Swinging steak at Mexican Hat

 

Despite being warned we probably wouldn't get a decent beer in Utah, we actually bought a six pack of the finest brews we had tasted in a while. The only nod to the conservatism of drinking laws in this Mormon state was the fact that all beer was under 4% alcohol and there were no wines or spirits for sale anywhere. We had our own supply, however, as we were undertaking a road trip which took us from Vancouver to Las Vegas, passing through such incredible places as Arches National Park, Zion National Park and Monument Valley. This tiny town was a place to stop over en route to Vegas from the breathtaking natural beauty of the Utah landscapes. Literally in the middle of nowhere, there were two small motels, one of which I managed to book on the Internet.

This place was our second choice, the first being full, but as these things so often turn out, it proved to be a much better option. Without any prior knowledge, we were staying at the home to the swinging steak restaurant, a curious place with cowboys manning the grill and performing live country music. A surreal evening that was completely unexpected followed, the highlight of which was huge 'cowboy' steak dinners from the grill. As you can see in the image above, the steaks did indeed swing over a large open flame, giving them a char grilled exterior, crispy and flavourful but not burnt and succulent with tender flesh inside. They came with beans, corn and some salad and cost about $35 each, but we didn't really mind at that point. 

 

The darkness that surrounded the area was the most dense I have ever experienced with a silence so eerily complete it filled me with trepidation. Taking only a few short steps away from the restaurant enveloped you with the vast emptiness of the dessert with the ghostly shapes of King's Canyon silhouetted against the sky. Weird and wonderful. The next day we drove down through Monument Valley to Vegas, and for our three nights in sin city, we couldn't wait to be back in more enthralling places like Mexican Hat.

6am start with the sunrise at Mexican Hat

2 hours later as we enter Monument Valley