Is Flatbread Different From Pizza?

Last week our Wobbly Boots Roadhouse blog posed the question, "Is a wrap a sandwich?" This week we were curious about another one of our menu items that could be called by another name. Are the delicious flatbreads we serve at our family friendly restaurant in Des Moines considered pizza, or are they something else entirely? 

As we told you last week, sandwiches and wraps have differing definitions, so technically there is a a difference between the two. Even though many people would love to argue that pizzas and flatbreads are not the same food, none of the research that we uncovered proved that as a fact. While toppings and types of crusts may differ, they actually are considered a similar dish. 

Pizza is defined as a yeasted flatbread typically topped with tomato sauce and cheese and baked in an oven, commonly also topped with meats, vegetables, and condiments. 

Flatbread "pizza" is generally made on a thinner, crispier crust using lighter toppings and sauce, most often not a tomato sauce.  

So... those findings were a bit anti-climactic. Fortunately, the toppings we offer on our Flatbreads at Wobbly Boots BBQ are exciting enough to titillate any taste bud! Check out the amazing flavors we've created especially for you. 

BIG CITY FLATBREADS

Spin-Art-Chicken
Our creamy homemade Spinach Artichoke Dip spread out evenly on our flat-bread pizza crust, topped with mozzarella & Provel cheeses, smoked chicken breast and diced tomatoes. Delicious and Delightful!

BBQ Chicken
Our homemade BBQ sauce spread over our flatbread pizza crust, topped with smoked chicken breast, red onion, tomato, and mozzarella & Provel cheeses. Outstanding Flavor!!

B-L-T
We start with our thin flatbread pizza crust, spread our homemade cheese sauce, add mozzarella & Provel cheeses, and top with smoked ham, bacon crumbles, lettuce, & tomatoes, all drizzled with ranch dressing.

Crab Rangoon
Wobbly Boots' own crab rangoon filling slathered on our flatbread pizza crust, topped with mozzarella & Provel cheeses, and finished with fried won tons and a sweet chili drizzle. A Customer Favorite! 

There you go! When you bring the family to our BBQ restaurant in Des Moines, you can have your "pizza," and your BBQ too! We specialize in the most mouthwatering, hickory-smoked BBQ in the Midwest, but our diverse menu offers something tasty for everyone in the family. The next time you visit Wobbly Boots Roadhouse in Clive, give one of these delicious flatbreads a try, either as your meal or to share as a yummy appetizer with the rest of the table. We know you're going to love them, and after you've fallen for those savory flavors, we've got a lot more dishes for you to try next. 

Award-winning BBQ right here in Des Moines! 

Don't forget you can take home 16 oz. bottles of Wobbly Boots House Recipe BBQ Sauce!!

Open EVERY DAY at 11:00 AM!

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Wobbly Boots Roadhouse

1301 NW 114th St
Clive IA 50325

(515) 223-5700

Is A Wrap A Sandwich?

Sometimes chefs like to change things up a little, taking a classic dish and switching one small thing to make it new and different. The creative cooks in the best BBQ restaurant in Des Moines do this with the amazing rubs and spices we season our meats with, and the incredible ingredients we use to make up that amazing house-made BBQ sauce we're so proud of. The tiny details at Wobbly Boots Roadhouse in Clive make our food unique and unforgettable. 

It isn't always a chef, though. Every once in a while dish is born out of necessity rather than experimentation. In these cases, an ingredient was not available, so a person had to think quickly and use what was on hand. One great example is the evolution of the sandwich into a wrap. Wraps seem like a sandwich, but technically they aren't.   

Who invented the wrap? 

The sandwich, which is made up of food served between two slices of bread, was made popular by John Montagu, the Earl of Sandwich. Wraps gained popularity in the United States in the 1990's. Rather than two slices of bread, instead ingredients are served on one piece of flatbread, generally a tortilla, and rolled up. 

