Shogun Legends in Wall, NJ

Shogun Legends
shogunlegends.com
1969 Route 34
Wall, NJ 07719
(732) 449-6696

Starving Auctioneers Rating: 4 Gavels out of 5

Regional stereotypes are an unfortunate thing and often truly jade our mind. Therefore it was a pleasant surprise when Greg Belhorn and Peter ventured to the Jersey Shore to pick up pottery, glassware and antique items and failed to witness any of the lewd and ruckus behavior demonstrated on the myriad of cable TV programs that have made the Jersey Shore the subject of much national humor. Failed to witness until dinner that is…

After an afternoon of hard work loading a van full of items out of a basement for upcoming summer auctions the two ventured to Shogun Legends in Wall, New Jersey. In somewhat Ohio redneck fashion both changed out of their sweat soaked shirts in the dark parking lot but if in anything that was in an attempt to do the Buckeye State proud and not looking like a couple of farmers. Shogun Legends was an impressive looking place both inside and out and Greg had done some research before leaving on where a couple of Staving Auctioneers might be eat after a long day. The restaurant was packed and it was unfortunately full of walking Jersey Shore stereotypes much to Greg and Peter’s Midwestern amusement.

The somewhat befuddled waiter explained that Shogun’s was known for its New York sushi. That was fairly confusing as it is generally held that sushi originated in Japan but what do a couple of hicks from Ohio know? Greg ordered a selection of sushi, sashimi and rolls that helped contribute to overfishing in all the world’s oceans (by rule Starving Auctioneers are nothing if not equal opportunity consumers, primarily carnivores and environmental bandits) and when that massive sushi platter failed to completely fill the hold another round was ordered. The sushi was truly excellent and the in-restaurant debauchery of the locals was both entertaining and enlightening. New York Sushi turned out to be some of best reviewed to date and much better then Hilliard, Ohio sushi that is for sure.

Evergreen Chinese Buffet in Washington, PA

Evergreen Chinese Buffet - Map
125 Murtland Ave
Washington, PA 15301
(724) 299-7008

Starving Auctioneers Rating: 2 1/2 Gavels out of 5

Nothing says Belhorn Auction Service Road Trip like a steaming cauldron of unnaturally bright red sweet and sour sauce. When Greg Belhorn is at the wheel of the magical mystery pottery mobile (an unmarked, white E-250 van) and the dinner bell rings it is time to stop at the nearest Chinese buffet. Greg and Peter were returning from a pick up in New Jersey and not even the lack luster reviews online could discourage their mighty hunger. As aside all the reviews they found could describe almost any Chinese Buffet and they were not going to let online negatively dissuade them. The large polished sign out front beckoned as they exited I-70 in Washington, PA.

Arriving after the lunch rush most of the staff was eerily engrossed in watching Texas vs TCU in College World Series Super Regional. It was pretty entertaining to watch a group of young Asian waitresses watch the Texas pitcher work his way out of a jam. It was true moment of Americana. Immigrants watching college baseball live in a buffet in Western Pennsylvania. What a country!

As unbelievable as it may seem each Chinese Buffet is different. Greg, being an expert on really only two things: American Art Pottery and Chinese Buffets, clarified what made this buffet different from all the rest. This buffet he explained had an unusually large selection of appetizer items and relatively few true entrées. Greg then went off into a diatribe on how this reflected the socio-economic differences between Washington, PA and other towns that have fallen victim to this review. You were fortunate to have missed it.

An anthropological aside to the dining experience was when your two reviews exited off the interstate at Belle Vernon, PA fifteen minutes earlier in search of what turned out to be a nonexistent Chinese Buffet (thanks Garmin!) and found a most unusual occurrence. There crossing the street appeared to be two primordial dwarfs. Having seen a number of TLC specials on the subject it very interesting to see someone with this condition in person and to see them crossing the street in town that the worlds seems to have forgotten was even more amazing. One would hope that TLC doesn’t catch wind of this blog and start following your reviewer around.

