June 1 – 7, 2009 is Air Force Week at Hill Air Force Base.

General Norton A. Schwartz, Air Force Chief of Staff, selected Ogden as one of three cities nationwide to host Air Force Week this year to highlight the Air Force’s partnership with its sister services in the joint fight and to show its gratitude to the communities that support its Airmen.

The weeklong event will include talks by Air Force officials, flight demonstrations and displays around the region to provide a close and personal look at the Air Force mission and its service members.

“Air Force Week will showcase our Airmen and their amazing capabilities to members of the community who may not have day-to-day contact with Hill Air Force Base,” said Colonel Linda Medler, 75th Air Base Wing commander. “In short, the event will allow our Airmen to share their incredible stories with the community.”

The event will culminate with an open house and air show at Hill Air Force Base by the Thunderbirds, one of America’s premier demonstration teams. The event is Free and open to the public.

Air Force Week ensures America’s communities of local and state civic leaders, influencers, potential recruits, and Airmen understand how our dominance of air, space and cyberspace helps defend America in today’s changing world.

Only two other sites were selected for Air Force Week in 2009, and they are Hampton Roads, Va., April 12-19, and Sacramento, Calif., Sept. 14-20.

Sinbad. The actor. The comedian. Our first real celebrity?

He was looking for Utah’s best Mexican food, so he came to Sonora Grill. And since he was coming to Ogden, he decided to book a few shows at Wiseguys Comedy Club while he was in town. 

He was very friendly and let other patrons have their picture taken with him, even left a generous tip.

Jell-O, Squeaky Cheese, Postum, FatBoys.

See if your favorite Utah food made Salt Lake Magazine’s list: Utah Locavore 100.

Audience: Adults

Cost: $6 at the door, $1 drinks

Contact: Adam Farnsworth 801.628.4874

More restaurants dispense with Zion Curtains

by Dawn House

The Salt Lake Tribune

Starting today, bartenders may hand drinks directly to diners sitting at restaurant counters when a portion of new legislation goes into effect that makes sweeping changes to Utah’s liquor laws.

That’s because as of midnight Monday they no longer will have to deal with barriers, dubbed Zion Curtains, that were erected to separate diners from alcoholic beverages. The old statutes were so strict that bartenders were also prohibited from handing anything over the barriers — including a glass of water, a plate of food, a napkin or even a bill. Either the bartender had to walk around the counter or hand the items to a server who made the trek around the barrier.

Shawn Boyle, manager of the downtown restaurant Faustina, can hardly wait to get rid of the odd looking glass partition that sits atop a counter.

“Not having these barriers is going to save us a lot of time, especially with out-of-state visitors who constantly ask what it is and why it’s there, which then goes onto questions and comments about other state liquor laws,” he said. “It turns into a long conversation about something we don’t have any control over — plus, the thing is kind of an eyesore.”

Until 2001, all alcohol was hidden from public view in Utah restaurants. That’s when the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a state ban against liquor advertising and displays. 

—–

But don’t think that Utah has suddenly transformed into an alcohol-friendly state. In fact, some of the new rules in the liquor bill are even more strict. New restaurants must pour and mix their booze behind a ten foot wall, away from the eyes of children. Existing restaurants, like Sonora Grill, are grandfathered in and can remove the Zion Curtain without adding any new separations.

Grilling season is right around the corner and the folks at The Standard Examiner came to the right place to get some information for their feature article, Thrill of the Grill. 

We thought you might enjoy the recipes we shared with them. 

Grilled Carne Asada

1/2 cup oil

Juice from 3 limes

1 tablespoon chopped garlic

1 tablespoon chopped cilantro

Six 8-ounce outside skirt steaks (available through most grocery meat departments)

Kosher salt

Black pepper

Combine oil, lime juice, garlic and cilantro to make the marinade. Marinate steak for 10 minutes before placing on the grill. Season with salt and pepper as it cooks. Grill to desired doneness. Slice into strips, if desired. Serves six.

Grilled Corn on the Cob

6 cobs of corn

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup cotija cheese (available in most grocery delis or local Latin food markets)

Chili powder

Boil corn for 10 minutes, then finish on the grill to give flavor and color. Slather the corn in sour cream and roll in cotija cheese. Finish with a few shakes of chili powder to add color and flavor. Serves six.

Cinco de Mayo, or The Fifth of May, is here, and tonight is the night to come celebrate at Sonora Grill!

Many people mistakenly think Cinco de Mayo is Mexico’s Independence Day (September 16), but Cinco de Mayo actually commemorates the victory of the Mexicans over the French army at The Battle of Puebla in 1862.

Mexico had endured a number of internal political upheaveals including the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) and the Mexican Civil War of 1858, but the country’s economy was in trouble. Mexico had accumulated large debts to several countries including Spain, England, and France, and they were all demanding payment. 

France was greedily looking for opportunities to add to their empire, so they used the debt issue to attempt to establish its own leadership in Mexico. Mexico stopped making loan payments, and consequently, France appointed their own ruler of Mexico. Their army invaded at the gulf coast of Mexico and began to march toward Mexico City. 

At the Mexican forts of Loreto and Guadalupe, the French army came up against strong resistance. It was the fifth of May, and a small, poorly armed militia of some 4,500 men were able to stop and defeat a well outfitted French army of 6,500 soldiers. This miraculous defeat stopped France’s invasion and developed a needed sense of national unity and patriotism within Mexico.

Unfortunately, the victory was short lived. France sent an additional 30,000 soldiers and took over Mexico City one year later. In 1867, when the American Civil War was over, the United States provided Mexico political and military assistance which helped them finally overpower and expel the French.

Cinco de Mayo is recognized throughout Mexico, but it is celebrated more as a regional holiday in Puebla. Interestingly, it has become a bigger holiday north of the border in the United States than it is to the south.

Cinco de Mayo honors the brave men of General Zaragoza’s outnumbered militia at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, and it also gives us the chance to celebrate Mexican culture, customs, music, and food.

Cinco de Mayo and Taco Tuesday? What more could you ask for? Come enjoy Utah’s best Mexican food at Sonora Grill!