Wraps may have been invented in California by the "I Love Juicy" chain in the early 1980's to resemble a Tex-Mex burrito. The OVO Bistro in New York City introduced its wrap, "The King Edward," in 1990. 

Later, in the mid-1990's, the Bobby Valentine Sports Gallery Cafe in Stamford, Connecticut declared that they invented the wrap. As the story goes, a waitress at the restaurant served a "wrap" to the customer because they had run out of bread. When asked about the other stories of who invented the wrap, Valentine was quoted as saying, "Well, that's legend and folklore, but until somebody disputes me or comes up with a better story, I'll say I invented the wrap."  

Wobbly Wraps
We may not have invented it, but we have perfected it! All of our wraps are served with your choice of one side dish, or you may substitute a garden salad, a cup of soup, a half order of onion rings or a half order of Texas fries for a small additional charge.

The Wrangler
A wheat tortilla stuffed with three of our signature items: pulled pork, legendary baked beans & creamy coleslaw. We then place it on our grill and toast the tortilla, blending all three flavors, which makes one incredible WRAP!

Honey Mustard Chicken
Our charbroiled chicken breast cooked perfectly with bacon, lettuce, tomatoes , mozzarella-Provel cheese & our house-made honey mustard dressing, served in a warm wheat tortilla. Delicious!

Turkey Bacon Ranch
The original Wobbly Boots' wrap! Lightly grilled turkey breast served in a warm tomato basil tortilla, stuffed full of bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, cheddar-jack cheese & ranch dressing.

Buffalo Chicken Strip
Our homemade chicken strips fried to golden perfection, tossed in our homemade buffalo sauce, with lettuce, tomato, cheddar-jack cheese and ranch dressing, served in a warm wheat tortilla.

Turkey Avocado
Hickory smoked 100% breast of turkey served in a warm tomato basil tortilla with avocado, avocado mayo, lettuce, tomatoes and cheddar-jack cheese.

Grilled Shrimp
Grilled jumbo shrimp with bacon, lettuce, tomato & cheddar-jack cheese all wrapped up in a warm tomato basil tortilla.

Whether you want to put sandwiches and wraps into the same category or keep them separated, just know that no matter which one you choose to order from the Wobbly Boots BBQ menu, it will always be stuffed full of deliciousness! Do you have a preference between 2 slices of bread or 1 single tortilla to contain your lunch or dinner? We'd love to know what you think. Next week our family friendly BBQ restaurant in Des Moines will be asking, "Is flatbread different from pizza?" Check back and find out! 

Award-winning BBQ right here in Des Moines! 

Don't forget you can take home 16 oz. bottles of Wobbly Boots House Recipe BBQ Sauce!!

Open EVERY DAY at 11:00 AM!

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Wobbly Boots Roadhouse

1301 NW 114th St
Clive IA 50325

(515) 223-5700

Scotch Lovers Unite! National Scotch Day Is July 27

There seems to be a "holiday" to celebrate just about everything nowadays. This week, if you're a Scotch lover, you've got a bonus reason to raise a glass. Thursday, July 27 is Nation Scotch Day! If you're not a scotch lover yet, Wobbly Boots Roadhouse has dedicated this blog to helping you better understand this tasty beverage. Maybe it will make you curious enough to finally give it a try. 

Scotch or Whisky? 
Actually, it's both! "Scotch Whisky" is only one type of whisky. Others include Irish, Canadian and American whiskey (with an "ey" on the end), and Kentucky bourbon. While all are generally grouped together at the bar, each has its own distinctive qualifications to earn its name. 

Scotch whisky can only be called by that name if it is in fact made in Scotland. For reasons we are not quite sure of, they spell it "whisky" rather than "whiskey". The main ingredient used is malted barley, and it must be aged in an oak cask for at least 3 years. As any Scotch aficionado knows, the longer it sits in the barrel, the finer the drink tastes. Most Scotches are distilled twice, but some go through the process more, as many as twenty times!    