Bamboo Garden in Greenfield, IN

Bamboo Garden - Map
2160 North State Street
Greenfield, IN 46140
(317) 467-8881

Starving Auctioneers Rating: 2 1/2 Gavels out of 5

Recently we traveled deep into flyover country in southwestern Indiana to pick up the most unique collection of pottery we have ever seen. The collection was 100% modern, contemporary and studio art pottery with a focus on Indiana and Midwestern potters. This was a very interesting collection and a far cry from the Roseville, Weller and Rookwood we typically handle, all of which is between 60 and 100 years old. The entire collection required our full and careful packing and after a day of handling pottery our thoughts focused on our next task: dinner. Having left Columbus, Ohio at 6:00 AM and working through lunch we were hungry. Even though it was two hours away from the pick up there was really only one option: Bamboo Garden Chinese Buffet.

As we pulled away from the house Greg’s exact words were “I’m hungry and I’m going to make them pay today.” Much like a lion stalking its pray we were heading in for the kill. Granted this lion was in the form a lumbering van and trailer full of pottery but you get the idea.

The Bamboo Garden is our home away from home when we are hungry and find ourselves in the Hoosier state. Their motto is reassuring: “Not Only Cuisine, But Also Clean.” It does not get much better than that folks. The Bamboo Garden offers a full array of authentic Chinese buffet items including my personal favorite the 5 gallon bottomless heated vat of sweet and sour sauce. We had the pleasure of dinning that evening with some happy Colts fans fresh off a victory. We all enjoyed the slightly above average selection of sushi this buffet offered.

On the way out Peter picked up a brochure in preparation for another Pulitzer Prize winning review and was pleasantly surprised to learn that the Bamboo Garden uses only 100% vegetable oil…if you could not read or did not know what this meant they had little broccoli graphics to help you out. You have to love a Chinese Buffet at a no name exit in the middle of Indiana.

New Riegel Café in New Riegel, OH

New Riegel Café - Map
http://www.newriegelcafe.com/
14 N Perry St
New Riegel, OH 44853
(419) 595-2255

Starving Auctioneers Rating: 5 Gavels out of 5 - TOP TEN

In 2009 we have had the pleasure of conducting three auctions in our neighbor to the north the great state of Michigan. One of the best things about doing auctions in Michigan is where we eat on the way home. New Riegel Café in tiny New Riegel, Ohio is a Starving Auctioneers Top Ten places to eat. It boasts of number of unique traits that make it worth the extra minutes it adds to our trip back to Columbus.

Among the most important features is the food. New Riegel Café has a very unique and flavorful style of ribs with super secret sauce that is the stuff of mystery and legend. Not like any typical ribs and BBQ sauce combination, these ribs come out quick and covered in just the right about of sauce. If you want more sauce the ribs go back to the kitchen, you don’t get anything on the side lest you steal the Holy Grail. Words can’t describe the subtle flavor and the way the ribs and sauce combine for a perfect meal.

The place doesn’t take credit cards or checks, serves beverages by the bottle or can and the wait staff doesn’t have a whole lot of patience’s for people that don’t know the story. They are friendly and fast however if you get with the program. The menu at the New Riegal Café stays on the table because it is so small it fits nicely on one of the plastic table tents. There are other things on the menu but we really don’t think anyone cares. They have bologna and cheese appetizer that has GREAT bologna and Kraft style cheese singles…no kidding…sounds bizarre but it works. They say they serve chicken but who wants that when ribs are waiting. Clean up is pretty easy as everything is served in paper boats like the county fair. There is also an attached gift shop.

The food is so good that people (like us) travel from miles around to visit this town of 300 in the heart of Northwest, Ohio’s farm country. If you find yourself south of Toledo and in the middle of nowhere you are likely close to New Riegel and this place deserves your attention.

Greg has been a regular at the New Riegel Café since his CRAZY bachelor days while attending nearby Heidelberg University. He and his chums would refuel at the Cafe after cheering Heidelberg’s The Student Prince on to victory on the gridiron. Yeah The Student Prince, a real award winning mascot; to think people make fun of Brutus the Buckeye?! Beside Peter’s farm in Van Wert, the New Riegel Café is the best place to be in Northwest, Ohio.

Fukuya Japanese in Hilliard, OH

Fukuya Japanese
http://www.fukuyajapanese.com/
2469 Hilliard Rome Road
Hilliard, OH 43026
(614) 850-0888

Starving Auctioneers Rating: 3 1/2 Gavels out of 5

Business meetings at Belhorn Auction Services rarely happen in anything resembling a traditional setting. Today was no exception. Today’s meeting was called to order at the new Japanese Restaurant in Hilliard, Fukuya Japanese Steak House and Sushi. Before we get to the review, all you really need to know is that we will be back and you need to go soon.

