Western Ribeye and Ribs - A True Community Gem!

During our first week on TTT, we packed up our equipment and headed over to Western Ribeye and Ribs over on Boeke road in Evansville. There we met with Dan and Dave Nix, brothers and co-owners of Western Ribeye and Ribs. While the family affair technically started in 1970, Western Ribeye and Ribs officially started all the way back in 1963 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, when their parents bought a local chicken place, changing the name to Harold's. The rest, as they say, is history.

Dan first took us back to the kitchen to show us how to make their famous kebobs. He started with a bit of orange juice, pineapple juice, soy sauce, salad oil, and various spices to make a marinade that would flavorize and tenderize the meat. After everything is mixed, the meat should sit anywhere from four hours to overnight to soak up all the deliciousness. Once the meat was ready, he put the tasty tidbits on a skewer between pineapples, peppers, and onions to grill.

We then sat down for a fantastic surf-and-turf tour of their famous ribs and their not-so-famous shrimp. While Western Ribeye and Ribs is known for their steaks and salad bar, they have a stunning variety of seafood that's just as tasty as their red meats, providing a little something for everyone. While their shrimp is served with a ton of sauce options, the delicious garlic butter that they're cooked in allows it to stand alone. Their smoketastic ribs are bought from a local supplier and smoked for six hours in a special dry seasoning. They are then slathered in their homemade barbecue sauce and sent out to hungry patrons who will savor the smoky deliciousness.

 Western Ribeye and Ribs has dedicated the past 38 years to focusing on making sure that their meals are fresh, fiery, and finger lickin' good. They're open year round for quality, consistent food and service as well as catering. Western Ribeye and Ribs is more than a steak joint. It is a place for family, by family.

Tasting The Tristate - How it all began!

When ICR Productions set out to begin filming Tasting The Tristate, our goal was to create awareness about our local Tri-State Restaurants. We wanted viewers to know about well known and hidden gem restaurants, about the chef's and their backgrounds, and to see what the local foodies of our area are all about.

With cameras and aprons in hand, we ventured into restaurant kitchens from New Harmony Indiana, to Tel City, to Morganfield, KY and many restaurants in between. What we found at every restaurant was passion.  Passion for their cuisine, their customers experiences, and their love for their restaurants.

Each chef and restaurant owner was enthusiastic and excited that Tasting The Tristate wanted to feature their eatery - and we were blown away by how much we didn't know about their restaurants.

Did you know that Chef Romey at Gerst Haus on Franklin St. in Evansville is also the evening chef at Smitty's Italian Restaurant? He is a hard working, double duty chef that runs both the Gerst Haus and Smitty's like a ship's captain.  He's from Nashville originally and positively loves food.  

Blake Kollker, an Evansville native, is co-owner of Azzip Pizza and Perfectly Fresh meals.  Blake has been on the road as chef to Kenny Chesney, Trans Siberian Orchestra and Jimmie Buffett. He was also at Evansville Country Club at Chef.  What a passion he has for food!  And, he got his love of cooking at a young age.  

These are just some of the people we are excited to feature on Tasting The Tristate.  I'll go into as I attempt to write each restaurant.  I love all the chefs we've had the privilege to meet and cook with, and can't wait to share it all with you as we roll along!