As for the other liquors mentioned above, Irish whiskey and Canadian whiskey must be made in those countries. American whiskey must be made in the U.S.A., but our country has taken it a step further. We have variations that include rye whiskey, bourbon (usually from Kentucky,) and whiskey (most often from Tennessee.)  

How Do You Drink It? 
A lot of people choose to drink their scotch alone, right out of the bottle, while others have it on the rocks (over ice) or with a bit of water mixed in. This is the best way to appreciate the distinct flavor of the different types of Scotch whisky that we have behind the bar of our Des Moines BBQ restaurant. There are a couple of classic cocktails that contain this particular liquor too that you may want to try. 

ROB ROY
Basically, it's a classic Manhattan, but made with Scotch whisky instead of rye or Tennessee whiskey. Simply add sweet vermouth and bitters, then garnish it with a lemon or orange twist. 

SCOTTISH MULE
The Moscow Mule is an extremely popular drink combining vodka, ginger beer, and lime in a copper mug. For this variation, just switch out the vodka for a nice malt Scotch. 

RUSTY NAIL
Two ingredients come together for big flavor. This cocktail mixes Scotch whisky and Drambuie in an old fashioned glass over ice with a lemon twist. 

FOUR HORSEMEN
For a true whisky lover, this combines the best of them all! Scotch whisky, bourbon whiskey, Tennessee whiskey, and Irish whiskey. 

Wobbly Boots Roadhouse in Clive has a wonderful selection of liquor behind our bar, and our talented bartenders are happy to mix up your favorite cocktail to enjoy alongside the best BBQ in Des Moines. We also have an incredible beer selection, including 18 draft beers, and you'll even find many of your favorite local Iowa brews on tap at the Boot. Come in for a drink and stay for a bite to eat too! 

Award-winning BBQ right here in Des Moines! 

Don't forget you can take home 16 oz. bottles of Wobbly Boots House Recipe BBQ Sauce!!

Open EVERY DAY at 11:00 AM!

Like us on Facebook!

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Wobbly Boots Roadhouse

1301 NW 114th St
Clive IA 50325

(515) 223-5700

Our Appetizers Make Great Snacks AND Meals

Even though the Wobbly Boots Roadhouse menu items in today's blog are found under the "Appetizer" section, you are not limited to ordering them as a pre-meal "snack." If you order a couple of them together, you've got the makings of an entire meal. As a matter of fact, some of the starter options at our BBQ restaurant in Des Moines are big enough to be a meal on their own!  

Our appetizers offer a nice variety of savory flavors that are perfect for enjoying with a cocktail, as a meal starter, or as your lunch or dinner. Another great idea is to order up a few different ones and share them with friends. That way, you get to taste them all! Here's what we have for you to choose from: 

Wobbly Wings
Jumbo chicken wings coated in our house dry rub and then slow roasted over hickory, ensuring only the most flavorful, juiciest wings possible. They come in orders of 5, 10, 20, or 30, and they're served plain or with one of our signature sauces.

• Teriyaki - Our own house made sweet & sticky glaze... DELICIOUS!!!
• Plain - Just like it says. Enjoy our smoked wings flavored with our dry rub. 
• Hot Dijon Sauce - A little hot mustard + buffalo sauce + some sweet = Delish!
• Jalapeno Garlic - Minced jalapenos combined with garlic in a butter sauce... Great Flavor Mix!
• Chipotle Buffalo - Buffalo sauce infused with chipotle peppers making a buttery, smoky buffalo sauce.
• Bar-B-Que - Our own, homemade in-house BBQ sauce. A perfect addition to wings. 

Boneless Wings
Hand breaded fresh to order! A bountiful amount of all white chicken breast, cut into wing-size, fried to golden crisp perfection. These are also available plain or tossed with your choice of wing sauces and bleu cheese or ranch sauce.

Spinach & Artichoke Dip
Our house blend of spinach, artichoke hearts, & three different cheeses, combined with our secret spice blend - served bubbling hot with crispy pita chips.

Chips * Salsa * Queso
A platter of crispy tortilla chips accompanied with our homemade salsa and queso. 