While the steak and dinners are very good we where there for the sushi and by sushi we mean Americanized raw fish consumption with all the bells and whistles our great country can add to an otherwise unsuspecting cuisine. To further clarify what we both really wanted was Makizushi for those diehard sushi lovers and Japanese culture fans. For everyone else we will just call it sushi. In a past life Peter was a youth ambassador to Japan so it is important we get this sort of information correct. Peter was the only member of the delegation to gain weight on their first trip to Japan.

Greg ordered a California roll with no cucumber (the mysteries never cease) and the ‘special’ Dragon roll. Peter was a bit offend at this selection owing to Greg’s continued disregard for the over hunting of dragons that has brought their population to near extinction…when was the last time you saw a dragon?? Peter ordered the far more sustainable Buckeye Roll which is shrimp tempura topped with spicy crab and Hawaiian Roll which is tuna, cream cheese, crunch avocado topped with crab. Peter seems to be very interested in food inspired by the states of the union.

Those who order fresh sushi know that it can take awhile for an order to come up owing the nature of its preparation. However this was perfect as there was plenty to discuss between an upcoming auction in Michigan, a pottery pickups in Indiana, and the early 2010 auction calendar.

When everything did arrive it was great. What makes Fukuya special is that it is SO close (to us anyway) and so good. Sushi ain’t cheap but good food seldom is but it was reasonable given the rarity of fresh dragon these days.

Portside Seafood Restaurant in Cambridge, MD

Portside Seafood Restaurant
http://www.portsideseafood.com
201 Trenton Street
Cambridge, MD 21613-2406
(410) 228-9007

Starving Auctioneers Rating: 3 1/2 Gavels out of 5

A recent pottery pick up took us to the Maryland. We have never been to Maryland as a destination. Everyone has driven through Maryland just like everyone has driven through Indiana or ran from gate to gate at the Atlanta airport. This was our first real chance to enjoy the state of Maryland. We drove from the most western point, across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to Cambridge, MD. Cambridge seems like a nice enough place, no different than any other. Our pick up was at a typical slice of Americana ranch style home. It seems many of our pottery pick-ups are at normal homes. Pottery folks appear to spend their money on pottery and not real estate and we are thankful for it. We picked nearly 300 pieces of Roseville, Weller, Hull, McCoy and Gonder.

With the Chesapeake Bay within sight of the front door was asked about a local eating establishment to sample the fruits of the bay…or at least the fruits of some body of water. Our host directed us to Portside Restaurant.

Portside Restaurant is a local joint with vinyl table covers, booths and chairs that are all reaching ‘the end of their useful lives.” There is a well worn bar and outside patio and a view of the bay. You can eat on the water at Portside which we always avoid because of the ever present danger of attacking sea creatures. It was ‘Please Seat Yourself’ hour and we did.

Greg ordered the Broiled Platter with a side of Crab Imperial. Crab Imperial was new to us both, we are live in Ohio and eat at Wendy’s so cut us some slack. Peter ordered the crab cakes. We both ordered “Crazy Potatoes” and a salad as sides. We shared an appetizer of scallops wrapped in bacon swimming in BBQ sauce. Meat on meat in BBQ sauce – always a winner. The service was satisfactory if not a bit slow. Food was good and the place was a mixture of a girl’s soft ball team and old locals drinking wine and wishing their kids would call. In homage to our local radio show host and armature restaurant critic, John Corby, we checkouted the facilities; no good news on that front but at least it had running water.

The price was at the high end of our budget but unlike crab dishes in the Buckeye state these dishes contained actual crab which was a welcome change. The place had Keno and big screen TVs for watching the nearby Ravens beat up on Ohio’s perpetual man made disasters Browns and Bangles.

We entertained ourselves on the way back to Ohio though the dark, fog and rain by watching the recent crack in our windshield spread. We used a magic marker to track the progress as we hit potholes and rumble strips. Like mom marking your height on a door jamb we marked the crack through Annapolis and Hagerstown, Morgantown and Zanesville.