasta and garlic offense to the hometown favorite Corsino's Sicilians and their anti-pasta defense.  Unfortunately, some of the key Sa-Za's players went missing after the game.

Stay tuned for the results of the FINAL FOUR.

Gird Your Loins: Sa Za's Outstanding

Justin Gaines

Something is amiss with Urban Spoon-Montgomery.  Mimerton, home from Ole Miss, wanted to try Sa-Za's for dinner Saturday night. Being an avid Urban Spooner, I checked it out and saw three "awful"/"terrible"/"disgusting" reviews of Sa-Zas posted this month (March 2010) and tried to talk her out of going there.  Thankfully, she was determined so, along with Toadpot and Tayteese, we made reservations, girded our loins and proceeded down to Gumptown and Sa-Za's Serious Italian Food. We were, simply said, blown away and now skeptical about the motives behind the recent terrible reivews. [I note that Araess--a very finicky eater--had given the place a good review not long ago].

Fortunately, many in the Gump ignored the negativity and joined the crowd at Sa-Za's for dinner Saturday night. The place was buzzing with energy.  The "alley" bar was open and high-tops outside and under the awning on the Commerce Street sidewalk were full of patrons eating and drinking in apparent satisfaction.

Our table, thanks to "Zeke", was waiting for us at 8:15 p.m. and we were seated and immediately greeted by Jennifer who was perky, cute and attentive.  There was no sign of poor service or a poor attitude by anyone I observed working the room.  There behind the "chef's table" was Justin Gaines fresh from winning the Choppped chef competition on the Food Network. Maybe he was not there when the Urban Spoon reviewers were eating, but he was there tonight and everything--I mean everything--was outstanding. 

I started us out with the peppers appetizer. Plenty for four and very tasty.  A bottle of the house pinot noir chased it as the girls discussed the men they saw at the bar who had dumped their friends. Women in the Gump protect their own.

I then ordered the pork loin covered in a white wine butter sauce with thin-sliced potatoes and peppers. I wanted to lick the plate. If I had not been seen by my probation officer, I would have.

Toadpot ordered the raviioli.  She allowed me to try one.  It was light and delicious.  She raved about it. I understand why.

Mimerton ordered some flattened chicken with pesto sauce and she loved it. She could not eat it all and, contrary to her usual position on "go-boxes", was not ashamed to take home lunch for Sunday.

Tayteese ordered something off the menu that came in a large bowl. It was a heavier pasta dish but extremely good.  Ditto for her on the "doggie box" no doggie would ever see.

The girls twisted my arm and forced me to order the cheescake and termasu (sp?) for desert.  Both were lighter than expected and devoured quickly.

I was happy to pay the $120 tab for four and left with the thanks of the group for a wonderful meal in a cool place where--when I could tear myself away from the remarks about men dating younger women--the NCAA tourney was on the flatscreen over the bar. (Did some nobody really beat Obama's pick to win it all: Kansas?)

The whole experience was so much better than average that I have to again mention that you cannot always believe the reviews you see on the Spoon.  Perhaps some have ulterior motives.  I, for one, can recommend Sa-Za's performance on this night without hesitation. This place deserves higher than a 69% approval rating (as of tonight).