Bar-B-Que Pork Nachos
A Wobbly favorite!! A bed of crispy tortilla chips smothered in our homemade queso, then topped with our house-smoked pulled pork & legendary baked beans. It's finished with cheddar-jack cheese, tomatoes and onions and served with salsa, sour cream and jalapenos. Choose a full or half order. 

Texas Fries

A mountain of our fries smothered in homemade queso cheese sauce, topped with bacon, cheddar-jack cheese and green onions. Served with a side of sour cream and jalapenos.

Fried Pickles
A half-pound of pickle chips hand-breaded in our special seasoned flour & fried to a golden brown. Served with chipotle ranch.

Crab Stuffed Mushrooms
A bountiful blend of crab meat, cream cheese, cheddar-jack cheese and special seasoning stuffed in large mushroom caps and baked to a golden brown, topped with provel cheese. 

Famous Onion Rings 
A heaping stack of thick-cut yellow onions bathed in buttermilk, then hand-breaded in our seasoned flour & fried to golden brown. Served as a full or half order with chipotle ranch.

Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
Five jumbo shrimp individually wrapped with our hickory-smoked bacon and grilled to perfection. 

Sliders
Three slider buns filled with your choice of our smoked meats, choose 1, 2, or even 3 different meats. A meal in itself!!

Homemade Chicken Strips
All white chicken tenders , buttermilk dipped and hand-breaded to order, then fried to a golden brown. Tender and Delicious! A kids favorite! Served with our seasoned fries and ranch or honey mustard dipping sauces. 

Ribbies & Wings
Two of our best - 4 baby back ribs & 4 wings. A sample of each leaves you wanting more.

FEED THE FARM!
Wobbly Boots Sampler
A great sample of some of our best appetizers!! 4 Wobbly Wings - 4 Famous Onion Rings - 4 Bacon Wrapped Shrimp and 4 Baby Back Ribs. A mountain of food suitable for a BIG meal or for sharing!!

So, what'll it be? The next time you join us at our family-friendly restaurant in Des Moines, give one (or a few) of these appetizers a try. We put every bit of love and care into making these as we do with the bigger meal options. No matter what you choose to order when you visit Wobbly Boots Roadhouse in Clive, it's always going to be delicious! 

Award-winning BBQ right here in Des Moines! 

Don't forget you can take home 16 oz. bottles of Wobbly Boots House Recipe BBQ Sauce!!

Open EVERY DAY at 11:00 AM!

Like us on Facebook!

Follow us on Twitter!
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Follow us on Google+!

Wobbly Boots Roadhouse

1301 NW 114th St
Clive IA 50325

(515) 223-5700

How to Enjoy BBQ on the "Lighter" Side

Summer is a time when people seem to want to eat a little lighter than usual. During the warmest months we wear less clothing, especially in the swimming pool, and the heat can seem to suck the appetite right out of you. In case you've been feeling this way, today our blog offers a few ideas on how to enjoy Wobbly Boots BBQ and still eat a little lighter. 

It's sort of like getting to have your cake and eat it too, except that there's no cake involved in our suggestions on how to enjoy the best BBQ in Des Moines in a lighter way. Instead, it's all about how you choose to order what you eat. 

Sauce on the Side
One quick and easy way to cut calories from your meal is to order the sauce on the side. This is common for salads, but you can do it with BBQ too. (Except for the Burnt Ends, which are always served "wet" with the sauce they are smoked in.) This way you can monitor exactly how much sauce makes it onto your meat and into your stomach. 

Our hickory-smoked dishes are actually delicious with no sauce at all! If you like the idea of adding just a touch of our house recipe BBQ sauce for extra flavor, take a bottle home to use on all of your meals! It adds amazing flavor to just about anything.   

Choose Side Dishes Wisely
Those gigantic, crispy, amazing Onion Rings and Creamy Homemade Mac & Cheese that come out of the Wobbly Boots Roadhouse kitchen are hard to resist. If you're trying to eat a little "lighter" for the season, we've still got some tasty options for you to enjoy. Green Beans, a Baked Potato, Cottage Cheese, or even a Side Salad may be more what you're looking for. 

Be Picky About Your Meats
Some meats are a healthier choice than others, and some don't feel like they fill you up as much. Save the heavier dishes for days when you're hungrier, or wait until this winter when they're a great way to warm up on a cold day. For now, we've got lots of lighter choices for you to pick from. 

Chicken and turkey are a good option, and if you're craving beef, our Prime Rib French Dip is perfect. If you opt for one of our catfish dishes, request that it be grilled instead of fried. Salads are a perfect food if you're wanting to keep things light, and most of ours come with one of our savory smoked meats as a topping. Since it can be quite a hefty meal on its own, our Cowboy Cobb is available in a half-portion order.  

Drink More Water
Nothing is better for helping a person eat lighter than drinking plenty of water. It's also a great way to stay hydrated during these hot summer months. Even if you want to have tea or lemonade to wash your meal down with, have a glass of water alongside it. 

You can even enjoy a cocktail with your food if you order wisely. Water and club soda as a mixer add zero calories to your liquor, and many libations taste great simply enjoyed over ice. We've got plenty of light beer options behind the bar, and a single glass of wine is usually fewer calories than a soda pop. 

BBQ may have a reputation for being a "heavy" food, but if you change your ordering habits, you can still enjoy the best BBQ in Des Moines. Making healthy eating choices is a great habit to get into, and once you're used to it, having a "cheat meal" once in a while isn't so bad. You can also come into Wobbly Boots Roadhouse knowing that no matter what you decide to order, it's always going to taste amazing and have you coming back for more! 

Award-winning BBQ right here in Des Moines! 

Don't forget you can take home 16 oz. bottles of Wobbly Boots House Recipe BBQ Sauce!!

Open EVERY DAY at 11:00 AM!

Like us on Facebook!

Follow us on Twitter!
Follow us on LinkedIn!
Follow us on Google+!

Wobbly Boots Roadhouse

1301 NW 114th St
Clive IA 50325

(515) 223-5700

Joining Us For Happy Hour At The Boot Is Good For You!

You probably already know how much fun the best Happy Hour in Des Moines is every Monday-Friday from 3-6 pm at Wobbly Boots Roadhouse, but did you realize that it can be good for your mental and physical health too? Taking a break in between work stress and home responsibilities every once in a while does a body good! 

"Happy Hours" were originally created as a form of entertainment to distract men out at sea from the day to day workings on the ship and keep them in good spirits. Rather than drinking, they would box, wrestle, enjoy music, or watch movies. During Prohibition, the term "Happy Hour" was picked up to describe the time when people would secretly meet for a few pre-dinner cocktails in private homes or speakeasies before heading out to the restaurants that couldn't serve alcohol. 

Today, we don't have to sneak around to enjoy a few cocktails together. (Thank goodness!) We are free to enjoy a drink anytime that we want. There are a few benefits to meeting up with friends and co-workers during Happy Hour though. Please keep in mind that these benefits only hold up when you drink responsibly and in moderation.  

Improves life at the office.
Having a drink with your co-workers after the work day is over is a great way to de-stress and get to know each other in a more relaxed atmosphere. Getting the chance to form relationships outside of work pressures and deadlines can help everyone to work together better once you get back to the office. 

Lowers depression.
Studies have shown that spending time enjoying the company of others relieves built up tension and lowers the risk of depression. Both of those things are excellent for improving your overall mental health at work and at home.  

Improves heart health.
We've covered the many surprising health benefits of beer, when consumed in moderation, in a past blog. One of those benefits is boosting your "good" cholesterol by 10-20%, which aids in reducing the chances of heart disease, stroke, and heart attacks.   

Easier to get to the weekend. 
As the old song goes, "Everybody's working for the weekend!" Well, taking part in Happy Hour at our Des Moines BBQ restaurant is a great way to make that weekend seem not so far away. All work and no play is no fun at all. Invite the office, and your friends outside of the office, to join you for a mid-week break. You all deserve it! 

Happy Hour at the Boot
Five days a week, Monday-Friday, Wobbly Boots Roadhouse offers some incredible drink specials so that you can enjoy Happy Hour without spending all of that hard-earned money from the job you're taking a break from. Weekdays from 3-6 pm, all 18 of our delicious draft beers, including many of your favorite Iowa brews, are only $3 each. You can also enjoy $5 specialty drinks and $3 Captain Morgan cocktails. Pair any one of those drinks with some of our awesome appetizers and it's even better! 

We look forward to seeing you at the best Happy Hour in the Des Moines area soon. Bring the whole gang. We've got plenty of room for everyone, and we can't wait to welcome you all to our place. 

Award-winning BBQ right here in Des Moines! 

Don't forget you can take home 16 oz. bottles of Wobbly Boots House Recipe BBQ Sauce!!

Open EVERY DAY at 11:00 AM!

Like us on Facebook!

Follow us on Twitter!
Follow us on LinkedIn!
Follow us on Google+!

Wobbly Boots Roadhouse

1301 NW 114th St
Clive IA 50325

(515) 223-5700

9 Fun Facts About The 4th of July

The 4th of July is coming next week. Many of you are probably getting the celebration started early over the weekend. The best thing that you can do for all of those holiday gatherings is to serve your guests the best BBQ in the Des Moines area. Another thing they may appreciate is learning about the 4th of July fun facts Wobbly Boots Roadhouse rounded up for you below.

1. The 4th of July is the most popular holiday for enjoying good ol' mouthwatering BBQ! It beats out both Memorial Day and Labor Day.
2. The most popular foods to serve on this patriotic holiday include burgers, chicken wings, chicken breasts, and hot dogs. (We serve all of those right here at Wobbly Boots Roadhouse, except for the hot dogs. Our sweet smoked Italian sausage is a much better substitute!)
3. Iowa is home to nearly 1/3 of the United States' hogs and pigs. That means there is a very good chance that any hot dogs or pork sausages eaten on the 4th of July came from our incredible state!
4. Independence Day is the celebration of the 13 American colonies legally separating from Great Britain. In reality, this officially happened on July 2, 1776. July 4 is the day that the document, the Declaration of Independence, was approved.
5. The Declaration was signed by 56 men from 13 colonies.
6. They didn't all actually sign it on the 4th of July. There has been debate about when the actual date was, or if all of the signatures happened on the same day.
7. Two U.S presidents signed the Declaration of Independence: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
8. Strangely, those same two U.S. presidents both died on the 4th of July, 1826, which was also the 50th anniversary of the Declaration.
9. Did you know... you can skip the tedious grilling this year and order some of our amazing, hickory-smoked BBQ to go for your family picnics and holiday gatherings this 4th of July!

We would love for you to join us at Wobbly Boots Roadhouse for part of your 4th of July holiday. If you've already got other plans elsewhere, take some of our incredible BBQ along with you instead. A small, simple to-go order of the best BBQ in Des Moines is easy to pack up for you, and if you need food for a lot more people, well, that's easy for us to do too! 

Take a look at the "Buy In Bulk" section of our menu, then give us a call at 515-223-5700 to let us know how much you'll be needing. You can come in and pick up some of our savory, hickory-smoked meats and family style side dishes, or if your order is over $100 and you give us 24 hours notice, we'll deliver it! Make this 4th of July one of the best, and tastiest, ever! 

Award-winning BBQ right here in Des Moines! 

Don't forget you can take home 16 oz. bottles of Wobbly Boots House Recipe BBQ Sauce!!

Open EVERY DAY at 11:00 AM!

Like us on Facebook!

Follow us on Twitter!
Follow us on LinkedIn!
Follow us on Google+!

Wobbly Boots Roadhouse

1301 NW 114th St
Clive IA 50325

(515) 223-5700