STEPH DEROSA: COYOTE STEAK SALAD >>>

Crouton rating - three out of four

Somehow having peanut shells all over a restaurant's floor makes it ââ?¬Å?Texan.ââ?¬Â? Iââ?¬â?¢m sorry, but I donââ?¬â?¢t remember seeing copious amounts of peanut droppings in any venue during my Texan upbringing. I saw shit and hay on the floor of the rodeo stables, but no peanuts. Only here in the Pacific Northwest, at Jimmy Mac's Roadhouse, is southern culinary depicted by a trashed-up, peanut-infested floor. My apologies to all potential BBQ fans with peanut allergies, but you will never be able to grace these Texan-themed dining establishments within your lifetime.

Meh, you�re not missing much.

Jimmy Mac's Roadhouse's Coyote Steak Salad

Description: Perfectly grilled strips of sirloin steak, cooked to your preferred temperature, rest atop an even mound of green salad, cheddar cheese, bell peppers, and saut�©ed onions. This Coyote Steak Salad is also garnished with what I consider to be by far one of the best bread/crouton alternatives ever â�" Potato skins. A deep peppercorn ranch dressing is drizzled and richly hidden within the lettuce leaves while shallowly swimming at the bottom of the salad bowl.

Taste: The meat really is cooked to ordered perfection, and every bite comes out even. I don�t feel like I have too much of one ingredient while lacking on another. Although, I will say that their shredded cheddar cheese is borderline. While it is shredded fine enough to melt along with the other ingredients, it�s obviously your standard flavorless food service cheese. The dressing is original and not lacking in kick by any stretch of the imagination.

Conclusion: I really like this salad, as Iâ��ve had it almost every time I dine at Jimmy Macâ��s Roadhouse in Federal Way. Iâ��m a huge fan of the hot toppings on a cool bed of greens. My favorite part, and most unhealthy, are the potato wedges. With the bit of dressing and random salad toppings that manage to thrive at the bottom of the bowl â�" these wedges make for perfect scooping. Even with the lunch-sized portion, I leave feeling full and satisfied.

Dressing on the side
I was just engaged in a semi-conversation on Facebook concerning gelatin (JELL-O). Last night a typical bout of insomnia had struck, and my thoughts wandered toward JELL-O. I began to question its history and composition. After extensive online research (also involving mass distraction and work procrastination), I was mortified at what I found. Go look for yourselves! I mean it when I say that gelatin is pudding�s evil sibling. Pudding involves milk, and both gelatin and milk are just wicked. Through very clever marketing over the centuries companies have made people believe the shit can better your health. It�s almost as wrong as the marketing genius that decided to plaster a business logo on the side of a PT Cruiser. Nauseating.

[Jimmy Mac's Roadhouse, 34902 Pacific Hwy. S., Federal Way, 253.874.6000]

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide